Seth gave a brief reply.


    “My friends always say I have a great personality, but honestly, I owe it all to my parents. I grew up in a loving, stable home, so I don’t have any of those personality issues you see in people from, well, less fortunate families. They tend to be harder to get along with–touchy, insecure.”


    Bianca paused deliberately for effect before adding, “Like Secretary Gilmore, for example. I’ve heard her family situation wasn’t so great. Poor thing.”


    Seth’s tone turned impatient. “Why even bring her up?”


    Bianca just smiled innocently. “Guess I was feeling a little too sympathetic.”


    With Rosalind in the hospital, it was only natural for Noreen to stay and take care


    of her.


    She’d rushed over in such a hurry, she hadn’t brought anything with her, so now she needed to dash home and grab a few essentials.


    Before leaving, Noreen let the nurse know, then hurried off toward the elevator.


    Every minute counted–she couldn’t afford to be away long.


    She reached the elevator just as the doors were about to close.


    “Hold the elevator!” she called out.


    She jabbed the button, and the doors slid back open just in time.


    Relieved, she stepped inside–only to freeze when she saw who was already there.


    Bianca’s surprise was obvious. “Secretary Gilmore? What are you doing here? I thought you went back to the office.”


    Seth, standing beside Bianca, wore his usual mask of indifference. Noreen’s appearance didn’t spark so much as a flicker of recognition in his eyes; he looked at her like she was any other stranger.


    Out of politeness, Noreen answered Bianca’s question with the minimum effort.


    “Someone in my family is sick.”


    Bianca made a sound of feigned interest. “Oh, what a coincidence–my mom’s in


    the hospital too.”


    Noreen had neither the time nor the patience for small talk. All she wanted was to grab her things and get back before the nurses changed shifts.


    So she stepped into the elevator without hesitation, even if it meant sharing the ride with people she’d rather avoid.


    As the elevator descended, Noreen stood at the front, eyes fixed straight ahead on


    the doors.


    Behind her, Bianca chatted with Seth. “Seth, where are we having lunch? Going back to Willow Brook? I really like that ce–the atmosphere’s great, and the food’s not


    bad either.”


    “We’ll go to Willow Brook, then,” Seth agreed, quick to please.


    Honestly, after knowing Seth for seven years, Noreen had never seen him this amodating.


    He doted on Bianca, did whatever she wanted–utterly devoted.


    Noreen understood. Bianca had always been his first love, the one he could never forget.


    Thankfully, the elevator was fast. Before their conversation could drag on, the doors opened on the ground floor.


    Noreen slipped out without a backward nce.


    At the entrance, she discovered it was pouring outside. The heavy rain had stranded a crowd by the doors.


    Before she could push through, Bianca and Seth caught up.


    Bianca nced at the rain. “Ugh, it’s pouring. And at this hour, with all the traffic, it’ll be impossible to get a cab.”


    Seth never bothered to drive himself–he usually had a driver, or Noreen would give


    him a ride.


    Judging by Bianca’s tone, Seth’s driver wasn’t at the hospital today.


    Noreen felt a bad premonition and instinctively tried to disappear into the crowd.


    But Seth called out first. “Noreen.”


    She considered pretending she hadn’t heard, but the man blocking her path was built like a linebacker–she tried several times and couldn’t squeeze past.


    Seth was already striding over, looming above her.


    Left with no choice, Noreen faced him head–on. “What can I do for you, Mr.


    Harcourt?”