And Then, The World Ended

Chapter 17 Noah

The room had gone silent as Emiko reappears, her face filled with concern. My heart drops—did something happen with her father?

"V, we need to talk. Now." Emiko's voice, usually gentle, carries an unfamiliar firmness.

V rises, his eyes questioning. "What's going on?"

Emiko takes a deep breath. "My father... he told me everything."

The room falls more silent. Everyone exchange bewildered glances. I glance between them and Emiko, my stomach twisting with apprehension. What does she mean, "expecting this"?

"Expecting what?" Hayes asks, mirroring the question in my head.

"This entire operation. It's a setup, V." Emiko's gaze shifts to me, her expression filled with sympathy. "Noah, they never intended to harm you directly. You were bait."

My breath catches in my throat. "Bait?"

Emiko nods, her gaze flickering to Hayes. "They knew about V's investigation. They knew he was closing in. They wanted leverage."

Hayes steps forward, confusion clouding his features. "I don't understand. What does any of this have to do with me?"

Emiko's eyes hold Hayes's gaze. "They were never after you, Noah. They were after him." She gestures towards Hayes. "They wanted the billionaire, not the artist."

The air crackles with disbelief. Everyone stares at Hayes, their mouths agape. I glance at him, searching for any sign that this is some kind of sick joke. Hayes, a billionaire?

Hayes chuckles, the sound hollow. "Okay, very funny, Emiko. What is this really about?"

"Liam," Emiko says, her voice soft yet firm, "I need you to trust me. Tell them who you are."

Hayes hesitates, his gaze darting between Emiko and me. Then, he lets out a long, resigned sigh. "My full name," he begins, his voice barely a whisper, "is Liam Hayes-Davis. My father... well, he owns half of Manhattan."

The silence that follows is deafening. Sophie's jaw hangs open, Jordan's eyes widen, and Jake's eyebrows disappear into his hairline. I stare at Hayes, my mind struggling to process this revelation. The guy I've been crushing on, sharing onsen baths with... he's loaded?

"They knew about your father's business dealings," Emiko continues, her voice firm. "The Hanami Organization wanted to make a deal, use your influence to cover their tracks. But your father, he refused."

"So they targeted Hayes?" Jordan finally breaks the silence, his voice laced with disbelief. "But why involve Noah? Why go through all this trouble?"

"They needed leverage," V interjects, his face grim. "They knew about your friendship, Noah. They used you to draw Liam in, make him vulnerable."

Anger courses through me. I've been manipulated, used as a pawn in their twisted game.

Emiko places a reassuring hand on my arm. "My father believes attacking them directly will be a bloodbath. There's a better way."

"What do you suggest we do then?" Sophie asks, her voice laced with concern.

Emiko's gaze sweeps over the room, finally landing on V. "We do it my father's way. We don't fight them head-on. We take them down from the inside."

She turns to me, her eyes filled with determination. "V, I need your help. Prepare me. I'm going back to Hanami."