?Chapter 86:


    Though Norah had drunk, she didn’t feel the effects of alcohol. She lowered her gaze and inquired, “Where’s Phillip? Why wasn’t he with you?”


    “Susanna had called him over,” Sean replied casually, his breath carrying a strong scent of alcohol that was somewhat intoxicating.


    “What did you want to borate on just now, Mr. Scott?” Norah asked, fiddling with her fingers and gazing out the window as if the conversation didn’t concern her.


    “There’s an auction next weekend, and I’d like to invite you to my date, Norah,” Sean exined.


    Norah raised an eyebrow in surprise. “An auction?”


    “The Scott family is hosting the auction, and many prominent figures from Glophia will be there. I need apanion.”


    “With important people from Glophia? Why me?” Norah’s eyes drooped, and there was a touch of sadness in her expression. Amidst the divorce proceedings with Derek, Norah felt like she, Derek, and Madeline had be theughingstock of Glophia. Why did Sean choose her to be hispanion at the auction?


    “In my view, reputation is something given by others. But personally, I don’t pay much attention to it,” Sean interjected. “I’m more interested in discerning a person’s character firsthand.”


    Norah chuckled lightly. “You seem to have your own criteria for friendship. Apart from Phillip and your bodyguards, I haven’t noticed anyone else.”


    “Anyone by your side?” Sean maintained hisposure despite Norah’s teasing. “Well, I have quite a few friends. I’ll introduce you to them sometime.”


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    Norah waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, don’t bother. I was just making conversation.”


    “So, what do you say about apanying me to the auction?”


    Norah turned her head, wanting to decline, but catching sight of Sean’s earnest expression, she held back her rejection. “It would be my pleasure.”


    Unknown to Norah, Sean, despite having attended many social and business events, had never had apanion before. A faint smile graced Sean’s lips as he pulled out a cigarette, offering it to Norah. “Care for one?”


    Norah declined with a shake of her head. Although she drank, she disliked the smell of cigarettes.


    With slender fingers, Sean flicked the lighter, igniting the cigarette. Inhaling deeply, he blew out smoke rings, the white haze framing his sharp jawline and exquisite features. The wristwatch on his cigarette-holding hand emitted a subtle glow, adding to his mature demeanor.


    Sean lowered the car window, allowing some of the smoke to dissipate. Norah found herself captivated by Sean’s alluring smoking habit. The lingering scent of smoke tickled her nose, stirring emotions within her for quite some time.


    The following day, Norah tended to patients at the Hayes and Scott households. In the afternoon, she arranged to go shopping at the Splendor Building with Joanna, intending to pick out an outfit for the uing auction. “I heard about the Scott family’s auction.”


    “My family got an invitation. Did Mr. Scott really ask you to be hispanion? What does that mean?” Joanna said, beaming as she linked arms with Norah.


    She hadpletely forgotten what had happened during her drunk state, failing to recall her outspoken words about Sean. “Maybe it’s because we’ve been spending more time togethertely.”


    “Yeah, I don’t know,” Norah responded.


    Joanna shook her head. “You don’t understand. Mr. Scott has never had anyone by his side at such events. You’re the first.”


    Norah was momentarily taken aback. She was the first?


    “I’m not sure what’s going on with that Amabel from the Morris family. But since Mr. Scott has picked you as hispanion, Amabel probably isn’t relevant,” Joanna analyzed confidently. “Did you go back with Mr. Scott yesterday? Did you ask him about his rtionship with Amabel?”


    Norah replied nonchntly, “Just friends.”


    “Seriously, just friendship? There are many types of friendships, including romantic rtionships, which also fall under this category,” Joanna mocked bluntly. “If he truly wanted to rify the rtionship between him and Amabel, he would’ve beenpletely transparent about it.”


    “I don’t care,” Norah’s tone was cold. “Besides agreeing to apany him to the auction, I have no feelings for him. His personal matters are of no concern to me.”


    At the reception, a professionally dressed woman with stray hair neatly tucked behind her ear asked, “Excuse me, is the CEO’s secretary position avable? I’m here for an interview.”


    In her twenties, the woman possessed a clear, delicate face, refined features, and a tall stature, emanating a confident air.


    The receptionist nodded. “Yes, please provide your resume, and I’ll pass it on to HR.”


    “Kindly await their response.”


    The woman retrieved her resume from her bag and stated calmly, “I would like to be interviewed today.” The receptionist hesitated. “That’s not the usual procedure.”


    The woman pushed a gift box to the receptionist, who epted it silently. “Please wait here. I’ll inform HR.” Following the interview, the HR representative stood up, extending a handshake with a smile. “Miss Morris, I’ve reviewed your resume. It fits well with thepany’s position and future goals. Can you begin on Monday?”


    “Absolutely,” Amabel nodded and, before departing, inquired, “Is the chairman currently present?”


    The HR representative shook his head. “On weekends, the chairman sometimes drops by, but he’s not here at the moment.”


    Amabel felt a wave of disappointment and simply replied, “Okay.”


    At the Splendor Building, Joanna grasped Norah’s hand as they entered a luxurious BelleVogue store. Pointing at a dress on the wall, Joanna eximed, “Norah, this dress is gorgeous! Do you want to try it on?”


    Norah smiled but hesitated. “I don’t know… I wasn’t nning to buy anything today.”


    Joanna grinned. “It’s just a try-on. Come on, it’ll be fun!” As they walked toward the dressing rooms, a voice called out from a distance.


    “Can you afford it?” Kathy’s mocking voice echoed through the store.


    Norah turned to see Kathy and Madeline entering the store together. Madeline smiled gently but spoke with a subtle edge. “With Mr. Scott and Mr. Hayes, Miss Wilson could likely afford BelleVogue’s luxury items even without Miss Andrews. Don’t you think?”


    Kathy sneered. “She’s only got money from leeching off rich men. When she was with my brother, she was constantly asking for money to buy things. I distinctly recall seeing an expensive item in her closet, the same one she wore in the video you showed mest time.”


    “It cost millions! Does my brother make money that easily? Marrying a spendthrift who dropped a million on one dress is a catastrophe.”


    Kathy fixed her gaze on Norah, her words dripping with disdain.


    Norah remained silent. Kathy pressed on, “Actually, I shouldn’t question your ability to afford BelleVogue’s clothes. After all, with the assets of the Andrews family, the Hayes family, and the Scott family amounting to tens of billions, luxury is hardly a concern for you.”


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