The dinner was indeed peaceful and harmonious, mainly because Seth never showed up. Noreen''s appetite was good, and she had a second helping of rice.


    When she got home, ire still wasn''t back, so Noreen gave her a call. The background noise was loud; ire was clearly still out.


    "Babe, this dinner is dragging on. I might be reallyte, so don''t wait up for me," ire said, her hand cupped over the phone as she spoke from a quiet corner.


    "You haven''t been drinking, have you?" Noreen asked.


    "No, there are elders here. Don''t worry."


    Reassured, Noreen was about to hang up when she heard ire exim, "Holy crap!"


    "What''s wrong?" Noreen frowned.


    "I just saw Bitch Bianca."


    Noreen sighed. She should have just hung up.


    "Tsk, getting frisky in broad daylight. Shameless."


    "Your vocabry is impressive," Noreen deadpanned.


    "No, seriously, I just saw Bitch Bianca walking back from the garden, straightening her clothes. Her lipstick was smeared and everything. How desperate can you be?"


    Noreen couldn''t help but feel exasperated. "Are you there to eat or to watch a live show?"


    "I multi-tasked. Watched a live show while I ate. Too bad it wasn''t R-rated," iremented.


    "Well, enjoy the drama. I''m going to take a shower." Noreen had no interest in these people.


    She hung up and went to shower. When she came out, she saw several new WhatsApp messages from ire.


    "Holy crap! Bitch Bianca went inside, and not a minuteter, Jerk Sethes back from the same garden. Are they that horny?"


    "Guess they''re the ''make love wherever you are'' type. The world is their bedroom."


    Noreen rolled her eyes.


    "Focus on your dinner," she typed back.


    This time, ire didn''t reply, so Noreen assumed she was finally eating. She put her phone down and dealt with some emails.


    At ten o''clock, Mrs. Joyner called to ask when the strategic partnership signing ceremony between Centribo, Ron Archer and Vincent would be scheduled. The Centribo acquistion was still in the approval and closing stages. Including integration, it would take at least another month.


    Mrs. Joyner''s voice grew heavy. "Can it be any faster?"


    A knot formed in Noreen''s stomach.


    "I''m afraid I won''t be around to see it," Mrs. Joyner said.


    ...


    Bianca came homete again. This time, however, Yvonne greeted her with a smile instead of a scolding. "You''re back."


    "Yeah." Bianca had been drinking and was feelingnguid, her steps unsteady. Yvonne had the maid pour her a ss of honey water.


    .n


    "I heard about the high-temperature superconductivity project. Seth is really holding nothing back for you After Bianca''s recent string of failures Yvonne had been losing sleep with worry. Now she finally felt at ease.


    Bianca leaned back into the sofazily. "I told you he cares about me. You just didn''t believe me."


    "I was just concerned, that''s all." Yvonne paused, then asked, "Why did youe back here? Didn''t you talk to Seth about moving in together?"


    Bianca stretchednguidly. "I was just about to tell you. Seth is having his house torn down and rebuilt, so he''s temporarily staying at the office. It''s not convenient."


    "Torn down?" Yvonne was clearly confused.


    "Mhm. It''s because Noreen


    decorated it. Seth was afraid I''d feel


    ufortable, so he decided to


    demolish it and start over. He said


    this time it will be designed


    ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? fin?novel</fn86bd>


    Yvonne''sst remaining worries dissolved. "It''s clear Seth is very devoted to you.


    He''s so considerate. I was worried for nothing."