<h4>Chapter 22: Once Again</h4>


    Without responding, Noah moved. His first step was lightning-fast—a blur of motion that caught his opponent off guard. The sound of his sneakers squeaking on the asphalt echoed as he crossed over, left to right, leaving his defender frozen in ce.


    "What the—?!" the guy stammered, his confidence vanishing as Noah breezed past him, driving straight to the hoop.


    With a powerful leap, Noah soared into the air. The crowd''s gasps filled the court as he effortlessly mmed the ball into the basket, the rim rattling from the impact. The entire court fell silent for a split second before the crowd erupted in disbelief.


    "No way!" someone in the crowd shouted.


    "Did you see how high he jumped?!"


    "Who <i>is</i> this guy?!"


    Sarah watched from the sidelines, her heart racing. She hadn''t seen this side of Noah before, this raw,petitive energy.


    Her thoughts were a whirlwind.


    <i>"He''s incredible..."</i>


    Her eyes followed every movement, wide with astonishment, her hand gripping the seat beneath her.


    <i>"I''ve never seen anyone move like that..."</i>


    The yers regrouped, clearly rattled by the disy. Noah''s team passed him the ball again, eager to see what else he could do. This time, the opposing team switched defenders, putting their fastest guy on him.


    The yer, a quick-footed guard, tried to keep up with Noah''s movements, but it was like chasing smoke.


    With a sudden burst, Noah cut through the defence, spinning past another yer andunching a three-pointer from the arc. The ball sailed cleanly through the air before sinking into the without touching the rim—<i>swish</i>.


    "Impossible!" one of the opposing yers muttered, his eyes wide in disbelief.


    "Dude''s on another level..." another one whispered, shaking his head.


    On the sidelines, the spectators couldn''t keep quiet.


    "I''ve never seen anyone handle the ball like that! He''s not just good—he''s <i>crazy</i> good!"


    "Man, it''s like he''s ying in slow motionpared to everyone else!"


    Noah''s momentum was unstoppable. y after y, he outmanoeuvred the opposition with surgical precision.


    Whether it was driving to the basket with impossible speed or shooting from outside the three-point line with deadly uracy, he dominated the game with an ease that left everyone speechless.


    At one point, Noah faced a double team. Two defenders tried to trap him in a corner, but with a quick flick of his wrist, he sent the ball between the legs of one of them, spinning around the other. The crowd exploded in excitement as he took off again, rising for yet another dunk.


    "Someone stop this guy!" one of the opposing yers yelled in frustration, his voice tinged with desperation.


    "No one can!" his teammate replied, looking defeated.


    As the game neared its end, it was clear who the king of the court was. The scoreboard didn''t even matter anymore—the only thing people cared about was watching Noah put on a show.


    He was unstoppable, untouchable, and it seemed like he had an answer for every move the opposing team tried.


    Sarah, still watching in awe, couldn''t help but smile softly.


    <i>"This is Noah... He''s not just amazing at business, but at everything he does. Who is this man I''m with?"</i>


    <i>"Once Again, he surprises me with something new. First his driving skills, now his basketball skills that are allpared to top professionals."</i>


    Her admiration grew with every minute, the earlier blush on her cheeks deepening as she watched him in his element.


    By the time the game ended, the court was buzzing with chatter.


    "That dude''s NBA-level for sure."


    "Man, I''m just d I wasn''t on the other team..."


    The yers came up to Noah after the game, some pping him on the back, others just shaking their heads in amazement.


    "Dude, where the hell did you learn to y like that?" one of them asked, still catching his breath.


    Noah smiled modestly, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Just picked it up along the way."


    One of the taller yersughed, still in shock. "Picked it up? Man, you y like you were born on a court."


    The crowd started to disperse, but the whispers and awe didn''t fade. As Noah walked back toward Sarah, who stood up from the bleachers, he could see the admiration in her eyes. He grinned at her as if the whole game had just been a warm-up.


    "Ready for dinner?" he asked casually as if he hadn''t just put on the performance of a lifetime.


    Sarah nodded, her lips curving into a soft smile. "You''re... something else," she said quietly, her voice full of admiration.


    Noah chuckled and led her to the car, the echoes of the crowd''s cheers still hanging in the air as they drove off into the evening.


