Chapter 198

Instead, it was Ruby Wilder who, because of nerves, kept making mistakes.
“Thank you very much for coming in today. We’ll announce the results within a week, so please keep an eye on your email and phone for any updates. Also, could you send in the next candidate for me? Thank you.”
Ruby left the interview room stiffly.
As for the outcome, she could pretty much guess how it would go.
Passing the reception desk on her way out, the receptionist called out to her, “Finished already, Miss Wilder? How’d it go–must’ve been a breeze, right?”
Ruby honestly had no idea how to answer that.
But the receptionist just grinned. “With a résumé as impressive as yours, I’m sure you nailed it! Looks like we’ll be colleagues soon. Looking forward to working with you!”
After a moment’s hesitation, Ruby asked, “Noreen… she’s your boss?”
“Yep! Hard to believe, isn’t it? So young, already running her own company! She’s not only capable, she’s gorgeous too. Some people just have it all, don’t they?”
With each sentence, Ruby’s expression darkened a little more.
“But don’t worry, our boss is great. She treats everyone well–never puts on airs. And don’t let the size of the company fool you. With her talent, it’s only a matter of time before this place really takes off.”
Ruby drifted out of Winrich like a ghost.
Standing at the front steps of the office building, she felt an overwhelming sense of confusion.
Ever since being fired from Aurelion Group, she’d been hustling nonstop, searching for work.
At first, she only applied to big companies–after all, her Aurelion Group experience looked fantastic
on paper.
But, strangely, every major firm rejected her applications.
After probing discreetly, she finally learned the truth: Seth had blacklisted her.
She couldn’t make sense of it. All she’d done was throw a couple of barbed remarks at Noreen–was that really enough for Seth to go nuclear and ruin her career?
Left with no other option, Ruby lowered her standards and started applying to smaller companies.
But even the little firms didn’t dare hire her. News must have traveled fast.
In the end, her only hope was to try a startup–surely Seth’s influence wouldn’t reach a company that had just opened its doors. So she sent her résumé to Winrich.
Never in a million years did she expect Winrich to be Noreen’s company.
Her chest felt tight with frustration.
1/2
19:37
Chapter 198
And more than a little resentment.
Two hours later, Noreen finally finished interviewing all the candidates.
Sophia brought her a bowl of herbal tonic sweetened with brown sugar.
It was supposed to be good for her, and maybe it was, but anyone would get sick of drinking it day after day.
“We’ll switch to a different soup tomorrow,” Sophia said, reading the look on her face.
Noreen shook her head. “No need to fuss. I’ll be done with interviews by tomorrow anyway.”
“Then at least let me make something gentle on your stomach. Yours is always acting up, isn’t it?”
“Maybe you should focus a little more on your own work.”
Sophia just smiled. “I can handle both.”
Noreen let her be.
That afternoon, she needed to stop by Carman’s studio. The launch of InnoCore Framework was just around the corner, and Carman’s team was swamped.
She figured she’d drop by and see if there was anything she could do to help.
But as soon as she reached the building entrance, she spotted Ruby Wilder waiting outside.
It was obvious she was there for her.
The moment Noreen stepped out, Ruby approached, doing her best to be polite. “Ms. Gilmore, could we talk for a minute?”
Noreen glanced at her watch. “I’ve only got five minutes. Please keep it brief.” ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by
Ruby bit her lip before saying, “Back when you left and were looking for a new job, the reason your references never cleared was because Director Lowell ordered it.”
Noreen paused, surprised.
She’d always assumed Seth was the one who’d sabotaged her references.
Turns out, it was Bianca.
But then again, Bianca’s wishes were always Seth’s wishes, weren’t they?
Those two had never been anything but inseparable.