“Mr. Selwyn! Mr. Harcourt is looking for Director Lowell right now. Why don’t you let her go for now? I’ll stay and have a drink with you,” Noreen said with a forced smile, stepping in front of Bianca to block his path.


    Mr. Selwyn narrowed his eyes at her.


    He found Noreen attractive too, but having his prize snatched away at thest minute left a bitter taste in his mouth.


    Everyone in business circles knew the unspoken rules. Noreen couldn’t possibly be oblivious, yet here she was, stubbornly ruining his fun.


    It made Mr. Selwyn’s temper re.


    Without warning, he grabbed his ss and flung the entire drink in Noreen’s face. “You think you’re so important? Why should I do you any favors? You’re just a lowly assistant. What gives you the right to tell me


    what to do?”


    The cold liquor sshed over Noreen before she could react. It dripped down her face and seeped into her cor, sending a chill through her that, oddly, helped her keep herposure.


    “Mr. Selwyn, you’ve thrown your drink and vented your anger. I’m taking her with me now. Enjoy your evening. We won’t trouble you further,” she said coolly, then took Bianca–who was limp from fright–by the arm and started to lead her out without a backward nce at Mr. Selwyn, no matter how loudly he cursed after them.


    At the far end of the corridor, Seth and Jude appeared, hurrying over.


    When he saw them, Jude called out, “Bianca!”


    Bianca, who had been so unsteady she needed support, instantly broke away from Noreen and rushed straight into Seth’s arms.


    He caught her and held her tightly.


    Noreen, shoved aside, stumbled into the wall and couldn’t have looked


    14:29


    more disheveled.


    By the time she’d regained her bnce, Seth already had Bianca wrapped up safely in his embrace, looking down at her with concern. “Are you alright?”


    Bianca’s eyes were red and watery, her voice trembling as she confessed, “I didn’t know Mr. Selwyn would get… handsy…”


    Seth’s face darkened. He nced sharply at Noreen, all tenderness gone, reced with icy suspicion. “Noreen, you’d better have an exnation for this.”


    An exnation? Would he listen if she gave one? Would he even believe her?


    It was pointless. Noreen knew all too well that no matter what she said, Seth wouldn’t trust her now.


    So she simply replied, her voice t, “I’m sorry. I made a mistake.”


    “One apology and that’s it? Is this how you handle things, Noreen?”


    See? Even when she admitted fault, he wouldn’t let her off the hook. He’d find a way to me her, no matter what.


    “It was my mistake. I’ll resign.” Noreen took off her work badge, her expression unreadable.


    A heavy silence fell over them, tense and suffocating.


    It wasn’t broken until Mr. Selwyn staggered out after them, forcing augh. “Oh, Mr. Harcourt, I had a bit too much to drink and mixed people up, you know how I am. My apologies–thank goodness nothing serious happened.”


    At the sound of his voice, Bianca shrank back, clinging to Seth.


    He pulled her closer, his face still grim. “Mr. Selwyn, maybe you should cut back on the alcohol.”


    “Yes, of course, Mr. Harcourt. I’ll remember your advice.”


    14:29


    “Seth, I don’t feel well…” Bianca whimpered, voice wavering between fear


    and neediness.


    Seth shot Mr. Selwyn a final cold look, ignored his two–faced apologies, and led Bianca away, leaving Noreen to deal with the mess.


    He knew exactly what kind of man Mr. Selwyn was, but he still left Noreen alone to cope with the fallout.


    Noreen felt utterly numb, as if all the life had been drained out of her.