Chapter 438

Eleanor let out a gentle sigh, tucking the hairpin and the equity transfer agreement into the drawer with a careful hand.

She was just about to dive back into her work when her phone buzzed to life. It was Lillian, her voice bursting with energy.

"Eleanor! Let's hit the town tonight! My brother's bar is crawling with charming male escorts-tonight is the night to go all out!"

Eleanor paused, her pencil hovering over her sketch."I can't tonight. I have plans," she replied.

Lillian's voice skyrocketed, dripping with mock indignation."Plans? With who?"

Eleanor stayed quiet.

Lillian, quick as a wwhip, pounced on the hint. "Nolan!It's Nolan, isn't it? You're ditching your best friend for a guy? My heart is in pieces!"

Her melodramatic wail echoed through the phone,and Eleanor could only pinch the bridge of her nose,exasperated. This girl was a walking soap opera.

But Lillian wasn't entirely off the mark.

It was just dinner, nothing more, yet she couldn't ignore the quiet flutter of anticipation stirring in her chest.

Eleanor pushed down the unsettling stir of emotions within her and answered evenly, "Don't exaggerate.It's only a meal."

Lillian let out a skeptical húff, clearly not buying the casual act. "Just a meal, huh? Well, fine. Given what Nolan's been through lately/, I'll let you off the hook -this time."

With a dramatic sigh, Lillian's tone softened. "You're lucky to have someone to share a meal with.Fraser is still abroad, and who knows when he'll grace us with his presence again."

Eleanor's mind drifted to Fraser's stoic, chiseled face.

Given his no-nonsense demeanor, it was a miracle Lillian had still been attracted to him.

Suddenly, Lillian's voice turned syrupy sweet, laced with a playful plea. "Eleanor, you're his sister! Can't you work some magic to bring him back? I'm dying to make my move!" Eleanor mulled it over for a moment before nodding to herself. "I'll have a word with my parents and see what I can do."

On the other end, Lillian let out a squeal that could have shattered glass. "Eleanor, you're an absolute gem!Love you tons!"

Eleanor instinctively pulled the phone away from her ear, wincing at the volume, but a soft smile tugged at her lips. "Alright,enough of that. I'm hanging up-I've got a mountain of work waiting."

With a decisive tap, she ended the call and turned back to her tasks, her heart just a little lighter.

As the evening sun dipped below the horizon,Nolan arrived at Eleanor's store, punctual as ever.

He had clearly put effort into his appearance tonight.

Draped in an impeccably tailored suit, he looked nothing short of striking, his hair swept into an effortlessly tousled style that lent him an air of laid-back charm.

Gone was the weary shadow of the man she had seen in recent days; in his place stood someone radiating poised confidence, a magnetic presence that was hard to ignore.

Eleanor had just wapped up her final task of the day and descended the stairs, only to freeze at the sight of him.

Her heart gave an unexpected flutter.

She couldn't deny it-when Nolan pulled out all the stops, he was utterly captivating.

But she quickly steadied herself, tucking away the spark of admiration before it could linger in her gaze.With her usual composed expression, she approached him. "Let's go."

Nolan, ever the gentleman, opened the car door with a thoughtful gesture.

Eleanor offered no further words, simply nodding as she slipped gracefully into the seat.