<b>Chapter </b><b>270 </b>
“Who told you to act so impulsively back then? You know as well as I do that Noreen is the kind <b>of </b>person who never lets anything slide.”
Lillian’s indignation red at the scolding. “I just couldn’t stand it–that’s all! And besides, I was standing up for you, Bianca!”
Bianca scanned the letter from thewyers.
Noreen was demanding not only a public apology from Lillian, but alsopensation for damages.
The money was one thing–manageable, if annoying. But a public apology? That would be catastrophic for Lillian’s reputation.
After a moment’s thought, Bianca decided to try and talk sense into her. “<i>You </i><i>should </i>go to Winrich in person and apologize to Noreen.”
“No way!” Lillian nearly leapt out of her chair. “There’s no way I’m lowering myself like that!”
“Do you still want to marry into the upper crust or not?” Bianca broke down the reality for her. “Do you realize what a public apology would do to your social standing?”
Lillian immediately fell silent.
“I know
you can’t swallow your pride on this. Honestly, do you think I can? But is this really the time to get stubborn? She’s practically untouchable right now. If you go head–to–head with her, you’re just asking to get crushed.”
Lillian looked utterly defeated. “Then what am I supposed to do?”
“Just grit your teeth and get through it,” Bianca said. “You can’t take her down now, but that doesn’t mean you never will. Wait for a better opportunity.”
A flicker of cold determination shed in Bianca’s eyes.
In the end, Lillian had no choice but to show up at Winrich and apologize to Noreen in person.
She didn’t see Noreen, though. Instead, Noreen had left instructions with Sophia to ry her
message.
Lillian was ordered to stand at the front doors and repeat, “Noreen, I’m sorry,” two hundred and fifty
times.
Sophia supervised the whole thing herself–and even recorded it on video for Noreen.
Noreen was surprised, but not really.
It was obvious that, <i>to </i>Bianca, saving face meant more than saving dignity. <fn9c30> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? Find~Novel</fn9c30>
A new week dawned–warm air, spring in full bloom, the kind of day that promised good things.
Noreen headed to the city offices to discuss a project. She hadn’t expected Padgett Novak to be the one greeting her.
<b>19:47 </b>
Chapter
A few questionster, she learned that Director Moss was currently suspended pending an investigation. All of his responsibilities had been temporarily handed over to Padgett.
Padgett grinned and joked, “Is this fate, or just a happy coincidence?”
Noreen smiled. “You do have a sense of humor.”
They discussed work. When they finished, it happened to be lunchtime, so Noreen offered to treat Padgett to a meal–as thanks for all the times he’d helped her before.
Padgett never turned her down.
As they walked outside together, Padgett paused, ncing at the bright sun. “Hold on a second–l forgot something inside.”
He dashed off, returning momentster with a sun umbre in hand.
It was brand new,pact, and delicately styled–clearly designed for women.
“This is for you,” Padgett said, handing her the umbre.
Noreenughed. “Do you always have an umbre handy, just in case?”
“I figured you might need one someday,” he replied, a little sheepish.
He’d thought ahead for her sake.
Noreen could see how thoughtful Padgett was, how genuinely he cared.
He was a gentleman–attentive, considerate, and good–looking, with an impressive career to boot.
If she’d never experienced heartbreak, maybe she would have fallen for him.
But after everything she’d been through, she’de to see love as just another fleeting experience. When she’d needed love most, she’d never truly received it. No matter how much love she was offered now, it just didn’t move her anymore.
She’d rather keep her distance than risk disappointing someone who cared–honesty was its own
form of kindness.
Padgett was perceptive; he always knew when to stop, never pushing, never crossing boundaries, never making her ufortable.
So he never asked for more.
“Come on, let’s eat. I’m starving,” he said, taking the umbre from her and opening it over her head.
Noreen rxed, and the two of them strolled down the street,ughter and easy conversation making them look, for all the world, like a happy couple.
Across the road, a silver Maybach sped by.
In the back seat, Seth caught a glimpse of the scene: Noreen and Padgett under the umbre, walking together.
The car was gone in a sh, the moment over in an instant.
But for some reason, that image branded itself in Seth’s mind, and no matter how fast the car drove,
<b>2/3 </b>
<b>19:47 </b>
he couldn’t shake it free.