    Smelling himself after the match, Noah said "I need to take a quick shower, I don''t smell good."


    Noah raised an eyebrow in surprise as Sarah leaned in slightly, catching him off guard. She took a quick breath near his shirt before pulling back with a thoughtful expression.


    "Nope, you smell fine," she said with a light shake of her head.


    He blinked, not expecting that. "Rea#lly? After all, that running around?"


    She nodded, a gentle smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Yup. You''re good."


    He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Guess I''m overthinking it."


    Sarah''s eyes softened. "It''s okay."


    Noah smiled, feeling a warmth in the moment. "Alright, if you say so. Let''s head to dinner, then."


    After parking his far slightly further from An''s Gourmet to ensure non-preferential treatment.


    Noah and Sarah entered the elegant and refined atmosphere of An''s Gourmet, the soft ambient lighting and the delicate clinking of sses created a serene environment. Sarah nced around at the upscale decor, the polished marble floors, and the tables neatly dressed in white linens. She hesitated for a moment.


    "Noah, we really don''t have to eat at such an expensive ce," she said softly, concern in her voice.


    He smiled warmly, giving her a reassuring look. "It''s okay, Sarah. Trust me."


    Seeing his easy confidence, she nodded and followed his lead, still a bit hesitant but trusting his judgment.


    The moment they stepped inside, a well-dressed waiter greeted them. "Good evening. Do you have a reservation?" the waiter asked politely, scanning a small tablet in his hands.


    Noah shook his head. "No, but can we get a table for two?"


    "Of course, sir. Please follow me," the waiter said with a professional smile, gesturing for them to follow. He led them through the softly lit dining area, offering a prime table in the corner, which had an excellent view of the restaurant.


    As they sat down, Noah nced around, taking in the restaurant he had quietly acquired earlier. Everything seemed perfect on the surface—the staff was professional, and the atmosphere weing. But he wanted to observe how the evening unfolded without revealing his connection to the ce.


    Sarah, meanwhile, adjusted in her seat, still feeling a little out of ce in such an exclusive restaurant. "This ce is really nice," she admitted softly.


    Noah smiled at her. "You deserve the best, Sarah." She nced up at him, a light blush dusting her cheeks, but she didn''t respond, simply offering a soft smile in return.


    A few minutester, Noah nced around the room, noting the attentive service and polished ambience. He motioned for the waiter, who quickly approached with a professional, weing smile.


    "Are you ready to order?" the waiter asked, handing them the elegantly designed menus.


    Noah looked at Sarah. "Ladies first," he said with a grin.


    Sarah took a moment, scanning the menu, her eyes widening slightly at the array of dishes. "I think I''ll go with the pan-seared sea bass, served with saffron-infused risotto and a side of roasted heirloom vegetables," she said softly, ncing at the waiter for confirmation.


    "An excellent choice, miss," the waiter responded, nodding in approval before turning to Noah.


    Noah took a moment, considering his options. "I''ll have the herb-crustedmb rack, apanied by a wild mushroom and barley risotto, and a side of charred brolini," he said.


    The waiter smiled and noted down the order. "For drinks?"


    Noah nced at Sarah again. "Juice? What do you think?"


    She smiled and nodded. "Orange for me."


    Noah added, "I''ll go with freshly pressed apple juice."


    The waiter nodded. "Coming right up," and retreated, leaving them to enjoy the ambience and each other''spany.


    As Noah and Sarah were enjoying the quiet ambience, their conversation was interrupted by the approach of a middle-aged man. He was greasy, with thinning hair and a round beer belly that pushed against his ill-fitting suit. His presence immediately brought an awkward tension to the table.


    Without even acknowledging Noah, the man leered at Sarah. "Hello, miss," he said, shing a grin that failed to disguise his arrogance. "My name is Horace Wilkins. I''m the regional manager for Westworth Logistics. Surely, a beautifuldy like you shouldn''t be sitting here with some kid."


    Sarah''s eyes immediately flicked to Noah, who had been silent up to this point, sensing her difort. Noah''s expression hardened.


    Rising from his seat, Noah grabbed Horace by the cor in a swift, fluid motion. The suddenness of it left the greasy man gasping, his eyes wide with shock.


    "Who do you think you''re talking to, huh?" Noah growled, pulling Horace closer, his voice cold and authoritative. "This is my woman."