This time, though, the voice and the way he looked at Seth were noticeably


    different.


    There was something else in his eyes–a hint of affection.


    After leaving the hospital, Seth called Noreen on his way back.


    He only meant to ask how long she nned to rest and when she’d be back at the office.


    Noreen wasn’t there, and the woman filling in for her, Sophia, had made a total mess of things. Seth had never felt so out of sorts.


    But what caught him off guard was that Noreen’s phone was switched off.


    In the past seven years, that had never happened.


    Seth frowned deeply, realizing for the first time that Noreen wasn’t quite the same as before.


    He couldn’t say exactly how she’d changed; he just knew she had.


    Noreen took three days off before returning to work.


    No sooner had she set foot in her office than Sophia came rushing over to unload her grievances.


    “Noreen, thank God you’re back! Anyter and you might not have found me alive–l was nearly worked to death.”


    “What happened?” Noreen asked, still in surprisingly good spirits.


    After seven years of being treated like a workhorse, she’d finally had a taste of her own life. It felt good. All her previous frustrations seemed to have evaporated.


    “What happened? You know perfectly well what Mr. Harcourt is like! These past few days, I thought I’d lose my mind dealing with him!” Sophia was clearly at the end of her rope, desperate to vent about Seth, the office tyrant.


    “He’s really that bad?” Noreen tried tofort her.


    “Of course! You know how he is–impossibly demanding with a sharp tongue. Make the tiniest mistake and he’ll tear you to pieces! Noreen, how did you survive all these years?<b>” </b>


    <b>12.01 </b>


    Sophia genuinely couldn’t imagine what Noreen’s daily life had been like for the


    past seven years.


    Noreen knew Sophia wasn’t exaggerating.


    Seth’s reputation for being difficult was well–earned–Noreen had known it from her very first day.


    She’d only managed to stick it out this long thanks to sheer stubbornness and grit.


    In the end, she’d lost badly, but at least it wasn’t toote to start over.


    “Isn’t there a board meeting today? You’d better get ready–it’s one of the most important meetings this quarter.”


    That was the main reason Noreen chose to return to work today.


    But Sophia shook her head. “It’s been canceled. They moved it to next Monday.”


    Noreen, who had just started drafting the meeting agenda, paused mid–sentence. “Canceled?”


    “Yeah, Mr. Lowell took some personal days, so Mr. Harcourt rescheduled the meeting for next week.”


    Suddenly, it all made sense.


    It was for Bianca.


    Everything fell into ce–Seth had bent the rules for her before.


    Noreen deleted the meeting files without a second thought, hardly surprised.


    After venting, Sophia looked much more rxed. She turned to Noreen. “By the way, you seem differenttely.”


    “Do I? How so?”


    “You look different! You used to wear those stiff, severe suits every day, with your hair pulled back so tight you looked ready for battle. Now you’re so much softer–and honestly, you look beautiful! That lipstick color really suits you, too.”


    “Beautiful, huh?” Noreen asked with a smile.


    Sophia nodded enthusiastically. “Absolutely!”


    Noreen’s mood lifted even more.


    But the feeling barelysted a few seconds before Seth’s name shed on her phone.


    “Ms. Gilmore,e to my office. Now.”


    Sophia, who’d clearly been traumatized by Seth these past few days, instantly wilted


    at the sound of his voice. “Nope, I’m not here, you didn’t see me.”


    With that, she scurried back to her desk.


    Noreen’s bright morning instantly clouded over at the sound of Seth’s call.