She answered every question as sincerely as she could.


    In the end, Noreen couldn''t take it anymore. She mped a hand over ire''s mouth, restoring some peace and quiet to the car.


    Just then, they pulled up outside the hotel where Noreen was staying.


    Before Noreen could get out, Padgett Novak leaned forward and asked what time her flight was the next day.


    ire caught on to his intentions in a sh and blurted out Noreen''s departure time before Noreen could even stop her.<fnf964> Chapters first released on find?novel</fnf964>


    Padgett justughed and said goodbye to both of them.


    Only after his car had driven away did Noreen pinch ire''s waist in


    exasperation. “ire, what exactly are you trying to do?"


    ire nted her hands on her hips. "You''ve decided to start a new life, haven''t you? That means it''s time to meet new men!"


    She grinned. "Padgett Novak''s not bad. Give him a chance."


    Noreen rolled her eyes heavenward and finally sighed out a line of hard-earned wisdom. "Men only ever slow me down from making money, got it?"


    Early the next morning, Padgett Novak showed up at Noreen''s hotel right on time, offering to drive her to the airport.


    Noreen would have loved nothing more than to run back upstairs, drag ire out of bed, and give her a piece of her mind.


    But Padgett was already standing in the lobby. Refusing him now would just be rude.


    So she got in the car.


    To his credit, Padgett kept the conversation light, never once bringing up anything that made Noreen ufortable.


    From their small talk, she learned he was home on vacation to visit his family and would be heading back to work next week.


    He personally saw her all the way to the gate. As soon as she walked inside,


    Padgett turned to leave-only to bump right into Henry.


    "What are you doing here?" Henry asked, surprised.


    "Just dropping off a friend," Padgett replied.


    Henry arched an eyebrow. "You realize your house is all the way across Northcrest from the airport. What kind of friend is important enough to get you up


    at four in the morning to y chauffeur?"


    Padgett just smiled and left it at that. "Just a friend."


    Henry wasn''t buying it. "A girl, right? The one you like?"


    Padgett patted his shoulder and nodded toward security. "You''d better get going. Don''t want to miss your flight."


    Henry chuckled as Padgett walked away. "Sure, keep your secrets. Let''s see how long you can keep this up."


    He was in a rush, so he didn''t press further.


    It wasn''t until he boarded the ne that he realized Noreen was in the seat right next to his.


    Noreen saw him too, but her gaze barely lingered before she looked away.


    Henry frowned and, when the flight attendant walked by, asked, "Excuse me, is it possible to switch seats?"


    He had no desire to spend the flight sitting next to her.


    The flight attendant offered a polite smile. "I''m sorry, Mr. Brooke, but you''re in first ss and all other seats are taken."


    Scowling, Henry had no choice but to stay put. He edged as far away as possible, making it clear he wanted nothing to do with Noreen.


    Not that she seemed to notice-she never nced his way again.


    Fortunately, it was a short flight. Henry managed to endure.


    As soon as the nended, he was up and out the door.


    Noreen calmly gathered her things, and by the time she stepped into the arrivals hall, Sophia Cole was already waiting.


    Sophia whisked Noreen straight to Ascendancy Group headquarters.


    Today was the first joint meeting between Ascendancy Group and InnoCore after their partnership began.


    Bianca chaired the meeting, but to Noreen''s surprise, Henry turned up in the conference room as well.


    The vice president of Ascendancy exined that Ascendancy was about tounch a new project with the Brooke Group and Henry was there to evaluate it content


    The exnation checked out.


    Bianca was confident in her preparations, but less than five


    minutes into her presentation, Noreen raised the first.


    objection-pointing out a w in


    Bianca''s data.


    Bianca''s expression cooled instantly.


    Henry''s eyes were cold and impassive as he nced at Noreen, his tone faintly mocking. "Ms. Gilmore are you really that much of an expert? You just listened to a snippet and already think there''s a problem with the data?"


    He paused, his lips quirking. "Almost makes me wonder if the problem isn''t with


    the numbers, but with the person."