<b>Chapter </b><b>243 </b>


    Noreen truly hadn’t expected Seth to be this–well, this bored. <fn4de4> ?????? ???? fin?novel</fn4de4>


    He had set up an appointment with her a week ago, sure. But since then, he’d already gotten his problem sorted out with Hugh Summers‘ help. So what on earth was he doing here now? For <b>the </b><b>life</b><b>. </b>of her, she couldn’t figure out his motive.


    The worst part was, it was Noreen herself who’d established the rule: clients must be seen if they’ve made an appointment. If she refused to see him now, it’d be like pping her own face.


    “Let him in,” she finally relented.


    Seth knocked and strolled inside. Noreen, still engrossed in her work, didn’t even nce up at him. Eyes fixed on theputer screen, she asked offhandedly, “Is there something you need, Mr. Harcourt?<b>” </b>


    Seth sidestepped the question. “You’re still not done?”


    “If you don’t have business with me, please leave. I’m quite busy,” she said, making it clear she wanted him gone.


    “You’re never too busy to eat properly.”


    The two of them–each sticking stubbornly to their own script.


    His words sounded almost caring. Once, that was all she’d longed for. But now, she didn’t need it. Concern that arrived toote was as worthless as a weed.


    Since she couldn’t guess what Seth was after, Noreen simply stopped trying. She ignored him and focused on her work. Knowing him, she figured his patience would run out soon enough and he’d leave on his own.


    She worked for another hour straight, her neck aching by the time she finally looked up–and nearly jumped in surprise to find Seth still lounging on the sofa.


    She frowned. “Why are you still here?”


    He leaned back, face half–hidden in the shadows. “I’m waiting for you.”


    “Waiting for what, exactly?” She was genuinely bewildered.


    “For dinner.”


    “I don’t recall agreeing to have dinner with you.”


    “It’s Evelyn who sent me. She wants you home for dinner,” Seth exined. “She’s been busy in the kitchen all day–made that seafood you love. She insisted I bring you over tonight.”


    He added, almost defensively, “You know I always do what Evelyn asks.”


    It sounded as if he didn’t have much choice in the matter.


    Noreen could refuse Seth–but she didn’t have the heart to turn down Evelyn’s kindness. Seth had said it himself: Evelyn had been cooking all day, preparing her favorite dish.


    14:20


    Chapter 243.


    Still, she made a mental note to tell Evelyn next time just to call her directly–no need <b>to </b><b>drag </b><b>Seth </b><b>into </b>it. It only soured everyone’s mood.


    Noreen didn’t ride with Seth. She drove herself to the Harcourt family home.


    Seth didn’t insist. In fact, they didn’t even arrive at the same time–Seth showed up half an hourter. Evelyn asked where he’d been.


    He replied that he’d taken a call outside, lost track of time.


    Evelyn scolded him gently, “What sort of call is so important you have to stand out there in the cold<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    Noreen sipped her tea, pretending not to hear any of it.


    Seth joined her at the table, sitting across from her to share a drink with Wade Harcourt.


    Noreen excused herself and went to the kitchen to help Evelyn, though there wasn’t much she could do. Truthfully, she just didn’t want to be around Seth.


    It didn’t take long before Seth wandered into the kitchen, so Noreen promptly escaped to the living


    room.


    All in all, she avoided sharing a room with him whenever possible.


    From the papers spread out on the coffee table, it looked like the father and son had just been discussing work–the Port Redevelopment Project, judging by the heading.


    With Wade gone to the restroom, Noreen was left alone in the living room. If she had any less professional integrity, she could have leafed through those documents and learned a whole lot of business secrets.


    But that wasn’t her way; her sense of ethics was too strong.


    Evelyn had truly prepared a feast–Seth hadn’t been exaggerating. She even opened a nice bottle of wine and asked Noreen to have a few sses with Wade.


    Noreen demurred, “I drove here, so I shouldn’t drink.”


    “That’s what Seth is for–he’ll drive you home. He’s not drinking anyway,” Evelyn said with a wink. That’s when it hit Noreen: the anniversary of Wade’ste wife’s passing was around this time of year. No wonder Evelyn wanted her to keep Wadepany at dinner.


    This time, Noreen didn’t refuse. She shared a quiet drink with Wade.


    Seth, as always, didn’t touch a drop.


    Evelyn turned to him with a smile. “Since you’re not drinking, why don’t you help Noreen with the crab? Those shells are hard–wouldn’t want her to hurt her hands.”


    <b>14:20 </b>