Chapter 446
After his opening remarks, the host called for a warm round of applause to welcome the visionary organizer of the assembly to the stage.
And then, to the astonishment of everyone present, Noreen Gilmore walked into the spotlight.
Bianca’s look of eager anticipation froze on her face, replaced by sheer, unadulterated disbelief. Nearby, Jude gasped, grabbing at Healy’s arm. “Am I hallucinating?”
Healy swatted his hand away, annoyed. “Don’t wrinkle my suit.” He still hadn’t had a chance to talk to Noreen; he had to look his best.
But Jude was persistent. “I must be seeing things! What is Noreen doing up there?” It was one thing for her to attend the summit, but to be introduced as its organizer was unthinkable.
A wave of confused murmurs swept through the room.
“Is there some mistake?” Henry whispered to Padgett Novak. “Her? The organizer?”
But Padgett’s attention was entirely on Noreen. He didn’t seem to hear Henry at all. When Henry turned to look at him, he saw an expression of pure, undisguised admiration on his friend’s face.
The most stunned person in the room, by far, was Bianca. She found herself clapping along with the crowd, the faint sting in her palms feeling like an invisible slap across her face. Ná´‡w É´ovel chaptá´‡rs are published on (.)net
Noreen stood at the podium, poised and confident, completely unfazed by the whispers and stares. “Distinguished guests, esteemed partners, ladies, and gentlemen,” she began, her voice calm and clear. “Good morning. My name is Noreen Gilmore, and I am this year’s acting organizer-”
*Acting* organizer. The clarification
did little to quell the shock. The implication was enormous, and everyone in the room understood it. Wade Harcourt not only trusted Noreen, but he was actively O grooming her for a position of great power. That single fact was enough to send shockwaves through the entire business community.
Every person in that room was a shrewd operator. In that moment, they all realized that Naylor
Automotive and Seymour Group net
hadn’t just gotten lucky; they had
been guided by a master strategist, securing their partnerships with
Winrich early and reaping the
rewards. By the end of the night Noreen would be inundated with offers and opportunities.
Bianca understood this too, and the blood drained from her face. The more Wade promoted Noreen, the more it confirmed the rumors: she, Bianca did not have his approval. Even though the entire room was focused on the stage, she felt as if every eye was on her, judging her, mocking her. Wade Harcourt would rather elevate an outsider than accept her into his family.
To make matters worse, Healy and Jude were excitedly discussing Noreen’s triumph right beside her.
“You see?” Healy said, his voice filled with admiration. “She isn’t here as someone’s date. She’s running the whole show! That means she approved the guest list. If she didn’t want someone here, all it would take is a word!”
“That’s true,” Jude conceded.
Healy’s gaze was fixed on the stage. “She is herself,” he said, his voice low and intense, “not an accessory to anyone.”
The words struck Bianca, who was there as Seth’s accessory, like a physical blow. A chill crept into her heart, and the room began to spin. She felt a suffocating pressure, as if the walls were closing in.
“Seth,” she whispered, her voice trembling. She felt like she was drowning, reaching for a lifeline.