Noreen heard every word, crystal clear.


    Bianca asked, “Seth, is there anything you’d like to eat? Or would you rather order yourself?”


    Seth replied, “You go ahead and choose. I’m not picky.”


    Noreen nearly burst outughing at that.


    She was afraid she’d actuallyugh out loud ande off as rude, so she hung up immediately and messaged Seth on WhatsApp.


    “Send me the location.”


    Seth, not picky?


    That had to be the funniest joke she’d heard all day.


    She’d never met anyone as fussy about food as Seth.


    He wouldn’t eat most vegetables. Lamb and fish were off the table. He had strong opinions about how food looked and felt, too.


    How picky was he? Well, if he was eating barbecue ribs, they had to be cut into perfectly even pieces. If one looked odd, he wouldn’t touch it. Anything gooey or sticky was out of the question.


    Honestly, the man was a walking collection of quirks.


    In the seven years they’d known each other, the number of times they’d gone out to eat–just the two of them–could be counted on her fingers.


    Every time, Noreen would n ahead, researching menus and reviews, terrified she’d miss something and Seth would get upset.


    And now, here he was telling Bianca he wasn’t picky.


    How could someone be this much of a hypocrite?


    Noreen was genuinely impressed.


    While she was busy grumbling to herself, Seth sent over his location.


    She tapped to open it, zoomed in, and when she saw the name of the restaurant,


    she froze.


    Willow Brook.


    <b>1/3 </b>


    12:03


    Of course, Willow Brook.


    She exited the chat and opened Seth’s private messages. She searched for “Willow Brook,” and instantly, the relevant conversations popped up.


    Fromst March through Valentine’s Day this year, she’d mentioned wanting to try Willow Brook seven different times.


    The owner was someone she’d met during a work project–Joanne Pierce. Noreen had seen Joanne promoting Willow Brook on social media.


    The restaurant’s style and menu were exactly Noreen’s taste, <i>so </i>she’d been eager to visit since it opened.


    But a year and a half had passed since then, and she still hadn’t gone.


    Every time she’d brought it up with Seth, he was either “too busy” or he’d agree and then cancel at thest minute.


    After being stood up so many times, eventually her enthusiasm just fizzled out. After Valentine’s Day this year, she stopped mentioning it altogether.


    Now, Noreen couldn’t even remember thest time the two of them had gone out


    for a meal alone.


    It felt like ages ago–so long that the details were starting to blur.


    A brief pang of disappointment shed through her, but she shook it off and opened her GPS.


    One nce at the route, and she felt a surge of frustration.


    Willow Brook was clear on the east side of Rivercrest City, while she was all the way on the west side.


    Which meant she’d be missing her own lunch break.


    Damn it…


    Her mouth itched to let out a string of expletives, but she managed to hold back.


    Noreen ended up crossing half of Rivercrest City. By the time she delivered the package <i>to </i>Willow Brook, Seth and Bianca had already finished their meal and were waiting out front.


    She had no idea how long they’d been standing there, but the impatience was written all over Seth’s face.


    213


    12:03


    Bianca, in contrast, looked perfectly polite. When she took the package from Seth’s hands, she even offered a courteous, “Thank you, Secretary Gilmore.”


    Noreen’s stomach was aching, her mood already fraying at the edges, so she forced a tight–lipped smile and replied, “No problem. It’s what I do, after all.”


    Bianca blinked, caught off guard.


    Seth shot her a cold look, brows knitting together. “What’s with the attitude?”


    Wow. Quick to defend, aren’t we?


    No wonder she’s the golden girl.


    The


    power she held was on a whole other level.