Seven Years a Fool One Day a Queen (Kristine and Colton) novel Chapter 7

Chapter 7

At the mention of the child, the pain Eliza had long forced down began to seep out again, bit by bit…

The stark white lights on the ceiling. The sharp sting of disinfectant in the air. The freezing chill after the D&C procedure.

These were things she could never forget.

Nor could she ever forget the agony of blood and flesh being torn from her body.

Looking back now, perhaps the child had known all along.

So it came quietly, and left just as quietly.

As if it had been sent to carry her through a trial.

After the meeting, Medea asked Sadie to send her the minutes.

Still fuming, Sadie snapped, “Not finished yet.”

“Then send them once they’re done.”

“I’m already drowning in work. I don’t have time.”

Medea frowned at her, but Sadie busied herself helping Eliza pack up the conference room, ignoring her.

When she had left, Eliza spoke gently to Sadie.

“Remember, never bring your emotions into work. Everest doesn’t allow it. If you want to go further here, don’t offend anyone–especially those above you.”

“I just can’t stand it for your sake.”

“There’s nothing to stand or not to stand.” Eliza’s expression cooled again.

To her, love wasn’t an exchange.

The way she treated Calvin was her choice.

How he responded was his.

She never tried to draw a line of equivalence between them because that only bred misery.

She had loved Calvin, so she had been willing to gamble her future: give up studying abroad, stay to build with him, and play the supporting role.

The ending hadn’t been what she wished, but she never regretted it.

To accept loss quickly and leave the stage that was wisdom. Sometimes the greatest enemy was the cage of one’s own mind.

Still, the end of a love was always exhausting and bitter.

Give her some time. She would move on.

Before leaving work, Eliza messaged Medea.

She told her the Division Three project files were organized and ready whenever she wanted them.

The reply came swiftly:

[Secretary Grant, please send them to Calv’s office. I just returned from overseas and am unfamiliar with the local business environment. I’ll need Calv’s help analyzing.]

Every word was “Calv,” sweet and intimate.

And Calvin had never once corrected her.

Yet Eliza remembered clearly, he had always hated people at the office calling him anything but “President Young.”

For seven years she had abided by that rule.

At work, at dinners, always “President Young.”

Dutiful, professional.

Now, it seemed like a joke.

His rules were for outsiders.

And she was the outsider.

For the one he liked, he set no limits.

She sent back a curt [Understood], then stacked the prepared project files with the documents needing his signature.

Before standing, she slid her signed resignation letter into the pile.

She didn’t know if he would sign it, but procedure was procedure.

Arms full of documents, she walked straight to Calvin’s office.

As always, she knocked and pushed the door open without waiting.

It was the one privilege he had given her as his secretary, to save time.

Over the years, it had become muscle memory.

So she pushed the door open as usual-

And her heart twisted violently at what she saw.

Medea sat perched on his desk, leaning toward him.

Maybe a man only lost control in front of the woman he truly desired.

Otherwise, why would he stage something so indecent as an office tryst in broad daylight?

At the stroke of quitting time, Eliza shut down her computer and stood up.

The rest of the secretarial office gaped in shock.

After all, she was famous at Everest for her tireless work, holding the company’s record for most overtime every year.

Since taking over Division Three’s affairs, she had practically lived at the office.

And now, she was leaving on time.

Unbelievable.

Outside the building, her phone rang again.

In the past, Eliza would have hung up or made an excuse.

Because the caller, Derek Maxwell, was a headhunter.

He had tried to poach her many times, always failing.

But this time, she picked up without hesitation.

On the other end, Derek was so shocked he nearly forgot why he’d called.

Eliza spoke first. “President Maxwell, would you like to have dinner sometime?”

Overjoyed, Derek stammered, “Yes, yes, of course! Anytime for Secretary Grant! Just tell me what cuisine you like, I’ll book it.”

“If possible, something light. My stomach’s not well.”

“Absolutely! No problem! I’ll book it now and send you the location. See you soon!”

“See you soon.”

Back home, Eliza changed clothes before heading out.

Her apartment wasn’t far from Everest.

The rent was steep, but the location had been convenient for commuting and overtime.

Calvin had never understood. He’d mocked her for living in such a small, cluttered place.

He had only visited once, never again.

When he wanted her, he always summoned her to his home.