CHAPTER 102: CHAPTER 102: ADRIAN GRANT, GET OUT!

Eleanor Winslow blinked, sat up straight, and blatantly lied with a calm face, "I’m here to deliver documents to President Grant."

The legal director looked puzzled, "Aren’t you no longer on the Mayfield Tech project team?"

Eleanor: "..."

Why would a dignified director keep track of every member of the other party’s team so clearly!

"President Grant, should we..." the marketing director began, wanting to leave.

"Come in."

Adrian Grant had them come in and sat back in the chair behind his desk.

Both of them reluctantly entered the office.

Eleanor stood up, wanting to avoid the scene, "President Grant, I should—"

"What are you planning to do first?" Adrian Grant glanced up, "Eleanor, don’t even think about running away."

Eleanor: "..."

She was here to deliver documents; is he deaf and didn’t hear!

The atmosphere in the office was quite peculiar for a moment. The two directors exchanged glances, while Adrian Grant, sitting in the executive chair, seemed perfectly at ease, as if nothing odd was happening.

The two directors were here precisely to report on the Mayfield Tech merger case. The work from Aurelian & Partners was nearing completion, and the marketing department would take over the market integration work post-merger.

Adrian Grant pointed to a part of the reporting materials and asked the legal director about the details.

The legal director looked at it for a while and said, "This part is handled by Aurelian & Partners, I’ll check with Lawyer Sawyer on this shortly."

Eleanor heard the words "Aurelian & Partners" and instinctively looked over, meeting Adrian Grant’s eyes.

Adrian Grant said, "Come over here."

Eleanor didn’t want to move, but remembering the persona she had created as a ’document courier,’ she hesitated for two seconds and decided to go over.

"Take a look at this." Adrian handed the previous question to Eleanor.

"President Grant, first, I’m not your employee, and second, I’m not a member of the project team. Once I speak on work matters, it inherently involves responsibility issues." Eleanor countered him with what he had taught her.

The legal director: "..."

He shouldn’t have mentioned that Lawyer Winslow wasn’t on the project team!

Adrian Grant pointed at the file and said, "Didn’t ask you to look at it as an employee or a member of the other party."

The legal director and marketing director exchanged another look: Not in the capacity of employee or other party... doesn’t that mean as the boss’s woman?

Eleanor noticed the silent communication between the two executives, took a deep breath, and glanced at the lengthy English description.

"This is due to the differences between civil law and common law systems; Mayfield Tech involves cross-border mergers, involving multiple legal entities, shareholders, and intangible assets, so this part requires special explanation of differences and compensation measures."

With Eleanor’s reminder, the legal director immediately recalled the key points and understood.

He looked at Eleanor with admiration, "Lawyer Winslow, your foundational knowledge is solid. Would you consider working for us after graduation? Our work on the client’s side is not as demanding as the other party’s!"

After saying this, he glanced at Adrian Grant, awaiting the boss’s response.

Adrian Grant leisurely asked Eleanor, "What do you think?"

Eleanor suddenly realized that Adrian Grant wasn’t calling her over to solve anything, but rather, was waiting for her!

He wanted to keep her under close watch!

Eleanor forced a smile, "I plan to continue my studies, working for the boss is too exhausting."

The legal and marketing directors: "..."

They felt they were being subtly insulted!

Eleanor sat back down on the sofa, trying to be as invisible as possible.

After the legal and marketing directors left, the office descended into dead silence.

The horror movie couldn’t keep her attention anymore, so Eleanor took off her headphones and turned to look at the man in the executive chair.

"Adrian Grant."

Adrian was originally going through some documents. Hearing this, he paused and looked up at her.

Eleanor opened her mouth, ready to speak, but swallowed her words, waiting a couple of seconds before asking, "When is Trevor Hawthorne coming?"

"At noon."

Adrian Grant and Trevor Hawthorne had set up a meeting to discuss collaboration, but today’s lunch was not for formal discussions but rather to gauge each other’s attitudes, which was standard practice.

Eleanor responded with an "oh," and looked away.

"What were you going to say earlier?" Adrian Grant didn’t let it go.

Eleanor was slightly taken aback; she didn’t expect him to notice.

She wanted to ask him what he truly meant by his current actions. What was he aiming for?

She wanted to reiterate her stance to him, that she still wanted a divorce.

...

The lunch venue was a high-end private restaurant near the Grant Group building.

The last time she was here, she left with a burned hand.

Now coming again, both her hands were still wrapped in bandages.

Thinking of these two incidents, Eleanor felt unhappy and didn’t want to look at Adrian Grant any more, so she made another call to Blake Lockwood, but still, no one answered.

"President Grant, your guests have arrived." Before the waiter finished speaking, the footsteps behind grew closer, sounding like two people.

