Jude had expected Noreen to fly into a rage.


    Instead, she just shed him a bright, amused smile and asked, “I heard you lost your father half a billionst year. Is that true?”


    “What’s it to you?!” Jude snapped, feeling as if she’d jabbed him right in the gut. He was instantly on edge.


    Lately, it seemed like everyone who crossed his path had to bring up that humiliating episode. If he wasn’t already half–traumatized by it, he was getting there.


    It was bad enough he couldn’t hold his head up around the Wilders anymore–did he really have to endure Noreen looking down on him too?


    “I could show you a way out, you know.”


    Her smile was dazzling.


    For a second, Jude was almost thrown off by it, his thoughts grinding to a


    halt.


    He blurted out, “What way out?”


    “You should be a screenwriter. I think you’d be perfect for writing those over–the–top soap operas.”


    Meanwhile, Bianca stuck close to Seth, making the rounds and meeting


    all sorts of new contacts.


    Once again, she witnessed just how much clout Seth carried in the business world–even though he was one of the younger faces in the


    crowd.


    But at events like this, influence and reputation spoke louder than age.


    It made Bianca even more certain that following Seth back home had been the best decision she’d ever made.


    <b>20:13 </b>


    Dn had been impressive in his own right; otherwise, she never would have followed him abroad in the first ce. But now, Omniva Group simply couldn’tpete with the meteoric rise of Aurelion Group.


    Maybe she’d hesitated before. Now, she was all in with Seth.


    “I really learned a lot today,” Bianca said to Seth when they found a quiet moment between handshakes and small talk. “Artificial intelligence is definitely going to drive the next tech revolution. We have to seize the opportunity.”


    Seth nodded, approving of her sharp business instincts.


    Bianca’s confidence grew. “By the way, I overheard quite a few people talking about this Al software called InnoCore. I tried out the beta myself–it’s honestly miles ahead of anything else on the market, and it’s not even the final product yet. I can see it making waves across so many industries; the potential is huge.”


    “Interested in getting involved with the project?” Seth arched an eyebrow


    at her.


    Bianca nodded. “Yeah, I’d like to give it a shot.”


    “Then go for it. I’ll always have your back.”


    That was Seth’s answer.


    !


    The sweetness of it warmed her to her core.


    From the moment she returned, Seth had always been supportive, no matter what she wanted to pursue. In her career, he was her biggest champion<b>; </b>in her personal life, he always seemed to smooth out every bump in the road. He made her feel safe–more than she’d ever expected.


    She <b>felt </b>a sudden urge to tell him how much it meant.


    <b>But </b>before she could<b>, </b>Jude stormed over, muttering under his <b>breath</b><b>, </b>“<b>What </b><b>a </b>disaster<b>,</b><b>” </b>


    <b>Bianca </b><b>tucked </b><b>her </b><b>feelings </b>away and asked <b>gently</b>, “<b>What </b><b>happened</b><b>?</b>”


    <i>213 </i>


    Chapter <b>149 </b>


    “Ran into Noreen.”


    Bianca had seen Jude’s deted look after run–ins with her before, so it wasn’t hard to guess why he was so riled up now.


    “Couldn’t you just steer clear of her when you see hering?”


    Jude bristled. “Why should I? Who does she think she is?”


    “That’s not what I mean. I just think, if she always gets under your skin, maybe it’s better to avoid her and save yourself the headache. Sometimes it’s smarter to walk away.”


    “And don’t stoop to her level,” she added.


    Jude liked that advice; the tension in his shoulders eased. “That’s why you’re the best, Bianca.”


    And then, as if he’d forgotten who else was there, he turned to Seth and dered, “Seth, you’d better treasure her. Women like Bianca don’te around often!”


    Seth rolled his eyes. “Did I ask for your input?”


    Bianca stifled augh and handed Jude a bottle of water. “Alright, calm down. It’s not the first time Noreen’s put you in your ce; no need to let it get to you.”


    But as she said it, Jude couldn’t help but recall every time Noreen had humiliated him. He was fuming all over again.