Noreen frowned in disbelief. “You sent out the engagement invitations but haven’t even picked a venue yet?”
The deputy director chuckled, trying to clear things up. “Not exactly. It’s just that Director Lowelldidn’tlike the wedding venue design, so Mr. Harcourt went with her to work on a new plan.”
At this, the deputy’s tone was full of barely disguised envy. “You have no idea how much Mr. Harcourt dotes on Director Lowell. He’s like a real–life billionaire romance hero.”
Noreen, however, wasn’t interested in any of that. She asked, “What about Mr. Vincent? Is his vacation still not over?”
The deputy hesitated. “Oh… you haven’t heard?”
“Heard what?”
Since the news was already public and Noreen was a partner who’d be working with them often, the deputy decided there was no point in hiding it.
“Mr. Vincent left Ascendancy Group with his entire team. His management style clashed with Director Lowell’s, and he decided to move on.”
Noreen’s eyes narrowed. “When did this happen?”
How had she not heard even a whisper about it?
“This Monday,” the deputy replied, giving her the date.
Noreen’s frown deepened.
Wasn’t that the day of the auction?
Vincent had been a pillar of Ascendancy Group–he’d been with Seth Harcourt since before the company’s founding, through all the ups and downs.
He’d earned his place, both through hard work and loyalty. He was a cornerstone of the company.
And Seth just let him go, just like that?
And after firing him, Seth could still go on a shopping spree at the auction with his beloved Bianca, as if nothing had happened?
At this point, Noreen wasn’t sure Seth didn’t have some sort of personality disorder.
Maybe he’d been replaced by someone else, or reincarnated.
Whoever took over his life must have been a die–hard Bianca Lowell fan.
Otherwise, there was simply no way to explain how a person could change so drastically.
She was absolutely baffled.
Completely speechless!
The deputy director broke the silence. “Ms. Gilmore, does this work for you? I can pass your feedback
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Chapter 313
along to Mr. Harcourt and get his approval.”
Noreen replied dryly, “Sure. Just tell him two words for me.”
“Okay. What are they?”
“Despot King.”
The deputy fell silent, clearly unsure how to respond.
Before hanging up, Noreen added, “And make sure to quote me exactly. Word for word. Thanks.”
The deputy director was left speechless.
Maybe it was time to resign, too.
With all the key players gone from Ascendancy Group, Noreen decided to put off her visit. That afternoon, she met with Scott Quigley to push the game project forward.
Winrich had launched several new projects recently, three of which were negotiated by Matthew Cole. With his experience, connections, and sharp investment instincts, all three ventures looked promising.
Noreen gave him the green light to go full speed ahead.
By the time her work wrapped up, it was already six in the evening. Noreen was about to settle in for some overtime when Evelyn called to say the medicine was ready.
“I’ll order a courier to pick it up,” Noreen offered.
“Noreen, could you come in person?” Evelyn’s voice was tentative.
Noreen immediately caught the worry in her tone. “What’s wrong?”
Evelyn explained, “It’s Mr. Harcourt. Something’s really off with him lately. He barely eats, just sits out
in the yard all day, hardly says a word. He’s lost so much weight. Dr. Barlow says several of his health markers are out of whack. If this goes on, his body won’t hold out…”
Evelyn’s voice broke as she spoke, until she was almost in tears.
“I just thought, maybe if you talked to him, he’d listen to you.”
“I’ll be right there,” Noreen promised at once.
Even if Evelyn hadn’t asked, she knew she needed to check in on him.
Besides, she didn’t have to worry about running into any “unwelcome guests“-after all, that particular “trouble” was overseas now.
Noreen hurried over to the Harcourt family estate as quickly as she could.
As soon as she stepped through the gate, she saw Wade Harcourt sitting alone in the garden.