Chapter 370

But Nolan had already made his move.

The day before Eleanor was supposed to leave town for a factory visit, her phone rang unexpectedly.

Mike,the textile factory manager, was on the line.

"Ms. Warren, I've got fantastic news!" he exclaimed,barely able to contain his excitement. "The new owner came in and immediately upgraded everything.He brought in thetop production line from Zerovia and hired a world-class color specialist. Remember that fabric you wanted? The specialist took one look at your specs and said it's no problem at all!"

The update felt like a sudden rush of hope.

Eleanor forced down her excitement, her tone measured and cool. "I'd like an introduction to your new boss."

Mike answered right away, brimming with energy, "Of course! I'll tell him immediately. He actually asked us to set up a meeting if you ever reached out."

His eagerness only deepened Eleanor's suspicions. Thirty minutes later, Mike phoned again with all the details-the meeting would be held in the factory's main reception room.

When Eleanor stepped inside,she could hardly believe her eyes. The factory had been transformed, every corner gleaming with upgrades.

She pushed open the door to the reception room.

Sunlight streamed into the pristine room, casting a halo around the man seated with his back to the door,posture unwavering and every detail meticulously in place.

At the sound of her footsteps, he turned with quiet confidence.

His features-striking and perfectly composed-betrayed no surprise, as though he had been expecting her all along.

It was Nolan.

Eleanor's eyes narrowed, surprise flickering before it settled into reluctant acceptance. It had to be him.

No one else had the resources to pull off such a transformation overnight.

His motives were as transparent as ever. She took the seat opposite, her face an unreadable mask.

Without hesitation, Nolan pushed a contract toward her."See for yourself."

Eleanor didn't reach for the document. "You've certainly gone above and beyond. I doubt this meeting is just about a simple collaboration."

Nolan met her look head-on, steady and unflappable."If our new brand launches alongside Enigma, it's the best publicity either of us could ask for. We both stand to gain."

This was classic Nolan-wrapping his own agenda in logic so tidy there was hardly any way to say no.

Still, the proposal was solid.

Enigma's crisis would be solved overnight, and his new venture would bask in Enigma's reputation, shooting straight into the spotlight.

Weighing her options, Eleanor glanced down and flipped through the contract.

Every clause was transparent. The pricing was more than fair. He had even made several concessions she hadn't expected.

Decision made, Eleanor reached for the pen and signed her name with a steady hand.

She met his gaze, cool and businesslike. "Here's to our partnership."

"Can't wait to team up and get things rolling." Nolan echoed her words, a rare hint of a smile touching his lips.

He took the contract and rose from his seat. "I've reserved a table at a restaurant to celebrate our deal."

Eleanor stood as well, keeping her voice polite but guarded. "I appreciate the gesture, but I have other commitments."

She turned on her heel, heading for the door without another glance.

Nolan watched her go, a shadow passing over his features.

He knew better than to rush things with her.

Still,something in him couldn't let it drop. "Eleanor, is it really that hard for you to share a meal with me?"

He didn't want to believe she could be that indifferent.

Eleanor stopped in her tracks, but kept her back to him."We're business partners. Nothing more. Let's keep it clear." Before the silence could grow, her phone buzzed in her pocket.

Maverick's name flashed on the screen.

"Eleanor, I picked up your favorite dessert.Want me to swing by and drop it off?" Maverick said.

Eleanor shot Nolan a sideways glance and made her answer loud enough for him to hear. "That sounds perfect. I'll see you soon."

She ended the call and, without hesitation, slipped out the door, leaving Nolan standing alone in the sunlight.

Silence settled over the reception room, thick and unmoving.

Nolan had caught every word of her conversation.

He looked down, disappointment flickering across his usually controlled face.

But now he was nothing more than her business associate-he had no place to be jealous, no right to ask for more.

Nolan left the factory, slipping into the car waiting at the curb, his expression unreadable.

Erick looked at his boss in the rearview mirror, a quiet sigh escaping him. In all his years working for Nolan, he had never seen him like this.

Nolan had orchestrated every detail just to have an excuse to be near Eleanor, yet couldn't even convince her to join him for lunch.

Erick couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for Nolan, watching how hard he was fighting to win Eleanor back-a battle that looked uphill from every angle.

Yet deep down, he knew Nolan had brought this upon himself.