As long as Goodwin & Co. didn''t pull the plug on their partnership, the revenues of those eightpanies would keep rising steadily.


    That evening,n carried his sleeping daughter into the living room. Eleanor came over to take her, but five-year-old Evelyn was already almost four feet tall and pushing sixty pounds-Eleanor staggered under the weight.


    “I''ll do it,”n said softly, and, seeing her struggle, took their daughter back into his arms.


    With her arms suddenly empty, Eleanor frowned and stepped aside, watching asn carried Evelyn upstairs. She followed behind them.


    In the bedroom,nid his daughter on the bed with a gentleness that seemed impossible from a man somanding in the business world. He knelt down and carefully slipped off her little shoes, then bent to kiss her forehead before he left. When he walked toward the door, Eleanor quickly turned her face away.


    Downstairs, Joslyn''s voice floated from the kitchen. "Sir, won''t you stay for dinner?"


    "No, thank you."n''s refusal was brisk.


    Monday.


    Eleanor arrived promptly at the Vesper Joy Hotel. She''d already spoken with Ellington about the uing birthday. The hotel manager came over himself to discuss decoration themes.


    "Keep it simple, nothing too borate. Let''s use champagne as the main color," Eleanor instructed.


    She stepped into the conference room and stopped shortn was sitting beside the head of the table.


    Ellington walked over, lowering his voice. "Ms. Sutton, Mr. Goodwin dropped in unexpectedly. I didn''t have a chance to brief you."


    "Good morning, Ms. Sutton." Ian rose to greet her, calm and collected.


    That strictly businesslike attitude helped Eleanor steady herself. Her eightpanies had extensive dealings with his firm, and in each,n held some stakes.


    "There''s no need for you to attend routine meetings like this," Eleanor said coolly.


    The hotel manager jumped in, "Ms. Sutton, Mr. Goodwin is here to discuss next quarter''s partnership, and his visit just happened to coincide with our weekly meeting, so—"


    Eleanor took her seat at the head of the table and gestured for everyone to sit. "Let''s start, shall we?"


    The agenda began, and each department head gave their report.


    Eleanor listened intently, jotting down notes from time to time.


    When the marketing director began presenting the budget for next quarter,n suddenly interjected. "I rmend allocating more resources to new media, especially short-form video tforms the results will be much stronger."


    "We''re already implementing Mr. Goodwin''s suggestion," the director said, ncing nervously betweenn and Eleanor. "Market data shows it''s the right direction."


    He couldn''t help but wonder about the dynamic between these ex-spouses- whether they were still on the same page or not.


    Eleanor saw right through him. "Ellington can handle this."


    Ellington nodded. "Of course. I''ll send you the report and data analysis once it''s ready."


    The meeting ended.


    As Eleanor and Ellington walked out, discussing next steps,n called after her. "Eleanor, a word?"


    Eleanor stopped and turned to Ellington. "You go ahead."


    Ellington nodded politely ton. "Mr. Goodwin, I''ll leave you two to it."


    Eleanor''s expression turned icy. "Say what you need to say."


    "About your birthday—"


    "It''s a private affair. No outsiders invited." Eleanor put extra emphasis on the word ''outsider.''


    She neededn to know: to her, he was less than a stranger.


    "Anything else, Mr. Goodwin?" Her voice was cold.


    "I''m not exactly an outsider. At the very least, we''re still business partners,"n replied, his tone low.


    Eleanor frowned. The business ties between her eightpanies and Goodwin & Co. were deeply intertwined-there was no way to sever thempletely.


    She didn''t deny it. "From now on, business is business, and personal matters are personal. Please keep that straight."


    Just then, Eleanor''s phone rang. She paused, surprised to see Xavier''s name.


    Turning away, she answered. "Hello, Mr. Vaughn."


    "Miss Sutton, am I interrupting?" Xavier asked.


    "Not at all. Go ahead."


    As she spoke,n''s tall frame brushed past her. Without looking back, he tossed her a curt reply "I will."


    Eleanor blinked, realizing he was responding to her request to keep work and personal life separate.


    From now on, whenever they met, he''d draw that line.


    On the other end of the call, Xavier continued. "Miss Sutton, do you havepany?"


    "No one important. Please, go on."


    Eleanor''s words maden, who had already walked a few steps away, turn around and look at her, his expression clouded.


    She met his eyes for a second, then walked off with her phone.


    Xavier''s voice was warm. "My aunt asked if you''d like to join us for lunch."


    Mrs. Juliette Grayson''s invitation wasn''t something Eleanor could refuse. She smiled. "I''d be delighted."


    "Great, see you at noon."