Never Mistake a Queen for a Lapdog novel Chapter 59

Halfway through the meal, Seth came out to settle the bill, and Jude followed right behind him.

He jogged to catch up, lowering his voice as he tattled, “Seth, Noreen’s here too–having dinner with Dylan.”

Seth’s reaction was calm, almost indifferent.

Clearly, Noreen didn’t mean much to him anymore.

Jude felt a surge of smugness, but couldn’t help taking a jab at Noreen. “I wonder how she managed to cozy up to Dylan. She’s not even being subtle about it, sticking so close to him.”

“Maybe this is her latest ploy to land herself a man?”

It seemed entirely possible to Jude. “Remember before, when she tried to get your attention by flirting with that recruiter? But you ignored her, so now she’s switching tactics. She’s really got a mind for scheming, hasnt she?”

“Got a cigarette?” Seth asked suddenly, cutting him off.

Jude was caught off guard. “I thought you didn’t smoke?”

“I’m just… a little on edge,” Seth muttered.

Jude wanted to ask what was bothering him, but one look at Seth’s expression made him swallow the question.

The “favor” Dylan had mentioned turned out to be an invitation–he wanted Noreen to be his date to a formal event.

Noreen almost laughed, thinking he had to be joking.

After all, with Dylan’s status, there were plenty of women eager to be seen on his arm.

Cooing her skepticism, Dylan decided to level with her. “I’ve just taken a

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new position at Omniva Group. Everyone in Rivercrest City is watching my every move. I can’t afford a single misstep right now. You get what I mean, right?”

Even though he didn’t go into details, Noreen understood exactly what kind of situation he was in.

The past couple of years, Omniva Bank had been a complete mess, with endless infighting and chaos.

Dylan’s return to the country was clearly to clean up Omniva Group.

Anyone seen with him now would be scrutinized, their motives questioned.

“You seem to trust me a lot,” Noreen teased, feigning nonchalance. “What if I have my own agenda?”

After all, these events were all about networking and connections.

Dylan just smiled. “If I’m asking you, I’ve already considered every possible outcome.”

He leaned back, a playful glint in his eyes. “So, will you help me or not?”

“I’m in!” Noreen agreed right away.

Hesitating even a second was practically an insult to opportunity.

Dinner with Dylan turned out to be a delightful escape. Whatever gloom Seth had left her in earlier was gone by the time she left the restaurant.

New people and new experiences really are the best cure for old attachments.

Dylan insisted on driving her home, and Noreen didn’t have the heart to refuse.

He’d dropped her off once before, so this time he knew the way.

On the drive, Dylan asked, “So, did you buy your place or are you renting?” “Renting, obviously. Real estate around here is crazy expensive.”

Chapter 59

“With your salary, you could afford to buy a place, couldn’t you?”

She probably could, if she took out a mortgage.

But it was something she’d never really considered. Partly because work kept her so busy, and partly because… well, she’d always assumed she’d marry Seth, so buying a separate place just never crossed her mind.

After all, once you’re married, you live together, right?

Come to think of it, Seth’s current place–the one he lived in now–she’d helped him pick it out.

Seth hadn’t liked the original interior, so Noreen had hired a design firm to redo the entire apartment.

Every layout, every detail, even the smallest piece of decor–she’d chosen it all herself.

What had she been thinking back then?

She’d imagined it as the home they’d share in the future, so she poured her whole heart into it.

At the time, her own work was relentless, too–Aurelion Group was going public for the first time, and Seth was practically living out of a suitcase.