Outside the entrance to Winrich, Jude paced for a long time before finally forcing himself to take that first step inside.
The receptionist recognized him; he used toe by often. She was about to say that Ms. Gilmore wasn''t in when a teasing voice cut through the air. "Well, well, if it isn''t Mr. Jude."
ire, bored out of her mind, had decided to wander around. Her sprained ankle didn''t stop her from hopping about the lobby, which is how she ran straight into Jude. She knew exactly who he was. In fact, she''d recognize the little snake if he were nothing but a pile of ash. He''d given her precious Noreen more than enough trouble in the past.
ire was mediocre at many things, but she had perfected the art of holding a grudge. As she liked to say, "My brain can''t retain useless information because it''s already full of my enemies list."
"Let me check," she said, feigning seriousness. "Did hell freeze over today?" She actually walked over to the window to check before turning back to Jude with a suspicious look. "Are you lost? Did you take a wrong turn?"
She gestured toward the exit. "Don''t let the door hit you on the way out."
Jude''s face darkened. In the past, he would have stormed out without a second thought, too proud to endure such humiliation. But now, he had to swallow his pride and adopt the posture of someone asking for a favor. "I''m here to see Noreen."
"What was that? I couldn''t quite hear you."
Jude''s jaw tightened. He raised his voice. "I''m here to see Noreen."
"Oh. She''s busy. Goodbye," ire said with a flippant wave of her hand.
Jude clenched his fists. "I need to discuss business with her."
"Doesn''t matter what it is, she''s busy."
"What is your problem...?"
ire shot him a look. "My problem? What about it?"
Suppressing his anger, Jude forced a polite tone. "I have something very important to discuss with Noreen. Please, just let her know I''m here."
"Something important, you say? Why don''t you tell me what it is, and I''ll *consider whether it''s worth passing along."
"I only discuss business with Winrich employees."
"What a coincidence," ire chirped. "I''m a Winrich shareholder. You can talk to me."
Jude knew she was deliberately making things difficult. His expression hardened, but he exined his reason for being there anyway.
ire''s eyes widened in mock realization. "Oh, I get it. You''re here begging for a handout."
Jude hated that word. It made him feel inferior especially when it put him in a position of weakness before Noreen. He turned to leave, but the image of Seymour''s disappointed face shed in his mind, Gatting his teeth, he turned back and conceded, "You could call it that. I''m just hoping Noreen will give us a
chance."
"Right. I''ll let her know. You can go home and wait for our call," ire said, waving him away again.
Jude could see it clearly now. ire
was standing there like a bulldogat the gate. He could get on his knees and beg all day and he still wouldn''t get to see Noreen. He would have toe back another time
As he left, he had to force himself to politely ask ire one more time to pass on<fn6caa> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? FιndＮovel</fn6caa>
his request. He was certain he had swallowed a lifetime''s worth of humiliation in those few minutes.
The moment he was gone, the receptionist gave ire a huge thumbs-up.
ire bounced back to Noreen''s office, threw herself onto the sofa, and sighed. "So satisfying!"
That was way better than any web series.
When Noreen returned from her
meeting, ire gave her a vivid, y-by-y ount of the
encounter. You should have seen the look on that rabid dog Jude''s face when he left! I wish I''d taken a picture for you!"
"I can imagine."
"Why didn''t he just go ask that jerk Seth for help?" ire wondered aloud.
"Seth can barely manage his own affairs right now. How could he possibly help Jude?"
ire''s eyes lit up. "Oh, right! I forgot about that. Do you think Bianca will be able to make aeback from this?"