Noreen said yes.


    ire messaged her on WhatsApp, asking how the interview went.


    Noreen replied that everything went smoothly.


    ire sent a flurry of celebration emojis and insisted Noreen owed her a meal.


    Noreen agreed and told her to pick any restaurant she liked.


    With that, ire practically skipped off to start browsing ces.


    Noreen waited for about half an hour before HR returned, her expression visibly changed.


    A knot of unease twisted in Noreen’s stomach. Something was off.


    “I’m really sorry, Miss Gilmore. Mr. Suthend decided not to move forward.” The HR manager handed Noreen back her résumé, looking apologetic. “I’m sorry for taking up your time.”


    Noreen epted her résumé calmly enough.


    She was disappointed, of course, but this wasn’t the first time she’d been


    in this situation.


    After a while, repeated rejection got easier to swallow.


    “Could you tell me why Mr. Suthend turned me down? If it’s something you’re allowed to share?” Noreen asked, genuinely seeking feedback.


    The HR manager shook her head. “I’m afraid I don’t know.”


    Noreen didn’t want to press her further, so she thanked her and left.


    While waiting for the elevator, ire messaged her the name of the restaurant she’d picked.


    Noreen replied, “Sounds good.”


    As the elevator doors slid open, footsteps and voices echoed behind her.


    Voices so familiar they made her skin prickle.


    Just her luck.


    It was Seth–and Bianca.


    Seth really couldn’t go anywhere without Bianca these days.


    “Mr. Harcourt, you’re too kind! I never expected someone of your caliber to personally handle a project like this. I’m truly ttered,” Mr. Suthend


    was saying.


    Seth responded, “Director Lowell is taking the lead on this one. She’s juste back from overseas and isn’t too familiar with the local yers yet.


    I’m here to make sure she feelsfortable.”


    Mr. Suthend caught the drift immediately. “So Mr. Harcourt is here to back Director Lowell up.”


    Bianca shed a gentle smile. Her tone sounded helpless, but she was really showing off.


    “Seth just worries about me too much. I can handle things myself, but he insists oning along. I couldn’t talk him out of it.”


    Even with her back to them, Noreen could feel the tidal wave of their sweetness washing over her.


    She clenched her résumé into a crumpled ball, emotions she’d kept tightly locked away suddenly crashing to the surface.


    Noreen turned to face them.


    “Miss Gilmore, you’re still here?” Mr. Suthend recognized her–he’d just seen her résumé ten minutes ago.


    He hadn’t expected her to be even more striking in person, and for a split second, he regretted rejecting her so quickly.


    Noreen wasposed, her gaze ncing briefly over Seth before


    settling on Sean Suthend. “Mr. Suthend, may I ask why you rejected


    07:28


    my application?”


    Sean hadn’t expected her to be so direct. He was momentarily at a loss for words.


    “Was it something you discovered during yourpany’s background check that led you to turn me down?”


    “Uh…” Sean started to sweat.


    “Since Mr. Harcourt is here, if you’re unclear on anything, why not ask him directly? I’d love to know how Mr. Harcourt would answer.” Noreen’s eyes met Seth’s, her expression steady, almost numb.


    She wanted to know: after seven years of pouring her heart and soul into everything–for Seth, what did it all mean?


    All those nights spent tangled together, all that trust and devotion–did any of it matter to him?


    Seth didn’t look away.


    There was a hint of a smile on his lips, but it never reached his eyes. His gaze, a cool brown, was distant and <i>cold</i>.


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