<b>Chapter </b><b>133 </b>
After Mr. Naylor finished his conversation with Bianca, he finally turned to Noreen. “So, what brings you here today?” he asked.
Noreen finally had her chance to speak, and she wasn’t about to waste it. She threw herself into making her case.
When Mr. Naylor heard that Noreen was also interested in the database, a frown creased his brow. “Well, that’s a bit awkward. I’ve already promised
it to Director Lowell.”
Noreen’s heart sank and she grew anxious. “Mr. Naylor, we really need Eastvale Corporation’s support right now. You believed in our product from the beginning, didn’t you? Now that it’s finally ready, we just need thisst piece to make it a sess. I hope you’ll consider helping us
out.”
She poured Mr. Naylor another ss of wine and raised hers to toast him, doing everything she could to win him over.
But someone just had to spoil the moment.
Bianca, half–joking, chimed in, “I’ve heard you can really hold your liquor, Noreen, and now see it’s true. You’ve polished off half a bottle and you’re still steady as ever. What’s your secret? Care to share your tips?”
Before Noreen could answer, Seth spoke up first, his tone indulgent. “Why do you need to learn how to drink? You don’t. There’s no need.”
Bianca’s heart fluttered at his words, but she pouted yfully, “You can’t be with me every minute, can you? Sometimes I have to handle things on my own. It wouldn’t hurt to know a thing or two.”
She shot him a teasing nce. “Besides, you’re not exactly a heavyweight yourself. If I learn, I can help you out when you’ve had enough.”
She really was sweet and considerate.
No wonder Seth was so smitten.
<b>08:40 </b>
If she were a man, she probably wouldn’t be able to resist Bianca either.
Noreen, however, didn’t let their little disy distract her. She kept her focus, still determined to convince Mr. Naylor.
After all, she wasn’t Bianca. She didn’t have powerful connections or someone to back her up. If she wanted something, she had to fight for it herself.
Mr. Naylor actually seemed to be wavering, but he’d already promised Bianca. He couldn’t just go back on his word, could he? Besides, Eastvale Corporation and Aurelion Group were strategic partners. He owed them
that much.
He looked at Noreen with genuine regret, ready to gently turn her down.
Seeing his expression, Noreen’s heart dropped. Was she really going to leave empty–handed this time?
Just before Mr. Naylor could speak, Seth suddenly broke the silence with an out–of–the–blue question. “I heard Omniva Group invested in your project, Noreen?“,
The question was so abrupt, it caught Noreen off guard.
But Mr. Naylor’s expression changed immediately at the mention of Omniva Group.
Seth gave a soft, mockingugh. “So you really managed to get Dn on your side. I underestimated you.”
Bianca snorted too, her nce at Noreen openly dismissive, as if Noreen
had used underhanded means to secure Omniva’s investment.
Noreen bit back her frustration. This wasn’t the time for an outburst.
Keeping her emotions in check was a rule for surviving in the corporate
world.
She steadied herself, ready to try persuading Mr. Naylor again.
But suddenly, Mr. Naylor changed his tune. “Actually, there might be
another way. We could allocate a portion of Director Lowell’s resources
08:40
to you.”
Bianca’s face fell, clearly unhappy about Mr. Naylor’s sudden change of heart.
He quickly tried to reassure her, “But don’t worry, Director Lowell.
Eastvale’s database is extensive–sharing a small part with Miss Gilmore won’t affect your work at all. There’s no need for concern.”
Bianca was about to protest, but Seth spoke first, agreeing easily. “Let her have it. We’ve got the best algorithm engineers on our side. This won’t be a problem for us–in fact, it’ll just prove how good they are.”
Hearing that, Bianca rxed. “I have no objections, Mr. Naylor.”
“Then it’s settled!” Mr. Naylor said, delighted to have reached a win–win oue. He raised his ss to toast everyone, his mood light and
cheerful.