Seven Years a Fool One Day a Queen (Kristine and Colton) novel Chapter 8

What he didn’t know was that her room was messy because it was crammed with his things.

Calvin was a bona fide workaholic; as his chief secretary, she had to be on call twenty–four hours a day.

Her desk stacked with every kind of document he might need at a moment’s notice.

Her walls covered in his schedules and planning boards.

Her wardrobe filled with tuxes and formalwear for his banquets.

The floor piled high with gifts prepared for his clients…

That already small rental had become her second office.

In that entire space, only the single bed belonged to her.

But Calvin had complained the bed was too small; after that one time, he never came to her place again.

Before heading out, Eliza called a moving company and asked them to send people over on the weekend.

It was time to clear out everything that didn’t belong to her.

Derek chose a Cantonese restaurant that had just opened and was quite the rage lately-

Moonlight.

Remembering she’d said on the phone that her stomach was weak, he ordered only light, stomach–friendly dishes.

Very thoughtful.

The thoughtful never need to be taught.

She had always told herself Calvin merely focused too much on work and so missed such details of daily life.

So she’d convinced herself not to mind and to accept him as he was.

But today she realized: Calvin could be attentive, he took Medea to Wellness Soup House’s for a nourishment soup because she was on her period.

That, too, was thoughtfulness.

Eliza shed her usual severe look, swapped out the business suit that might as well have been welded to her, and let down the hair she always kept pinned up.

Her already fair, dewy skin practically glowed against a light colored dress.

At first glance, Derek almost didn’t recognize her.

Eliza greeted him first. “Sorry to keep you waiting, President Maxwell.”

He stared, wide–eyed. “Secretary Grant, you… you look so different I barely recognized you!”

As she sat, a lock of hair slid over her shoulder; she brushed it back casually.

“May I ask you something?” he blurted, unable to help himself.

“Go ahead,” she said with easy poise.

“Does your company have some… strange rule?”

She arched a brow. “Such as?”

“Such as making beautiful women dress down on purpose.”

She laughed. “I’ll take that as a compliment, President Maxwell.”

“I’m not flattering you. I’m just very good at telling the truth.”

Top headhunters tended to have top–tier EQ; a few lines and the mood was relaxed and lively.

When Gideon stepped out of a private room, he was immediately drawn to the woman by the window.

At first it was only her beauty.

Her seat was perfectly placed.

Through the large floor–to–ceiling windows, the slanting sunset spilled in, bathing her in light-

a kind of numinous beauty that defied description.

He stared, dazed, and drifted toward her on instinct.

Just then, Eliza happened to glance his way.

He stopped short, incredulous, then more incredulous still.

Was that… Eliza?

Like her, and yet not.

In his mind, Eliza was always dressed like an old relic, stuffy, dowdy, without a trace of feminine charm.

He’d even secretly questioned Calvin’s taste: with so many beauties around, why pick a woman so rustic?

Now he saw… he’d been naïve.

Calvin had been eating very well these years.

So as soon as he stepped out, he called Calvin to tattle.

“Secretary Grant, bring me a coffee.”

On the other end of the call, Gideon blinked.

So Calvin didn’t know Eliza wasn’t at the office?

Interesting.

While he waited for the coffee, Calvin asked, “Who did you see?”

“Derek,” Gideon said, coyly. “Poaching.”

Someone knocked on Calvin’s door. “Come in,” he said.

It was Sadie with the coffee.

Seven Years a Feel One Day a Queen

2.3%

Chapter 8

Calvin paused, a faint frown gathering. “Where’s Secretary Grant?”

“Off work,” Sadie said.

His frown deepened. “She didn’t work overtime tonight?”

“No.”

He found it odd, but didn’t dwell on it. He assumed she had something else to do; she rarely slipped at work.

He dismissed Sadie, lifted the cup, and took a sip.

His brows, which had eased a little, drew tight again.

Not his usual taste.

He set the coffee down, suddenly not in the mood, leaned back, pinched the bridge of his nose, and asked Gideon, “Poaching whom?”

Finally, the main point.

Gideon burst out, eager: “Derek is poaching Eliza!”