Chapter 2: Want a Taste of My 'Noodles'?

Words : 2767 Updated : Oct 17th, 2025

"Friends on both sides of the law? Man, that's terrifying," Lewis Casson said, putting on an act of mock fear, then swung his hand and slapped Robert Showyer hard across the face. "You dare hit me? You're dead," Robert snarled, his cheek swelling. "Dead? I'm shaking," Lewis said, grinning wickedly, then kicked Robert in the gut and sent him sprawling. Robert clutched his stomach and swallowed his curses. Damn. The guy kept saying he was scared but hit like a thug. Robert had been running around Melville for years and had never run into a bruiser like Lewis. "Already backing down? Lame," Lewis said with a playful tilt of his head. He turned and pointed at Emmy Saiger. "Get on your knees and apologize to my friend. If she doesn't forgive you, I'll break both your legs. You'll be bedridden and unable to take care of yourself." That threat sent chills down Robert's spine. He knew Lewis meant it, and didn't dare risk his future. Wiping sweat from his brow, he scrambled to Emmy, knelt, and slammed his forehead to the floor-thud, thud, thud. His voice trembled. "Miss, I was wrong. Please forgive me." "'Miss'? Save that for your own family," Emmy spat. Robert flinched and kept kowtowing. "Sorry, sorry. I misspoke. Please forgive me." Emmy snorted, lifted her leg, and kicked him hard. "Get out. Don't let me see you again." "Yes, yes, I'm going." Robert staggered to his feet, stifled a groan, and hurried out, never daring to meet Lewis's eyes. The six bodyguards who'd been playing dead scrambled up and bolted, like they wished they'd been born with extra legs. Lewis closed the door and stepped forward, smiling. "Isn't that letting him off too easy?" Emmy snorted. She'd wanted to beat Robert senseless, but worried that going too far would land her in trouble. So she'd held back. Lewis found her restraint kind of cute. He walked into the living room, flopped onto the sofa, and patted the seat beside him. "Come on, let's talk." She'd chased off a pack of wolves, only to be stuck with an even bigger creep. Emmy managed a bitter smile, steeled herself, and sat across from Lewis. Her expression was conflicted. She spoke softly. "Thank you for saving me." "One little 'thank you' and you think I'll just leave?" "What do you want then?" Emmy asked, bristling. Lewis let his eyes linger on her curves, ran his tongue over his lips. "You really don't know what I'm thinking?" "Shameless. I'm telling you, not a chance." She was scared, but she wouldn't fold. He watched her a moment, then waved it off with a smile. "Relax. I'm no saint, but last thing I want is to twist your arm. If I really want you, I'll have you climbing into my bed on your own to spoil me." "Yeah, right. Not happening," Emmy shot back through clenched teeth. "Careful-you might end up eating those words." Emmy refused to keep sparring; he'd drive her nuts. She drew a deep breath. "We're done here. You can go. I need to rest." Lewis pulled out a cigarette, lit up, and took a drag. "Use me and toss me aside, huh? Aren't you worried that'll come back to bite you?" "What, is that supposed to be karma?" He stood, stretched, and gave her a crooked smile. "Robert looked tough. We messed him up. If I just bail, what do you think he'll do to you?" "Ah!" Emmy's face drained of color. She hadn't even thought about it until Lewis pointed it out. The more she considered, the more it scared her. After what happened, Robert wouldn't let it slide. Without Lewis's protection, she didn't dare imagine what might happen. "Take care," Lewis said. He blew a smoke ring and headed for the door. Panic hit Emmy. She jumped up and called out, "Lewis, don't go." He turned slowly. "Didn't you just tell me to leave? Now you want me to stay. Changed your mind about 'that'?" Emmy's cheeks flushed instantly. "Shameless. Who wants to do 'that' with you? I want you to stay and protect me. You started this-see it through." "Now I get it-being the good guy's rough. I help you, and suddenly it's all my fault." Emmy knew she was being unreasonable, but she wouldn't admit it. She hardened her tone. "You made this mess-you fix it." Lewis grinned slyly, pinched out his cigarette, and flicked the butt. It arced into the trash can. That little move made Emmy stare. Where did this guy even come from? Lewis stepped closer and said, "I can stay-but I'm moving in. I just got to Melville, I've got a job interview at noon, and nowhere to crash. Your place is nice, so I'm staying here." "No way," Emmy shot back, without hesitation. "Last thing I want is to twist your arm. If you say no, I'll go. It's a big world. I'll find somewhere to crash." He