Seven Years a Fool One Day a Queen (Kristine and Colton) novel Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Josh said lightly, “Don’t know her, probably just someone trying to strike up a conversation.”

Hearing this, Medea curved her lips into a smile.

“Trying to hook you for money? I’ve seen plenty of women like that.”

Josh didn’t answer her. Instead, he greeted the man behind her.

“Calv, long time no see.”

Calvin replied flatly, “Long time no see.”

Just then, Gideon, who’d come out early to welcome them, caught their words and couldn’t resist joking: “When did you two start being so distant? Or is it that rivals in love always bristle when they meet?”

“Don’t tease,” Medea tried to smooth it over.

But though her words dismissed it, her expression was one of pride and satisfaction.

After all, Calvin and Josh were the two most outstanding men of their generation.

One had been her ex.

The other was soon to become her present.

Meanwhile, Eliza’s talk with Vincent had gone well.

Still, since she hadn’t fully severed ties with Everest, she didn’t give him a definite answer.

Vincent personally saw her to the door of Western Paradise.

Eliza told him she’d called a car, urging him to go ahead since he’d had quite a bit to drink.

While waiting, she noticed a familiar license plate,

Calvin’s car.

One she used to drive often.

Even now, his rearview still hung the peace talisman she’d prayed for him at Temple.

The black Maybach stopped steadily in front of her.

The window lowered, revealing Calvin’s near perfect face.

Through the short distance, her eyes met his.

Maybe it was an illusion.

Or maybe the night was just too heavy, but Eliza thought his gaze looked… gentle.

Her heart clearly skipped a beat.

12:02

Seven Years a Fool. One Day a Queen

4.30%

Chapter 15

She remembered all those nights of desperate entanglement, drowning over and over in those deep eyes.

When passion reached its peak, he would bend to her ear, whispering her name again and again-

wild, tender, reckless.

Entwined to the marrow.

“Calv, have you been waiting long?”

The voice came from behind, Medea’s.

In that instant, Eliza snapped awake.

How could she ever have thought he was here to pick her up?

Thankfully, her ride had also arrived. She fled in haste.

On the way back, she kept the window rolled down, the chill air whipping her face.

The driver glanced at her repeatedly in the mirror.

“Drank too much? Trying to sober up?” he asked.

In truth, she hadn’t had much at all.

At last the driver added uncertainly, “If you puke in here, it’s two hundred extra.”

Eliza: “…”

Instinctively, she touched her face.

Did she really look that much like heartbreak written all over her?

Because she’d had a little alcohol, she worried her stomach would act up during the night.

So she stopped by a wonton shop near her apartment and ate a steaming bowl before slowly heading home.

As soon as she walked in, she froze.

Someone was sitting in her living room.

Calvin.

Eliza was stunned.

Shouldn’t he, at this very moment, be spending the night with Medea?

Why was he suddenly here, in her rented flat?

She glanced at the keypad lock and sighed inwardly.

Of all things, she’d forgotten to change the passcode.

She had been the one to eagerly give it to him back then.

4.4%

are a Fool One Day a Queen

Chapter 15

And he’d remembered though he hardly ever came to her little place.

Maybe, she thought bitterly, being in finance made him good with numbers.

Eliza slowly changed her shoes, mind racing over why he had come.

This was their first time alone together since she’d discovered his “first love.”

Was he here to end things?

It would make sense.

There ought to be an ending.

Better to close the book than leave it hanging.

So she took her time, not rushing as she usually did.

Strangely, Calvin didn’t urge her either.

He simply sat there, watching.

The overhead light cast shadows across his sharp brows, hiding his eyes in darkness, unreadable.

“Want some water?” Eliza finally asked.

There was no avoiding it.

“No.”

So she poured a cup of hot water for herself.

She needed to take her medicine.

When he saw, his brows creased. “Is the injury serious?”

“What?”

“Sadie said you called in sick today. That you were hurt at Helios Group.”

Three days had passed before he thought to ask. Wasn’t it a little too late?

After drinking the warm water, her body eased.

“It doesn’t hurt anymore. And it wasn’t for that. I’m on stomach medicine.”

His brows smoothed a little, then tightened again. “Have you seen a doctor?”

“Yes.”

“What did they say?”

“That I shouldn’t drink. That I need to rest.”

His frown deepened.

12:02

Was he worried she couldn’t cover his drinks anymore? Or regretting the night he’d forced her to drink for Medea?

Eliza figured it was probably the former.

Yet for once, Calvin said something almost human. “Drink less from now on.”

Eliza almost wanted to open the window to see if tomorrow’s sun would rise in the west.

“Got it,” she replied.

After all, she was preparing to leave anyway.

Then, suddenly, Calvin stood and walked toward her.

Her back pressed against the table as he closed in, step by step.

She said nothing, her eyes locked on his.

She wanted to look her fill because maybe after tonight, she’d never see this face again.

And it was a beautiful face. The kind women would call a prize just to have once.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify