"It''s been days he must be better by now!"


    "He never misses press events like this. He''ll show up."


    Eleanor had barely been dragged by Gwenda down to the lobby to watch the press conference when a suddenmotion rippled through the entrance. From a distance, they saw the crowd part on its own, making way for someone.


    Eleanor instinctively grabbed Gwenda''s hand, hoping to slip away unnoticed, butn''s hawk-like gaze swept the crowd and immediatelynded on her. As she turned, their eyes met for a fleeting moment.


    He lingered on her face just an instant before looking away, striding confidently toward the podium, not a trace of sickness in his demeanor.


    Byron, already on stage, hurried to greet him, shaking his hand with energetic enthusiasm. "Now, let''s wee our own Mr. Goodwin to say a few words."


    Taking the microphone,n''s voice resonated-deep, steady, and strong. "Apologies for beingte, everyone. I''ve pinned my hopes on this robotics project for a long time."


    Gwenda kept a firm grip on Eleanor, refusing to let her leave. Eleanor found


    herself gazing up atn''s presence on stage, unable to resist stealing a few more nces.


    Behind her, a few women whispered, "Mr. Goodwin looked awfulst time, but today-he''s honestly gorgeous."


    Faye''s voice drifted over, a little too loud, a little too pointed. "Seems Mr.


    Goodwin''s cold ispletely gone. Someone must have taken very good care of him."


    The remarknded deliberately in Eleanor''s ear. Gwenda nced back to find Faye watching Eleanor with a sly smile.


    "Come on," Gwenda tugged Eleanor''s arm, "let''s get out of here if you don''t want to watch this."


    When Eleanor finally returned to her office, the building was eerily quiet. Most of the staff had gone downstairs for the press event, leaving the corridors empty.


    She and Gwenda lingered in the break room for over twenty minutes. When Eleanor made her way back to her office and pushed open the door, she nearly jumpedn was sitting on her couch.


    He covered his mouth to cough once. "Hope you don''t mind if I borrow your office to rest for a bit."


    She froze in the doorway, fingers tight on the handle.


    "Just ten minutes," the man on the sofa said, looking up at her.


    Eleanor rolled her eyes. Meridian Dynamics had plenty of guest lounges for visitors-he had to know that.


    "Out. I need to work." She crossed her arms, making it clear he could nap elsewhere if he wanted.


    Eleanor slid into her chair and opened herptop, ignoring him, but his gaze made her skin prickle with difort.


    Fed up, she stood again, stomped over to the door, and shut it behind her-firmly. She headed back to the break room without a word.


    As the door mmed,n''s expression darkened. He pressed his fingers to his temples, as if suddenly beset by a headache.


    When Eleanor finally returned fifteen minutester,n was gone.


    He didn''te back for the rest of the afternoon.


    With the weekend on the horizon, Eleanor''s only n was to spend quality time with her daughter.


    Saturday morning dawned bright and crisp. Eleanor walked through the mall hand-in-hand with her little girl, the child skipping beside her like a happy butterfly.


    They shopped for essentials, then headed home. As soon as they reached the door, Evelyn spotted arge cardboard box waiting on the doorstep.


    "Ooh! What''s this?"


    Joslyn, their housekeeper, hurried over. "Ma''am, this just arrived. Mr. Goodwin had it delivered-a robot for Evelyn."