41. Pretty Reckless

                                    

                                          
Atobe watched with increasing concern as the unsettling scene unfolded before his eyes.
                          
In a matter of minutes, Noa finished the entire bottle of champagne. While she drank, the food arrived in rapid succession, but she paid no attention. The champagne bottle empty, she waved over the waiter. In a faltered, uncharacteristically loud voice, she asked him for "two dirty martinis and don't skimp on the olives". 
                          
	Ami Noa was out to get something, Atobe thought. At this rate, however, the only person she would get was herself. 
                          
The business discussion was lulling into casual catch-ups so he stood up and excused himself. It was his moral obligation to stop her public self-destruction.
                          
Noa's peripheral vision picked up on someone approaching. She figured it was the floor manager coming to kick her out for disrupting the tranquil ambiance. 
                          
Good, Noa thought. Her anger was like a rocket geared for take-off, ready to incinerate anyone who dared to intervene. 
                          
But the man sitting across the table was Atobe Keigo.
                          
Noa nearly dropped her champagne flute. Her stomach lurched at the evil workings of the world, sending over a devil at her most scandalous hour. 
                          
He looked at her and she stared back vindictively, contesting to see who'd be the first to break the ice. 
                          
During their staredown, her martinis arrived. Noa shoved the champagne flute aside and reached for her next drink. Before she touched the glass stem, Atobe timely plucked it away.
                          
	"I think you've had enough," he said austerely.
                          
	Noa snorted. "What are you, a club bouncer?"
                          
	"You shouldn't drink on an empty stomach." 
                          
"It's none of your business." 
                          
Atobe ignored her. Pushing the caviar and the toast towards her, he advised, "At least eat something before you go on. Otherwise, you'll regret it tomorrow."
                          
Noa didn't touch the food. She seized this opportunity to reclaim her martini. But Atobe caught her wrist in midair. For a second, he worried his tight hold might have hurt her, yet Noa didn't even bat an eyelash. 
                          
"Let go of me!"
                          
"I'm doing you a favor. Do you want to wind up vomiting on the streets?"
                          
Freeing herself from his clutch, Noa said, "Thanks for your concern, but I know what I can handle."
                          
"I'm sure you normally do, though that doesn't seem to be the case right now," answered Atobe measuredly. "Pickling your organs is no way to prove yourself."
                          
Noa scoffed.
                          
"This isn't how you get people to pay attention."
                          
His words pierced her. Narrowing her eyes, she growled, "What are you trying to say?"
                          
"I'm trying to say, vying for attention at the expense of yourself isn't worth it. In the end, you'll suffer."
                          
Teeth gritted, Noa hung on to her last ounce of proper conduct to avoid throwing the drink in Atobe's face. She hated his patronizing tone and the way he looked down at her. He was acting like the wise old sage who'd seen it all, when in fact, he was just another staid, trust-fund jerk who knew nothing. 
                          
Sensing he had hit a nerve, Atobe softened his tone, "If you're upset, it's better to just admit it."
                          
Noa released an icy laugh. "Since you asked, then here's my admission: my day was going perfectly fine until you decided to intervene. It's enough of a bummer to see you first thing in the morning, but seeing you twice in one day is nauseating!  I could've had a wonderful night, but thanks to you, I feel like puking!"