"But he got jealous when he saw Norton being nice to you. He totally did! And he''s still denying he likes you?" Calliope asked, sitting at the edge of the bed and watching Mavis closely.


    Mavis shook her head, her voice quiet. "He was mad, yeah. But he''s rejected me a few times before. He just doesn''t like me."


    "No way,” Portia said, waving a hand in disbelief. "He''s so into you, it''s obvious. He''s been jealous more than once!"


    Mavis snorted. "No, he doesn''t like me. He just sees me as his apprentice. That''s all."


    She tried to sound cheerful, but her smile didn''t quite reach her eyes. "I''m done overthinking it. I''m not expecting anything from him anymore. He''s my mentor, my boss... I shouldn''t have feelings for him. Guys like him always end up in some arranged marriage, anyway."


    She drew a steadying breath. "I already told him I won''t bring it up again, and I won''t let myself feel anything more for him. If he doesn''t care for me, then I''m done."


    She was determined to put on a good show, pretending she didn''t care, even if she still did.


    Portia and Calliope exchanged a nce, then both hugged her tight.


    "Mavis, don''t worry. You''ve still got us!"


    "Yeah," Portia chimed in, "Even if Uriah doesn''t see what''s right in front of him, there are tons of amazing guys out there who will."


    Mavis gave them a small, grateful smile.


    But inside, she felt tired, just done with hoping for something that wasn''t going to happen. She was determined: she was over Uriah. No more daydreams, no more wishing.


    Uriah wasn''t around for the next few days, but the group still managed to have some fun.


    And with every passing day, Mavis started to feel a little lighter.


    Soon, it was time to head back to Capitalton. The holidays were over, and everyone was busy getting back to their routines.


    Calliope hadn''t even been home for a full day before she got the message from Lance: Hudson was fading fast.


    She''d been giving Hudson all kinds of medication, hoping to buy him more time, maybe even find a way to save him. But his condition was just too severe There was nothing" Could do.  s


    On the phone, Lance sounded eerily calm, almost like a different person.


    But Calliope knew better. She knew Lance needed someone with him now. They''d stayed in Capitalton thesest few months, because Hudson wanted to spend his final days here and be buried here, too.  s


    The news hit Calliope hard. She''d just arrived at the Jewell Group headquarters, nning to wrap up her work and finally leave for good. She was about to take the elevator when Lance''s call came through.  s


    So much for the big executive meeting.


    As she turned to go, Lisette and a handful of board members came striding in from the lobby.


    Lisette stepped right in front of her, blocking her path.


    "Calliope, where do you think you''re going?" Lisette''s voice was sharp and cold. "Trying to run away?"


    "I don''t have time for this," Calliope shot back. "I''ve got something important to handle."


    "I thought you said you''d called an executive meeting? And now you''re bailing? What? Because you know we''ve found out your secret, and you''re trying to make a run for it?"


    Lisette narrowed her eyes, suspicion dripping from every word.


    "Calliope, I have questions for you!" came Zelda''s angry voice from the hallway as she stormed in with a few more board members.<fn2534> Checktest chapters at find?novel</fn2534>