Eleanor thought it was Blake Lockwood coming along, and excitedly stood up, ready to greet them, but when she saw the woman walking in, she was stunned in place.

Vivian Quinn took off her coat and flung it to the waiter with a triumphant smile, "Eleanor, long time no see, are you so happy to see me?"

Eleanor ignored her, casting a cold look like a knife at Trevor Hawthorne, "Young Master Hawthorne, am I not supposed to be here?"

Trevor Hawthorne had walked in ahead of Vivian Quinn from the start and didn’t interact with her at all.

He was about to sit down when he asked Eleanor, "What do you mean, Miss Winslow?"

"Shouldn’t I be asking you, bringing Miss Quinn to dine with me, what does that mean? Are you looking down on me?"

Vivian Quinn instantly felt wronged, "Eleanor, what do you mean?"

Eleanor replied sharply, "It means I look down on you."

"You—!"

"I’m still officially Mrs. Grant now, and even if I get a divorce, I’m still Miss Winslow. Vivian Quinn, what are you to sit at the same table with me and to pair off with my best friend’s man?"

Vivian Quinn seemed greatly aggrieved, looking pitiably at Trevor Hawthorne, "Young Master Hawthorne, look at her! I’m your woman, if she looks down on me, isn’t that looking down on you?"

Trevor Hawthorne paid no attention to Vivian’s pouting complaints. He took a seat and toasted Adrian Grant from across the table, with both men taking a sip of their drinks.

Vivian Quinn felt awkward and was so furious that her face turned red and white.

"Trevor Hawthorne, where’s Blake?" Eleanor asked.

"Resting at home."

Just as Trevor finished speaking, Vivian Quinn touched her curls and said, "Turns out Young Master Hawthorne wanted to bring her for lunch, but she threw a tantrum and didn’t want to come, so she had him bring me instead. Eleanor, it seems your friendship with Blake isn’t so deep after all."

Being home meant she was safe, and as for not answering calls, maybe her phone wasn’t by her side. Eleanor sighed in relief.

Eleanor completely understood Blake Lockwood’s actions; not wanting to see that disgusting man or that vile woman, letting them disappear from her sight together with the dog, wouldn’t it be satisfying?

Vivian Quinn’s words were too blatantly provocative, Adrian Grant glanced at her, his eyes showing undisguised disdain.

Stupidity irritates!

"I’m a bit hungry now. I can stand hunger, but the child in my belly can’t!" Without waiting for an invitation, Vivian Quinn just sat herself down next to Trevor Hawthorne, ready to eat.

Mentioning the child, everyone instinctively glanced at Vivian Quinn’s flat belly.

Eleanor was already in a bad mood, and Vivian Quinn had just run right into it.

Every time Vivian Quinn wanted to eat something, Eleanor would simply turn the table, intentionally preventing Vivian Quinn from eating.

"What do you mean, Eleanor?" Vivian Quinn said angrily, "With such a low and crude trick, aren’t you embarrassed and childish!"

Eleanor widened her sweet almond eyes in disbelief: "Vivian Quinn, you climb into bed with a married man and don’t feel ashamed to be the other woman, what am I afraid of being ashamed of?"

Eleanor felt that wasn’t enough, and she turned her gaze and, smiling, asked Trevor Hawthorne, "Young Master Hawthorne, don’t you think so?"

Adrian Grant enjoyed the spectacle, not stopping Eleanor at all.

He felt the scene was quite familiar.

Didn’t Blake Lockwood help Eleanor to mock him just like this before?

What goes around comes around; these two are like close sisters.

Vivian Quinn initially wanted to retort, but Eleanor directed the spearhead at Trevor Hawthorne, and she believed Trevor Hawthorne wouldn’t remain calm, as he wasn’t known for his good temper!

Unexpectedly, Trevor Hawthorne sipped his wine and nodded, "Yes."

Before Vivian Quinn could be shocked, Trevor Hawthorne continued, "Miss Winslow should also know, Blake’s situation is different from yours; divorce would not be a good thing for her."

"You want me to persuade her not to divorce?" Eleanor heard the underlying meaning.

Vivian Quinn’s face showed fear, her hand on the table unconsciously clenched tight.

She had always known this relationship was her one-sided wish. But how many women in this circle have become the wife only after one-sided wishes? Why couldn’t she?

Trevor Hawthorne didn’t answer.

Eleanor chuckled softly: "Young Master Hawthorne, frankly, for your unborn illegitimate child, have some kindness, make the divorce quick!"

Persuade what?

What’s good about persuading that scumbag, saving him for New Year’s grave visit?

Eleanor finished the last spoonful of soup, placed down the porcelain spoon, and stood up: "You two enjoy."

She left without caring about anyone else’s expressions.

Adrian Grant instinctively wanted to grab her wrist, clenched his fist for a bit, but held back.

