<b>Chapter </b>157


    As Bianca stepped off the stage, Jude was already waiting for her with a beaming grin. “My goddess, honestly! You have no idea how captivating you were up there. Only someone with a PhD in economics from a top university could carry herself like that–so poised and confident, you just radiate this sense of authority.”


    He gave an exaggerated sigh. “If I’d known, I would’ve ordered you a bouquet!”


    Biancaughed, teasing him, “Aren’t youying it on a little thick? Seth didn’t say a word.”


    “Maybe not out loud,” Jude shot back, “but you should’ve seen him–he recorded your whole speech on his phone!”


    Bianca nced over at Seth, curiosity lighting her eyes. “Let me see then. I hope you didn’t catch my bad side.”


    Seth started to reply, but Jude jumped in, “Come on! With a face like yours, every angle is your good side.”


    Still, Bianca insisted, reaching for his phone.


    Before Seth could hand it over, a familiar voice echoed from the speakers.


    Noreen had taken the stage.


    She looked nervous, almost out of ce. Her hair was a bit disheveled, makeup smudged from helping backstage. At first nce, people probably thought she was one of the event staff.


    It wasn’t until Noreen picked up the microphone that the audience realized she was the sixth speaker.


    Jude let out a low chuckle. “She actually went up there. Unbelievable!”


    Bianca blinked in surprise. She hadn’t expected Noreen to be on the roster. Did that mean Noreen’s project had made the shortlist too?


    A faint furrow formed between Bianca’s brows.


    Noticing, Jude leaned in. “Rx. She’s nopetition for you. With your presentation as the benchmark, she’s just setting herself up to be the punchline of the night.”


    Bianca raised an eyebrow. “Why do you say that?”


    Jude just gave her a sly look. “Just wait–you’ll see.”


    He was so confident because he’d overheard the backstagemotion. Originally, Carman was supposed to give this speech, and Carman had written all the notes and slides. Noreen might’ve nced at them, but that was hardly the same as being prepared.


    Noreen volunteering at thest minute? She was bound to embarrass herself.


    Jude even pulled out his phone, ready to record Noreen’s blunder and share it with their inner circle chatter–for entertainment, and maybe as a warning. Good luck to her ever showing her face in Rivercrest City after tonight.


    On stage, Noreen took a deep breath before speaking.


    10:03


    “First, I want to apologize,” she said, voice steady but honest. “I’m <i>not </i>a professional, and I probably can’t do our product justice tonight. In fact, until ten minutes ago, I wasn’t even supposed to be the presenter. I don’t have a script, and I didn’t have time to prepare any slides.”


    Her candor sent a ripple of murmurs through the audience–a crowd made up of industry leaders and well–known entrepreneurs. Everyone took this summit seriously. Except, apparently, her.


    Jude couldn’t help but snicker, nudging Seth with his elbow. “What a disaster, right?”


    But Seth’s expression was ambiguous, giving nothing away.


    Bianca noticed, but didn’t dwell on it. Her focus was fixed on Noreen.


    After her confession, Noreen paused. She knew what kind of impression this would make, but facts were facts.


    She could’ve tried to bluff her way through, but if she botched the presentation, everyone would just think she was ipetent.


    Better to be upfront.


    This way, itself.


    if the pitch didn’tnd, the me would rest on herck of preparation–not the product


    And she had enough faith in what she was presenting that she wasn’t worried about losing the


    audience’s attention.