When everyone came back from lunch, they could tell that something had happened between Quinn and Michel. Quinn's face wasn't quite right, too much annoyance on display for the normally gentle giant. His movements were jerky, and his head was on a swivel.
Like he was expecting Michel to come back, and that he was ready to fight.
It was only long after Sophie had dropped off the food that Quinn had requested and Mr. Harrison stepped out of his office to notice that Quinn hadn't touched his food and that he was a jumpy mess.
"Quinn. My office. Now. And take that bag of food with you too." Mr. Harrison ordered. Quinn winced, feeling like he'd messed up when he spoke to him like that. However, Mr. Harrison wasn't angry. In fact, he was more pissed that Quinn hadn't eaten than anything else.
He left Quinn alone in the office to eat while he checked on the others. He probably got the story from the others that Michel had come to pester Quinn and that they had gone off together. Mr. Harrison didn't ask Quinn any questions about what had happened between them, but the few moments of silence and peace that he provided were enough to give Quinn some time to gather himself.
He was able to make it through the rest of the day with ease. By the time the end of the day came and they were all able to leave on time, Quinn felt a lot better. He didn't take anyone up on having a drink after work and instead made his way home.
He didn't even call Noah. He just…got into the bath at home and stared out the window, watching the city as it glittered. Snow fell and he was sure it was freezing out. Quinn sighed, letting his body relax as he finally wound down from his encounter with Michel.
He couldn't believe that idiot had kissed him.
~
Quinn was on edge for the next few days, and for good reason. Michel wasn't the kind of man that usually would let things go easily. Hence why he had come and stormed his department and why Quinn had to block his number because he had been pestering him too much.
It seemed though, that Michel got the message when Quinn shoved him away and shouted at him. He didn't see him for the rest of the week, and when the weekend rolled around, Quinn finally was able to relax.
Noah asked him if he wanted to go shopping with him, his cousins reached out, and his parents kept him up to date on what was happening with his grandma. Quinn felt that things were going well after having his life turned upside down.
Until Noah told him what he'd gotten into an argument with his parents about.
~
Noah's Mom was dead. Quinn felt like that was an important part to start on since most people thought that when an illegitimate child showed up it was because the mother needed something or was trying to use the family. That simply wasn't the case for Noah.
His Mom had passed suddenly of a disease that took her quickly and Noah was raised by his grandma. It was Noah who actually reached out to his father, not knowing a damn thing but knowing that his grandma needed some extra support.
Noah had been innocent, pure when he'd reached out to his father. He had no idea that it would be a bomb that blew up in his face. He was taken from his grandma, he was forced to live in a situation that was uncomfortable and awful for everyone.
His step mom tried to make him call her mom, erasing his Mom entirely from his past. He lost contact with his grandma for a few years too. Noah had a really rough childhood before Quinn entered his life in high school. Quinn never knew what was going on because Noah didn't let him in, but it was after high school when he was able to see his grandma again and was able to take care of her properly.
Quinn had been by his side at the funeral after she had passed.
Now that they were older and Noah had played the perfect part, he had thought he would have some freedom. He had clearly thought that if he played along with what his family wanted to a degree, they would leave him alone.
It was clear once Noah explained everything to Quinn that whether they liked it or not, Michel had triggered this sudden reaction in Noah's family.
They wanted Noah to get married.
Quinn was shocked to hear it. Noah still looked pissed as he explained it. They were at their favourite restaurant, a Japanese fusion place with small booths that gave them some privacy when they talked. It was on the upper end for cost, but Quinn loved it. Noah liked to treat him, and for some reason Noah looked guilty as he explained the truth behind what was going on.
His father had asked him to break up Michel and his fiancé at first, before he realised he could just ask Noah to get engaged instead. He had plenty of clients that he wanted to form a deeper bond with, and as Noah had been mooching off of the family for years, this was the least that he could do.
Quinn had let out a disbelieving laugh when he'd heard Noah say that. Noah had even given a bitter smile. Noah had stopped 'mooching' off of them before his grandma had passed. He'd gotten scholarships to fund his university without their knowledge. He had never relied on them as soon as he realised what it would cost him.
The only reason he was working at the company was because they told him to. He didn't owe them anything, especially not his love life.
"Are they fucking serious?" Quinn asked, putting down the small sake cup he'd been drinking from. Noah tossed back his own, laughing to himself as he topped up his cup and did it again.
