Noreen was officially fed up. Anyone would be annoyed by this relentless stalking. She had even moved, so how did Seth know her new address? Then again, if he really wanted to find her, it wouldn''t be difficult for him. She just hadn''t realized he would go to such lengths for Bianca.


    She stepped out of the car. The crisp night air hit her face, clearing some of the alcoholic fog from her head.


    Seth walked toward her, stopping a few feet away. His brow furrowed. "Why were you drinking? A business dinner?"


    His tone was soced with concern that anyone who didn''t know better might have thought he actually cared.


    Noreen had no time for his act. She cut straight to the point. "I acknowledge that I owe you a favor for what happened with the car ident. But that''s a separate issue. When ites to Lana, I will not back down. I intend to press charges and see this through to the end."


    As if on cue, a gust of wind swept past, lifting the loose strands of her hair from her shoulders. Seth''s gaze shifted, and for a long moment, he was captivated by the sight, seemingly forgetting to respond.


    Noreen''s patience wore thin. She impatiently smoothed her hair back into ce. "Did you hear what I said?" she asked, her voice sharp.


    Seth''s eyes refocused. He looked down for a second before meeting her gaze again, his tone casual. "So there''s absolutely no room for discussion?"


    "None."


    Seeing the resolve in her eyes, he didn''t press further. "Got it," he said softly.


    With nothing more to say, Noreen turned and walked away without so much as a goodbye. Seth stood motionless, watching her until she disappeared from sight. Then he slowly lowered his gaze, his dark eyes deeper and more imprable than ever.


    He returned to his car but didn''t start the engine. Instead, he lit a cigarette, the single point of crimson light glowing and fading in the darkness.


    ***


    On the day of PerseTech''s roadshow


    in Northcrest, Bianca personally called Henry to invite him. He imed to be out of town on a business trip Bianca was disappointed, but it never urred to her that he might be lying. She was, after all,pletely secure in her importance to him.


    In reality, Henry had been in a slump for weeks, barely even going into the office. Not that it mattered-when he did, althe got was an earful from the other shareholders. Sanford was starting to get worried.


    "Have you thought any more about what I said?" Sanford asked, not ready to give


    up on the idea of Noreen mentoring his son.


    Henry, absorbed in building a Lego set, answered without looking up. "She probably wouldn''t have me anyway."


    When his father pressed him for a reason, he was evasive, finally admitting that he and Noreen had "a little history."


    Sanford exploded. "Then apologize! Is that so hard? I''ll talk to your professor, have him set up a meeting. You go, you apologize, and you be sincere about it!"


    "No."


    "Are you really that proud?"


    Sanford was about to continue his


    tirade when Henry changed the


    subject "When you saw the


    professor, did you find out anything about his other disciple? The one who came before me?"


    "He said he''ll reveal her identity in a little while. He told me to be patient."


    *In a little while...* Henry wondered. *Does that mean after the grad school results are announced?*


    "Why the dy?" he asked, genuinely confused.


    "Professor Joyner has always been an entric," Sanford said with a sigh. "That''s how geniuses are. If he doesn''t want to say something, no one on earth can force him to."