<b>Chapter </b><b>237 </b>


    Noreen stared at the umbre Seth offered her, her eyes lingering for several seconds.


    The only sounds were the steady drum of rain and the hush that fell over the group.


    Lillian’s re was so intense it was a wonder her eyes didn’t catch fire.


    Bianca, on the other hand, remainedposed–perhaps confident enough in her rtionship with Seth that she could afford to stay calm.


    Noreen’s gaze drifted up from the umbre to meet Seth’s face. She gave him a small, mocking smirk, as if she were looking at a stray dog.


    The whole scene reminded her of that day at the AeroEdge nt, when Seth had shielded only Bianca with his umbre, leaving Noreen to fend for herself in the downpour. Back then, she’d thought to herself, Well, it’s not like anyone can hold an umbre for two people at once.


    But now…


    Padgett Novak emerged, also bearing a borrowed umbre. He approached Noreen and exined, “Miss Gilmore, I managed to find an umbre, though there’s only one. If you don’t mind, we can share it on the way back.”


    Noreen ignored Seth’s outstretched umbre and turned to Padgett with a warm smile. “I don’t mind <fnf68b> Original content can be found at find[?]ovel</fnf68b>


    at all.”


    When she looked back at Seth, her expression and tone were icy. “Sorry, I won’t be needing it.”


    After all, no one can use two umbres at once.


    She didn’t wait for a reply. Instead, she slipped under the umbre with Padgett and together they stepped out into the rain.


    Cars sped past on the road, sshing water onto the curb. Padgett, ever the gentleman, walked on the outside, shielding Noreen from the spray.


    He tilted the umbre toward her, making sure she stayed dry. His own arm, meanwhile, was quickly soaked, though he didn’t seem to notice or care.


    He was unfailingly polite and attentive.


    The two walked so close together they could have been mistaken for a couple, strolling side by side through the rain.


    Seth lingered, watching them for a moment before closing his umbre and turning to Bianca. “Let’s


    go.”


    Lillian opened her mouth as if to say something, but Bianca silenced her with a look.


    Because of the hotline partnership, Noreen found herself at Padgett Novak’s office more often these days, which meant running into Bianca more frequently as well.


    Most of the time, the two women simply ignored each other, each keeping busy with their own work.


    13:02


    Unfortunately, Bianca was rarely without Lillian, who never missed a chance to brag about the major projects Seth hadnded for nca, as if she were basking in reflected glory,


    Bianca herself seemed to grow more smug by the day.


    Noreen was getting tired of hearing it.


    Yet Lillian never seemed to run out of things to say,


    When Noreen called Padgett one afternoon, he came down personally to meet her in the lobby.


    As the elevator doors opened, they found Bianca already inside. Padgett nodded politely in greeting.


    Bianca hesitated, then spoke. “Mr. Novak, I’m having dinner with Director Moss tonight. Would you like to join us?”


    Padgett declined with practiced courtesy. “Thank you, but I already have ns<b>.” </b>


    It was the second time he’d turned down her invitation.


    Bianca’s eyes dimmed. “Are you upset with me?”


    “Miss Lowell, why would you say that?” Padgett’s face was impassive.


    “My parents arranged that whole matchmaking thing,” Bianca exined patiently. “I was willing to give it a try, but it turned out we weren’t really suited for each other. I just thought, maybe we could still be friends.”


    Padgett’s dark eyes gave nothing away; if anything, his voice was even colder than before. “We really aren’t suited for each other.”


    Bianca started to reply, but just then the elevator on the other side opened and Noreen arrived.


    Padgett instantlyposed himself and smiled at Noreen. “I was just on my way down to meet you.”


    “It’s not like it’s my first time here, Director Novak. No need to be so formal.”


    Noreen had brought Carman along this time and introduced him to everyone. Padgett, who’d heard of Carman before, greeted him warmly with a handshake.


    Meanwhile, Bianca’s elevator continued downward.


    The moment the doors closed, Lillian couldn’t help but grumble, “That Padgett Novak is so fake! He chased after you like a puppy before, but as soon as you turned him down, he switched to acting all aloof.”


    “Don’t ever say that again,” Bianca cut her off sharply. “Not in front of Seth, not in front of Mr. Novak,


    not ever.”


    ???