Noreen Gilmore had given Padgett Novak''s proposal some serious thought, but in the end, she turned him down-gently, but firmly.


    It wasn''t for any particr reason, really. It was just that when it came to love, her heart had long since gone numb.


    If she were thirty-well, maybe she''d have considered it. After all, that''s the age when people start weighing their options more carefully.


    Or if Padgett Novak were twenty-six or twenty-seven, she might have epted his offer, just to see where things could lead.


    But as fate would have it, Padgett was thirty-one, right at the age when everyone starts pressuring you to settle down.


    And she had juste out of a seven-year rtionship. Her heart felt like it was encased in ice-she simply wasn''t ready for anything new.


    If she said yes, she''d only be wasting Padgett''s time.


    In the end, she couldn''te up with a single good reason to string him along.


    Padgett, ever the gentleman, took her refusal in stride. Not a hint of resentment crossed his face.


    After dinner, as he walked Noreen to her car, he allowed himself to cross the line just a little. "Miss Gilmore, you really should try giving yourself a chance."


    Once they parted ways, Padgett got a call from Henry Brooke, inviting him out for a drink.


    Padgett hesitated for a moment before replying, "I feel like having a drink tonight."<fn02a0> The source of th?s content is FindN()vel</fn02a0>


    On the other end, Henry sounded surprised. "Something on your mind?"


    In Henry''s experience, Padgett had always been the picture ofposure and rationality—which was exactly why the family had chosen him for a career in public service. He was built for it.


    But this was the first time Padgett had ever suggested grabbing a drink.


    When they met up, Padgett nursed several sses in quick session, silent and brooding.


    It wasn''t until Henry pressed him repeatedly that Padgett finally admitted, "Got turned down by the girl I like. Not feeling great."


    "Who could possibly say no to you?" Henry was genuinely curious.


    Padgett had it all-looks, pedigree, impable manners. He''d been chased by girls ever since they were kids.


    So Henry really wanted to know who this mysterious woman was, the one who''d had the nerve to turn Padgett down.


    But no matter how much Henry pried, Padgett refused to say.


    And Henry knew that once Padgett mmed up, there was no point trying to force anything out of him.


    "All right, that''s enough. I actually have something serious to discuss with you," Henry said, stopping Padgett after he''d downed his sixth ss.


    "What''s up?" Padgett brushed off Henry''s hand and poured himself another.


    He knew his limits. He wouldn''t let himself get drunk.


    "You''ve been in Rivercrest City for about a year now, right? Ever heard of a guy named Vincent? Used to be the general manager at Ascendancy Group."


    "I''ve heard of him, but we''re not exactly close."


    "Any chance you could get in touch with him?"


    Padgett frowned, thinking it over. "I can try. Why? What are you after?"


    Henry didn''t bother hiding his intentions. "A couple days ago I went to Harborview City to meet with Mrs. Joyner wanted to talk about the Centrio acquisition, but she wouldn''t even give me a chance.


    guess she thinks Brooke Group doesn''t have what it takes in the tech sector."


    "So I figured maybe I could partner with Vincent. He''s got the know-how and the experience, I''ve got the capital. That way I''d have something to bargain with when I go back to Mrs. Joyner."


    Padgett nodded. It was a solid n. He promised he''d try to make the connection.


    But another name came to mind,


    and he mentioned it to Henry. "Have


    you thought about bringing Winrich


    into this? Noreen''s sharp,


    forward thinking and she''s got that InnoCore project up her sleeve. Plus, she''s got all the right connections in the Rivercrest Chamber of Commerce. Working with her would be a win-win."


    To his surprise, Henry''s face clouded over at the suggestion. "Let''s leave Noreen out of this."


    He had no patience for women who, in his mind, schemed their way to the top by cozying up to men.


    People like that had no ce as his business partners.


    Even though Mrs. Joyner herself had cleared Noreen''s name in a video call,


    Henry still harbored a deep-seated prejudice.


    Maybe Castle Joyner, with his rigid sense of integrity, hadn''t fallen for her tricks.


    But what about Seth Harcourt?


    He''d seen it with his own eyes.