Seven Years a Fool One Day a Queen (Kristine and Colton) novel Chapter 17

Eliza knocked on Calvin’s office door and only pushed it open after he gave permission.

“President Young.” Her tone was strictly professional.

“I’m going to the hospital later to visit a patient,” Calvin said. “Go to the He residence and pick up that hundred–year ginseng a client gave me, along with some other supplements. I’ve already told Housekeeper Nancy–you can just go and collect them.”

“Alright,” Eliza agreed. That, too, was part of her job.

The hundred–year ginseng was extremely valuable, yet Calvin was willing to give it away. Whoever it was for must be important.

Eliza didn’t ask. Her head was full of thoughts about her resignation letter. By her count, it had been a week. Still no response from Calvin whether he hadn’t seen it or for some other reason, she couldn’t tell. She wanted to bring it up, to sound out his attitude so she could plan her

next step.

Just as she opened her mouth, his private phone rang.

It lay on the desk; as the screen lit up, the name Medea appeared.

Eliza’s brow creased.

Within moments, Calvin had already answered and put it on speaker, making no attempt at discretion. Well, of course. A “first love” hidden for years, finally brought into the open. Why wouldn’t he broadcast it to the world?

Unlike her, seven years spent in the shadows.

“Calv, I just woke up and saw your message,” Medea’s voice drifted out, still thick with sleep, like silk soaked in morning light, lazy–edged and languid, a tail note that clung. Enough to make men lose themselves.

Eliza was a woman too; she understood the little tricks women used.

Whether Calvin understood or not, he clearly enjoyed it.

“I figured as much,” he said. “So I didn’t disturb you.”

“If anything comes up, just call me,” Medea’s voice stayed syrupy, raising goosebumps on Eliza’s skin.

“It’s nothing urgent. I just wanted to say I’ll be coming by to visit Auntie in a while.”

So that was it. Eliza understood.

No wonder the grand gesture, he was going to see Medea’s mother. Time to win over the future mother in law.

Hearing he was coming to the hospital, Medea sounded delighted. “Really? About what time?”

“Noon,” Calvin said after checking his watch. “Twelve o’clock.”

“Perfect, we can have lunch together. Consider it my thanks. My mom’s been telling me to thank you properly.”

“Alright.” He set his pen down, fully focused on the call.

Eliza tactfully stepped out, so as not to interrupt their long, sweet talk. The sour reek of romance seeped through the door regardless.

500%

Chapter 17

She decided to leave Everest early and head to the He residence for the ginseng.

Calvin didn’t live there full–time; he only went back for holidays to have a meal with Patrick Young.

Usually it was just Patrick and Nancy; the rest of the staff left after work, quiet and clean.

By her count, it had been half a month since Eliza last came by.

She made a small detour to buy Patrick his favorite lotus pastries.

When she arrived, Patrick was in the yard, feeding the koi. The gate, as always, was half open; she could push it in directly.

Eliza knew that was by Patrick’s design.

Whenever he knew she was coming, he would tell Nancy to leave the gate open, easier for her to enter.

Nancy had whispered that to Eliza in confidence.

Outwardly, Patrick was stern and unsmiling.

Father and son didn’t get along.

When Eliza first met Calvin, they were at their lowest point. Patrick wanted his son to take over the family business; Calvin insisted on starting Everest from scratch.

Nancy said that night they argued so fiercely the study was wrecked; quite a few antiques were smashed. In the end, Calvin slammed the door

and left.

Patrick publicly declared that no one was to help Everest out of “respect for the Young name.” The first two years were grueling for Everest. Even as the Young heir, Calvin gained no advantage.

Only in recent years had relations eased, thanks largely to Eliza’s efforts.

At first, Patrick didn’t like Eliza either.

Sharp words and a cold face were routine. That was when Eliza realized exactly where Calvin’s sharp tongue and chilliness came from.

But none of it deterred her. Even when met with cold shoulders, she didn’t retreat–she pushed harder. That dogged persistence finally moved

Patrick, and his attitude softened.

Nancy often said that if the father–son relationship had thawed at all, the greatest credit belonged to Eliza.

Without her shuttle diplomacy, the cold war might have lasted forever.

“Uncle Young, feeding the fish?” Eliza adjusted her mood at the gate as usual, then entered with a bright smile.

Patrick’s face remained impassive, but he grunted an acknowledgment.

Eliza set the still warm pastries on the table in front of him. “Tresh out of the oven. Please eat them while they’re crisp, Uncle Young.”

He put down the bowl of feed, dusted his hands, and ate two. When he reached for a third, Eliza whisked the box away.

He glared at her.

She smiled. “Watch your blood sugar. Save the rest for tomorrow. I’ll have Nancy put them away.”

He snorted, then asked, unhurried, “How is he?”

12:02

Seven Years a Fool, One Day a Queen

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify