Read Chapter 21: — BREAKING POINT

Adrian called the next morning.

Eleanor answered from Leo's kitchen.

“Where are you?” he asked.

“Does it matter?”

He went quiet.

“What happened?”

She told him she had seen him with Victoria.

Adrian exhaled sharply. “You followed me?”

“Apparently I have excellent judgement under stress.”

“It was a legal reception. She introduced me to investors. I told you I was meeting her.”

“You didn't tell me you'd spend the evening with her.”

“I didn't think I needed permission.”

“You don't.”

“Then what is this?”

Eleanor looked at Leo's untouched coffee.

“This is me realizing I don't trust you.”

“Because of something I did?”

The honest answer hurt.

“No.”

“Then because of Michael.”

She hated hearing his name.

Adrian continued, more gently, “I can't compete with a dead man, Eleanor. Especially not with the worst story you tell yourself about him.”

Her throat closed.

“You're right,” she said.

He sounded relieved too soon.

“So we stop.”

Silence.

“What?”

“The three months. We stop.”

Adrian had expected anger, jealousy, negotiation—proof she cared.

Her calm decision frightened him.

“Is that what you want?”

“I don't know what I want. That's the problem.”

They ended the call.

At work they became painfully professional.

Adrian respected her request.

Eleanor discovered she hated him for respecting it.