Noreen hadn’t slept well for days, and tonight, insomnia <b>kept </b>her <b>wide </b><b>awake</b>,
She tossed and turned for what felt like hours, unable to drift off.
A little after eleven, her phone buzzed–a message from ire.
ire sent over seven or eightwyers‘ WhatsApp contacts, some well<b>–</b>known, others found through friends of friends.
She was doing everything she could to help Noreen.
Since sleep was out of the question, Noreen figured she might as well talk to thesewyers.
At first, every one of them sounded confident, promising the moon. But the moment she mentioned her case was against Aurelion Group’s legal team, the
conversations dried up.
Things were even trickier than Noreen had imagined.
After all, she had willingly signed that contract herself.
Just that fact alone was enough to lose her the case.
Taking this to court was a dead end.
If the other side decided to drag things out for years, her career would be over.
So, her only option was to go through Seth.
Which meant, like it or not, she’d have to deal with him again.
The realization made her clench her jaw in frustration.
Poetic justice, she thought bitterly. Who told you to fall head over heels and forget to use your brain? This is the price you pay.
ire messaged: “So what now?”
Noreen steeled herself. <b>“</b>I’ll just have to swallow my pride and push through.”
ire was genuinely impressed. “Noreen, you’ve finally woken up! I’m proud of you!<b>” </b>Well, betterte than never.
Awakening, she realized, is only one percent from others‘ reminders. The other ny–ninees from being cut to pieces by life.
The <b>next </b>morning, Noreen arrived at the office early.
Seth came in with nca. Seeing Noreen quietly at her desk, he <b>felt </b>reassured
So her odd behaviortely really was just a tantrum directed at him.
He’d given her a simple exnationst night, and she’d fallen right back <b>in </b><b>line</b>,
Seth was pleased with Noreen’s sense of propriety.
After entering his office with Bianca, he pressed the inte and asked Noreen <b>to </b>bring in two coffees.
Noreenplied without a word.
“Seth, can you take another look at my presentation? See if there’s anything else I should fix?” Bianca’s voice was soft and syrupy.
“Didn’t I already help you with itst night?”
“I made a few more changes.” Bianca’s tone was almost childlike.
Noreen couldn’t help but wonder–how did someone even manage to talk like that?
Seth patiently reviewed Bianca’s slides. Noreen set a stack of documents on Seth’s desk. “Mr. Harcourt, these papers need your signature.”
“Leave them there,” he replied, eyes never leaving Bianca’sptop.
Noreen quietly slipped out. She sent the finalized meeting agenda to Sophia, then left Aurelion Group.
She made sure to remind Sophia: if Mr. Harcourt asked, just say she was organizing theunch party.
Every time one of Aurelion Group’s subsidiaries went public, they hosted avish celebration. Noreen had always handled the arrangements, and this time was no
different.
No one would question her excuse–not even Seth.
By 9:30, Noreen was at the hospital. She headed straight to Rosalind’s room.
No change–Rosalind’s condition hadn’t improved.
When Noreen walked in, Rosalind instinctively nced behind her, as if expecting someone else.
22:06
<b>When </b><b>she </b><b>realized </b>Noreen was <b>alone</b><b>, </b><b>the </b><b>disappointment </b><b>in </b><b>her </b><b>eyes </b>was obviou
Noreen knew exactly who she was hoping to <b>see</b><b>, </b><b>and </b>what <b>Rosalind </b><b>wanted </b>to ask Seth. But she couldn’t be honest with her, not yet.
<b>For </b>now, she could only let Rosalind focus on getting better.
While waiting for Dn for half an hour, Noreen got a message from <b>Sophia </bining about work.
“Noreen, do you know what just happened at the investmentmittee <b>meeting</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>