Chapter 530

So, Professor Joyner really was her guest. Bianca wondered what tricks Noreen had pulled to win her over. Then her eyes fell on a thick stack of papers next to Noreen’s seat. Was she trying to put on some scholarly act for the professor now? She’d probably make a fool of herself. But maybe that was exactly the kind of pathetic stunt that had worked.
“Professor Joyner, what do you think?” Bianca turned her attention back to Halley, her tone sincere as she renewed the invitation, pointedly ignoring Noreen.
“I won’t intrude on your gathering. Please, enjoy your meal,” Professor Joyner replied, politely declining. As Noreen sat down, the professor warmly placed a delicate vegetable on her plate.
Bianca watched, utterly bewildered. It wasn’t just a change of heart; the professor seemed to genuinely *like* Noreen. But why? For her bachelor’s degree?
She returned to their private room, her mood soured. Jude, oblivious, asked, “Where’s Professor Joyner? Isn’t she coming?”
Bianca remained silent.
“No,” Seth answered smoothly. “She’s with company, so it wasn’t convenient.”
Jude didn’t think anything more of it. The other guests were arriving, including Healy Naylor, who hadn’t been seen in a while. Word had clearly spread through the investment circle that Seth had secured new capital up north, and the investors who had been clamoring to pull out had quieted down considerably.
Dylan was the last to arrive, delayed by an important meeting.
“Well, look what the cat dragged in,” Jude teased. “Even Dylan decided to grace us with his presence.”
Since learning of Dylan’s feelings for Noreen, Bianca had grown cold toward him: She didn’t even bother to speak to him when he arrived, creating an invisible wall between them that left Healy thoroughly confused.
The dinner was interrupted by the start of the restaurant’s nightly
En ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ ~net
performance: dancers in Catt
attire performing gracefully on wooden boat floating
the feature outside. To ensure albthe guests could enjoy the show, the waiters opened the windows of the private dining rooms.
Dylan’s eyes immediately found Noreen, and they remained fixed on her for the rest of the performance. Healy, who had been sitting further from the window, saw her too and insisted on trading seats with Jude.
“What’s so special about this show?” Jude grumbled. “You’ve seen a million performances. Why the sudden need for a front-row seat?”
“Just switch with me,” Healy said, ignoring his complaints.
Bianca, uninterested in the show, chatted quietly with Seth. “I’ve also been trying to prepare for my grad school applications. It’s been so hectic lately, I haven’t had a decent night’s sleep all week.”
“If it’s too much, maybe you should put it on hold,” Seth advised. “Your health is more important.”
“I can’t,” Bianca insisted. “Being accepted as one of Professor Joyner’s students would be a huge boost for PerseTech and for my own caree I can’t pass up this
hovet
opportunity.” Seeing the concern on his face, she added reassuringly, “Don’t worry, I’m confident I can handle it. I have a doctorate, after all, A master’s program in this country should be a walk in the park.”
Her tone shifted, laced with contempt. “If anyone should know when to quit, it’s Noreen.”
Jude, bored with the performance, overheard and inserted himself into their conversation. “What about Noreen?”
“You haven’t heard?” Bianca said with a dismissive laugh. “She’s also applying to Professor Joyner’s graduate program.”