Grayson Pierce and Eloise Caldwell novel Chapter 38

Chapter 38

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Noah told Eloise jokes to cheer her up. “Mommy, what’s everyone’s least favorite food?”

“What?” Eloise’s thoughts were elsewhere, and she didn’t follow.

Noah grinned. “Worms. Because nobody likes to eat worms.”

Eloise blinked, then a small, tired smile touched her lips.

Not deterred, Noah tried another. “Why does the barber always win the race?”

Eloise paused, her chopsticks hovering over her plate. She thought for a moment. “Because he takes shortcuts?”

“Yes. You’re so smart, Mommy. Here’s your prize.” Proudly, Noah peeled a shrimp and placed it carefully onto her plate. Eloise looked at the shrimp, then at Noah’s earnest, hopeful face. Her heart melted into a soft, aching warmth.

Over these past difficult years, it was Noah who had been her constant light, her reason to keep going.

She wondered, ‘People say daughters are a parent’s comfort, but my son is my entire refuge. How could I bear for such a wonderful boy to grow up without his father?’

*****

The next day at the office, Eloise took out her phone. After a night of wrestling with her conscience, she finally typed a message to Grayson: [Mr. Pierce, are you free for lunch today? My treat.]

She hit send, placed the phone face down on her desk, and got back to her work.

Grayson had just stepped out of the arrivals terminal at Yaiville Airport when he checked his phone. Finn was behind him, rattling off the afternoon’s schedule.

Grayson suddenly stopped, turned on his heel, and began striding purposefully back toward the terminal.

Finn stared, utterly confused. “Mr. Pierce? What’s going on?”

“I need to get back to Ekloland,” Grayson said, his steps quickening as he headed for the ticket counters.

Finn was speechless for a second. They’d just landed. “Mr. Pierce has there been an emergency? Is something wrong?”

Grayson didn’t even look up. “Eloise asked me to lunch.”

Finn’s mouth opened, then closed. The transformation of his usually ice-cold superior into what could only be described as a lovesick teenager was jarring.

Finn tried to reason with him. “Mr. Pierce, you can have lunch with Ms. Caldwell when we return. We have a meeting scheduled with the Yaiville city officials at noon. We can’t cancel

Grayson halted, his expression one of profound frustration. “Fi,” he said, pinning Finn with a look. “Why did you schedule me to be in Yaiville today?”

He fumed inwardly. ‘Of all days to miss a lunch invitation from Bloise. She hardly asks ine out.

Finn suppressed a sigh. “This is utterly unreasonable. Who do I complain to?’

But the blame ultimately fell on him. He couldn’t exactly tell Grayson to stop being ridiculous.

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He adopted a suitably contrite expression. “You’re right, Mr. Pierce. My apologies. I’ll friend Ms. Caldwell on WhatsApp immediately. From now on, I’ll cross-check your schedule with her availability to avoid conflicts.”

“You may friend her,” Grayson conceded, slipping into the waiting car. “Strictly for coordinating schedules. No other

conversation.”

“Of course, Mr. Pierce,” Finn agreed hastily. He wouldn’t dare. He’d heard from Rhys about what happened to Beckett’s hand

In the car, Grayson stared at the message on his screen for a long time before finally replying: [I’m on a business trip in Yaiville. Back in a few days.]

When Eloise saw the reply, a shaky breath of relief escaped her. The intense pressure she’d felt since sending the message and the courage it had taken to finally reach out about Noah eased momentarily.

Grayson’s absence felt like a reprieve, a pardon granting her more time to gather her nerves.

Grayson waited for quite a while before getting Eloise’s reply. [Let’s talk when you’re back, Mr. Pierce.]

In the car, Finn watched from the front passenger seat as Grayson, in the rearview mirror, studied the brief reply as if deciphering a complex code.

A moment later, Grayson swiped to a different photo on his phone. It was a picture of a much younger Eloise, her face still soft with youth, smiling brightly at the camera.

Finn’s curiosity got the better of him. “Mr. Pierce, have you known Ms. Caldwell for a long time?”

Grayson’s eyes flicked up, cool and warning. “Is that relevant?”

“My mistake, Mr. Pierce,” Finn said quickly.

A beat of silence passed before Grayson spoke again, his voice lower. “She was my girlfriend. A long time ago.”

Finn simply nodded, mentally filing away the revelation. ‘What a story. I knew there was history there.

The

way Mr. Pierce looks at Eloise has a turbulent mix of longing and something darker, like old resentment. There’s clearly a lot between them.’

But he knew better than to pry any further. Pushing his luck might trigger Grayson’s temper.

After work, Eloise was driving home when her phone rang. It was Juliette. “Eloise, I got a job, and I start Monday.”

“Juliette, that was fast,” Eloise said, genuinely happy for her. “Where?”

“Ofuatmont Company. It’s part of the Morley family holdings,” Jliette said.

Confused, Eloise repeated, “The Morley family?”

Juliette answered, “Yeah, one of the old-money families in Ekloland.”

Eloise thought for a moment but drew a blank. She was still new to the city’s intricate social landscape. “I’ll have to look them up. There are so many wealthy families here. And you’ve got an assistant job, right?”

Juliette couldn’t help but smile. “Yeah. Executive assistant to the hairman.

Eloise felt like giving her a thumbs-up. “Wow, Juliette. That’s fantastic.”

Juliette laughed. “You’re one to talk. Listen. I’m starving. Any chance of a home-cooked meal?”

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Eloise beamed. “I was just about to invite you. I’m stopping for groceries. If you get there first, Noah will let you in.”

“Perfect. See you soon,” Juliette chirped.

When Eloise got home, Juliette had already arrived and swooped in to take the heavy grocery bags from her. “Whoa, what’s all this? Feeding an army?”

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