Never Mistake a Queen for a Lapdog novel Chapter 157

As Bianca stepped off the stage, Jude was already waiting for her with a beaming grin. "My goddess, honestly! You have no idea how captivating you were up there. Only someone with a PhD in economics from a top university could carry herself like that—so poised and confident, you just radiate this sense of authority."

He gave an exaggerated sigh. "If I'd known, I would've ordered you a bouquet!"

Bianca laughed, teasing him, "Aren't you laying it on a little thick? Seth didn't say a word."

"Maybe not out loud," Jude shot back, "but you should've seen him—he recorded your whole speech on his phone!"

Bianca glanced over at Seth, curiosity lighting her eyes. "Let me see then. I hope you didn't catch my bad side."

Seth started to reply, but Jude jumped in, "Come on! With a face like yours, every angle is your good side."

Still, Bianca insisted, reaching for his phone.

Before Seth could hand it over, a familiar voice echoed from the speakers.

Noreen had taken the stage.

She looked nervous, almost out of place. Her hair was a bit disheveled, makeup smudged from helping backstage. At first glance, people probably thought she was one of the event staff.

It wasn't until Noreen picked up the microphone that the audience realized she was the sixth speaker.

Jude let out a low chuckle. "She actually went up there. Unbelievable!"

Bianca blinked in surprise. She hadn't expected Noreen to be on the roster. Did that mean Noreen's project had made the shortlist too?

A faint furrow formed between Bianca's brows.

Noticing, Jude leaned in. "Relax. She's no competition for you. With your presentation as the benchmark, she's just setting herself up to be the punchline of the night."

But Seth's expression was ambiguous, giving nothing away.

Bianca noticed, but didn't dwell on it. Her focus was fixed on Noreen.

After her confession, Noreen paused. She knew what kind of impression this would make, but facts were facts.

She could've tried to bluff her way through, but if she botched the presentation, everyone would just think she was incompetent.

Better to be upfront.

This way, if the pitch didn't land, the blame would rest on her lack of preparation—not the product itself.

And she had enough faith in what she was presenting that she wasn't worried about losing the audience's attention.