Her clothes, soaked in alcohol, clung to her like a sheet of ice.


    Mr. Selwyn was still talking, but his words barely reached her ears. The noise of the crowd and the sight of Seth’s retreating figure blurred together until everything around her faded to gray.


    She had done everything to keep the peace, to minimize the damage, to preserve Bianca’s reputation and protect the partnership between Aurelion Group and Monarch Capital. She’d even spared a thought for Mr. Selwyn’s dignity.


    The only person she’d failed to consider was herself.


    And now, faced with her own humiliation, she had no idea what to do.


    The anger that had colored Mr. Selwyn’s face just moments ago had drained away, reced now with something almost like pity.


    “So, Secretary Gilmore, are you really nning to resign?” Mr. Selwyn asked, feigning concern.


    Noreen didn’t answer, just quietly dabbed her face with a napkin, trying to wipe away the alcohol.


    “If you’re serious about quitting, you could alwayse to Monarch Capital. I’d be happy to take you on,” he said, a half–smile on his lips.


    Noreen replied tly, “If I did that, you might lose your deal with Aurelion Group.”


    Mr. Selwyn fell silent.


    That was reality. No businessman would ever choose a person over profit.


    Seth was no different.


    Perhaps feeling sorry for her, Mr. Selwyn paused before leaving and said, with a meaningful look, “Your Director Lowell isn’t as simple as he


    seems.”


    14.29


    He didn’t exin further, but Noreen was sharp enough–she’d figure out


    what he meant sooner orter.


    Sophia hurried over, her eyes welling with tears when she saw Noreen’s state. Before she could say a word, Noreen reassured her, “I’m fine.”


    “I have some clothes you can change into,” Sophia offered, grabbing her hand. “They might be a size too big, but it’s better than staying in wet clothes. You’ll catch a cold.”


    Sophia’s clothes hung loose and shapeless on Noreen,pletely at odds with the elegant image she’d projected earlier. But Noreen couldn’t bring herself to care. When she returned to the ballroom, Seth was onstage with Bianca, both perfectlyposed.


    Bianca, who not long ago had been tipsy and unsteady, now stood radiant and poised. She’d even changed into a new dress–the very one Noreen had ordered for herself.


    In the end, it was Bianca who wore it.


    The two of them stood together in matching outfits, drawing every eye in the room. All around, people whispered about what a perfect couple they


    made.


    Thepliments reached Bianca, too. She glowed with satisfaction, basking in the attention.


    In that moment, Noreen understood exactly what Mr. Selwyn had meant.


    Adults. No one here was na?ve enough to miss the obvious.


    Bianca had gone along with Mr. Selwyn’s n for one reason: to get Seth’s attention, or–failing that—to make Noreen take the fall. She’d seeded on both counts, which was why she looked so triumphant


    now<i>. </i>


    Noreen stood quietly in the corner, watching the two of them side by side. The lights weren’t even that bright, but they stung her eyes.


    She was wearing fresh clothes. The room was warm. She was dressed more heavily than anyone else in the hall.


    14.30


    Still, she felt impossibly cold.


    Noreen let out a quietugh, not even sure what she wasughing at.


    At some point, Dn appeared beside her. Seeing her arms wrapped around herself, he shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.


    It was still warm from his body.


    Noreen steadied herself, managing a small thank you.


    Dn’s gaze lingered for a moment on the dazzling couple onstage before he turned to her, his voice gentle. “Don’t look.”


    Noreen nodded. “Okay.”


    By the time the party ended, it was already ten o’clock.


    14:30