So Seth had brought Bianca to meet Mr. Naylor for the sake of that Al Initiative Bianca was working on.


    He really went out of his way–pulling strings all over town just for her.


    Noreen took out the business proposal she always kept on hand and handed it to Mr. Naylor, answering his questions with practiced ease. No matter what he asked, she had a ready, articte response for everything.


    She noticed a new glint of appreciation in Mr. Naylor’s eyes as their conversation went on.


    By the time Seth returned, Noreen had nearly wrapped up her pitch.


    After all, she was the one benefiting from his connections tonight, so she ‘made a point of greeting him politely.


    He acknowledged her with a brief nod, his eyes barely lingering on her before moving past to Mr. Naylor. “What are you two discussing?”


    Mr. Naylor had just begun to exin when Seth’s phone started buzzing with message notifications–someone was clearly eager to reach him.


    “Carry on. I need to reply to something,” Seth said, sitting off to the side. He pulled out his phone, his attentionpletely absorbed as he began responding.


    Out of the corner of her eye, Noreen glimpsed the familiar profile picture lighting up his screen.


    Bianca.


    Well, that exined a lot.


    He was so preupied with Bianca’s messages that he was perfectly content to leave Mr. Naylor waiting.


    Not that Noreen minded, of course. In fact, she was secretly relieved–his


    distraction gave her even more time to discuss her project with Mr.


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    Naylor.


    And things really did y out just as she wished.


    Seth barely said a word for the rest of the meeting, utterly absorbed in his conversation, a faint smile drifting across his face now and then–tender, indulgent, so gentle it was almost jarring to witness.


    In the seven years she’d known him, Noreen had never seen this side of Seth before. The man who always drew a strict line between business and pleasure, who could go days without replying to her messages, was now neglecting important business and ignoring everyone else just to chat with the woman he adored.


    It had never been Noreen’s fate to inspire that kind of devotion.


    For a brief, fleeting moment, she allowed herself to mourn the woman she used to be–the woman who had once loved so humbly, almost to the point of disappearing.


    But it passed quickly. She tucked away the thought, indifferent now.


    She didn’t love Seth anymore, so seeing this double standard no longer stung. All she wanted was to throw herself, heart and soul, into her work.


    The meeting ended on a high note–Mr. Naylor was deeply interested in her project, and for the first time in ages, Noreen felt a glimmer of hope after all those months stuck at rock bottom.


    When the crowd was finally dispersing, Seth–still busy texting–stood up atst, put his phone away, and said goodbye to Mr. Naylor.


    As soon as Mr. Naylor left, Noreen’s smile faded. She was ready to head out without another word when Seth’s voice stopped her.


    “By the way, Noreen, where did you used to order my birthday cakes from?”


    She paused, frowning, puzzled by the sudden question. “Why do you


    ask?”


    “Bianca wants some cake,” Seth replied, his tone as cool and


    ???


    20:25


    disinterested as ever. “I don’t care for sweets, so I never paid attention to that stuff. I just remember the cakes you brought tasted pretty good. I want to get one for her.”


    Oh. So it was for Bianca, of course.


    Noreen managed a small, wry smile. “You can give up on that idea, Mr. Harcourt. You won’t be able to buy those anywhere.”


    Seth’s brow furrowed, his voice growing impatient. “What <i>do you </i>mean, I can’t buy one?”


    Because those cakes were never store–bought.


    She remembered all too well. Knowing he didn’t like sweets, she’d gone out of her way–squeezing time out of her packed schedule to learn from a baker, testing and tweaking recipes again and again until she finally made a cake he didn’t mind eating.


    But she’d never told Seth any of this. So of course he’d assumed she’d just picked something up from a bakery.


    And she had no intention of telling him now. It simply didn’t matter


    anymore.


    “Mr. Harcourt, are you hard of hearing? I mean exactly what I said. You won’t find it anywhere.”


    Her voice was calm, but her expression was colder than the midnight air outside.


    <b>20.25 </b>