Raging but with Sympathy

Mason Parker is still the top on the list. That noble and rich man who silently goes in and out of A&E like he isn't a porn star, a man of nature, perseverance, and hard work, a man Noelle never tamed… even with that kind of beauty.

Next to the list was King Schneider and another name that wasn't on Noelle's top actors.

Flashing the 6th to 10th, she saw the name of Cole Rodriguez, the CEO himself, topping off Blake Villano, who got lowered down in the rankings. Joe seen it, too, and he turned to Noelle, asking, "Cole Rodriguez is also a porn star?"

Noelle felt like she had to explain it, but Joe was more focused on the names. Some of it must have ring the bell or heard it once, but Noelle wouldn't clear it like her name for transparency. Joe deserved to know everything that has happened in her after they call it off.

Their relationship may not have beautiful memories together, but she learned so much.

Noelle didn't answer and waited for the woman's list. When new names were shown on the board, Noelle anticipated the woman's ranking. The anthem of the A&E flourished to the climax when the first actress was flashed on the screen.

Someone else took off the throne, but the other ones, like Caroline, is still on top 5.

Monica Ellis was strong in her position at top 20.

Noelle got afraid that she'll not be seeing her name in the top 50, or even in the lower down. She just wished that her hard work would have such a progress, but not on leap. Noelle gripped both of her hands together and let the anticipation and fear creep to it.

When the rankings between 60 to 80 are shown, Noelle isn't expecting her name and the most gorgeous picture captured to be sitting at 61.

She jumped from the lobby chair and exclaimed, like it was the greatest achievement she'll ever had. Joe saw her name and got confused. Noelle was so happy that when she flunked back down, she threw her arms around Joe and squealed some more.

She looked similar to a little girl who got rewarded with a medal.

Noelle didn't bother to look at the rest of the rankings as she had seen her name already.

This is going to be a good luck and the time for celebration. She should visit her mother if she had the time to do so. Joe was still bewildered, and so, to clear his bombarding thoughts, he conveyed, "Why is your name there? What is the meaning of that?"

Noelle bit her bottom lip and released Joe from her embrace. Oh, she hadn't clear it up.

With how happy she was, she stood up and nodded in her shoulder.

"Let's have a coffee and I'll clear everything to you, Joe."

Noelle isn't uncomfortable with their interaction today. It is such a natural thing that both of them got reconnected once in their life. With their connection inside work, it wouldn't be swept aside that they can hang out, too, but not always. Noelle was tired of even becoming like Blake, because she wasn't like him.

Cole was making her heart full, unlike Joe and Blake.

Yeah, if she were to even compare, Cole was the first one among them. She met him literally a decade ago—it was years before she was introduced to Joe, and even Blake, who was just a recent one.

Noelle ordered two coffees and some snacks to satisfy their stomachs.

Joe commented about the lovely weather outside: neither too hot or too cold. Just a minimal sunlight and a dim in the clouds, perfect for a lovely walk, and a long talk. Noelle was amazed by how his words are perfectly arranged, an attitude he can never scrape off. It must be engraved in his bone.

"I still wonder why you haven't got another girl with your behavior," Noelle complimented.

Joe chuckled, retrieved his knife, and sliced the croissant.

"I don't like any other girl besides you." Joe was straightforward.

Noelle widened her eyes and hitched her breath. She felt it deep in her core, even though she promised to let her heart beat only for Cole. But, third parties will make you catch feelings, even though you tried hard to control them.

"Well, even if I am not the girl, you… can find someone else, right? You know, definitely your type," Noelle changed the topic. She doesn't want to talk of the past, and just focused in the present. Noelle had a knack of becoming a better person more than the yesterday her.

"I didn't find any. Plus, I can look at you and I can hang I every day."

Joe James Kent is sweet. Though, Noelle had to call it off from him because she's tired of asking for dates. He's sweet in words, but not through actions. Noelle's love language was not the same as his, so they didn't click. Calling it off was the best than staying inside the toxic relationship.

Right now, it never faded from him. Noelle was still mesmerized how she had that from day one. If she was single, she'd give it a try to him, but Cole is in the image. She wouldn't throw a man off the bus.

"I already have someone, Joe. I think that's for the better case, since the two of us met in college, and it's one of the best years of my life. You're an amazing person, and I wanted you to meet someone who is deserving than me."

Joe was a bit sad. He looked out of the window and apologetically smiled.

"If only you're single, I'll try to make a move on you again."

Noelle felt uneasy with the talk of the relationship, and so, she headed on another road.

"So, about the rankings you saw earlier, it is a basis of our income as a porn star. So, when you shoot up that ranking, you became rich. Since I reached top 60, I'll be having at least 5 digits of income, more or less 70 grand."

Joe was shocked. It isn't what he was expecting.

"So, I can now sustain myself, my mother, and I can pay off my debts in a month. It was big enough for me to buy a new house or a new car. And… to tell you, it's nice to have that money big enough for emergencies."

Joe sipped from his coffee and asked, "So that's why you abandon your degree and move on to becoming a porn star that doesn't have any…"

Noelle smiled. She expected it to happen.

"Well… I needed money. So, even if I have a wrecked reputation and dignity, I'll swallow it whole. There is nothing wrong with that, right?"

She beamed in grace, afraid that her backfire would soon result to a greater fight.

"I'm so proud of you, Noelle, for dealing with those hardships. But I am still not in favor with that line of work you chose. We had dreams before, and I practically know that you pursued it, but I think we both had a name in success. I'm not judging you."

Joe raised a hand, and Noelle just nodded. It was good that he speaks his mind far better than before.

She assured, "It's completely fine, Joe. We have different perspectives in lives."