Seven Years a Fool One Day a Queen (Kristine and Colton) novel Chapter 11

Chapter 11

By the time the car reached Helios Group, the rain had grown heavier.

The parking lot was outdoors, and the walk from car to entrance was exposed.

Calvin stepped out with an umbrella, waited for Medea, and walked her in under its cover.

He never once thought of Eliza.

Of course, one man couldn’t hold an umbrella for two women at once.

Eliza no longer bothered to tally his favoritism.

She opened the car door, prepared to dash through the rain.

It wasn’t far, but in late autumn, even a short soaking chilled to the bone.

“Secretary Grant, wait!”

Someone hurried over from the entrance, umbrella in hand.

It was Cedric.

He came to escort her in.

“This rain’s too cold. You’ll catch a chill. Especially you young women, easy for dampness to seep into the body.”

“Thank you, President Hill,” Eliza said sincerely.

“No need to thank me. That doctor you recommended for my wife worked wonders. Two rounds of medicine and she’s already much better. She told me to thank you in person, and insisted we invite you to dinner tonight.”

“Madam Hill is too polite. It was just a small favor.”

They chatted and laughed as they walked in together, a harmonious picture.

From the doorway, Medea arched a brow at Calvin.

“Secretary Grant and President Hill seem awfully close. No wonder he insisted on seeing her before resuming talks yesterday.”

Her words dripped with implication and anyone seasoned in the workplace would catch it.

But Calvin’s reaction was cooler than Medea expected.

He withdrew his gaze, handed his umbrella to a guard, and strode inside.

That suited her just fine. Smiling, she followed.

When Eliza and Cedric reached the conference room, Medea was leaning close to Calvin, whispering something.

Their upper bodies tipped naturally toward one another.

Psychologists said: when you liked someone, your body leaned in unconsciously.

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Seven Years a Fool, One Day a Queen

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Chapter 11

Eliza had thought herself beyond caring.

But the sight still pricked like a needle.

After all, love of so many years couldn’t be dropped at a word.

She looked away and chose a seat at the farthest distance from them.

The meeting began.

From the outset, Medea was aggressive, insisting Helios Group concede two more percentage points.

Cedric refused. “We already agreed on the ratio. That can’t just be changed.”

“Before, Secretary Grant was handling this project. She’s just a secretary, lacking professional judgment. That’s why we demand new terms.”

Cedric glanced at Eliza, as if hoping she would speak.

But she was looking down at her phone, expression unreadable.

Medea’s lips curled in a faint, disdainful sneer.

“President Hill, perhaps you should reconsider. You know Everest has no shortage of good projects.”

She leaned back in her chair, utterly confident.

Cedric wavered.

Yes, Helios Group desperately needed capital to keep afloat and massive R&D spending had drained their reserves.

That urgency was exactly why Medea chose to squeeze them now.

Pure business instinct.

But if he accepted her terms, Helios Group’s future would be bleak.

Profits in the investors‘ hands, what room would Helios Group have to survive?

After long deliberation, he resolved to walk away.

Even if it delayed operations, even if he had to mortgage everything he owned–it was better than signing away the company’s future.

He was just opening his mouth when Eliza finally spoke.

“Excuse me, I have something to add.”

She cast her phone screen onto the display: a fresh news article about accelerating the construction of an agricultural powerhouse.

“Helios Group has always specialized in agricultural drones and smart farming solutions. Their products are already applied worldwide. When ! drafted the proposal, I considered this, and all the data was supported–none of it was empty promises. With policy backing, Helios Group’s future can only exceed projections.”

She spoke only a few sentences, clear and concise, before sitting back down.

Cedric’s gratitude was palpable. His confidence returned.

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Seven Years a Fool, One Day a Queen

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Chapter 11

“Secretary Grant may be ‘just‘ a secretary, but her business sense and judgment have always been sharp, no worse than those MBAs abroad!”

Medea’s expression shifted.

At last, Calvin spoke.

“Director Wynn has only just returned to the country. She’s not yet familiar with domestic policies, and so overlooked this point.”

It was plainly an excuse, a step to save Medea’s face.

Eliza had expected him to side with her. She hadn’t expected him to do it so blatantly.

So this was favoritism.

Medea smiled, unruffled.

“My mistake. Apologies, President Hill, for making you laugh.”

Before Cedric could reply, Calvin added smoothly,

“The real fault lies with Secretary Grant. She failed to hand over the project properly. That’s negligence.”

His voice was calm, yet every word cut like a dull blade into Eliza’s chest.

Unhurried. Precise.

Cedric bristled, stepping in to defend her.

“How is that her fault? This policy was announced only ten minutes ago. She couldn’t have included hypothetical measures in the proposal, that would’ve been nothing but empty talk.”

But Eliza no longer wanted to argue.

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