Halfway through the meal, Seth came out to settle the bill, and <b>Jude </b>followed right behind him.
He jogged to catch up, lowering his voice as he tattled, “Seth, Noreen’s here too–having dinner with Dn.”
Seth’s reaction was calm, almost indifferent.
Clearly, Noreen didn’t mean much to him anymore.
Jude felt a surge of smugness, but couldn’t help taking a jab at Noreen. “I wonder how she managed to cozy up to Dn. She’s not even being subtle about it, sticking so close to him.”
“Maybe this is hertest ploy tond herself a man?”
It seemed entirely possible to Jude. “Remember before, when she tried to get your attention by flirting with that recruiter? But you ignored her, so now she’s switching tactics. She’s really got a mind for scheming, hasnt she?”
“Got a cigarette?” Seth asked suddenly, cutting him off.
Jude was caught off guard. “I thought you didn’t smoke?”
“I’m just… a little on edge,” Seth muttered.
Jude wanted to ask what was bothering him, but one look at Seth’s expression made him swallow the question.
The “favor” Dn had mentioned turned out to be an invitation–he wanted Noreen to be his date to a formal event.
Noreen almostughed, thinking he had to be joking.
After all, with Dn’s status<i>, </i>there were plenty of women eager to be seen on his arm.
Cooing her skepticism, Dn decided to level with her. “I’ve <b>just </b><b>taken </b><b>a </b>
Chapter <b>by </b>
new position at Omniva Group. Everyone in Rivercrest <b>City </b><b>is </b><b>watching </b>my every move. I can’t afford a single misstep right now. You <b>get </b><b>what </b>I mean, right?<b>” </b>
Even though he didn’t go into details, Noreen understood exactly what kind of situation he was in.
The past couple of years, Omniva Bank had been aplete mess, with endless infighting and chaos.
Dn’s return to the country was clearly to clean up Omniva Group.
Anyone seen with him now would be scrutinized, their motives questioned.
“You seem to trust me a lot,” Noreen teased, feigning nonchnce. “What if I have my own agenda?”
After all, these events were all aboutworking and connections.
Dn just smiled. “If I’m asking you, I’ve already considered every possible oue.”
He leaned back, a yful glint in his eyes. “So, will you help me or not?”
“I’m in!” Noreen agreed right away.
Hesitating even a second was practically an insult to opportunity.
Dinner with Dn turned out to be a delightful escape. Whatever gloom Seth had left her in earlier was gone by the time she left the restaurant.
New people and new experiences really are the best cure for old attachments.
Dn insisted on driving her home, and Noreen didn’t have the heart to refuse.
He’d dropped her off once before, so this time he knew the way.
On the drive, Dn asked, “So, did you buy your ce or are you renting?” “Renting, obviously. Real estate around here is crazy expensive.”
Chapter <b>59 </b>
“With your sry, you could afford to buy a ce, couldn’t you?”
She probably could, if she took out a mortgage.
But it was something she’d never really considered. Partly because work kept her so busy, and partly because… well, she’d always assumed she’d marry Seth, so buying a separate ce just never crossed her mind.
After all, once you’re married, you live together, right?
Come to think of it, Seth’s current ce–the one he lived in now–she’d helped him pick it out.
Seth hadn’t liked the original interior, so Noreen had hired a design firm to redo the entire apartment.
Everyyout, every detail, even the smallest piece of decor–she’d chosen it all herself.
What had she been thinking back then?
She’d imagined it as the home they’d share in the future, so she poured her whole heart into it.
At the time, her own work was relentless, too–Aurelion Group was going public for the first time, and Seth was practically living out of a suitcase.