Seven Years a Fool One Day a Queen (Kristine and Colton) novel Chapter 24

Eliza had no idea why Calvin had shown up here.

And honestly, she didn’t want to know.

So after just a brief glance, she tucked her emotions away and headed straight for the door.

But he was planted right at the building entrance. To get home, she had to pass him.

All she wished for was that he’d play blind, pretend not to see her.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t blind.

When she drew close, his voice cut through the night, colder than the wind.

“Why are you back so late?”

The tone, accusatory, like he had any right to demand answers of her.

Eliza found it laughable.

On what grounds did he think he could ask her that?

She ignored him. But Calvin reached out, caught her arm.

The grip pressed against her scraped elbow. A sharp sting made her hiss in pain.

Realizing something, he immediately let go, brows knotting tighter.

“Where are you hurt? How bad is it?”

The words sounded concerned.

But concern this late, this false meant nothing.

Eliza no longer wanted any of it. She felt nothing.

“If you’ve got something to say, just say it.”

Her cold, hard tone made his brows draw tighter. At last he realized her recent strangeness might be directed at him.

He did something rare: lowered himself.

“About appointing Medea as Director of Division Three… I should have told you beforehand. I was just too busy.”

Busy. Such a perfect excuse.

It fit anywhere, in any relationship.

Except intimacy.

Because in intimacy, it was nothing but dismissal.

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Seven Years a Fool, One Day a Queen

Chapter 24

She heard his explanation without a flicker of reaction.

“Are you done? Can I go now?”

Her indifference unsettled him.

Seven years together, what he’d prized most was her sensibility, her ability to see the big picture.

Never demanding, never competing, always capable.

He thought she would, as always, understand every decision he made.

That if a little misunderstanding arose, his single explanation would win her trust again.

But this time, she didn’t.

Her eyes held none of the warmth of before, only the cool of the night itself.

The realization sparked irritation in him.

“Eliza, I’ve explained. I get that you’re upset, but enough is enough. This unexcused absence, let it end here.”

Once again, the commanding tone.

“I understand,” she said, lowering her lashes to hide what lay in her eyes.

His brows finally eased.

“It’s late. Rest early. There’s an investment committee meeting in the morning. Get there early and prepare. Without you, the assistant’s made a mess of things.”

She almost laughed. If not for him stalling her, she’d already be resting.

And judging by his manner, he meant to go upstairs with her.

Before she could refuse, his private phone rang.

This time she didn’t even glance at the screen. Her curiosity about him had long since died.

But he seemed to know exactly who it was. He didn’t answer in front of her, only said, “Go inside.”

Eliza turned away at once.

By the time she reached the elevator, she heard his voice outside, calm as ever.

“Medea, what’s wrong?”

Ha.

She stabbed the “close” button the instant the doors opened.

Just to shut out everything beyond them.

That night, she couldn’t sleep.

Near eleven, Belle messaged her, pushing the Facebook contacts of seven or eight lawyers.

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Seven Years a Fool, One Day a Queen

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Chapter 24

Some she’d found through connections, others were minor celebrities online.

Sleepless anyway, Eliza chatted with them.

At first, every one of them sounded confident.

But the moment they heard she wanted to sue Everest’s legal team, they all backed off.

It was messier than she’d expected.

The contract she had signed back then. Yes, she had signed it willingly.

That alone was enough to doom her case.

If Everest chose to drag things out for three, five years, her career would be over.

The legal route was blocked.

Her only way through was Calvin himself.

Which meant she still had to deal with him.

The thought left her restless.

“God’s justice is sure, for what you sow, you shall reap. She should have known better than to let her emotions rule her heart.

This is the consequence of her actions.

Belle asked, “So what now?”

Eliza steeled herself. “Endure it. Swallow it whole.”

Belle was impressed to the core.

“Eliza, you’ve finally awakened. Amazing!”

Yes. At least it wasn’t too late.

Awakening, one percent comes from reminders.

The other ninety–nine percent from being cut a thousand times over.

The next morning she reached the office early.

Calvin arrived with Medea. Seeing Eliza quietly at her desk, he felt settled.

So she had just been sulking,

He had explained only briefly last night, and here she was, back to being obedient.

He was satisfied. She knew her place.

He and Medea entered his office together. Ile pressed the intercom.

“Two coffees.”

Deya Queen

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Chapter 24

Eliza brought them in.

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“Calv, can you check if there’s anything wrong with my PPT?” Medea’s voice was soft, cloying.

“Didn’t I go over it last night?”

“I tweaked it again.”

Eliza wondered idly how anyone could talk in such a saccharine tone.

Calvin reviewed the slides with patience.

She placed a stack of documents on his desk. “These need your signature.”

“Leave them there.” He didn’t even look up, intent on Medea’s presentation.

Eliza slipped out silently. She sent the prepared agenda to Sadie, then left the building.

But not before instructing her: if asked, just say she was arranging the celebration banquet.

Whenever Everest listed a subsidiary, there was always a large party.

She’d always handled the planning. This time was no different.

So no one, not even Calvin, would question it.

By nine–thirty, she was at the hospital, checking in on her mother first.

Her condition was unchanged.

When Ottilie looked up and saw only her daughter, not the person she hoped for, disappointment flickered across her face.

Eliza knew what she wanted, knew the conversation she longed to have with Calvin.

But she couldn’t tell her the truth. She could only hide it.