Thunderous apuse swept through the auditorium as Eleanor finished her speech. The humility in her closing remarks only amplified the admiration in the room.


    Byron hurried over, his eyes shining with emotion as he epted the microphone from Eleanor. His voice trembled, on the verge of tears. "Let''s all thank Miss Eleanor Sutton for that brilliant speech."


    Byron thenunched into his summary and outlined his engineering team''s research direction.


    Eleanor returned to her seat, where Xavier was already waiting with a bottle of water. He handed it to her with a gentle smile. She took it gratefully. "Thank you."


    As Eleanor took a sip, she caught someone''s gaze-someone had turned to look at her. It wasn. He''d seen Xavier''s thoughtful gesture, and, eyes narrowing, he turned away again.


    Byron delivered his final remarks, and after two full hours, theunch event wrapped up wlessly.


    Guests began to file out. As Eleanor gathered her things, Xavier approached her. "It''s nearly lunchtime. Care to join me for a meal?"


    A quick nce at her watch confirmed it-11:30. Since they''d run into each other, she had no reason to refuse.


    "Sure, let''s go together," Eleanor replied warmly, nodding.


    They walked side by side toward the exit, never noticingn in the front row, his gaze fixed on their backs, his expression unreadable.


    A few eager journalists rushed over. "Miss Sutton, may we take a photo of you two?"


    Before Eleanor could respond, Xavier smiled. "Of course."


    The photographers snapped several quick shots, and a couple of reporters asked a few questions before Eleanor and Xavier slipped away to a nearby bistro.


    They''d barely been seated ten minutes when three more figures walked in- Vanessa, Serena, and Faye.


    Vanessa hesitated when she spotted Eleanor and Xavier by the window, considering whether they should eat elsewhere. But before she could voice the thought, Faye strode straight toward Eleanor, her posture tense, as if ready for a confrontation.


    Faye, eyes red and face contorted, ignored the setting and demanded, "Eleanor, are you satisfied now?"


    Eleanor frowned. "I''m not sure what you mean."


    "You knew I''d embarrass myself, didn''t you? You set me up—humiliated me on purpose!" Faye''s voice rose, ragged and shrill.


    Heads turned throughout the restaurant. Vanessa and Serena rushed to pull Faye away.


    "Faye, that''s enough. Let''s go," Vanessa said, wrapping an arm around Faye''s waist, trying to steer her toward the door.


    Serena''s cheeks burned with embarrassment-Xavier was watching them, his gaze cool and impassive.


    Faye red at Eleanor, convinced she''d fallen into a trap Eleanor had set. She''d overestimated how much she could handle and walked herself right into disaster. And she was certain Eleanor had known this all along.


    Eleanor met Faye''s furious stare head-on. "Faye, you fought for this opportunity yourself. If you couldn''t handle it, that isn''t anyone else''s fault."


    Vanessa turned to Eleanor, her expression icy. "I apologize for my sister. She''s not herself today."


    Serena looked at Eleanor too. "Faye''s already devastated. You''re on the same team-did you really have to be so harsh?"


    Xavier frowned, clearly unconvinced by Serena''s criticism of Eleanor.


    With onest re, Faye stormed out. Vanessa nced at Eleanor, then at Xavier, before hurrying after her sister.


    Serena lingered, as if she wanted to say something to Xavier, but seeing his eyes fixed on the window, she bit her lip and left too.


    Once they were alone, Xavier looked at Eleanor. "Does this happen to you often?"


    He meant being med for things that weren''t her fault.


    Eleanor smiled faintly. "Not really. Most of my team are good people."


    Xavier handed her the menu. "Pick whatever you like. Let''s let good food heal a rough morning."


    She ordered, and Xavier offered a few more reassuring words. "Don''t let what just happened get to you. You were outstanding today-no one could fault your performance."


    Eleanor wrapped her hands around her cup of tea. "Thank you."


    "Tell me," Xavier said, curiosity lighting his eyes, "what was it like the first time you gave a speech? Were you nervous?"


    Eleanor chuckled, recalling her first speech back in middle school-so nervous she''d held her notes upside down. The memory broke the tension, and she found herself sharing stories from her early days, Xavier listening intently.


    He was a wonderful listener, and as they chatted about those younger years, Eleanor found herself rxing, her mood lifting.


    After lunch, Byron called-there was a meeting at the office at two.


    Stepping out of the restaurant, Xavier hesitated, regret in his voice. "Let''s do this again sometime."


    "Of course," Eleanor replied with a smile.


    He watched as she drove away, a small smile crossing his face. For him, this was a promising start.


    Eleanor parked outside Meridian Dynamics, just as a sleek ck Mercedes pulled in behind her. As she stepped out and turned, she sawn getting out, too. Their eyes met for a brief moment before she gathered her bag and headed into the lobby.


    Eleanor didn''t need his approval and gave no reply.


    "But next time, as Meridian Dynamics'' lead researcher, you might want to keep a


    bit of distance from Xavier at events like this,"n continued, his tone colder.


    Eleanor shot him a sidelong look. "What''s that supposed to mean?"


    With that, he strode ahead, leaving Eleanor standing in the lobby, her jaw set.