Mayor Ellington let out a heartyugh beside them.


    Garth''s smile carried a hint of meaning. "Miss Sutton, my son has always been notoriously hard to impress. It''s rare to see him take such an interest in anyone."


    He raised his cup, took a sip of tea, and then asked, "I heard you''re divorced- and raising a daughter on your own?"


    Eleanor nodded. "That''s right. My daughter just turned five."


    "That can''t be easy," Garth said with genuine sympathy. "For a single mother to achieve so much in medical research-it''s truly remarkable."


    Mayor Ellington jumped in at just the right moment. "Garth, Eleanor''s project is one of the city''s major medical innovation initiatives. Last time, that breakthrough antiviral for the spherical virus? She developed it."


    "I''ve heard about that. Impressive." Garth''s gaze softened, and the corners of his mouth lifted. "I met your father a few times. I didn''t expect his daughter to be every bit as talented."


    Eleanor''s palms were damp with nerves. Internally, she gave a bitter smile. Mr. Ellington, you really blindsided me with this arrangement.


    Please don''t do this again, she thought. The pressure was almost unbearable.


    "All right, Miss Sutton. I hope the next time I see you, it''ll be at a national awards ceremony." Garth''s tone was warm.


    Eleanor nodded quickly. "I''ll do my best."


    "Eleanor, don''t feel pressured. Think of us as your elders-just a friendly chat. Go


    on, get back to work!" Mayor Ellington said, his voice gentle.


    Eleanor nodded to both men, then hurried out of the conference room. She exhaled a long-held breath as the elevator doors slid shut.


    By the time she stepped out of the building into the fresh air, she was still reeling. She never would''ve imagined she''d be personally received and encouraged by the Secretary of State.


    "All done?" Xavier''s voice came from behind her.


    She turned, remembering he''d been waiting, and took the bouquet from his hands.


    "Sorry to keep you waiting."


    "No worries." Xavier''s curiosity got the better of him. "What did the Mayor want?”


    Eleanor hesitated for a moment. "He introduced me to someone important. We talked shop for a bit."


    Noticing her reluctance to borate, Xavier let it go. "Did you drive? If not, let me take you home."


    "Thanks, but I brought my own car today." She declined politely, her gratitude clear in her eyes. "And thank you for the flowers."


    Xavier gave her a small, warm smile. "You''re wee." He paused, as if he wanted to say more, but in the end, he just added softly, "I''ll get going then. Call me if you need anything."


    Eleanor nodded, watching as he left.


    Once in her car, she pulled out her phone and opened her messages to Mansfield Ellington. "Mr. Ellington, are you free? I''d like to talk."


    His reply was instant: "I''m here."


    She blinked in surprise. Wasn''t he supposed to be busy?


    "I met your father and uncle today," she messaged back.


    "What? My dad went to see you? He didn''t give you a hard time, did he? Are you


    okay?" Mansfield''s response came fast, tinged with anxiety.


    She was midway through typing a reply when his call came through.


    She answered, "Hello?"


    "Eleanor, what did my dad say? Did he―?"


    Eleanor chuckled. "Nothing much. Your father''s very friendly and easygoing. It was just a bit nerve-wracking to meet such a big shot out of the blue."


    Mansfield let out a long sigh of relief. "Good, good. I was just worried the old man might... Sorry, I had no idea he''d show up in person. He didn''t say anything weird, did he?"


    Eleanor grinned. "No, nothing odd. We just talked about research projects."


    He rxed audibly. "That''s a relief. I was worried-" He hesitated, faltered, and then said, "Next time I''m back, I owe you dinner. I only meant to ask my dad to check in on you if he had the chance-I didn''t think he''d do it so suddenly."


    "That''s really not necessary!"


    "No, I insist. This is totally my fault. I shouldn''t have asked him to go see you out of the blue." Mansfield sounded determined.


    Eleanorughed. "Fine, we''ll talk about it when you''re back."


    "May Day. I''ll try to be back for the holiday," he promised, his tone low.


    "Deal. I''d better drive home now."


    "You''re still at City Hall?"


    Eleanor recounted the awards ceremony. Mansfieldughed. "You absolutely deserved that recognition. Next time, your name will be on the national awards, too."


    "From your lips to God''s ears." Eleanor''sugh was light and genuine.


    After a few more words, they hung up. Eleanor started the car and headed straight home-she needed to pick up her daughter.


    As she pulled into the daycare parking lot, she saw a ck Maybach ahead of her, license te A-88888.


    The headlights were still on. He was obviously waiting inside.


    Eleanor felt a stab of annoyance. Why was he here to pick up their daughter?


    As if sensing her arrival, the Maybach''s engine went silent andn stepped out, walking over to her car.


    He stopped by the driver''s side and said, "My grandmother wants to invite you to dinner tonight."