Seven Years a Fool One Day a Queen (Kristine and Colton) novel Chapter 238

Only after she had showered and blow–dried her hair did Medea notice Xander’s reply.

It had taken him eight full hours–longer than any message he’d ever sent her.

She didn’t read anything into it; he was probably just busy.

After all, no one knew better than she did how infatuated Xander was with her.

he didn’t answer at once.

When dealing with this type of man with almost zero romantic experience, privileged family background, and a relatively aloof personality.

‘ou shouldn’t be too enthusiastic, but also not too distant.

Maintain an elusive presence, employing tactics of playing hard to get.

he took her time with the hair–dryer, then typed:

Have you been swamped lately?”

he never rushed the opening move; a little concern came first.

his time Xander answered instantly.

Not too bad. What’s up?”

fedea: “Was thinking I owe you that dinner I keep promising. Never seems to be the right moment.”

ander: “Next time you’re in Washington, then.”

he agreed–readily–and slid into the real topic.

Ran into Hector at the municipal government today. I remember you two are close–basically grew up together, right?”

Mm, we used to be neighbors.”

ull’s–eye.

he pressed on. “His family must be solid. He’s barely thirty and already a full division–level cadre; without backing he couldn’t have climbed that fast

Cander hesitated. “He didn’t use his family. Every step was his own.”

lector’s background was off limits; Xander only repeated what was safe.

Medea was sharp; his evasion told her she’d guessed right.

A flicker of regret surfaced.

she’d cut Hector off too abruptly, now he was cold and the rift was hard to mend – men held grudges over that sort of thing

What bothered her more, though, was that fliza had set her sights on him.

Eliza probably knew about his connections, which was why she kept shuttling to the government complex

she’d underestimated the woman.

No matter.

10.28

Soumy s

Chapter 238

Hector’s interest was just a whim; a family like his would never approve of Eliza’s pedigree.

Still, she let a few telling details drip into the chat.

“Saw them looking pretty cozy today during today’s meeting. You don’t think they’re… together?”

She tacked on a shocked emoji for effect.

Xander frowned.

He’d already warned Hector; why was the man still letting Eliza cling?

But it wasn’t his place to interfere.

“No idea,” he typed.

After a beat: “Unlikely, I think.”

Hector had told him Eliza was still bruised from her last relationship and had turned him down.

Medea took his answer to mean the gap between their statuses was unbridgeable.

She smiled thinly. “That’s what I think.”

‘erhaps because Eliza’s name had come up, Xander’s mind jumped to the old scandal at Washington University.

The rumor had nagged at him for months; tonight he finally reached for the truth.

Senior, there’s something I’ve always wanted to ask. Were you ever… the third party between Calvin and Eliza?”

He held his breath after hitting send.

n his eyes Medea had always been the untouchable snow peak on a mountain range; she couldn’t possibly have wrecked someone else’s relationship.

When Eliza exposed the story he’d needed weeks to absorb it, yet his instinct still leaned toward Medea.

long pause followed before her reply appeared.

No.

She and Caly did have a murky entanglement, but only because she used a dirty trick to crawl into his bed. Few people know the truth–only those closest to ‘alv.”

You’re aware that Calv is the sole heir of Young Group, the highest ceiling Eliza could ever reach in this lifetime. She hung on to him for seven years, he never mce acknowledged her publicly. It was always one sided.”

o that was it

Cander reread the lines until the knot inside him loosened

t seems that he misunderstood her

The next day Eliza and Hector met to talk about the Broadfech merger review.

She asked him to compress the timeline as much as possible.

Hector promised to push the paperwork through.

When the business was done it was lunchtime.

Chapter 238

Eliza invited him to eat; Hector agreed, told his assistant he was stepping out, and left with her.

Outside they bumped into Sutton, founder of LeadTech, who was also on his way to a banquet.

Sutton greeted her cheerfully. “President Grant, long time no see. Here on business?”

“Mm.”

Since they’d run into each other, Eliza asked, “Director Blaine and I are grabbing lunch–care to join?”

Sutton waved both hands. “Can’t. I’ve got a date–President Young and President Wynn are hosting me about the high–temperature–superconducting project.”

He paused, puzzled. “Hey, why aren’t you coming?”

n their circle everyone tipped each other off when a fat project appeared; big ventures needed several firms to cooperate, share resources and risk.

io Sutton had simply assumed Eliza would be invited.

he only smiled faintly. “Too busy.”

utton knew ASKHEART was preparing for its IPO; he nodded, regretful.

Thought we’d cooperate again. Maybe next time.”

hey walked out together.

utton was bullish on the superconductor deal and kept sounding Hector out about the government’s stance.

President Young is throwing all of Everest’s resources at it,” he said.

[ector answered, “But the project lead seems to be President Wynn.”

utton chuckled. “With those two, what’s the difference?”

veryone knew how Calvin felt about Medea.

ven Sutton sighed, “President Young really dotes on her–talk about being head–over–heels.”

hey parted at the gate

utton hurried to the restaurant, arriving last as usual.

he others jokingly ordered him to down three penalty glasses.

utton begged off. “Liver’s acting up–let me owe those, I was late because I ran into President Grant of Apex at the municipal offices; we chatted.

omeone asked, “Right, why didn’t President Grant come?”

fedea answered, languid and dear:

She wasn’t on the guest list.”

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10.04