The CEO’s Unspoken Love (Eleanor and Derek) novel Chapter 116

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The CEO’s Unspoken Love

Chapter 116

Eleanor POV

The alarm pierced the darkness at 4:15 AM, dragging me from a fitful sleep. After yesterday’s confrontation with Derek, i’d retreated to my room and spent the evening alternating between angry pacing and staring blankly at the ceiling. Sleep had come in broken fragments, my mind refusing to quiet as I replayed our heated exchange over and over.

I slipped out of bed, shivering as my feet touched the cold floor. Despite my exhaustion, a small flutter of anticipation stirred within me. The sunrise from Eagle’s Point was supposedly spectacular, and the thought of standing atop the mountain as dawn broke offered a moment of potential peace I desperately needed.

After dressing in thermal layers beneath my white down jacket and pulling my hair into a practical braid, I headed next door, to

wake Olivia. I knocked twice before using the spare key card she’d given me.

“Olivia,” I called, flipping on the bedside lamp. “Time to get up.”

She groaned and pulled the duvet over her head. “Five more minutes.”

“No way,” I said, tugging at her covers. “This sunrise hike was your idea, remember? You’re the one who insisted we couldn’t come to

Blue Mountain without seeing the ‘magical winter sunrise’ from Eagle’s Point.”

“That was yesterday’s Olivia,” she mumbled into her pillow. “Today’s Olivia thinks yesterday’s Olivia was insane.”

“Well, James is already waiting downstairs with coffee and breakfast bars, I reminded her. “And I’m not facing him alone to explain

why his thoughtful resort weekend is being ruined by your sudden aversion to mornings.”

With another dramatic groan, Olivia finally sat up, her hair a wild tangle around her face. “Fine. But I want it officially noted that

I’m a much better friend than Derek ever was a husband.”

“Duly noted,” I said dryly. “Now hurry up. It’s already 4:30.

By 4:40, Olivia was dressed in her puffy red ski jacket, still grumbling about “better be worth it” and “death before dawn should be illegal. We headed toward the elevators, and as the doors opened to the third-floor hallway, I froze. Derek stood at the far end with Thomas, both dressed in hiking gear. Even from a distance, the set of Derek’s shoulders betrayed his sleeplessness.

“Look who’s up bright and early,” Thomas called cheerfully, waving at us.

James emerged from the second elevator, carrying a small backpack and wearing a warm smile. “Good morning, ladies. I’ve got

everything ready-coffee, water, snacks, extra hand warmers.

Olivia looked between Derek and me, then rolled her eyes. “Well, looks like we’re not the only ones who want to see the sunrise, she said, her voice deliberately carrying down the hallway. “Though some of us actually planned this trip specifically for the

experience.”

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Chapter 116

Derek’s eyes flicked between James and me, his jaw tightening almost imperceptibly.

“Let’s go,” I said quickly. “We don’t want to miss the best light.”

The pre-dawn darkness was absolute as James’s SUV pulled into the small parking area at the base of Blue Mountain/Reserve. My

breath formed white clouds in the frigid December air as I stepped out, the snow crunching beneath my boots. The sky above was a

canvas of fading stars, with the faintest hint of gray just beginning to touch the eastern horizon.

“Olivia wasn’t exaggerating about the view,” James said, coming to stand beside me. “Though I never planned to see it quite this

early when I booked the spa weekend.”

His smile was warm, and I felt a surge of gratitude for his adaptability. “Thank you for being such a good sport about the last-

minute addition to your relaxation itinerary,” I said.

“Any time spent with you is time well spent,” he replied simply.

Olivia joined us, her face barely visible between her wool hat and scarf. “I better not have frozen my eyelashes for nothing,” she

grumbled, but her eyes sparkled with excitement.

We were securing our backpacks when headlights swept across the parking area. A black Range Rover pulled in, and my stomach tightened as Derek emerged from the driver’s side, dressed in professional-grade hiking gear that made my rental equipment look

amateur. Thomas followed, waving enthusiastically in our direction.

Morning, folks! Thomas called out, his voice carrying in the still morning air. “Perfect day for a hike, isn’t it?”

Derek said nothing, but his eyes found mine immediately, his gaze intense even across the distance. I busied myself adjusting my

gloves, pretending not to notice.

Before we could depart, another vehicle arrived-Daniel’s Mercedes SUV. He helped Melissa out, her hair gleaming under the parking lot lights. Behind them, to my dismay, emerged Seraphina, wrapped in what appeared to be a designer ski outfit that looked far too

pristine for actual hiking.

“Let’s go,” I whispered to Olivia, not waiting for a response.

James nodded understanding and led us toward the trailhead, our footsteps leaving distinct impressions in the fresh snow. The path

before us was a ribbon of blue shadow winding up into darkness, the towering pines on either side like silent sentinels. In the

distance, the snow-covered peaks were just visible silhouettes against the navy sky-remote, untouchable, and eerily beautiful. Much

like my relationship with the man walking somewhere behind us.

We had been hiking for about twenty minutes, the snow-laden branches creating a tunnel of crystalline beauty around us. The quiet

was profound-the kind of silence that seems to have weight and presence, broken only by the crunch of snow beneath our boots

and the occasional distant call of an early-waking bird.

Behind us, I could hear Derek’s voice, low and irritated.

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“What were you thinking, bringing the entire social register?” he was saying to Thomas. “This was supposed to be a simple hike.

“Don’t blame me,” Thomas responded, his breath visible in the cold. “Daniel tagged along when he heard I was coming, then Melissa

insisted on joining, and she apparently told Seraphina.”

Derek muttered something I couldn’t quite catch.

Thomas rubbed his reddened ears. “I’m not saying ärrything about you, but you didn’t bring my sister-in-law-oh wait, I mean

former sister-in-law-either. Seems like everyone’s got their own agenda this morning.”

I couldn’t see Derek’s expression, but the sudden silence told me enough. I quickened my pace, eager to put more distance between

The dark canopy of pines occasionally broke open to reveal patches of star-studded sky, gradually lightening from black to deep indigo. The mountains loomed ahead, their snow-covered slopes like the frozen waves of some ancient, motionless sea. In this

landscape of stark contrasts and stark beauty, my own emotional turmoil seemed simultaneously insignificant and perfectly

mirrored.

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The CEO’s Unspoken Love