shrugged and headed for the door. Emmy hadn't expected him to just leave. When he reached the threshold, she snapped out of it, bit her lip, and rushed forward. "Lewis, don't go. I'll agree." She was on the verge of tears. She had zero desire to live with him, but between two evils, she chose the lesser. To protect herself, she'd have to put up with him for now. Once things settled down, she'd find a way to kick him out. Anyway, from what she'd seen, Lewis was all talk. He hadn't actually crossed the line, so she figured she'd be safe. Lewis turned back, smiling as he walked. "That's more like it. Women lining up to room with me would wrap around the block. You just hit the jackpot-I promise you won't regret it." Emmy snorted and turned away, thinking, Give me a break. Women lining up for you? As if. "How did you find me?" she finally asked, the question nagging at her. "I'm a hacker-top tier." Emmy shot him a dirty look. "Spare me. You, top-tier hacker? If you don't want to say, don't-it's not like I'm dying to know." "Why is it nobody believes me when I tell the truth?" Lewis patted his stomach and glanced toward the kitchen. He went in, opened the fridge, and found nothing but some dried noodles and a few eggs. "Hey, gorgeous-this all you've got at home? You really don't cook, huh." Emmy's cheeks flared with anger. "What do you know? I don't cook. I order in or eat out." "If you don't know how to cook, just say so. Why the excuses?" Lewis chuckled, taking out the noodles and eggs. "Want a taste of my 'noodles'? Bet you've never had anything like mine…" "I'm not eating." "You sure you don't want my 'special' noodles? They're amazing," he said, the smirk deepening as he leaned into the innuendo. "I said no, and I mean it. Quit bugging me," Emmy snapped. Then the meaning hit, and an image flashed through her mind. She shivered and glared at him, thinking, This guy is disgusting. Lewis shrugged and turned to the stove, focusing on the pot. Soon, he brought out a big bowl of fragrant noodles and sat beside Emmy. "So, gorgeous-what's your name, anyway?" "Emmy Saiger." "What do you do?" Lewis asked, talking around a mouthful of noodles. "I don't have a job," Emmy said, bristling. "Come on. A place like this and no job? Got it-you must be someone's kept woman, his side piece. My bad, my bad." Emmy's eyes flashed with fury. Her teeth clicked together, sharp and angry. "Listen close. I'm a professional streamer with millions of followers. I sing and dance-people tip me, send virtual gifts." "Wow. A streaming star. Lucky me-I just got to Melville and I'm already rooming with one. If people hear about this, they'll be green with envy." "Keep your mouth shut-don't go blabbing." Emmy shot him a withering glare and retreated to her bedroom. After such a crazy morning, she needed some time alone to calm down. Lewis finished the noodles and, as if he'd become a different person, muttered to himself, "Thought this job would be boring. Didn't expect to run into something this fun the minute I got here. Interesting." Four or five hours later, Lewis grabbed a shower and headed out. It was recruitment day at Elle Group. There were plenty of positions, but most people were gunning for the role of personal bodyguard to the female CEO, Elle Cutmore. To keep out anyone with bad intentions, the company had screened candidates strictly before inviting them in. Lewis was among them. He and the other applicants waited a while, then the CEO's assistant arrived-Maddie Zimmerman, known as the Iron Lady. She was about five-seven, with an oval face and big, bright eyes-a vibe of sophisticated confidence. Maddie made a brief speech, then led Lewis and the others toward the assessment room. "Nice, nice. Curvy hips and a wasp waist. I like," Lewis murmured from the back, eyes glued to Maddie's sway. Inside, Maddie swept the room with a cool gaze. Her voice was measured and firm. "On behalf of Elle Group, welcome. There's only one opening for CEO Elle Cutmore's bodyguard. We'll score you across several skills. Highest score gets the job." Low murmurs rippled through the crowd. "Damn, are we picking a bodyguard or electing a president? This is strict." "You're telling me. Getting a job nowadays is brutal. Even bodyguards have to pass every test." Maddie's smile frosted over. She raised a hand for silence. "If you've got complaints, you can leave now. No one's keeping you here. If you want to continue, you'll follow Elle Group's rules. One minute to decide." Now that's a tough woman. Lewis's grin went sly-wondering what it'd be like to pin a woman like her under him.

Chapter 2: Want a Taste of My 'Noodles'?

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