Chapter 121

Chapter 121
Noreen took Sophia on a tour around the studio, making sure she saw exactly what kind of situation the company was in these days.
She was quietly hoping Sophia might change her mind after seeing the reality of things.
After all, the compensation she could offer was nowhere near what Aurelion Group could provide.
But Sophia was determined to stick with Noreen, completely unfazed by the prospect of a lower salary.
She even tried to encourage herself, half–joking, “Noreen, I know how talented you are. You’re a real dark horse–bound for success! So I have to latch onto you early. One day, I’ll have to queue up just to work with you, you know!”
Noreen couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright then. Come in Monday. You’re
hired.”
But before Monday even arrived, Carman brought good news.
He and his team had managed to put together the very first prototype.
For the first time in weeks, Noreen felt a weight lift off her chest.
“Thank you, everyone,” she said, glancing at the clock–it was already past nine on a weekend night.
Yet her team was still at the studio, working late. She knew how exhausting it must be.
So, as soon as she got home, Noreen turned right back around and headed out, determined to pick up some treats and snacks to reward Carman and the others for their hard work.
There weren’t many bakeries still open at this hour.
But back at Aurelion Group, she had often done this sort of thing, so she was more than familiar with the routine and knew exactly which shops
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kept late hours.
All that experience came from scouring nearly every bakery in Rivercrest City during her time at Aurelion Group.
She navigated the streets with ease and soon found an open bakery. As she was about to place her order with the clerk, she ran into someone she hadn’t seen in ages.
Zachary.
Seth’s driver.
Zachary looked just as surprised to see her. “Ms. Gilmore, it’s been a ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ (.)net
while.”
“Zachary, I don’t work there anymore,” Noreen reminded him with a smile.
He looked a bit embarrassed. “Old habits die hard, I guess. I’ll try to remember.”
Noreen didn’t take it to heart, but she was curious as to why Zachary was at a bakery so late at night.
“Zachary, weren’t you supposed to be watching your sugar? Buying cake at this hour–take care of your health!” she teased.
He hurried to explain, “Oh, I’m not buying it for myself. Mr. Harcourt sent
me.”
Noreen frowned.
Seth never had a sweet tooth. This cake… was almost certainly for Bianca.
“By the way, Ms. Gilmore, do you have any recommendations for good bakeries? I’ve nearly run myself ragged trying every shop in Rivercrest, but I still haven’t found a cake that suits Mr. Harcourt’s tastes.”
He sounded desperate. Remembering that Noreen used to handle these things, Zachary naturally turned to her for help.
After all, she knew Seth’s preferences better than anyone.
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Noreen was caught off guard by his request.
Was Seth really going to these lengths for Bianca?
Why make poor Zachary, a man well into his fifties, run all over town like
this?
Bianca might be Seth’s one true love, but she certainly wasn’t Zachary’s!
Where was the sincerity in that?
“I’ll write it down for you,” Noreen said, unable to turn Zachary away. She jotted down the cake recipe she used to make.
She hadn’t baked in a while, but the recipe and measurements were etched into her memory. She wrote it out with ease.
“Take this to Miss Ginny at Luna Patisserie and have her make it for you.”
Zachary practically beamed. “Ms. Gilmore, you’re a lifesaver. Thank you.”
“It’s nothing, really. Don’t mention it.”
Having helped Zachary, Noreen went about her own errands.
When she left the bakery with her bags, she noticed Zachary still waiting
outside.
Seeing her, he walked over. “Ms. Gilmore, it’s late. Let me give you a ride
home.”
Chapter 122
“No need, I’ll just grab a cab.”