Bianca couldn’t sit still any longer. She showed up at the Harcourt estate herself and called Seth right then and there.
She’d already made quite a scene on the phone.
Seth did his best to calm her down, promising he’d come out immediately.
And, true to his word, he did.
Bianca’s temper had only just begun to settle when she spotted Noreen walking out the front gates of the Harcourt property.
All the frustration Bianca had managed to tamp down came roaring back.
Seth’s face was unreadable, but there was a forcefulness in his presence that was impossible to ignore.
He asked, “Are you sure you want to see him?”
“…Of course.”
“Alright. I’ll take you inside. But whatever happens, you’ll have to keep your cool.”
He was as good as his word, leading Bianca straight to the Harcourts’ door.
Evelyn, the housekeeper, assumed Noreen had forgotten something. Hearing the commotion, she greeted the door with a smile. “Noreen, did you leave something behind?”
But when she opened the door to see Seth, she hesitated. “Seth? What are you doing back? Isn’t Noreen with you?”
Bianca poked her head out from behind Seth. “Hello, Evelyn.”
Evelyn didn’t recognize Bianca’s face, but she’d definitely heard her voice before.
The moment Bianca spoke, Evelyn’s expression changed.
“And you are? I don’t know you, and you’re not welcome here. Please leave.”
Being dismissed so rudely by a housekeeper made Bianca’s brow furrow.
“I’m Seth’s girlfriend. I came to wish Mr. Harcourt a happy birthday.”
“I’ve never heard anything about Seth having a girlfriend. Miss, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
With that, Evelyn shut the door firmly in their faces—Seth’s included.
Bianca stood there for a moment, stunned. She turned to Seth, expecting him to say something.
It took Jude three days to pore over Noreen’s interview and finally write the ten-thousand-word analysis his father had demanded.
He thought he was finally done with it, but then Seymour sent him to represent Seymour Medical Center in negotiations with Winrich about a new smart healthcare partnership.
Jude was both thrilled and anxious.
The thrill: His father was finally letting him get involved in the family business!
The anxiety: Why, of all people, did the partner have to be Noreen?!
He’d been so smug when he’d mocked Noreen before, and now he was really paying for it.
Karma, it turned out, had a sharp sting.
Jude had known this task wouldn’t be easy, but he hadn’t expected it to be this hard.
He introduced himself at the front desk.
The receptionist called Noreen’s office.
Five seconds later, the receptionist came back with a polite but apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, Ms. Gilmore isn’t available. You’ll have to come back another time.”

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