The CEO’s Unspoken Love (Eleanor and Derek) novel Chapter 148

The CEO’s Unspoken Love

Chapter 148

“Put that out,” I said sharply, suddenly sitting up.

Martin looked at me, confused. “What?”

“The cigarette. Put it out now.”

He complied, bewildered by my sudden command. Moments later, the front door opened, and she walked in.

Eleanor, fourteen and slender in her Boston Academy uniform-crisp white shirt, navy pleated skirt, high ponytail swinging gently

as she moved. The room fell silent as every male gaze turned toward her.

“Hello,” she said politely, her voice soft but clear. Despite the attention, she carried herself with quiet dignity.

“Study group,” I explained tersely, watching her rather than my classmates.

She nodded, clutching her books closer. ‘I’ll be upstairs.”

After she disappeared, I caught Martin staring after her, something in his expression making my stomach tighten.

“Who was that?” he asked, clearly intrigued.

“My family’s ward,” I answered coldly, the message in my tone unmistakable: Off limits.

Years later at Harvard, it became a pattern. Classmates asking about her, suggesting I introduce them.

“What, you think you’re good enough for a Wells girl?” I’d retort with a smirk, as if it were a joke rather than a warning.

After graduation, a former teammate suggested we invite Eleanor to dinner.

“Eleanor, have dinner with you?” I’d laughed, the sound sharp and dismissive. “Maybe take a look in the mirror first and assess your

standing.”

No one mentioned her around me after that.

I’d told myself I was protecting her, keeping her safe from men with dishonorable intentions. But the truth was simpler and more selfish: the thought of Eleanor with anyone else had always been intolerable to me, even before I understood why.

Eleanor POV

I had just finished showering when my phone vibrated on the nightstand. Wrapped in my robe with my hair still damp, I glanced at

the screen and was surprised to see James’s name. It was nearly midnight-not his usual time to text.

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Chapter 148

Opening the message, I found not a brief note but a substantial paragraph:

[Eleanor, I’ve finally come to understand that your heart doesn’t belong to me, and never will. This isn’t your fault-our hearts make their own choices. I’ve decided it’s time to let go. I hope we can part as friends. If you ever need someone, I’ll always be there.]

The message continued:

[There’s a project in New York that requires my attention for the next few months. Some space might be good for both of us.)

I sat on the edge of my bed, a complex sense of relief washing over me. James was a good man-thoughtful, kind, patient. He deserved someone who could love him completely, not someone whose heart had been claimed long ago, despite all logic and self-

preservation.

I felt guilty about his feelings, yet relieved to be free of the pretense. I’d tried to care for him the way he cared for me, but there had always been something missing. The kiss we’d shared on Christmas Eve had only confirmed what I’d suspected: there was no spark, no chemistry, only the comfortable warmth of friendship.

I twisted my damp hair into a loose knot, considering how to respond. After a moment’s thought, I picked up my phone and typed:

[I wish you all the best, James. Thank you for your support. I mean it.]

Simple, honest, final. I sent the message, then set my phone aside and turned off the lamp beside my bed. In the darkness, I tried to clear my mind of the night’s complications-James’s message, the scene at the bar, the raw confession I’d overheard from Derek.

As I closed my eyes, Derek’s face appeared unbidden in my mind’s eye.

Despite everything, despite all the pain and confusion, a small flicker of hope refused to be extinguished deep within my heart.

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The CEO’s Unspoken Love