The new week began with Joel Kingsley''s assessment looming on Friday, but first came Wednesday: the Ashford Medical University anniversary g.
Dressed in herb coat, Eleanor Sutton had been hard at work with Callie since early morning. Theb was filled with the faint scent of antiseptic and the low hum of equipment as Eleanor peered intently at the cell sample under her microscope. Her slender fingers moved deftly over the controls, and the sunlight cast a soft halo on her focused expression.
Callie watched her, impressed. Eleanor hadn''t moved from her station all morning. The sample analysis was notoriously difficult, yet she was already nearingpletion. Eleanor knew the anniversary celebration on Wednesday would consume the entire day, which meant she had to push her research forward as fast as possible.
The first two days of the week were packed with meetings, but one particr person was conspicuously absent, leaving Eleanor in surprisingly good spirits.
Wednesday arrived in a sh. The Ashford Medical University campus was decked out in festive decorations, exuding an air of celebration. The sixtieth- anniversary g was a grand affair, bringing together industry elites and distinguished alumni for a packed schedule of academic presentations and celebratory ceremonies.
As a prominent graduate, Eleanor was attending as a guest doctor. She chose an outfit that was both professional and elegant: a pair of tailored trousers, a high- quality charcoal gray sweater, and a matching zer. She left her long hair down, wearing only a touch of subtle makeup, striking the perfect bnce between academic formality and effortless grace.
Before the ceremony began, Eleanor and Joel made their way to the reception lounge, where they saw university administrators gathered around a few notable guests. Mayor Ellington and other city officials were there, as wasn Goodwin. As if sensing her arrival,n turned his head slightly, and his eyes met hers. He stood among the crowd in an impably tailored, deep charcoal suit, radiating an air of noble detachment that came from years in a position of power.
Eleanor''s expression immediately turned cold as she averted her gaze. But a momentter, an alumnus greeted her, and she broke into a radiant smile.
But as Eleanor was chatting with Joel,n approached them anyway.
"Joel, do you have a moment?" he asked politely, his gaze sweeping over Eleanor. With her hair down, she had a softer, more delicate air about her-an understated yet undeniable radiance.
"Of course," Joel nodded. There were several important decisions he needed to discuss with him.
Just then, Eleanor spotted Jude Vaughn, a friend she hadn''t seen in nearly a year since he''d been transferred to another campus.
"I''m going to go say hello to Jude," she said before turning to leave.
With the ceremony yet to officially
start, the lounge was buzzing with lively conversation. After a brief chat, Jude troduced Eleanorto a few other @lumni, and she found herself on the receiving end of the usual pleasantries-phrases like a rising star" and "the pride of the university."
Meanwhile,n navigated a circle of middle-aged city officials and university
faculty with ease, though his eyes periodically drifted, searching for Eleanor in the crowd.
When it was time to be seated,
Eleanor searched for her name card in the second row, only to find she had been assigned a seat in the front right next ton. She frowned in disgust as she saw her name next to his gilded one on the ce card. She couldn''t tell if the arrangement was intentional or just a
coincidence.
As she debated whether to ask someone to switch seats, she heard the sound of steady footsteps behind her, apanied by a faint, cool scent of cedarwood. Tan was standing right there, watching her.
"What a coincidence," he said in a low voice.
Eleanor suddenly found the situation absurd. Why should she be the one to run away? With newfound resolve, she pulled out her chair and sat down.
Watching her,n''s lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile as he gracefully took his own seat beside her.