Eleanor added three more dishes to the order and handed the menu back to the waitress. Once the waitress left, Xavier slid a folder across the table toward her. "Here''s the detailed information on the National Research Institute. I thought you might be interested."


    She took the folder, momentarily stunned-Xavier had prepared this for her? Flipping it open, she immediately recognized the name of the national research team she''d heard of before.


    Eleanor was engrossed in the documents when, all of a sudden, she noticed movement near the restaurant entrance. Ian walked in, nked by several foreign clients.


    He was dressed in a charcoal three-piece suit, radiating an air of professional authority with every step.


    As Xavier sipped his tea, his gaze metn''s across the room. Ian leaned over to whisper something to the colleague beside him, who immediately guided the clients toward a private dining room.


    Xavier nced at Eleanor, who was still absorbed in the folder, and made no effort to alert her.


    Eleanor only looked up when she sensed a shadow falling over her. The moment she sawn, her expression turned icy.


    Xavier simply took another sip of tea, unruffled.


    "The National Institute for Biomedical Research is recruiting," Xavier said, arching


    a brow. "I think Eleanor would be an excellent addition."


    He didn''t mind saying it outright. After all, Eleanor was leaving hisb, and if he could help pave the way to something better for her, he was more than willing.


    Eleanor turned away, refusing to engage with him.


    Xavier smiled. “Ian, I believe joining the national research team would be a great step for Eleanor."


    Xavier hesitated, unable to decipher the full implication behindn''s remark.


    Eleanor, however, knew exactly what he meant. She shotn a look of disgust. "Can you not ruin our lunch?"


    "Excuse me,”n replied stiffly, then turned and walked away.


    Xavier regarded Eleanor thoughtfully. What didn mean by that? Did Eleanor have some connection to the Secretary as well?


    He didn''t press the issue. Instead, he smiled and said, "Let''s eat first. Take the folder home, go through it at your own pace-it''ll be useful for you."


    “Thank you,” Eleanor said gratefully. "You''ve really gone out of your way."


    "It''s nothing," Xavier replied with a low chuckle. Eleanor leavingn''sb was, in his view, for the best.


    It was time for her to draw a clear line between herself and her ex-husband.


    Just then, Eleanor''s phone buzzed with a new message. She nced at the screen.


    "How long do you n to keep your rtionship with Mansfield Ellington a secret from him?"


    Fromn.


    Eleanor''s fingers tightened around her phone. Without a word, she flipped it face- down on the table.