“Take us to the restaurant.”
Seth’s tone was curt, leaving no room for negotiation.
Just like before–he summoned her when he pleased and dismissed her just as easily.
But Noreen wasn’t the same woman she once was.
She wasn’t going to run after him anymore, desperate for even a scrap of his
attention.
Her voice was calm,posed, refusing to bend to his will. “Willow Brook isn’t far from here, Mr. Harcourt. You can easily call a cab.”
Seth’s frown deepened, impatience flickering in his eyes as he reminded her, “Don’t forget, you’re driving apany car. I decide how it’s used.”
Noreen felt the energy drain out of her all at once.
He was right.
The car belonged to Aurelion Group.
Aurelion Group belonged to Seth.
None of it had anything to do with her now, even after she’d devoted herself to Seth and hispany for seven long years.
Swallowing the ache in her chest, Noreen handed him the keys. “Here. It’s yours.”
She was done–with the job, with him. There was no reason to keep the car.
All of these things–her job, the car, every privilege–had been gifts from him. And <i>now</i><i>, </i>he was taking them back, one by one.
Her reaction was almost unnaturally calm, her expression soposed that Seth hesitated for a moment.
Lately, she seemed like a different person.
But he couldn’t quite put his finger on what had changed.
A strange sense of unease gnawed at him, as though something important was slipping away and he didn’t even realize what it was.
Noreen looked up at him, her eyes–still a little red from earlier–growing cold, as
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t and lifeless as a dead sea.
She spoke slowly, her tone distant, “Mr. Harcourt, if there’s anything else of yours, I’ll return that as well.”
Seth lifted his gaze, his features as sharp as ever, but his eyes held no warmth.
“What’s with the attitude?”
Cold rain pressed against the windows, seeping its chill into the air, but it was nothingpared to the numbness settling in Noreen’s heart.
So even now, he thought she was just being difficult?
“Fine. Call it whatever you want.” She didn’t bother to exin or defend herself.
When your heart finally goes cold, all you can do is step back and let go.
She knew all too well that if confessing her pain would only spark another argument, then there was no point in clearing up old misunderstandings.
Sometimes, silence and a clean break are the only answers left.
Without another word, Noreen turned and strode out into the rain, not looking back.
She had no more time to waste on Seth.
Seven years–it was enough. More than enough.
The early winter rain was bone–chilling, but Noreen hardly noticed. Her slender figure quickly disappeared into the downpour.
“What’s wrong with Secretary Gilmore?” Bianca asked, clearly out of the loop.
Seth nced away, his voice t. “No idea. Forget about her. Let’s just go eat.”
He shrugged off his jacket and draped it over Bianca’s head. “It’s not far. Let’s run
for it.”
Under Seth’s protection, Bianca made her way safely into the car. She caught a little
rain, but not much.
“This rain’s freezing,” she said, rubbing her arms for warmth.
Seth thoughtfully turned up the heater.
Once she’d warmed up, Bianca started chatting. “Secretary Gilmore seemed off today. Are you sure she was here because of a sick rtive? That’s quite a coincidence, considering this is the oncology wing.”
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Her words were casual, but she was fishing for Seth’s reaction, trying to gauge his feelings for Noreen.
After all, Noreen had been by his side for seven years, even if Seth had never made her status public.
Bianca couldn’t help but feel a little wary, even if she didn’t see Noreen as a real threat. It wasn’t unusual for a man like Seth to have other women around before she came along. She could ept that–so long as <i>those </i>ties ended now that she was here.
Seth’s response was cool, almost indifferent. “Was she? I didn’t notice.”