Noreen barely had time to calm Ramsey down before he hung up on her.


    She was about to call him back when Seth’s number shed across her screen.


    She had no choice but to answer.


    “Come to Rivergate.”


    Seth’s voice was curt, brusque–amand, not a request. He hung up before she could say a word.


    Noreen hesitated for a few seconds, then made up her mind to go to Rivergate. She wasn’t going for Seth, though. This was about AeroEdge and Ramsey.


    AeroEdge was the project she’d chosen, something she’d poured her heart and soul into from the start. She’d been the one to chase Ramsey down, reworking proposal after proposal to finally get him on board. The idea of just walking away now felt impossible.


    But this meant she had to cancel her appointment with Dr. Harrison, and she could already imagine the earful she’d get as a result. She promised him she’d cooperate fully with her treatment once things calmed down.


    When her ne touched down in Rivergatete that night, rain wasing down in sheets and the temperature had dropped sharply. She’d left in such a hurry that she hadn’t packed anything, and now a dull ache had settled in her abdomen, making everything feel even worse.


    She forced herself to grab a cab to the hotel. By the time she checked in, it was past midnight.


    It waste, but she wanted to speak with Seth about the AeroEdge situation before


    morning–she didn’t want to risk confusing Ramsey or derailing the next round of


    talks.


    As soon as she got into her room, she didn’t even bother to dry her rain–soaked hair before dialing Seth.


    The phone rang several times before someone finally picked up.


    Before Noreen could say a word, a woman’s voice came through the line.


    “Seth, Secretary Gilmore is on the phone.”


    Seth’s reply was muffled, indistinct–she couldn’t make it out.


    11:58


    The woman, Bianca, ryed the message: “Secretary Gilmore, Seth’s in the shower. Maybe you could call backter?”


    Noreen felt a strange tightness in her throat.


    “It’s nothing urgent,” she said quickly. “I won’t bother Mr. Harcourt.”


    She ended the call.


    Alone in her hotel room in the middle of the night, with a man and woman sharing a suite just down the hall, it was easy to imagine where this was going.


    Rain battered the window, and as she stood in front of the ss, she couldn’t shake a chill that seemed to seep right into her bones.


    Rivergate really was colder than Rivercrest City.


    The ache in her lower abdomen was getting worse. When she finally made it to the bathroom, she realized her period hade nearly a week early–and it hurt more than ever before.


    Sweating and pale, she called the front desk for help, asking them to bring up painkillers and sanitary supplies.


    When the staff arrived and saw how white her face was, they looked genuinely rmed.


    “Miss Gilmore, would you like us to take you to the hospital?”


    Noreen shook her head. “No, thank you. The painkillers should help.”


    Still, the staff lingered. “If you feel worse, please call us right away.”


    “I will,” she promised.


    But somehow<i>, </i>she made it through the night. By morning, though, she looked awful–makeup did little to help. She could only hope Seth wouldn’t make a fuss; he hated when employees showed up to work looking less than their best.


    Still taking her medication for her stomach, Noreen made her way to the hotel restaurant just in time to grab a bite.


    As she arrived, Seth and Bianca were just leaving, breakfast finished.


    The three of them met at the doorway.


    Bianca greeted her first. “Just getting up, Secretary Gilmore? There’s hardly any food left.”


    213


    11.58


    Noreen kept her expression neutral. “Yeah, I’m a bitte.”


    Seth didn’t look at her. He nced toward the hotel entrance, then turned to speak with Bianca.