Never Mistake a Queen for a Lapdog novel Chapter 7

Sophia's face tightened the moment she heard there'd be drinks.

"No way. Noreen's not feeling well—she shouldn't be drinking."

Last time Noreen ended up with alcohol poisoning, Sophia had been the one with her at that business dinner. She remembered every detail, and the memory still haunted her. The doctor even said that if they'd gotten to the hospital any later, Noreen might not have made it.

Jude looked annoyed. "Come on, Sophia. You're seriously underestimating Noreen. Everyone knows she can hold her liquor better than most guys here. Remember when she and Seth went up north for those negotiations? Twenty people at that dinner, and she kept pace with every round—didn't even flinch. And now you're telling me she can't handle three glasses? Is it just me, or is she picking favorites? Or is she trying to disrespect Bianca in front of everyone?"

Bianca jumped in, trying to smooth things over. "Jude, give Secretary Gilmore a break, will you? She's a lady—don't make things hard for her."

Jude refused to back down. "How am I making things hard? I'm just stating the facts."

She looked at Seth for backup. "Seth, am I being unreasonable here?"

Seth barely looked up, his gaze unreadable as it flickered over Jude's face. His lips curled in a cool, indifferent smile. "Not at all."

With that, Jude felt vindicated. "See? Even Seth thinks I'm not. Bianca, you're just too soft-hearted. Unlike Noreen—she's a real player in the business world. She knows how to look out for herself."

Noreen didn't rise to the bait. Instead, she fixed her gaze on Seth, searching his eyes for any trace of something else—a hint of concern, maybe even the smallest sign that he'd step in for her. She waited, hoping he'd say something—anything—to get her out of this. Just one word, or even a half-hearted "that's enough." It was the kind of desperate hope that comes right before giving up.

But Seth stayed silent. His eyes held nothing but cold detachment.

In that moment, something inside Noreen shifted. It was as if someone had dumped a bucket of ice water down her back, freezing out the last bit of hope she'd been holding onto.

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