<b>Chapter </b>256


    “I’m really not cut out for project management. You’ll want to talk to Seth about that.”


    On the other side of the table, Matthew Cole nced at Noreen, gauging her reaction. When he saw she seemed calm, he rxed a little.


    Honestly, as a man himself, he’d felt a sting just hearing Seth’s words:


    “We were only together for seven years. It’s not like we were in love for seven years.” <fn1c92> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? fin?novel</fn1c92>


    Even he thought that was a cruel thing to say–he couldn’t imagine how Noreen managed <i>to </i>take it.


    He wanted to offer some words offort, but Noreen’s attention wasn’t on the others in the room. She checked her watch and asked, “So, when is Mr. Brooke supposed to arrive?”


    “Should be any minute now,” Matthew replied quickly.


    Noreen waited another half hour, but Mr. Brooke never showed. Eventually, Matthew had to call his assistant for an update.


    The answer came back: Mr. Brooke had ast–minute engagement and wouldn’t being.


    Matthew looked apologetic. “Sorry, Ms. Gilmore. I’d hoped to introduce you to a potential investor…”


    After so many years in business, everyone knew what st–minute engagement” really meant. Mr. Brooke simply didn’t think Winrich was worth his time–a small, newpany with little reputation. He’d just blown them off. It wasn’t the first time, and Noreen didn’t take it personally. “Well, I suppose Mr. Brooke and I just aren’t meant to cross paths.”


    “He’s very young, only twenty–three. Just finished grad school overseas. Only son in the family, so he’s been spoiled since he was a kid–pretty arrogant, does whatever he wants. Not exactly easy to connect with, but his family’spany has the biggest cash flow in the country. If he’de on board, funding would never be a problem.”


    “I know you did your best.”


    But fate was fate; there was no point forcing it.


    As Noreen and Matthew left, Jude spotted them from down the hallway. He almost went over to say hello, but the distance between him and Noreen these days–his own coldness in the past–made him hesitate. In the end, he turned away.


    The funding problem dragged on, and Noreen grew anxious.


    Sophia brought in a bowl of nourishing soup, pausing in the doorway when she saw Noreen’s furrowed brow. “Noreen, how much short are you?”


    “At least two billion.” She’d already stretched every resource she had, even managed to pull fifteen hundred million in investments from Jennifer and Dn. But there was still a gap of two billion, and she had no leads yet.


    She’d considered reaching out to Wade, but if she epted his investment, she’d inevitably get entangled with Seth again. After all, Harcourt Group would eventually fall back into Seth’s hands. Noreen shook the thought off.


    15:06


    “We’ll find a way. Eat something first.” Sophiadled some soup out <i>for </i>her.


    Noreen’s stomach hadn’t acted up in a long while, and she had Sophia to thank for that. She had just finished her soup when Wade called, asking her to attend a dinner on his behalf for the Rivercrest Chamber of Commerce.


    Wade listed the attendees, and Noreen instantly understood his intention. He must have realized she didn’t want any further ties to Harcourt Group, so he’d gone out of his way to introduce her to other investors–he was truly looking out for her.


    Noreen felt a rush of gratitude and thanked him.


    Wade was quiet for a moment, then said, “It’s the least I owe you.”


    She arrived at the dinner early, and it was half an hour before everyone finally showed up.


    To her surprise, Seth was among them. Then again, it made sense–he was a director of the Chamber, after all. This was exactly the kind of event he’d be expected to attend.


    Once Seth had taken his seat, the vice president, Chase Naylor, stood up to speak. But Seth interrupted, “Let’s wait a moment. I have a friend joining us.”


    Noreen’s heartbeat skipped.


    She knew instantly who was about to walk through that door.