"This nonsense has to stop."

That was all Noah could think about as he drove home that night. Sex with Dana was good, but he could no longer fool himself. Dana wasn't who he truly wanted, nor who he needed. It was Ingrid's face he saw earlier while he was in bed with Dana, Ingrid's name he wanted to moan and scream as he climaxed.

This has to stop.

He couldn't keep sleeping with other women while imagining they were Ingrid. There was only one solution he could think of: to sleep with his executive assistant herself. Just once, and he'd finally get her out of his system. Yet he wasn't even sure how he'd go about it. He didn't even know if Ingrid had a boyfriend. Besides, doing so would make him a hypocrite. Here he was, angry at his cousin for hooking up with a model from their agency, yet now he was imagining having sex with an RTA employee and even planning to act on it. He really should revisit the company's policies on sexual harassment.

When he arrived home, he found his father waiting on the patio. Armando was sitting in a rattan chair, sipping coffee. The man looked calm, happy, and content.

"Are you staying the night?" Noah asked as he approached.

Armando chuckled softly. "Are you trying to send me away, son?"

Noah scratched the back of his neck.

"Dad, I'm just asking." He sat on the sofa next to the coffee table where his father's cup was placed. "Is Mom asleep?"

"She just went inside a little while ago. We had a long chat out here."

Noah smiled. He was glad everything was fine now between his parents. For a long time, his mother had been upset, unable to let go of the past. Last year, Romina seemed to have hit rock bottom in a midlife crisis. It was a tough and sad period, but it ultimately helped her face reality and move on. The family gave her unwavering support to help her get back on her feet.

"How are you, son?" Armando asked, his tone serious and somewhat concerned.

"I'm doing good, Dad."

"Are you really?"

Noah laughed. "Yes."

"When are you getting married?"

Armando asked out of the blue.

Noah laughed again.

"Nate said you don't even have a girlfriend," Armando pressed. "I'm just worried, son. Maybe it's my fault you're still single."

Noah furrowed his brows, though he had a feeling he knew where this was going.

"I know I wasn't always there for emotional support, and honestly, I'm still working on that." Armando sighed. "Both you and your brother have abandonment issues, but you deal with them differently. Nate was afraid of losing love, so he avoided it altogether. But with you, I think your fear is different. You're afraid of making mistakes and hurting the woman you love. Actually, I've noticed that you seem to be a people pleaser. You're afraid of making any mistakes."

Noah didn't say anything. He wanted to deny it, but he realized there was some truth to his father's words. For years, he had always been cautious, careful, and clean-cut. He was afraid to take risks or do anything he considered wrong, even if it wasn't illegal.

Another factor, perhaps, was the constant advice of his late paternal grandfather. Lolo Oni was a traditional man who disapproved of the life choices of his three children. The eldest, Lucian, lived with someone before getting married. Armando had gotten someone pregnant before marriage, which Noah believed was why he felt pressured into a marriage that eventually ended in separation. The youngest, Mark, came out as homosexual.

Noah's siblings and cousins had the courage to defy Lolo Oni's outdated beliefs. Noah was the only one the old man believed would follow his teachings. And in his way, he did.

"Noah, you're not me. I'm your father, but we're different people. Don't be afraid to love or to hurt someone. Nobody is exempt from getting hurt. That's life, son. Sometimes, we hurt others unintentionally because of the choices we make."

Noah sighed. "Maybe I just need to find the right girl," he said.

"Exactly," his father agreed. "Look at your brother now. He's happy with Cassy. He still fears losing her, but he took the risk. In the end, what matters is that you don't let opportunities pass you by. That you give it your all, even if things don't go your way."

"Don't worry about me, Dad. I'm fine."

"You're not even dating anyone?"

"Not right now."

"What about... a special someone?"

Noah chuckled. "A special someone but not dating?"

"Yes, someone who doesn't know you like her."

Noah grinned as he looked up at the dark sky. His thoughts were racing. His dark, hidden desires felt closer to surfacing now.

"No, not really."

But there is this girl I've been wanting to fuck, and I will do it very soon.