After listening to the dial tone of thendline, Castiel mmed the phone down. He felt he had already given Niamh so much ground.


    He had intended to ask her to return to Maplewood. After all, as thedy of the Jamison family, this was her home.


    If she was unwilling to give her corneas to Macy, he... wouldn''t force her to. Hadn''t he already made enoughpromises?


    The more he dwelled on it, the more his frustration mounted. In his frustration, he knocked the vase off the table.


    Yet, his outburst did nothing to alleviate his inner turmoil. His nerves were frayed, and his face had lost its usual warmth.


    While Castiel was consumed by rage, Niamh called Billie and invited her out to meet for drinks at Nocturne. Even though she was still feeling a bit down that day, the fact that she had bested Castiel for


    the first time ever was cause for a celebration.


    "Let everyone take it easy today," Niamh told Quinn. "We''ll have a party tomorrow night."Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    Quinn nodded in agreement. "Everyone''s been working hard these past few days."


    Every sessful entrepreneur had a team of dedicated employees behind them. Even though she had never been CEO of apany, she had lived with one for so many years that she had learned a thing or two. Niamh recalled how, after every triumph, Castiel would always.


    throw a party for his team


    Chap 10


    By the time Niamh and Quinn arrived at Nocturne, Billie was already there. Her eyes lit up when she saw Niamh step out of a Bugatti Veyron.


    "Woah, look at you!" she eximed. "You''re really living it up, aren''t you? You shouldve been spending his money right from the start!"


    Even though Niamh had never been one to pinch pennies, she had never unted her wealth quite like this before.


    She reasoned that she was entitled to her husband''s money because, if she wasn''t willing to spend it, there were plenty of others who would-be eager to. For instance, Castiel had spent a fortune on the hospital where Macy was being treated. Niamh exined, "My uncle gave this to me, not him!"


    "Your uncle?"


    "Yeah."


    "Woah, your uncle is so generous!" Billie looked at the luxury car, almost green with envy. She wished she had an uncle like that.


    Niamh''s heart swelled whenever she thought of her uncle. Ever since Simon hade into her life, she had developed a newfound appreciation for home.


    Nocturne was where Greenburg''s sophisticated veneer melted away


    in the night. The genteel figures who roamed the city by day discarded their masks here, their true naturesid bare by the pulsating rhythms that shook the very heavens.


    Half an hourter, Billie''s voice cut through the ring music. "What? You made Castiel lose tha. uge project?"


    Niamh had only invited her out to celebrate, but she had no idea what


    they were celebrating. Billie waspletely caught off guard when she learned the celebration was for Castiel''s lost project and that it was Niamh''s doing. "Mm-hmm," Niamh responded.


    "Damn, Niamh, you''ve really outdone yourself this time! Quick, tell me, was he seething with anger?"


    Billie was all ears when it came to Castiel''s misfortune. Considering how he had once hit Niamh because of Macy, she found this payback incredibly satisfying.


    It was worth noting that any project associated with Greenburg''s biotechpanies ran into the billions. In other words, Niamh, whom Castiel and his family had always looked down upon, had now cost him a billion-dor project. Projects like these were vital for nning the year ahead. Hence, Niamh hadpletely derailed Castiel''s ns for theing year. It was even more gratifying than pping him in the face.


    Billie couldn''t help but feel more and more exhrated as she thought about it.