Ambitions Entwined

office, the once-mundane afternoon stretched before her, each tick of the clock a stark remind

for some retail therapy

herapy wouldn't solve her problems, but a friend's

s still trembled. This is not you Noreen! She mentally chastised herself, Get a

interrupted by the

ught you had for

p but laugh at her

Selfridg

: D

never failed to lift her spirits. She needed this distraction,

of spending time with her best friend, even if it meant trying on countless dresses, filled

hirlwind. "So, what's the mood?" Katherine asked, eyes sparkling

despair. "A mix. Classy and elegant, with a hint of hidden pow

caught a shift in Noreen's demeanour. "Everything oka

over dinner," she promised. Katherine g

een's body. It hugged her curves perfectly, radiating quiet c

n! You look incredible!" she exclaimed, genui

be the one," she said, smoothing the fabric over her hips. Kathe

uick jewellery selection before ex

he way down the street. "Reservations are ma

rt. Over dinner, she poured out the boardroom ordeal, the proposed marriage pact hangin

t force you into marriage!" she excla

e very difficult. And I'm not about to hand over

in solidarity. "This sounds like a nightmare, but you

I'd do without you." A steely glint flickered in her gaze. "Actually,

piqued. "Spill it, girl!" she whi

but on my terms. My lawyer will draft an ironclad pren

"It's a gamble, but the only way I see ou

t a bad one. So, who's the lucky... er

one else in mind. Not their ideal candidate, but definitely

bing. Noreen sighed heavily with the weight of the next words "Yeah,

e blurted, voice ris

ied. Her eyes darted around the restaurant, relieved

conspiratorial whisper. "Exactly. And that's

on and amusement. "Alright," she said, voice barely above a

re launching into her explanation. "So I did some digging

oss Katherine's face.

a fake husband. He wouldn't be thrilled about marrying me with a prenup that strips him of any real power. B

the tables on them, using their own tactics against t

s. "But he was the one who first offered to marry me, so his

o, the marriage will b

to buy myself time. Time to find a real solution, a way to st

wink escaping her, "maybe James will learn

audacious, risky even, but it was a plan. R

ies, and hopefully, a future

Noreen's, a determined glint mirro