Carman couldn''t stand anyone badmouthing Noreen. Instinctively, she wanted to jump to her defense.


    But Noreen reached out and stopped her.


    Leaning back in her chair, Noreen regarded Henry with an almost amused expression. "Go on then, Mr. Brooke. What exactly do you think is wrong with me?"


    Henry had never liked Noreen. In his eyes, she was an empty vessel who used her looks to get ahead. As far as he was concerned, if someone relied on shady tactics to climb thedder, they ought to keep their head down and stay out of the spotlight. But Noreen seemed determined to do the opposite, unting herself without restraint. If she wanted to make herself a target, he saw no reason to hold back.


    He crossed one leg over the other, his voice dripping with mockery. "Frankly, I just find it amusing when someone pretends to know more than they do. I heard Miss Gilmore only has a regr college degree. These days, that''s worth next to nothing. Maybe I sound harsh, but I''m just stating facts."


    He fixed Noreen with a pointed look. "Someone with an ordinary degree questioning a PhD in finance from a top international university? Don''t you think that''s a bit of a joke?"


    Noreen''s tone was cool as she shot back, "So you''re saying a PhD in finance is incapable of making mistakes, Mr. Brooke?"


    Henry opened his mouth to retort, but Bianca stepped in at just the right moment. "Ms. Gilmore, you''re being too harsh," she said gently. "No one is perfect. If there really is an error, I''m more than willing to correct it." She nodded to Henry in thanks.<fn10be> For original chapters go to find·novel</fn10be>


    Henry''s frown eased, his annoyance giving way to admiration for Bianca''s poise. Not everyone could rise above petty squabbles.


    Carman leaned over to Noreen and whispered, "That Mr. Brooke definitely has it out for you."


    It was in as day.


    Noreen had sensed it long ago, though she couldn''t pinpoint when or why Henry''s grudge had started. But it didn''t matter. People were like that. Prejudice was a mountain in the mind-once it was there, nothing could move it. She had no intention of wasting time worrying about the opinions of people who meant nothing to her.


    Thankfully, the rest of the meeting went smoothly. Bianca demonstrated her professionalism and didn''t make any more missteps. The only issue was that she had so much she wanted to discuss that the meeting kept dragging on.


    Carman, knowing Noreen''s stomach was sensitive, worried she''d be ufortable if she didn''t eat soon. She suggested taking a break, but although Bianca agreed in word, she showed no intention of pausing the meeting right away.


    By the time everything finally wrapped up, it was more than an hour past the scheduled end. Lunch hour hade and gone.


    The deputy director of Ascendancy Group invited Noreen and her team to eat in thepany cafeteria, but his assistant informed them that at this hour, only cold leftovers would be avable.


    Not wanting to slight their future


    boss''s wife, the deputy director hastily told his assistant to order


    takeout Carman, seeing that thimet


    would take even longer, said they d handle it themselves and suggested to Noreen that they go out for a proper meal.


    The deputy director didn''t insist.


    The two of them were the first to rise and leave. They''d barely stepped into the hallway when Sophia stormed up, her voice ringing out for all to hear. "What took you so long? Don''t you people have any sense of time? Do you not realize everyor else''s schedule is important too? This ispletely unprofessional!"


    She was loud enough that everyone left in the meeting room could hear her.


    Bianca, who had been chatting with Henry, felt her polite smile slip at Sophia''s outburst.


    Henry tried to reassure her. "Don''t pay her any mind," he said. "The truth is, you''re just too good at what you do it makes people jealous. Some people have no businesspeting with you but still insist on butting heads. It''sughable, really."


    Like attracts like, he thought. Noreen was unimpressive, so naturally, her


    subordinates were the same.


    Bianca offered a graceful smile. "It doesn''t bother me."


    Henry seized the opportunity to invite her to lunch.


    Before Bianca could respond, the executive secretary of Ascendancy Group


    appeared with several staff members in tow.