"They are dead fucking serious. They've been hounding me all week since I told them no and stormed out on Monday. Sorry I came to you in such a bad mood then." Noah apologised sincerely and Quinn waved it off.
"Water off my back, Noah. I can't believe that they're being serious. You 'owe' them? Who gives them the fucking right to say that to you? You've saved so many deals for them that your perfect brothers fucked up!" Quinn was outraged for Noah's sake. If Noah wasn't at the company it would fall apart. It was the exact opposite of Michel's situation.
This was made all the more frustrating because Michel was the catalyst to this all. Damn waste of time. Quinn wanted to spit on him. Hell, he should have hit him instead of running away when he kissed him.
"What about your brothers? Isn't it time that they got married?" Quinn asked, already knowing the answer by the way Noah's face twisted. He snorted, slamming the sake back again. Quinn mentally lowered how much he was drinking since someone had to drive them both back.
"My precious, wonderful brothers haven't found anyone worthy of them yet, according to my step mother. The truth is that they put their dick in anything wet and willing. I bet they take after our father." Quinn whistled. That was a low blow, but they'd earned it.
"At least they have money to support the children they'll make because their mom is supporting them." Quinn said and Noah snorted. He was belly laughing when their food arrived and the conversation halted for a moment.
It resumed after they had eaten quite a bit and they'd both had time to mull over what Noah had said.
"I have a crazy idea." Noah finally said, tentatively looking over at Quinn. Quinn was sitting primly, drinking some green tea in favour of the sake that he'd been enjoying before. Safety first and all.
"Hmm? How crazy are you thinking?" Quinn asked, glancing over at Noah as he debated between the mango mochi or the matcha mochi. Both sounded good, and from the other times he'd been here he knew they were good. He just wasn't certain what he was feeling today.
"Stuff that my mother would cover for my brother's crazy. Stuff that we both avoided when we were in university, crazy. Straight up stupid dominant alpha shit that I've always found disgusting, crazy." Noah said.
Quinn paused.
He turned, looking up from the small menu on the side of the table and met Noah's gaze head on. He might be slightly flushed from the alcohol he had consumed, but Quinn knew he wasn't drunk. He knew how much Noah could drink before things got messy.
Quinn furrowed his brows, wondering what exactly Noah was thinking. Noah wasn't the one who normally did drastic things. After all, they were slowly plotting to leave and start their own company. If he had been drastic, they would have just started it from the get go instead of getting industry experience first.
Quinn folded his hands against the table, staring deeply into Noah's eyes.
"What in the world are you plotting, Noah?" Quinn asked and Noah jerked his gaze away nervously, licking his lips before he looked back at Quinn head on.
"There's a…party on valentine's day. I've always known about it, and always get invited. I grew close to a few of the members who always attend, at university. Helped them out a few times, but it was never anything serious. I didn't bring it up because most of them are dominant alphas like me and I know you don't really get along with them well. Not the rich ones, anyways." Quinn flinched.
"That's a rude thing to say." Quinn said tartly and Noah shrugged.
"It's the truth, and I've never blamed you for it. Michel's an ass and ruined it for everyone else." Noah said plainly. "Anyway, it's a pretty serious party. A scandalous one. I was thinking…" Noah dropped his gaze, swallowing before he glanced up at Quinn nervously. "I was thinking we could both go. Michel and his ilk are never invited so you'd be safe in that regard, and hey, you might even have some fun. I just need to be seen there, maybe cause a scene with the help of the guys there, and I'll probably be free from being forced to marry someone I don't even love." Noah said.
Quinn felt his jaw drop.
Noah had never suggested such a thing before in his life. In fact, Noah hadn't really suggested anything like this before, ever. Noah wasn't conservative, but something this drastic was so out of character for him that-
Quinn gasped, covering his mouth as something clicked into place. Something he hadn't even considered.
"Have they already scheduled a meeting between you and someone else?" Noah's grim face was the answer that Quinn needed. "Is it…valentine's day?" Quinn asked hesitantly and Noah's eyes didn't smile at all.
Quinn let out a low, slow breath, the news hitting him once, twice, and then for a third time.
"Give me a minute to process this." Quinn muttered. Noah grabbed the sake bottle.
"Take your time. I took a week to process it. You can have at least that much time." Noah mumbled.