Painful spectacle

Noah had remained quiet through this all and was still holding onto Laila, with his other arm now protectively around her waist. He hadn't left his position or let go of her for a second because he couldn't have his pregnant wife jump her ex or give him any opportunity to hurt her in any way. When he saw that she had finished saying what she wanted to say and Jake had run out of words to say himself, albeit for a different reason, he decided to reveal what he had done to show Jake he couldn't just get away with everything. That he wasn't the same untouchable guy that he was in high school nor that he himself was the weak, insecure guy that he could just take everything from including the love of his life. Especially the love of his life.

Noah was impressed with Laila. She had said everything that needed to be said in this situation and more. He knew she wasn't comfortable to discuss these things in public like this but now that the situation had come to this, she did what needed to be done. Noah imagined that if Jake hadn't been so stubborn in his denying of the truth, this painful spectacle could have ended long ago. But as it was, he was clinging on with every fibre in his being, forcing Laila to serve him the harsh truth over and over again. Each time, turning a bit colder. Being the kind-hearted person that she was, she did all of this while trying to safe Jake a bit of face. Something which he had been making quite difficult. Now there was nothing more she could do and it was time for him to intervene before Jake would start the crazy once more.

"Before you say anything else, I think you should admit defeat when it is clear that there is no chance of winning for you. Besides, I imagine that there are bigger things for you to worry about. Though I am usually not the type to kick a man when he is down, you seem like the type that hears actions louder than words. So, I prepared a little lesson for you that is going to cost you big time and ensure that you will remember it for the rest of your life. I prepared this gift for you ever since I heard from Laila that you bothered her at the airport and I am here today to deliver it to you."

Jake being the arrogant person that he was, looked at Noah with a disdainful look as he let out a condescending 'phfe' and said, "You will kick me? I would love to see you try. Little shy Noah, who couldn't even get the girl he had known since birth? If I hadn't slipped up you would still be pining for her from the side lines. What makes you think a person like you can touch even a hair on my head?"

Noah expected as much and already knew that Jake wouldn't take him seriously. So, he would have to let his actions show that he was no longer one to be messed with. That is the problem with arrogant people, they don't think that anyone can ever defeat them so they automatically look down on the competition, underestimating them in the process. Like a famous Chinese philosopher once said, 'There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent'. Jake was about to become a perfect example of that.

Noah just let out a huff of air through his nostrils as he quietly laughed from amusement in response to Jake's words. "Talk tough all you want but I am not that same guy and I got the girl in the end. You will find out very shortly that you might have been untouchable for me back then, you certainly aren't now. We all got older and for most of us that means growing up as well but it seems that even time wasn't able to change you. But I won't bother trying to teach you what it means to be a good person. Instead I will watch as you eat your words when you find out what I did and no amount of apologizing or pleading will help you then."

At this point Noah had gotten everyone curious as to what he had prepared and they all looked at him with curious stares, except for Jake, who was still arrogantly scoffing and looking down at him. Fortunately for Laila and Maria, his plan was about to be revealed. Noah glanced at his watch before he said, "I expect that you will be getting a call any second now to inform you that this big deal you were bragging about to your buddies, has fallen through. I advised them that if they had any desire to work with my company, now or in the future, they should steer clear of working with yours. I am sure by now that word has spread. So, you can expect other companies to soon follow."

Just like that, the second bomb that would destroy Jake's life as he knew it, was dropped. Jake had been unaware of who Noah had become. He had heard rumours of people who had seen the magazine he had been published in a few years back, but he hadn't taken it seriously. After that he hadn't heard about him anymore and he had assumed that that one article was all there was to it. Not knowing that Noah had decided to operate under an alias, away from the limelight, in order to protect his privacy and that of his family.