Noreen and Norwood hit it off immediately, chatting warmly.


    Seeing this, Wilbur teased Marcus, "Finally, someone to steal your wife''s attention. Maybe we''ll have to endure less of your public disys of affection now. It gets a little sickening after a while."


    Marcus simply watched Norwood with a doting expression, offering noment.


    Dn arrived a bitte, but just in time.


    To wee their new junior, everyone had prepared a gift.


    Marcus and Eason presented two nk contracts from Voyage Capital.


    It meant that whenever Noreen needed funding in the future, she could turn to Voyage Capital at any time.


    Wilbur gave her shares in Voyage Group.


    Dn''s gift was a small, translucent jade pendant, clearly of immense value.


    He said he hoped she would always be safe and sound.


    When it was Henry''s turn, he hesitated for a moment before saying, "My gift isn''t ready yet."


    "You''re the junior, you don''t have to give anything," Wilbur said bluntly.


    "I want to," Henry insisted.


    It would just take a few more days.


    Noreen, in turn, presented her gift to Halley.


    It was a masterful replica of The Veridian Panorama.


    Wilbur remarked, "I saw that painting. It was just at auctionst week. Sold for


    ny million. I was going to bid on it myself, but someone else drove the price up. I can''t believe that person was our new junior."


    The gift went straight to Halley''s heart; he absolutely adored it.


    ...


    Downstairs at The Gilded Sands Hotel.


    Bianca had been waiting for two hours.


    The winter night wind chilled her to the bone, sending a shiver through her.


    She had wanted to wait inside the hotel, but the staff informed her that The Gilded


    Sands was hosting a private event tonight; no one without an invitation was allowed in.


    So, she was forced to wait outside.


    The lobby was a dazzling disy of gold and light, buzzing with activity.


    Everyoneing and going was a member of the city''s elite.


    Even though she couldn''t see the


    festiviting


    the top floor, she


    easilymagine how mor fould


    the


    scene must be.


    It was the life she had always dreamed of.


    And now, she could only stand below, looking up at the penthouse.


    It was like looking up at Noreen.


    The brilliant lights inside stood in stark contrast to her own dim, lonely state.


    She didn''t know how long she waited, but eventually, people started to emerge from the hotel.


    It seemed the party was ending.


    Guests began to trickle out to retrieve their cars.


    "I just got Miss Gilmore''s contact information. I''m going to try to set up a partnership with Winrich!"


    "If you want to work with her now, you''ll probably have to get in line."


    "I heard Voyage Capital gave her two nk contracts, and Mr. Prescott from Voyage Group even gave her


    shares. Winrich is aboff!"


    take


    "You''re right. She was already


    capable but now with top


    esources backing her, who


    would seed if not her?"


    >


    The cold wind kicked up by passersby snaked up Bianca''s spine, and she felt as if


    her blood had frozen solid.


    A piercing chill spread through her.


    She fought the urge to flee, forcing herself to stand there as the cold wind whipped around her.


    A short whileter, Noreen finally emerged from the hotel''s main entrance.


    Bianca wanted to call out to her, but when she opened her mouth, no sound came out.


    Someone else took the opportunity to approach Noreen, greeting her with utmost respect.


    Bianca recognized the man. He was the CEO of Venturefarer.


    He was in a league she couldn''t even hope to reach, yet he was bowing and scraping to Noreen.


    And she, Bianca, could only stand at the bottom of the stairs, gazing up at Noreen.


    Gazing up at her as she was surrounded by admirers, radiating brilliance.