<b>Chapter </b>117


    Although Seth had only made a brief appearance, the atmosphere in the private room shifted noticeably.


    Even those who had been giving Noreen a hard time earlier now looked at her with a hint of sympathy.


    Noreen, however, quickly pulled herself together and resumed her pitch, trying to persuade a few of them to invest in her project.


    Drinks, of course, were unavoidable.


    No one could openly make things difficult, so they found subtler ways to target her.


    One ss of wine would somehow turn into three, forced on her with a smile.


    No matter how well Noreen could hold her liquor, there was no way she could outdrink ten people on her own.


    Halfway through, she excused herself to the restroom and threw up until her stomach waspletely empty.


    Feeling utterly drained, she slumped onto the toilet seat, rummaged through her purse, and pulled out a bottle of yogurt she’d brought


    along a trick to soothe her aching stomach.


    It was one of those survival skills she’d picked up over years of business


    dinners.


    Funny enough, it was Seth who had taught her this little trick.


    Back when she used to drink on his behalf at events, he’d always find ways to help her recover after she’d had too much, just so she could keep going for him.


    Sometimes, when she really couldn’t take it anymore, she’d pass out in thedies‘ room.


    Seth would alwayse and find her, dragging her drunken self out and


    20:25 0


    taking her home.


    That was how she’d survived all these years.


    She knew exactly how much she could drink, and when she needed to


    find a way out.


    Feeling a bit better, Noreen stepped out of the stall–and immediately ran into someone she recognized.


    It was Molly, Mr. Naylor’s assistant from Eastvale Capital.


    They’d met before at an Aurelion Group celebration; that night, Seth had even asked her to keep Mr. Naylorpany for drinks.


    “Secretary Gilmore? You’re here too? I didn’t see you earlier,” Molly eximed, surprised.


    Noreen paused, keeping herposure. “Is Mr. Naylor here tonight as well?”


    “He is. Your Mr. Harcourt invited him over to talk business.”


    “How’s it going?” Noreen asked as she leaned in close to the mirror, carefully fixing her smudged makeup.


    Molly washed her hands at the sink. “Pretty well, I think. That Director Lowell from your side–she can’t really hold her liquor. Two sses in and she was out. Mr. Harcourt seemed worried about her, said he’d take


    her home ande backter.”


    So he really does care, Noreen thought.


    Willing to go out of his way just to make sure the person he cares about gets home safe.


    For a moment, Noreen’s mind wandered.


    Molly lowered her voice, curiosity getting the better of her. “Secretary Gilmore, is Mr. Harcourt… interested in Director Lowell? They seem pretty


    close.”


    “What makes you say that?” Noreen replied, only realizing as she spoke


    <b>37:25 </b>


    that her lipstick had faded–she took it out and reapplied.


    “Well, the project they’re pitching tonight is still in the early stages, right? But Mr. Harcourt brought Director Lowell himself to meet with our Mr. Naylor. Isn’t that a bit unusual?”


    Unlike Molly, who seemed genuinely surprised, Noreen had seen it all


    before.


    This wasn’t the first time Seth had shown special treatment toward


    Bianca.


    He’d even apanied her to a minor funding meeting once, just for a small expansion project.


    When Noreen left the restroom, she followed Molly back to the private


    room to greet Mr. Naylor.


    In business, you couldn’t afford to miss any opportunity.


    Mr. Naylor remembered her, even joked that she looked much better tonight than at the celebration.


    Apparently, not wearing a cocktail dressst time had worked in her favor–it made her more memorable.


    Mr. Naylor, being from up north, could hold his alcohol.


    Noreen yed to his strengths, raising her ss to toast him.


    But he waved her off. “You’ve got a sensitive stomach, don’t push it. Tea will do just fine.”


    Tea made for better conversation anyway.


    Besides, she’d already had more than enough to drink–any more would


    have been torture.


    Brushing off the difort, Noreen put on her professional face and started discussing her project with Mr. Naylor.


    Hearing it was an Al initiative, Mr. Naylor looked confused. “Is this the same Al project Director Lowell mentioned? She brought it up earlier, but


    20.053


    honestly, I wasn’t all that impressed.”