Eleanor had no choice but to politely decline.


    On the other end of the line, Henrietta sounded a little disappointed. "Oh, I see! Well, maybe next time you and your mom cane over for dinner."


    "Thank you, Mrs. Vaughn, but I really need to get back to work now."


    "Of course, dear. I won''t keep you. Take care!" Though Henrietta was clearly let down, she didn''t seem upset.


    Eleanor exhaled softly, checked the time, and refocused on her experiments.


    Vaughn Shipping Group.


    Xavier was in the middle of paperwork when his phone rang. Seeing it was his mother, he picked up. "Xavier, be honest with me are you serious about Eleanor? This isn''t just a passing fancy, is it?"


    Spinning his chair to face the window, Xavier looked out at the bustling city


    skyline. His voice was steady. "Mom, I''ve never been more certain about anything in my life."


    "What aboutn?"


    "We''ve already talked. He won''t get in the way of me pursuing Eleanor." Xavier didn''t mention the five-year marriage contract Eleanor had signed.


    "That''s good to hear. Eleanor really is a wonderful girl-so polite and well- mannered. Evelyn raised her well. I was just thinking of inviting them both over for dinner tonight, but Eleanor said Evelyn has an evening English ss."


    Xavier blinked in surprise. "You reached out to her?"


    "I just called, that''s all."


    "Mom, next time please don''t contact her out of the blue. She''s got a lot on her te at work." Xavier was quick to caution her.


    Henrietta could hear the protectiveness in her son''s tone and was a little taken aback-since when did her son get so cautious chasing after a girl?


    "I''m only trying to help you win her over!"


    "Mom, please. Let me handle things with Eleanor myself, all right?" Xavier rubbed his temples, sounding resigned.


    "Fine, I won''t interfere. But you''d better step up your game-girls like her don''t stay single for long."


    "I know." Xavier managed a small smile.


    Just then, his assistant knocked and stepped in. "Mr. Vaughn, Mr. Holt is here to see you."


    Xavier was caught off guard. Henry rarely dropped by unannounced.


    "Show him in."


    Henry sauntered in, dressed casually. Xavier couldn''t help but smile. "Didn''t think to give me a heads-up?"


    "I was meeting a client downstairs, figured I''de up and say hi." Henry flopped onto the sofa, stretching outzily. "Busy? Or do you have a few minutes to talk?"


    Xavier eyed him curiously; there was an unusual seriousness in Henry''s expression.


    "What''s with the secrecy?" Xavier took a seat across from him.


    Once the assistant had brought in some coffee and left, Henry picked up his mug and took a sip. "Xavier, how long have we known each other?"


    "Twenty-three years," Xavier answered without hesitation. "What''s this about?"


    Henry pulled out his phone and brought up a photo he''d snapped in secret. It showed a young man in military dress chatting animatedly with Eleanor in an auditorium. They wereughing, their eyes locked.


    Xavier''s brow furrowed. "Who''s that?"


    "His name''s Mansfield Ellington. I don''t know much about his family background, but he and Eleanor seem close-word is, he''s one of her suitors, and she''s interested."


    Xavier''s frown deepened as he studied the photo. The man was striking, clearly someone with a high rank in the military.