Eleanor red atn''s back, irritation simmering in her chest.


    She had just pressed the elevator button when she noticedn was already inside, leaning casually against the wall, scrolling through his phone.


    Suppressing a sigh of annoyance, Eleanor stepped in and realized he hadn''t even selected a floor. She jabbed the button for her office, then deliberately chose a spot as far from him as possible.


    As soon as the elevator doors slid open, she spotted Byron hurrying down the hall. He paused, surprised to see both of them stepping out together.


    "Mr. Goodwin, Eleanor, you two-?"


    "We have a meeting at two o''clock sharp," Ian cut him off, shoving one hand in his pocket as he strode toward the conference room.


    Byron turned to Eleanor with a grateful smile. “Eleanor, I can''t thank you enough for today. If you hadn''t stepped in at thest minute, thatunch event would have been a disaster."


    Eleanor''s expression hardened. "VP Chase, next time something like this happens, just ask the boss to handle it himself. Don''t drag me into it."


    Byron blinked in surprise, then chuckled. "Mr. Goodwin can certainly keep things under control, but when ites to the technical side, you''re the expert."


    The implication was clear: Ian was out of his depth with the science.


    Eleanor headed for her office. Just then, another person stepped out of the elevator-Faye.


    Her eyes were red and puffy, the evidence of a good, hard cry.


    Seeing Byron, Faye''s cheeks flushed as she hurried over to apologize. "VP Chase, I''m so sorry about today. I let you down."


    Byron''s face grew stern. "Faye, don''t take on things you''re not prepared for. Do you realize you nearly ruined theunch? If Eleanor hadn''t rescued us, this whole event would be theughingstock of the industry."


    Faye''s face drained of color. She bit her already reddened lip, teetering on the verge of tears again. "I''m sorry, VP Chase. It was my fault."


    Byron considered her for a moment, remembering her connection ton. He decided not to press further. "Just go home and get some rest. We''ll talk when you''re feeling better."


    Faye straightened up. "I''m fine now. I can work."


    Byron didn''t argue, but he also didn''t invite her to the two o''clock meeting.


    Faye sshed her face with cold water in the restroom. As she ducked into a stall,


    a group of women entered, their voices carrying easily through the thin walls.


    "Hey, were you at the productunch today? I heard Faye nearly broke down in tears on stage."


    "Seriously, why take on something you can''t handle? Now she''s a joke around the office."


    "She must have overestimated herself."


    "Overestimated? Please. She was totally out of her depth."


    "Thank goodness Eleanor took over, or ourpany would be the butt of every joke in the industry. How would we ever live it down?"


    "I heard Eleanor spoke off the cuff and absolutely nailed it. She''s incredible."


    "Of course she is. She''s Mr. Goodwin''s ex-wife. Any woman he''d marry is bound to be extraordinary."


    "Looks like Faye was just desperate to make a name for herself. She''s a grad student, right? How did she freeze up so badly?"


    "It''s one thing to handle a little seminar, but did you see that crowd today? All those tech bigwigs, plus the press with their cameras in your face... If it had been me, I wouldn''t have even made it on stage."