Seth stared at her for a long moment before finally speaking, his voice cold and low. “Is it that you couldn’t get it, or you just don’t want to tell me? Noreen, you’re happy to use my connections, yet this is the attitude you give me? Is this how you handle people?”


    Noreen suddenly realized how much Seth loved lecturing others.


    He was positively paternalistic.


    She honestly didn’t know how she’d put up with it before.


    Well, she certainly couldn’t anymore.


    “How I handle people is none of your business, Mr. Harcourt.”


    A flicker of something darkened Seth’s eyes. He narrowed them, his tone sharp with anger. “And you think you get the final say on that? Who exactly gave you the guts to talk to me like this?”


    “Dn?”


    “Or Carman?”


    With every name he uttered, he moved closer, crowding her space.


    And with that, came that confusing scent that was both familiar and foreign–a faint trace of women’s perfume.


    Noreen had smelled that perfume before. On Bianca.


    She turned her face away, stepping back until there was a healthy distance between them. Only when she could no longer catch a hint of that fragrance did she finally look at him again, her gaze colder than ever. “As long as it’s not you, Mr. Harcourt, that’s all you need to know.”


    Seth’s eyes narrowed further, his voiceced with mockery. “Funny, your never used to be this bold.”


    Noreen’s reply was even, almost indifferent. “Maybe that <b>just </b>means <b>you </b>


    never really knew me.”


    Her tone and expression were so calm, her emotions so steady, it was almost unsettling.


    She hadn’t even been away from Aurelion Group that long, yet she’d already learned this kind ofposure.


    Their unpleasant exchange did nothing to dampen her spirits.


    Because–Eastvale Corporation’s Mr. Naylor had scheduled a meeting with her for the very next day to discuss the project in detail!


    As for whether Seth managed to buy Bianca’s favorite cake, Noreen didn’t know, and frankly, she didn’t care.


    The meeting with Mr. Naylor went smoothly. However, he did have one condition.


    He wanted Noreen’s team to put together a prototype first–even a rough one–so he could evaluate it before deciding whether, and how much, to invest.


    Noreen trusted Carman’s abilitiespletely and felt sure Mr. Naylor would be impressed.


    But the real problem was whether she had enough funds to support Carman in building that prototype.


    Before she could get too anxious about the money, Carman called to say someone hade by the studio looking for her.


    Noreen was puzzled–she honestly couldn’t imagine who would go out of their way to find her there.


    She hurried over, only to find Jennifer waiting for her.


    “Surprised?” Jennifer greeted her with a warm hug.


    Noreen nodded. “A little! How did you even find this ce?”


    “I was on a business trip overseasst week, but your project has been on my mind. My return flight had ayover in Rivercrest City, so I thought I’d


    stop by and see how you were doing.”


    Once they’d sat down, Jennifer gave her a concerned look. “So? How’s everything going? Still on track?”


    Noreen gave a wry smile. “You know as well as anyone, Mr. Shaw, starting a business is never easy.”


    Jennifer tried to encourage her. “Don’t get discouraged. Sometimes you just have to hold on. After the storm, there’s always a rainbow.”


    It was the kind offort that could only go so far, but Noreen appreciated the sentiment.


    At least Jennifer genuinely cared.


    “I actually came for another reason too.” Jennifer pulled a check from her purse and ced it in front of Noreen.


    “I promised I’d invest in your project. Even though you haven’t reached out to me since, I always keep my word. Consider this my investment.”


    The amount was hardly insignificant.


    One million dors.


    Jennifer said, “I’m in as an investor only. I won’t get involved in any decisions. If the project takes off, just give me a share of the profits ording to my stake. If it fails, well, that’s the risk I’m taking. No pressure.”


    It was the most generous deal an investor could offer.


    And it showed Jennifer’s faith in her.


    “Mr. Shaw, thank you for your trust. But I have to remind you, this project is only just getting off the ground. Getting in now means you have to be ready for the long haul with us.”