Seven Years a Fool One Day a Queen (Kristine and Colton) novel Chapter 22

But when she read the actual message, she laughed soundlessly at herself.

Calvin hadn’t tagged her specifically.

He’d tagged the entire company group.

The notice announced that, to celebrate Director Medea of Division Three landing her very first major project since joining Everest, all employees were invited for a two–day retreat at Serenity Hot Springs the following weekend.

A chorus of cheers followed beneath the announcement, everyone gushing thanks to Calvin and Medea.

Eliza knew the world was practical. Flattering the powerful and stepping on the weak was human nature.

Still, seeing it play out before her own eyes left a sour taste.

They all seemed to forget that the Helios Group project had been hers, one she had chased and negotiated for over half a year.

Now, the credit was all Medea’s.

Even Calvin had forgotten.

Quietly, Eliza left the group chat. All she wanted was some peace.

“Eliza, why aren’t you asleep yet?”

The faint glow of her phone had disturbed her mother’s fragile sleep.

“I’m going to sleep now, Mom. You should rest early too.” Eliza quickly shut off her phone and lay down on the companion cot.

The cot was half the height of the hospital bed. She’d placed it right beside so she could care for her mother easily.

From the bed, Ottilie could reach her daughter’s head, and she did, gently stroking her hair as she always had.

In the darkness, Eliza bit her lip hard to keep from sobbing aloud, but tears still slid silently down her cheeks.

She was grateful the lights were off.

Her mother’s voice was faint, weak. “Eliza… could you ask President Young to come by the hospital once?”

Eliza’s throat burned. “He’s… very busy.”

“I know. But this is your life we’re talking about. I’d like to speak to him face to face.”

Eliza clamped a hand over her mouth, afraid she would cry out.

Her mother went on, unaware, “I just worry, if something goes wrong in surgery, I might not have the chance to ask him to take good care of you.”

Eliza held her mother’s cold hand tightly, trying to press warmth into it.

12:03

Seven Years a Fool, One Day a Queen

6.59%

Chapter 22

Her voice trembled. “He’s been traveling a lot. I haven’t seen him for a while. You know Everest’s subsidiary just went public, he’s swamped. He hasn’t even held the celebration banquet yet.”

At that, her mother sighed.

“That’s true. Just remember to tell him, not to work himself sick. He’s still so young.”

“…Mm. Sleep, Mom.”

“Alright. You too.”

The cot was hard, her heart heavier still. Eliza barely slept that night.

The next day, she spent the morning shuttling her mother through more tests.

Dr. Quinn told her the visiting expert team would arrive Monday, but the exact time was uncertain.

Eliza made a mental note, on Monday, she would wait at the hospital doors until they came.

That weekend she barely rested. Whenever she paused to catch her breath, she scrolled her phone.

Her feed was flooded with colleagues showing off the company retreat.

After all, it was Serenity Hot Springs. Who wouldn’t flaunt it?

The company had held plenty of outings before, but Eliza had always chosen budget–friendly venues to keep expenses down.

Luxury spots like Blue Ribbon had never even been on the table.

This time, to prop up Medea, Calvin had picked the most expensive resort in the city, ignoring all budget constraints.

Spending a fortune, just for a beauty.

Which only made Eliza’s past efforts look stingy, miserly.

She read a comment thread beneath one colleague’s post:

“This is what a real retreat looks like.”

“Yeah. Before, it was just slave labor field trips.”

“Director Wynn is different, and she makes sure we eat well, drink well. She’s gorgeous, kind, comes from a top family, and studied abroad. She and President Young are a perfect match! Not like someone, pathetic taste, always picking shabby places. So small minded.”

Another colleague warned, “Careful, did you block her?”

When Eliza refreshed, the post was gone.

So she was her,

Scrolling further, she saw more pictures, different angles of Calvin and Medea

One showed Medea feeding him fruit.

Another, him grilling skewers for her.

12:03

Seven Years a Fool. One Day a Queen

6.6%

Chapter 22

By the second half of the trip, they had vanished from the photos altogether.

In a video clip, someone asked, “Where’s President Young? Where’s Director Wynn?”

A teasing voice answered, “Come on, you know what that means. Don’t ask.”

“I just saw them head back to the hotel together…”

The room erupted in laughter.

Eliza put down her phone.

Turned back to her draft.

Focused only on refining her proposal, making it clearer, sharper, more persuasive.

Her only hope now was to win her mother a chance with the experts.

Monday morning, she left her mother in a nurse’s care and stationed herself by the hospital entrance, determined not to miss them.

From morning to afternoon she waited, but no sign of the team. Anxiety gnawed at her.

Her phone buzzed, Sadie messaging. President Young was furious, demanding she return to the office.

Eliza ignored it.

Even if Everest collapsed today, she couldn’t spare a thought.

She shut her phone off. And kept waiting.

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