She remembered the cold, dismissive lookn had given her when she''d tried to act familiar with him. Now, looking at the way he gazed at Eleanor, his expression was unbelievably gentle.


    "Faye, we should probably get back. We have a ton of data to sort through this afternoon," her female colleague''s voice pulled her from her thoughts.


    "Right." Faye looked away. The memory of that humiliating encounter made her shudder. She grabbed her bag and quickly walked out.


    At Eleanor''s table,n was listening as she exined hertest breakthrough and its implications for the future of the Neural Interface Project.


    "I believe that the ambitious three-year n you proposed to the board will be a reality. At least you won''t be in such a tough position," Eleanor told him.


    They had always helped each other seed.


    Eleanor didn''t eat much. She reached up to rub her forehead, clearly not feeling well.


    Seeing her put down her fork,n said with concern, "You should eat more. We still have an hour before the meeting."


    As Eleanor shook her head, she suddenly sneezed. A wave of dizziness washed over her, and she swayed slightly.


    Eleanor waved a hand. "I''m fine."


    No sooner had the words left her mouth than she sneezed twice more. The tip of her nose was red, and an unnatural flush spread across her face.


    "You have a fever," he said in a low voice. "You need to go to the hospital now."


    "No," Eleanor said, pushing his hand away. "This afternoon''s meeting is too important. I have to be there."


    Eleanor knew she wasn''t feeling well, but she couldn''t miss this meeting.


    "I can''t. This meeting is to finalize our direction. Mansfield''s condition can''t wait any longer," Eleanor insisted. She had been in touch with Principal Maxwellst night, and his team had already traveled from Kingston. She couldn''t be absent.


    "The meeting can be rescheduled. Your health can''t wait,"n countered, his brow furrowed.


    "I know my own body," Eleanor said, pushing him away slightly. "Just finish eating so we can go to the conference room."


    This time, Eleanor didn''t refuse. She followed him out of the restaurant and got into


    the car, heading to a nearby affiliated hospital for medication.


    A nurse at the hospital took her temperature. It was 102 degrees. The doctor prescribed a fever reducer. As Eleanor sat in the hospital corridor,n brought her a cup of warm water. "Take this now."


    Eleanor took the pills with the water. Seeing the time, they headed back toward the hospital exit.


    Watching her walk toward the car, he sighed to himself. Like father, like daughter.


    He remembered his father-inw


    had been the same way. While trying


    to ovee a technical hurdle, he


    had insisted on working in theb despite a high fever No one could persuade him to stop. Now, Eleanor had inherited that same stubborn dedication to her research.


    He hurried forward and opened the car door for her. As she leaned in, her head


    bumped against the hand he had put up to shield the doorframe.


    "Mm," Eleanor murmured, leaning back against the seat and closing her eyes.


    The fever reducer seemed to be kicking in, making her drowsy.


    Three minutester, her phone rang. She answered it. "Hello, Ryan."


    "Eleanor, Principal Maxwell said to postpone the meeting for an hour, so you don''t


    have to rush," Ryan''s voice came through the phone.


    Eleanor was a little surprised. "Is Principal Maxwell dyed?"


    "I think so," Ryan said. "We''ll start at three-thirty."