No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 1341

"Alright, I'll be out front to pick you up around 11:30."

"Okay," Eleanor agreed before the person on the other end hung up.

Eleanor stopped at a red light and sensed the man beside her staring. She turned to glance at him. "What are you looking at?"

Seeing her expression, Ian Goodwin realized she had clearly forgotten that he had just invited her to lunch.

"I was the one who asked you to lunch first," Ian muttered sullenly.

Eleanor blinked, finally remembering. He had invited her at the supermarket, and she had refused without a second thought.

"Joel needs to discuss work with me," Eleanor said, trying to offer an explanation, though she certainly didn't need to. Who she ate with was her own business.

"Can I join you?" Ian asked suddenly.

"No," Eleanor replied, her rejection sharp and final.

Ian was speechless for a few seconds, the frustration in his chest growing heavier.

"Why not?" he couldn't help but ask, his voice laced with a faint dissatisfaction. "It's just a meal. If he can talk about work, so can I. I'm still Joel Kingsley's boss, and besides, I have work to discuss with you too."

Eleanor gave him a look. "My lunch with Joel isn't a place for outsiders to interrupt."

Outsider?

The word pricked Ian's heart like a fine needle. It was true, he was an outsider in her eyes. So what did that make Joel? A close colleague, an insider?

Ian's lips tightened, his jaw clenching. A few memories from the past surfaced, and he ground his teeth in frustration, saying, "So, you've always seen Joel as an insider? Someone you can discuss any private matter with?"

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