“So, Mr. Harcourt, what’s your assessment of me over the past seven years? I’m actually quite curious to know.”


    Noreen repeated the question, her voice steady and unwavering.


    Bianca was just as eager to hear the answer. After all, this was about Noreen’s standing in Seth’s eyes.


    A flicker of something stormy crossed Seth’s gaze, but it faded as quickly as it appeared, reced by his usual cool detachment. His voice was as emotionless as ever, cold and distant. “My assessment? As a secretary, you were… passable. As for handling projects-” He let out a dry, dismissive chuckle.


    That single, indifferentugh said it all.


    Contempt. Mockery. Disdain.


    Even a hint of scorn.


    Seven years of her youth, and this was all she got in return–a careless,


    offhandment.


    Maybe loving too much was her biggest mistake.


    Noreen’s face turned pale. She had thought her heart was already numb, immune to his contempt, but it still ached at his words.


    Fortunately, seven years in the corporate trenches had taught herposure; she managed to keep her voice even. “Looks like really failed, then. Still, thank you for your honesty, Mr. Harcourt.”


    Without hesitation, she looked away from him and turned to Sean with an apologetic smile. “Looks like Mr. Suthend was right to turn down my job application. Sorry for the trouble. Goodbye.”


    Seth stood there, watching her head for the elevator, watching her retreat until she finally disappeared from sight.


    Only when the elevator doors slid shut did Bianca finally rx.


    <b>1/3 </b>


    <b>07:28 </b>


    So she’d been overthinking it after all. Seth truly didn’t care about Noreen. Even when Noreen was at rock bottom, he hadn’t shown her a shred of


    mercy.


    Bianca’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. “Let’s go, Seth.”


    Seth nodded. “Yeah.”


    Later that evening, Noreen and ire shared a pleasant dinner.


    Noreen hid her feelings well, not letting a trace of emotion slip through. In that moment, she was deeply grateful for the self–control she’d honed during seven years of corporate battles–enough to fool even ire.


    No one knew that behind her calm exterior, her heart was a battlefield–wounded, raw, and bleeding.


    They hadn’t finished eating when ire’s agent called: she needed to catch ate flight out of town for an audition.


    Noreen insisted on ending dinner early and drove ire to the airport.


    ire was reluctant to leave. “I really wanted to spend more time with you… but work calls.”


    “Work’s important, and I’m honestly fine now.”


    “Are you sure?” ire studied her face intently.


    Noreen shed a bright, convincing smile. “Of course. I ditched the wrong guy, fixed my hopeless crush, andnded a new job. Life’s great!”


    Her act was wless.


    ire didn’t notice anything amiss, but an uneasy feeling lingered. “No matter what, Seth was your whole youth. Letting go is going to hurt–a lot.”


    Just for a moment–


    She almost broke.


    07-28


    Luckily, the airport announcement came on, distracting ire at thest second.


    “Go on, don’t miss your flight!” Noreen urged.


    ire finally boarded, ncing back several times.


    Noreen stood there the whole time, waving and smiling, not dropping her hand until the ne was out of sight. Only then did her arm fall limply to her side.


    After saying goodbye, Noreen caught a cab back home.


    About a mile from her ce, traffic came to a standstill because of an ident up ahead.


    She decided to get out and walk the rest of the way. It wasn’t far, and she was exhausted–emotionally and physically–from days of job hunting.


    Walking alone in the chilly night air, she felt numb and strangely pitiful.


    She’d thought leaving Seth would fix everything.


    Now she realized she’d underestimated reality’s cruelty–and overestimated Seth’s character.