Gavin was clearly the kind of man who got things done and he got them done fast.


    Just half an hourter, he sent over detailed listings for Cloudcrest Manor.


    "Mr. Goodwin, there are two avable apartments in Building 12, Unit 1," Gavin said over the phone. "One is on the 27th floor, unit 2701, right below Miss Sutton''s new ce. The other is on the 23rd floor." He paused. "The owner of 2701 is asking twenty percent above market rate. ims it''s newly renovated and never been lived in."


    The next morning, Xavier spotted Eleanor''s car at the parking lot exit. They nearly always dropped their children off at school around the same time, so running into each other wasn''t unusual.


    Xavier followed behind Eleanor''s car. The school was only a ten-minute drive away. Eleanor had chosen Cloudcrest Manor precisely because the redevelopment of the Old Quarter nearby had yet to begin; Cloudcrest offered the nicest homes in the area, with the best security andndscaping. For someone with Eleanor''s resources, it was the obvious choice.


    Eleanor pulled up to the school and parked. She knew Xavier was right behind her. Both walked their children up to the school gates. Xavier''s happiness was in to see. "Guess we''re neighbors now. If you ever need anything, just let me know."


    "Thank you." Eleanor tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Everything''s settled at my ce. I just need to unpack."


    Xavier nodded. "Good. We can look out for each other from now on."


    Eleanor had no ulterior motives in moving to Cloudcrest Manor. She simply


    wanted afortable, safe, and elegant home-a ce where her daughter could have the best possible life.


    "Yes." She hoped she could return the favor someday. After all, she owed Xavier a lot.


    "Heading to the office?" Xavier asked.


    "Yeah, off to work." Eleanor smiled and nodded.


    Xavier decided to head to work as well. They parted ways at the next stoplight, Xavier''s car pulling ahead, but he couldn''t help ncing in the rearview mirror to catch one more glimpse of Eleanor''s car.


    Eleanor drove on toward the research facility.


    Inside the private facility, she changed into herb coat and hurried straight to the mainb. Joel was already there, hunched over a machine, tweaking some data.


    "Morning, Joel," Eleanor called as she walked in.


    "Morning." Joel straightened, his eyes warm as they met hers.


    Several pieces of high-precision equipment hummed softly in the background. Eleanor focused intently on the data streams, asionally adjusting a parameter or two.


    Their current project was still in its early stages, building on Eleanor''s previous work-developing non-invasive devices to help paralyzed patients regain control of their limbs.


    Meanwhile, in the president''s office at Goodwin & Co.


    Gavin knocked before entering. "Mr. Goodwin, the transfer for Cloudcrest Manor 2701 isplete. Here''s the key. The default code for the door is six zeros."


    "Mr. Goodwin, should I?"


    "I''m going to the research facility,"n said, his tone low and decisive.


    Gavin nodded and left.


    At noon, in the facility''s cafeteria, Eleanor sat with Gwenda, Joel, Simone, and Callie. Simone was in high spirits, chatting about the progress on a new medication. Callie, meanwhile, had heard about Eleanor''s involvement in brain-puter interface research two years ago, and her admiration for Eleanor only grew.


    On their way back to theb, Joel seemed to remember something. "Any ns for your birthday this year?"


    Eleanor had been lost in her thoughts about theb. The sudden question caught her off guard-how did Joel remember her birthday?


    "Uh, I''m just nning something simple at home," she replied.


    "With your daughter?" Joel smiled.


    "Yeah. Just a small cake, nothing fancy," Eleanor said.


    Joel nodded. "Sounds good. Maybe we can grab dinner together sometime."


    Eleanor smiled back. "Sure."


    At two in the afternoon, Eleanor was analyzing the morning''s test results when Gwenda poked her head in the door. "Eleanor, Mr. Goodwin is here."


    Without looking up, Eleanor replied, "Tell him I''m busy."


    No sooner had she spoken thann strode in, impably dressed in a tailored suit, exuding authority.


    Seeing she couldn''t avoid him, Eleanor''s tone chilled. "What do you want?"n raised an eyebrow. "You moved?"


    Eleanor frowned. He must have gotten her new address from Joslyn.


    She shot him a frosty look. "My private life isn''t something I have to report to you."


    "If you wanted to know where I live, it wouldn''t have been hard to find out, would it?” Eleanor said sharply, turning her back to him and returning to her data analysis.


    "Cloudcrest Manor is a solid choice. Xavier rmended it to you?"n took a step closer, leaning against the workbench, watching her sort through the reports.


    A sh of irritation crossed Eleanor''s face. "And what if he did?"


    At that moment, Joel walked in with two cups of coffee and stopped short when he sawn.


    "Eleanor, your coffee," Joel said, setting a cup on her desk.


    Eleanor offered him a grateful smile. "Thanks, Joel."


    Joel nced betweenn and Eleanor. "Mr. Goodwin, is there anything you''d like


    me to report on? I happen to have some time, and I can fill you in."