The CEO’s Unspoken Love (Eleanor and Derek) novel Chapter 97

Chapter 97

Derek POV

I stood at my office window, watching the Boston skyline fade into evening darkness. The divorce papers sat on my desk, signed and

processed. Eleanor was officially no longer my wife, no longer legally tied to me.

The thought should have brought relief. This was what I’d wanted from the beginning-freedom from a marriage that had been

forced upon me. Yet for the past week, I’d found myself distracted, irritable, unable to focus on work.

My assistant had commented on it earlier. ‘Mr. Wells, that’s the third time you’ve read the same paragraph.”

I’d dismissed her concern, but she wasn’t wrong. Something felt unfinished, despite the legal conclusion of my marriage. Every time

I closed my eyes, I saw Eleanor’s face as I’d whispered those final words to her: “Don’t think this is over.”

I hadn’t planned to say it. The words had erupted from some place deep inside me, a place I wasn’t ready to examine too closely.

“This is ridiculous, I muttered, turning back to my desk. My eyes fell on the bottom drawer where I kept my wedding ring. I’d never worn it consistently during our marriage, but I couldn’t bring myself to discard it either.

My phone rang, pulling me from my thoughts. It was Thomas, reminding me about tonight’s Harvard Business School reunion.

“I’m skipping it,” I told him.

“Like hell you are, Thomas replied. “Professor Harmon’s sixtieth birthday deserves your presence. Besides, you’ve been brooding all week. Get out, have a drink, talk to actual humans.”

I sighed, knowing he was right. “Fine. I’ll be there.”

Two hours later, I found myself in a private room at the Windsor Club, surrounded by former classmates sharing success stories and reminiscing about our MBA days. I nodded at appropriate intervals, nursing a scotch that I barely tasted.

“Wells, you haven’t said a word about that investment fund you started in London, one classmate prompted. “Heard you tripled your

initial capital in eighteen months.”

I launched into the rehearsed story of Frontier Capital’s success, but my heart wasn’t in it. All I could think about was Eleanor-how she’d looked standing on the City Hall steps, the way her signature had flowed across the divorce papers without hesitation.

“I need some air, I announced abruptly, setting down my glass and heading for the hallway.

The club was busy that night, with several private events taking place simultaneously. As I leaned against the wall, I overheard two men talking excitedly nearby, one of them holding up his phone.

“Look at this, one said. “Just saw this guy carrying a woman into one of the private boxes. She looked completely out of it, man.”

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“Damn, she’s hot though, the other replied, leaning in to look at the phone. “Got a nice body on her.”

Something about their conversation made me uneasy. I approached them. “What are you two talking about?”

They looked up, startled by my interruption. The one holding the phone hesitated, then turned the screen toward me. “Just saw this

about twenty minutes ago. Guy carrying some woman who was either wasted or…” He trailed off suggestively.

I glanced at the photo and felt my blood turn to ice. The woman’s face was partially obscured, but I’d recognize that silver star

pendant and that honey-blonde hair anywhere. Eleanor.

“Where did you see them?” I demanded, my voice tight with sudden fear.

“Next to your box, private section, the man replied, looking uncomfortable now.

“You sure she wasn’t conscious?” I pressed.

‘Pretty sure, man. She wasn’t moving at all. Thought maybe she’d had too much to drink, but…” He exchanged a glance with his

friend. “It didn’t look right.”

A familiar voice called my name, and I turned to see Seraphina approaching, elegant as always in a black cocktail dress.

“There you are,” she said, linking her arm through mine. “I’ve been looking everywhere.

I disentangled myself from her grip, showing her the phone. “This is Eleanor. Something’s wrong.”

Seraphina barely glanced at the photo before dismissing it with a wave. “Derek, she’s probably just drunk and with a date. It’s not

your concern anymore.”

The coldness in her voice surprised me. I looked at her more closely and saw something calculating in her eyes that I’d never

noticed before.

‘Someone is carrying my unconscious ex-wife into a private room, and you think I should ignore it?” I asked incredulously.

Seraphina’s expression hardened. ‘She’s your ex-wife, Derek. Ex. As in no longer your responsibility. We should rejoin the party.”

I stepped back, suddenly seeing Seraphina with perfect clarity. “No. Something’s wrong, and I’m going to find out what.”

I moved swiftly through the corridor, Seraphina’s voice calling after me, no longer bothering to hide her irritation. “Derek, don’t be

ridiculous! She’s not worth it!”

The Windsor Club’s layout featured several adjoining private rooms, with our reunion being held in one of the larger chambers. I made my way toward the neighboring private boxes, scanning the numbered doors. As I approached box 266, directly adjacent to our gathering, I paused, not sure what I would find inside.

That’s when I heard it-a scream that chilled me to the bone: “Help! Derek–

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The CEO’s Unspoken Love