Seven Years a Fool One Day a Queen (Kristine and Colton) novel Chapter 5

Hearing her polite refusal, Eddy Crawford sighed with both regret and envy.

“President Young is really blessed to have a secretary like you. No wonder his career has soared.”

“President Crawford flatters me. Compared to President Young, it’s you, starting from nothing, whom I truly admire.”

Just routine pleasantries, but they pleased Eddy all the same.

“I really enjoy working with you, Secretary Grant. You always make things easy. Come, a toast to you.”

“You have a weak liver, President Crawford. Let me drink this for you instead. I’ll finish it, you take it easy.”

Eddy appreciated her straightforwardness and grew even fonder of her.

After she drained her glass, he quickly urged, “Don’t push yourself too hard. This project I’ll only sign it with you. No one else.”

“Then I must thank you, President Crawford.” Eliza poured him another drink personally.

But Eddy noticed her pallor and asked with concern, “Secretary Grant, are you ill? You don’t look well.”

“I’m fine.”

“Why don’t I have my driver take you to the hospital?”

She was about to decline when the door knocked.

A waiter came in. “President Crawford, President Young heard you were dining here and specially asked me to deliver this wine to you.”

Eddy glanced at the label.

Romanée–Conti. A grand gesture indeed.

But what puzzled him more was if Calvin was here at the same restaurant, why wasn’t he dining with Eliza?

Before he could ask, Calvin walked in with Medea at his side,

“President Crawford, do you like the wine?” Calvin’s eyes slid right over Eliza, greeting Eddy instead.

The man wore only a crisp white shirt, perfectly tailored to his lean frame, elegant and refined.

As for his jacket…

It now rested on Medea’s shoulders, an intimacy that left nothing to guess.

The bitter irony? Eliza herself had picked that jacket out for him.

“This is generous of President Young. I couldn’t possibly dislike it. And this lady is…?”

Eddy’s gaze fell on Medea. One didn’t need to guess at the relationship; a man draping his coat over a woman spoke for itself.

Instinctively, Eddy looked toward Eliza.

She seemed calm enough, but her complexion had grown even paler.

“Allow me to introduce,” Calvin said. “This is Director Wynn of Investment Division Three. Medea, this is President Crawford of Crawford Corporation, an old friend of Everest’s.”

Medea stepped forward with a warm smile. “President Crawford, it’s a pleasure. I look forward to working with you.”

“You’re too kind, Director Wynn.”

Crawford Corporation had partnered with Everest on several projects, so Eddy knew something of its structure.

Division Three was less than a year old, its director position long vacant. Everyone had assumed it was reserved for Eliza.

After all, she had been acting director for a year, handling every project herself.

Even while juggling two jobs, she had led Division Three to the top of Everest’s performance rankings.

No one had sacrificed more.

But in the end, it was the story: one person plants the tree, another enjoys the shade.

Even as an outsider, Eddy felt sorry for her.

Calvin continued, “President Crawford, from now on, Director Wynn will handle Everest’s projects with Crawford Corporation. I brought her to

meet you today.”

Eddy frowned. “But Secretary Grant has always been my contact. This sudden change”

Calvin was dismissive.

“Eliza is just a secretary. Until now, she was only filling in because Director Wynn hadn’t returned. Now that the rightful director is here, it’s only proper the work revert to her.”

Then he offered reassurance.

“There’s no need to worry. Director Wynn is a PhD in finance from WT Business School in the States, with experience at one of the top international banks. I personally recruited her to Everest at great expense. Her ability is beyond doubt.”

Eddy’s concern wasn’t about her qualifications.

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