Noreen was caught between relief and worry.


    On the bright side, the trip hadn’t been for nothing. But she couldn’t help fretting–would the resources that Mr. Naylor had allocated be enough to keep their project running?


    After the dinner meeting, Noreen stepped out of the restaurant and immediately called Carman to update him about Northcrest’s position.


    Carman had been waiting anxiously for her call. He picked up so quickly that Noreen almost fumbled her greeting.


    Before she could say a word, Carman rushed to reassure her. “If we can partner with them, great. If not, I’ll figure something else out. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, alright?”


    He paused, sounding guilty. “I shouldn’t have sent you out there alone. Maybe I shoulde over–let me check for flights…”


    Noreen cut him off. “Don’te. It’s all sorted on my end.”


    “All sorted?” Carman sounded surprised.


    Her tone hadn’t exactly radiated victory. Noreen exined the situation honestly.


    “That’s no problem! I can work with that. Trust me, I’ll make this go twice as far in my hands.”


    Hearing his confidence, Noreen finally rxed. The trip had been worth it


    after all.


    “So, when are youing back?”


    Work aside, Carman’s real concern was for her.


    “I had a couple of drinks at dinner,” she admitted. “Not the best idea to travel tonight. I’ll head back tomorrow.”


    “You were drinking?” Carman sounded immediately concerned.


    08:10


    Chapter <b>134 </b>


    “It was for work. I didn’t have much choice.”


    “How’s your stomach? Are you feeling alright?”


    “I’m fine, really. I came prepared and barely had anything.”


    Carman still sounded unconvinced. “Did you book your hotel already? Don’t skimp–pick a good one, somewhere safe with decent service. Have them bring you some hangover soup or something.”


    Noreen couldn’t help butugh, cutting off his endless list of worries. “Don’t stress, I’m not drunk. I’m staying at a friend’s ce tonight.”


    Carman offered a few more words of caution before finally hanging up.


    Just then, she heard Bianca’s voice behind her, hushed as if trying not to interrupt, but loud enough for Noreen to catch every word.


    “Looks like she’s on the phone with someone close. Let’s not bother her.”


    Even after Carman had hung up, Noreen deliberately kept talking into her phone, stalling for time–anything to avoid theirpany. As she’d hoped, Bianca and herpanion left her alone and drove off together.


    Probably heading back to the hotel, she guessed, though she didn’t pay them much mind.


    Instead, she dialed ire.


    ire’s assistant answered, exining that ire was filming an all–night scene and wouldn’t be home anytime soon. She told Noreen to go ahead and crash at ire’s ce, not to wait up.


    Noreen hesitated, then asked for the address of the filming location.


    Once she had it, she called a cab straight to the set.


    ire hadnded a supporting role in a crime thriller, ying a police officer–a part with plenty of action scenes.


    When Noreen arrived, ire was just about to shoot a dive from the ten–meter tform. She watched, heart in her throat, as ire took a deep breath and leapt, despite her mild fear of heights.


    08:40


    Noreen stood below, palms sweating, and asked ire’s assistant why she’d taken such a grueling role.


    “The pay’s good,” the assistant replied simply.


    A wave of emotion washed over Noreen. Her chest tightened, and her nose stung with the threat of tears. She knew, without a doubt, that ire was pushing herself this hard–for her.