—Forcing her to stay now is useless!

Eleanor said "you two," not even counting Vivian Quinn in it; Vivian Quinn’s face reddened with anger, whether it’s the emotion or not, her stomach felt like it was churning, she quickly stood up covering her mouth.

The waiter promptly supported Vivian Quinn to the restroom.

Eleanor’s departure left Adrian Grant displeased, so he started settling accounts with Trevor Hawthorne: "Young Master Hawthorne, you speak interestingly, what do you mean by Eleanor and Blake’s situations are different?"

So the divorce with Eleanor was a good thing?

Trevor Hawthorne raised his glass and took a sip, indicating he had misspoken.

After two seconds, he couldn’t resist adding: "But, your previous relationship with Mia Winslow, do you think it was appropriate?"

Adrian Grant scoffed back: "My relationship with Mia Winslow was just rumors, whereas yours with Vivian Quinn is factual."

"Who said mine with her is factual?" Trevor Hawthorne’s sharp brow and eyes appeared even more unrestrained, "Adrian Grant, haven’t you been in this circle for years, seen two people waking up naked in bed with nothing actually happened?"

Adrian Grant indeed had those suspicions, he raised an eyebrow with interest and made an "oh?" sound.

The two men stared at each other for a few seconds.

Adrian Grant began to plot in his mind: "Looks like things aren’t peaceful at the Hawthorne Family lately."

Trevor Hawthorne tutted: "Can’t compare with you, having been nurtured by the old man himself, your position has been solid since childhood."

He paused, then with schadenfreude he said: "I, with my unstable position, have someone plant spies beside me, still, can’t you even extinguish the fire at your backdoor?"

Adrian Grant’s fake smile faded: "Trevor Hawthorne, do you want a fight?"

-

Eleanor left through the back door and took a cab directly to Blake Lockwood’s home.

The servant was familiar with Eleanor, and directly led her inside.

Blake Lockwood was sitting in the yard sunbathing, fiddling with her collection of gemstones, all kinds of gems sparkling brilliantly under the sun, dazzling and eye-catching.

"Blake!" Eleanor shouted.

Blake Lockwood looked up upon hearing, and ran over joyfully, giving Eleanor a big hug.

"I’ve called you several times, no one answered, I was so worried!" Eleanor saw she wasn’t sad or upset, and breathed a sigh of relief.

"I left my phone at Night, that dog Trevor Hawthorne won’t let me retrieve it!" Blake Lockwood said furiously, "That man is not only dirty physically, but also has a tendency to imprison, he has psychological issues, I must divorce quickly!"

"I ran into Trevor Hawthorne bringing Vivian Quinn out for lunch today, Vivian Quinn even tried to sow discord in our relationship." Eleanor spoke while observing Blake Lockwood’s expression, afraid she’d be upset.

Blake Lockwood rolled her eyes: "And having a baby with such a fool, Trevor Hawthorne isn’t worried about lowering his offspring’s intelligence!"

The servant brought Eleanor some Hong Kong-style milk tea, and seeing Eleanor’s hands were occupied, thoughtfully provided a straw.

Eleanor thought for a while and said, "I noticed Trevor Hawthorne’s attitude toward Vivian Quinn is really cold, doesn’t look like he’s fond of her."

"I know, that Quinn woman has been coming to see Trevor Hawthorne every day lately." Blake Lockwood could see it, "But Eleanor, this behavior of men having affairs and their feelings, can be entirely unrelated."

Blake Lockwood gazed at the ginkgo tree not far away, which was a splendid golden yellow.

"I initially thought Trevor Hawthorne and I could be a pair of competent, superficial couple, and indeed carried out this role for the past two years. But now, I’m tired."

The title of Mrs. Hawthorne is a beautiful cage, protecting her from those relatives who would devour the family estate, also trapping her freedom and dignity.

Eleanor accompanied Blake Lockwood until evening, only after dinner did she go home.

Of course, not back to Azurean Bay, but to her own apartment.

At the moment the door opened, Eleanor sensed something was off!

The living room light was on!

Her body tensed, instinctively took a step back, thinking there was a burglar.

Footsteps were approaching!

Eleanor took a few steps back, already pulling out her phone ready to dial the police, just then, a familiar male voice spoke—

"Eleanor."

The next moment, Adrian Grant’s figure appeared in sight.

Eleanor took a long breath of relief, and then became furious: "Adrian Grant, what are you doing here? How did you get into my house?"

The man had already taken off his suit jacket, wearing a pair of men’s slippers, probably ones he brought himself.

"Had fun playing with Blake Lockwood?" Adrian Grant did not answer her question.

Eleanor angrily walked in the door, pointed outside, and said to Adrian Grant: "This is my home, please leave!"