<b>Chapter </b>155


    Jude was desperate to prove himself, to finally make a mark that would force people to see him in a new light. He was tired of being the butt of every joke, the guy nobody believed would ever amount to anything.


    So he wandered around the exhibition hall twice more, hoping to stumble upon something–anything–that could give him a breakthrough. But luck wasn’t on his side; he came up empty–handed.


    Feeling deted, Jude overheard Noreen and Carman talking about a presentation speech. His ears perked up instantly.


    Wait–could they have made it onto the shortlist for the main event?


    No way. That was impossible.


    At a summit of this level, the featured product list was practically set in stone before anyone even arrived. If you wanted in, you needed powerful backing, top–tier investors vouching for you. You needed to be willing to pour money into research, to pay whatever it took to recruit the best talent. Even if your project looked unimpressive at first, you’d still get plenty of shots to turn things around.


    But Noreen? She didn’t have that kind of clout.


    Jude had heard plenty of stories about her hustling for funds all over Rivercrest City–he’d even run into her on a few of those asions himself. He was sure she didn’t fit the profile.


    The only other way onto the shortlist was if your product was truly exceptional–so outstanding that the organizers simply couldn’t ignore it, even if you had <i>no </i>connections at all.


    But that couldn’t be it. No chance.


    It must have been some backdoor trickery that got them in.


    Yes, that had to be it.


    After all, in Jude’s mind, Noreen was exactly that kind of person. Hadn’t


    07:301


    Chapter <b>155 </b>


    she always wormed her way into ces she didn’t belong? The only reason she’d managed to stay by Seth’s side all those years was because she knew how to y dirty.


    If Bianca and Dn’s rtionship hadn’t soured, and Seth hadn’t finally gotten his shot with his old me, Noreen might have actually gotten


    what she wanted.


    Jude had to admit–Noreen was good at this sort of thing. He’d underestimated her before, but never again.


    He couldn’t let her seed. He had to think of a way to trip her up, to make sure she lost out on this opportunity.


    Keeping his distance, Jude eavesdropped by the wall and soon learned that Carman would be the one presenting their product on stage.


    He scoffed under his breath. So Noreen didn’t even have the guts to get up there herself. She clearly didn’t have any real confidence in her own


    work.


    Bianca, on the other hand, wasn’t afraid–she’d be presenting her own project. Noreen must be terrified of embarrassing herself in front of


    everyone.


    Typical. Always scheming.


    Noreen, meanwhile, had no idea anyone was listening in. Her entire focus was on helping Carman prepare for the speech.


    “Don’t be nervous when you go up there,” she reminded him gently. “If you start to panic, just take a deep breath and pretend everyone in the audience is just the housents in your office. Imagine you’re giving the demo to them, not to people.”


    “That’s actually a thing?” Carman asked, surprised.


    “Yeah. Someone once taught me that trick.”


    Carman wanted to ask who, but seeing the look on Noreen’s face, he decided against it.


    07:31 A


    She really didn’t want to borate–because it was Seth who had taught her that trick, back in the day. Just like she’d told Carman before, for all his other faults, Seth had been a pretty good boss. He had a sharp eye, whether it was for projects or for people, and he knew how <i>to </i>spot potential. His sess had always seemed inevitable.


    Well–at least that was how she used to see him. These days, with Seth letting his personal feelings for Bianca cloud his judgment, Noreen could barely bring herself toment.


    The order of the main product presentations would be decided by random draw.


    When Noreen showed up for the drawing ceremony, Bianca was taken aback for a moment–but quickly collected herself. There was no need to let Noreen get under her skin.


    If Noreen was here, it had to be either dumb luck or some underhanded


    tactic. Bianca was convinced it was thetter.


    But maybe that was for the best. Noreen would only end up making a fool of herself.


    By the end of this, she’d have embarrassed herself so thoroughly that even Seth wouldn’t bother sparing her a nce–and Dn probably wouldn’t either.


    Bianca still hadn’t forgiven Dn for backing Noreen’s project. And then there was that little gold citrus nt he’d given her… Bianca couldn’t stop thinking about it, like a splinter lodged deep in her s