Grayson Pierce and Eloise Caldwell novel Chapter 41

Chapter 41

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Five years could completely change a person. The once warm and soft-spoken Grayson was gone. In his place stood a man who was domineering and aggressive.

Eloise truly couldn’t understand him anymore. ‘Does he genuinely want to mend what is broken?’

Under the dim glow of the streetlight, her beautiful eyes studied him, trying to decipher the truth behind his deep-set gaze. But after a long moment, she found nothing she could trust.

“It doesn’t matter what you see, does it?” Grayson’s voice broke the silence. “You won’t believe it anyway. Eloise, jumping to conclusions is a bad habit.”

He paused, his expression softening just a fraction. “I won’t push you. We have all the time we need. Go on up now.”

Eloise stared at him, stunned. Grayson simply took her arm, guided her into the building, pressed the elevator button for her, and waited until the doors closed before turning to leave.

Back in his car, he tossed the bag of blueberry pies onto the back seat without a second glance.

Returning to her apartment, Eloise noticed the bag of blueberry pies she’d put in the kitchen was gone. The one on the coffee table remained. ‘Grayson is ridiculously petty.

Noah emerged from his bath, pink-cheeked and adorable in his pajamas. Seized by a sudden impulse, Eloise asked, “Can I give you a goodnight kiss?”

Noah, turning a little pink himself, gave a shy nod.

Delighted, Eloise planted a loud, smacking kiss on his cheek. “Off to bed, sweetie.”

“Goodnight, Mommy.” Noah scampered into his room, his ears red.

Eloise sighed, a pang of melancholy hitting her. ‘Soon, he’ll be too old for even this.’

She walked to the coffee table and opened the remaining paper bag. Inside were the blueberry pies, some beef jerky, and a simple wooden bracelet.

She picked up the bracelet. It was strung on a dark green cord with smooth, polished beads. It was lovely.

Looking closer, she saw two tiny letters engraved on one bead: G&E.

Her face suddenly felt warm. A memory from five years ago surfaced. She’d bought a pair of cheap, custom-printed T-shirts online.

Thinking photo prints were too much, she’d opted for initials instead, G&E, for the last syllables of their names.

The shirt quality was poor. Grayson had been openly disdainful This is tacky,” he’d complained, rubbing the tabric between his fingers. “And the material is awful. It’s going to be itchy. You got scammed.”

“They were only 30 dollars for both,” she’d retorted with an eye roll.

Grayson had dropped it. They had worn them once on an outing Later, he had broken out in a rash. Eloise had teased him for being delicate.

Now, Eloise pressed her cool hands to her warm cheeks. Walking into her bedroom, she placed the bracelet at the very back of a drawer and covered it with a notebook. Only then did she go to take her shower.

The next morning, she got some milk to go with the blueberry pes for breakfast.

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Chapter 41

After packing Noah’s lunch for later, Eloise headed to work. The wo junior assistants arrived late.

Felice took out a blueberry pie to eat. “Overslept. Didn’t even have time for breakfast.”

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The other assistant, Bertha, yawned widely. “Me neither. Stayed up binge-watching a show until almost three. I’m dead.”

Felice handed her two blueberry pies. “Here, have some. I got them in Yaiville. They’re really good.”

Bertha took a bite. “Yeah, they are. Aren’t these Yaiville’s famous blueberry pies?”

“I should have gotten you some. It just slipped my mind,” Felice said.

Bertha shrugged. “No worries, I can order them online.”

Eloise frowned. ‘Didn’t Beckett say he’d brought some for everyone? Did Bertha not get any, or did he simply not have the chance to give them out yet?’

Felice, noticing Eloise, came over with two more blueberry pies. Ms. Caldwell, would you like to try some?”

Eloise, about to say she’d already had some, changed her mind and accepted them. “Thank you.”

Just then, Beckett walked in. Felice and Bertha hastily put their food away and stood up to greet him. “Good morning, Mr. Hayes.”

Eloise followed suit. Beckett gave a curt nod to the room, though his gaze lingered on Eloise with a touch more warmth. “Ms. Caldwell, see me in my office shortly.”

Eloise nodded right away. “Sure, Mr. Hayes.”

In his office, Eloise stood before his desk, her mind elsewhere.

“Ms. Caldwell?” Beckett’s voice pulled her back. “Eloise?”

Eloise snapped back to reality. “Yes, Mr. Hayes?”

“Something on your mind?” Beckett asked.

She hesitated, then shook her head. “Nothing important.”

He handed her a thick stack of files. “Have these compiled by end of day.”

“Of course, Mr. Hayes.” Eloise took the files and left.

Beckett watched her go, a slight frown creasing his brow.

Eloise pushed her wandering thoughts aside and buried herself work. Some tasks, like this one, Beckett entrusted only to her. He didn’t trust others with them.

At lunchtime, Felice approached her desk. “Ms. Caldwell, coming to lunch?”

“I’ll finish this section first. You two go ahead.” Eloise had the two extra blueberry pies if she got hungry.

Felice and Bertha exchanged a look and left arm-in-arm.

In the elevator, Felice murmured. ‘Ms. Caldwell’s going to work herself to death. Never delegates.”

Bertha shrugged. “She’s Mr. Hayes’s trusted one. He doesn’t trust us with the important stuff. Oh well. Same pay, less work. Can’t complain.”

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Chapter 41

Their conversation quickly turned to lunch options.

A while later, Beckett was standing at Eloise’s desk. “Why didn’t you go for lunch?”

Eloise looked up. “I’ll eat after I finish this.”

He paused, then reached down and took her wrist, pulling her to her feet. “You’re coming with me.”

“No, really, Mr. Hayes, I’m not…” Eloise said.

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