When Eleanor arrived home that evening, it was around nine o''clock and she received a message from Mansfield: "Merry Christmas."


    She replied right away, and Mansfield texted back, "I forgot to get you a gift. I''ll make it up to you on New Year''s."


    Eleanor paused for a moment, then quickly typed, "Mansfield, your thoughtfulness is more than enough. I really don''t need a present a simple greeting is perfect."


    "What, are you that afraid to ept a gift from me?"


    "You know I hate feeling indebted to people. Please, don''t get me anything," Eleanor admitted, feeling a little helpless.


    “Haha!” Mansfield''sughter came through loud and clear. "Alright then! I won''t push it."


    She was relieved that he''d listened. Xavier''s surprise gift earlier had already left her scrambling to return the favor, and she didn''t want to create any more awkwardness—especially not by sending a gift to Mansfield''s workce, which could onlyplicate things for him.


    After a few more messages, Eleanor went to bathe her daughter.


    *


    Two dayster, Eleanor met Ellington for lunch. He wanted to give her his year- end work report. Her experiments had kept her so busytely that Ellington could only catch her during her lunch break.


    "Ms. Sutton, this is a new ce. I think you''ll like it," Ellington said as they got out of the car.


    She nodded, stepped into the restaurant, and was greeted by a wave of warmth. She slipped off her coat and draped it over her arm. As they walked down the corridor toward their private room, a waiter pushed open the door to a VIP suite.


    Eleanor''s gaze drifted inside as she passed. A round table was set with a group of people—four foreign guests and Vanessa among them. In the space obscured by the open door, Eleanor glimpsed a pair of hands resting on the table-elegant, well-shaped, a perfect bnce of strength and grace. She didn''t want to guess, but she already knewn was sitting there just out of sight.


    Vanessa happened to nce toward the door.


    Their eyes met, unexpectedly.


    Vanessa looked momentarily surprised, but quickly recovered. She turned back ton with a flirtatious smile, then shot Eleanor a sly, challenging look through the open doorway.


    Eleanor looked away and kept walking.


    The waiter opened the door to the next suite and ushered them inside.


    "Ms. Sutton, here''s the annual financial report."


    She took the file and began reviewing it while Ellington exined the details with practiced thoroughness. Eleanor listened intently.


    When lunch arrived, Ellington noticed she was barely touching her food and felt a pang of guilt. “Looks like I picked the wrong ce. Next time, I''ll choose somewhere better."


    Eleanor managed a smile. "It''s not your fault. I''m just not hungry."


    She didn''t bother to exin the real reason.


    As Ellington went through his report, Eleanor picked at her meal. Around half past one, they headed toward the lobby. Rounding the corridor, Eleanor caught sight ofn and Vanessa near the restaurant entrance, shaking hands with the four foreign guests as they said their goodbyes.


    Vanessa, dressed in a champagne-colored cocktail dress, wrapped her arms around herself, shivering in the biting cold-barely above freezing. She nced back down the hallway, just as Eleanor and Ellington stepped out.


    She turned ton and said something. Ian immediately took off his suit jacket and handed it to her.


    Vanessa looked up at him with a radiant smile, draping the jacket over her shoulders with grateful ease.


    At that moment,n heard footsteps behind him. He turned his head, and when he saw Eleanor and Ellington standing there, his body noticeably tensed. His handsome features hardened, gaze fixed on Eleanor.


    Vanessa pulledn''s jacket tighter around herself, a flicker of triumph in her eyes before she softened into a gracious smile. “Eleanor! What a coincidence."


    Eleanor walked past as if she hadn''t heard her.


    Ellington, not wanting to be impolite, nodded ton. "Mr. Goodwin."


    Butn didn''t acknowledge him. His eyes stayed locked on Eleanor''s retreating figure, his jaw clenched, fists tightening at his sides.


    One of the foreign businessmen stepped forward. "Mr. Goodwin, let''s meet again in three days."<pn snapped back to his businesslikeposure, offering a cool, professional smile. "Thank you. I appreciate it."