At nine, they called for their drivers to take them home.


    When Xavier got out of the car, his assistant, Cain, rushed to support him. "Mr. Vaughn, let me help you inside."


    "It''s fine. You can go home," Xavier said, steadying himself against the car door. He was clearly drunk.


    "Are you sure, sir?" Cain asked, still worried. He''d never seen his boss this intoxicated.


    "I''m sure."


    After his assistant left, Xavier didn''t go straight home. He decided to walk through the residentialplex for a bit to clear his head. As he ambled along, his feet carried him unconsciously toward Eleanor''s building. He looked up at her floor and saw the lights were on.


    He sighed and had just turned to leave when a familiar figure rounded the corner. It was Eleanor, tired from a long day, being dropped off by Gavin.


    "Eleanor?" Xavier murmured, wondering if he was so drunk he was hallucinating. Eleanor looked up and saw a man standing under the streetlight. It was Xavier. "Xavier? What are you doing here?" she asked, quickening her pace.


    As she got closer, the strong smell of alcohol hit her.


    "Have you been drinking?" she asked, her brow furrowed with concern.


    He looked at her, realizing it was really her, not a dream. The person he most wanted to see was standing right in front of him. The alcohol had dulled his senses, but it had also stripped away his usual restraint.


    "Eleanor! It really is you," he said with a low, happyugh, swaying slightly. "What a... what a coincidence."


    Afraid he would fall, Eleanor instinctively reached out to steady him. "Why did you drink so much?"


    "Sorry you have to see me like this," Xavier mumbled, rubbing his forehead. His face was flushed, his eyes zed over, the usualposure gone.


    "Let me help you get home," she said, deciding it was the best course of action.


    Xavier leaned on her for support. He looked down at her face, so close in the soft glow of themplight that she seemed almost unreal. The alcohol amplified the emotions he kept buried deep inside, making his gaze direct and intense.


    "Eleanor..." he whispered her name.


    She patted his back gently. "Let''s get you home so you can rest."


    Suddenly, Xavier''s forehead dropped to her shoulder, his body heavy with exhaustion. "I feel awful..."


    Meanwhile, hidden in the shadows


    of the trees at the corner, Gavin stood holding a woman''s handbag He stared at the scene, stunned. He had onlye back because he''d. noticed Eleanor had left her purse in the car. He never expected to find this.


    Almost on instinct, Gavin pulled out his phone, took a few steps back, and dialedn''s number.


    "Hello? Is she home safe?"n asked as soon as he answered.


    "Mr. Goodwin, Miss Sutton is back in theplex, but she left her purse in the car, so I came back to return it," Gavin said, lowering his voice. But Mr Vaughn is here too. He seems to have had too much to drink, and Miss Sutton is helping him-"


    Before Gavin could finish, the line went dead.


    Clutching his phone, Gavin had the sudden feeling he''d said too much. Was Mr.


    Goodwin on his way down?


    Eleanor managed to guide the


    unsteady Xavier to a nearby bench. She could tell something was weighing heavily on his mind. As she looked around for a security guard who could help get him home, Xavier must have thought she wag leaving. He suddenly shot out an arm and grabbed her wrist, his voice a low plea. "Eleanor... please don''t go."