<b>Chapter </b>165


    Just as Noreen had expected, their trip to Harborcrest City proved to be a windfall.


    They ended up staying an extra day, tagging along with Jed to meet numerous industry heavyweights and business leaders.


    Several promising partners expressed strong interest in working with them, but these things take time–partnerships are never struck in a single meeting. There would be <i>more </i>negotiations down the


    line.


    At least now, Noreen wasn’t losing sleep over funding anymore.


    Dn had flown back a day ahead of them. Knowing she was due back the next day, he called her first thing in the morning, asking when her flight wouldnd in Rivercrest City.


    Noreen assumed he was just making small talk, so she told him.


    She never imagined he’d show up at the airport to pick her up in person.


    Noreen felt a little embarrassed about troubling him like this.


    “You’re in high demand these days–I have to keep a close eye on you. If someone poaches you, how am I supposed to hit my KPIs?” Dn teased, half–joking.


    Noreen thought he was being dramatic.


    “You’ll see soon enough if I’m exaggerating,” Dn replied with a knowing smile.


    It didn’t take long for his words to ring true.


    Noreen hadn’t even made it to the office when Sophia called, saying several groups of people had stopped by the studio that morning asking for her.


    The most enthusiastic among them was Yves. He’d already dropped by twice yesterday, and today he was back again–the first to arrive. He even bought coffee for the entire team to show his sincerity.


    Being this popr was starting to give Noreen a headache.


    She could handle these visitors, but she worried that so much foot traffic might disrupt everyone


    else’s work.


    Which meant she had another pressing task.


    She needed to rent an office.


    Back when she was pinching pennies, she’d borrowed a desk from Carman as a makeshift workspace. No one was interested in investing in her project then, so she’d had zero visitors, and never disturbed anyone else.


    But those days were over.


    Now she had to start considering the work environment for the rest of her team.


    And with meetings with potential partners on the horizon, she knew showing up without a proper office would be unprofessional.


    10:04


    Noreen was never one to drag her feet; once she made up her mind, she acted.


    On a whim, she decided to skip the office altogether and head straight to a real estate agent.


    She told Dn he could just drop her off at any spot where he could park.


    “Noreen, do you really think I’m thatcking in chivalry?” Dnughed.


    “I just don’t want to take you away from your work,” she said.


    After all, as an executive VP at Omniva Group, his schedule had to be busier than hers.


    But Dn shrugged it off, insisting he wasn’t busy–and besides, she was <i>now </i>an important Omniva client. Meeting with her counted as work.


    Noreen had to admit, she couldn’t argue with that logic.


    Carman, on the other hand, wasn’t buying it. As a man himself, he could spot Dn’s little tricks from a mile away.


    In the end, Carman ended up calling a cab to the studio, while Dn apanied Noreen to the real estate office.


    After an afternoon of touring properties, Noreen came to a conclusion: picking an office was asplicated as choosing a husband.


    The location had to be right, themute convenient, and the rent affordable.


    Sure, money wasn’t tight anymore, but she still believed in spending wisely–a principle she’d always lived by.


    After dragging Dn all over town, Noreen insisted on treating him to dinner as thanks.


    They chose a nearby restaurant, and as luck would have it, ran into some acquaintances as soon as they walked in.


    No sign of Seth this time–just Jude and Bianca.


    For once, Jude didn’t act like a rabid dog when he saw Noreen. He was unusually well–behaved. Whether it was genuine or just for show, she couldn’t tell.


    Bianca, ever gracious, turned to Dn and said, “Since we’ve bumped into each other, would you like to join us?”


    She deliberately ignored Noreen, focusing only on Dn.


    But Dn’s answer was the same as always. “No, you two go ahead. Noreen and I have some work to discuss.”


    10:04