Following Awan''s wishes, Castle held no memorial service. Instead, he personally scattered her ashes in the open sea where they had first met. Noreen''s only


    sce was that by sacrificing the Sylvan Core deal, she had secured Centribo''s future and granted Mrs. Joyner her dying wish, allowing her to pass with one less regret.


    Noreen stayed in Glenhaven City for two more days. Before she left, Castle met with her. He told her that Centribo was his wife''s life''s work and implored her to manage it well. He knew, even without asking, that Noreen would never betray Awan''s trust, but Noreen promised him again that she would make Centribo a resounding sess.


    As Castle looked at her, his eyes were distant, as if he were seeing someone else through her. Just before she departed, Noreen thought of the man who had risked his life to save her and asked Castle about him onest time.


    "Unfortunately, he''s away on business."


    Disappointed, Noreen could only hope for another chance.


    She and Colby flew back to Rivercrest City overnight,nding in the early hours of Monday morning. Sophia Cole was there to pick them up, her face glum and uncharacteristically quiet.


    "What''s wrong?" Noreen asked. "Fight with your boyfriend?"


    "Of course not!"


    "Then what is it?"


    "Noreen... the ounting andw firms we were close to signing with? They all backed out. Suddenly, they''ve decided not to work with us." Sophia had been holding this back, not wanting to disturb Noreen while she was grieving.


    Noreen paused for a few seconds. "Did PerseTech get to them?"


    Sophia nodded silently, then burst out in indignation. "Aurelion Group has its own ounting and legal teams! That bitch Bianca has no reason to go after ours except to mess with us. She''s doing it on purpose!"


    It was tant bullying. Noreen pinched the bridge of her nose. She hadn''t expected Bianca to be so brazen. She had overestimated her sense of decency.<fn9cab> Readplete version only at find~novel</fn9cab>


    "First thing in the morning, get me a


    meeting with Barrett, the CEO of


    Everstill.


    talk to him in person."


    Noreen wanted to try onest time. They had invested too much time building rtionships with Everstill and Grandsomm to just give up now.


    Sophia didn''t sound hopeful. "I''ll do my best."


    Noreen turned to Colby, who was driving. "Don''t take me home. Go straight to the office."


    "You''re not going to rest?" Sophia protested. "I know it''s only a few hours, but you need some sleep! Do you have any idea how red your eyes are?"


    "I have to revise the proposal. I need to see if I can still win Barrett over."


    "You''re just..." Sophia trailed off,


    knowing it was useless to argue.


    She couldn''t persuade Noreen, so all


    feet a surge


    she could do was fes


    helpless anger on her behalf. *How


    strong do you have to be to stop people from walking all over you?*


    The next morning, Sophia reported that she couldn''t get through to CEO Barrett.


    "Fine," Noreen said, her resolve hardening. "I''ll go to him." This couldn''t wait.


    But when Noreen arrived at Everstill, the receptionist informed her that CEO Barrett wasn''t in. When Noreen asked when he might return, saying she could wait, the receptionist simply said she didn''t know. The message was clear. Still, Noreen waited. She wasn''t expeéting to see Bianca.


    Bianca arrived with CEO Barrett, the two of themughing and chatting amicably. Seeing Noreen, Barrett looked momentarily guilty, but the seasoned executive quickly recovered hisposure.


    "Ms. Gilmore!" he said with a practiced smile. "When did you get here? Why didn''t you let me know you wereing?"


    Noreen decided to give him an out. "It was ast-minute decision. I apologize for dropping in unannounced."


    "Nonsense," Barrett said. "Actually, if you hadn''te to me, I was nning to call you. About our potential coboration..."


    ***