Eleanor expected to leave the hospital within a few days.
Dr. James had other plans.
"You're staying for observation."
Eleanor stared at him.
"For how long?"
"At least another week."
"A week?"
"Yes."
"James, I'm perfectly capable of recovering at home."
He gave her a look.
"You were drugged, forced into an induced heat, and your body is still recovering. You're staying."
Eleanor sighed.
"Fine."
"Good."
He walked toward the door.
"And don't even think about sneaking out."
Eleanor frowned.
"I wasn't going to."
James smiled.
"Of course you weren't."
The first two days passed slowly.
Eleanor slept.
She took her medication.
She attended examinations.
And she complained about being bored.
By the third day, she had had enough.
Sebastian walked into her room carrying his tablet.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Yes."
He looked suspicious.
"What do you want?"
"Work."
"No."
Eleanor stared at him.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
"I am your employer."
"And you're my patient."
Eleanor folded her arms.
"Sebastian."
"No."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Bring me the quarterly reports."
"No."
"The Chicago expansion files."
"No."
"The Apex Raven partnership documents."
Sebastian hesitated.
Eleanor smiled.
"Got you."
He sighed.
"You're impossible."
"I've been called worse."
He finally opened his tablet.
"I'll bring you limited work."
"Good."
"And Dr. James cannot know."
Eleanor smiled.
"Deal."
By the fourth day, Eleanor had turned her hospital room into a temporary office.
Her laptop sat on the table.
Documents were stacked neatly beside her.
Sebastian came in every morning with files.
Eleanor worked for several hours before resting.
But there was something else she began doing.
Every evening, around the same time, she found herself looking toward the door.
Waiting.
The first evening, she didn't notice it.
The second evening, she did.
By the fifth day, she knew exactly when Raven usually arrived.
Around seven.
Sometimes a little after.
And every time the clock approached seven, Eleanor caught herself wondering:
Will she come tonight?
She hated that she had started expecting it.
But she couldn't deny that she liked it.
At exactly seven fifteen that evening, there was a knock.
Eleanor immediately looked up from her laptop.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Raven walked inside.
Black suit.
Black gloves.
Black mask.
The same silver raven insignia.
Eleanor smiled before she could stop herself.
"You're late."
Raven paused.
"Late?"
"You usually come earlier."
Raven looked at the clock.
"I didn't realize you were keeping track."
Eleanor looked back at her laptop.
"I wasn't."
Raven's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Of course."
Eleanor smiled.
"How was your day?"
"Busy."
"Mine too."
Raven glanced at the stack of documents.
"You're working."
"Only a little."
"You were told to rest."
"I am resting."
"You're sitting at a desk with three reports open."
Eleanor smiled.
"Technically, I'm sitting."
Raven shook her head.
"You're impossible."
Eleanor laughed.
"You sound like Sebastian."
Raven pulled the chair beside her bed closer.
"How are you feeling?"
"Better."
"Honestly."
Eleanor looked at her.
"Honestly?"
"Yes."
"A little tired."
Raven nodded.
"That's better."
For some reason, Eleanor liked being asked that question.
Not because Raven was her doctor.
But because she genuinely seemed to care.
While Raven was visiting Eleanor, Andrea was working elsewhere.
She had spent several days investigating Matt Evans.
The more she uncovered, the worse it became.
She entered Raven's office late that night with a folder in her hand.
Raven looked up.
"What did you find?"
Andrea placed the folder on the desk.
"Matt wasn't acting alone."
Raven's expression changed.
"Explain."
"He had been watching Eleanor's movements before the date."
Raven opened the folder.
Photographs.
Restaurant records.
Phone records.
Names.
Dates.
Everything had been carefully documented.
"Why?"
"We don't know yet."
Raven continued reading.
"Anything else?"
Andrea nodded.
"There were several calls between Matt and someone whose identity we haven't confirmed."
"Find them."
"We're trying."
Raven closed the folder.
"And the masked group?"
Andrea's expression became serious.
"Still active."
"Any movement around Blackwood Heights?"
"Yes."
Andrea placed another photograph on the desk.
A masked figure stood outside a warehouse.
The face was impossible to see.
Raven studied the image.
"Nothing about their leader?"
"Nothing."
Raven nodded.
"Keep watching."
Andrea left.
Raven remained alone.
Her thoughts returned to Eleanor.
For some reason, every investigation seemed to lead back to her.
She didn't like that.
Not because Eleanor was a problem.
But because Raven was beginning to realize how much she cared about keeping her safe.
The following evening, Raven arrived at the hospital again.
Eleanor was already waiting.
She looked toward the door the moment Raven entered.
"You're early."
Raven stopped.
"Were you waiting for me?"
Eleanor hesitated.
Then she smiled.
"Maybe."
Raven stared at her.
Something warm moved through her chest.
She quickly ignored it.
"How was your day?"
"Boring."
"You could have rested."
"I did."
Raven sat beside her.
For several minutes, they simply talked.
No business.
No revenge.
No family.
Just small things.
Eleanor told Raven about Charlotte's terrible sense of humor.
Raven told Eleanor about Jane's habit of forcing her to eat.
Eleanor laughed.
"I like Jane."
"She likes you too."
"Does she?"
Raven nodded.
"She asks about you."
Eleanor smiled.
"Tell her I said hello."
"I will."
The room became quiet.
Eleanor looked at Raven.
"You've come every evening."
Raven didn't answer immediately.
"Yes."
"Why?"
Raven looked at her.
"I wanted to make sure you were okay."
Eleanor smiled softly.
"Thank you."
Raven looked away.
"You don't have to thank me."
"I know."
Eleanor leaned back against the pillows.
"But I still want to."
Raven looked at her again.
And neither woman noticed how natural the silence between them had become.
Neither noticed how quickly the days were passing.
Neither noticed that something was growing between them.
Something neither was ready to name.
And Eleanor knew one thing for certain.
Tomorrow evening, she would be waiting for Raven again.