Three weeks had passed since Eleanor left the hospital.
Life had slowly returned to normal.
Or at least, it looked that way.
Eleanor was back at Vance Capital Holdings, attending meetings and reviewing contracts. Sebastian had stopped trying to convince her to take more time off because he had finally realized she would simply ignore him.
But there was one thing that hadn't returned to normal.
Her evenings.
Almost every night, her phone would ring.
Raven.
Sometimes they spoke for only a few minutes.
Other nights, the conversations lasted nearly an hour.
They talked about business.
Then somehow, they would end up talking about everything except business.
Eleanor had learned that Raven hated crowded restaurants.
Raven had learned that Eleanor couldn't stand overly sweet coffee.
Eleanor knew Jane was the only person who could successfully order Raven to eat.
Raven knew Charlotte had a habit of calling Eleanor at the worst possible times.
Neither woman had acknowledged how comfortable their conversations had become.
But they both noticed.
One Friday afternoon, Eleanor sat in her office reviewing a contract when Sebastian walked in.
"You have an invitation."
Eleanor didn't look up.
"From who?"
He placed an envelope on her desk.
"Blackwood Heights Charity Foundation."
Eleanor opened it.
Her eyebrows lifted.
"That's tomorrow."
"Yes."
"I'm not going."
Sebastian smiled.
"I knew you'd say that."
"Then why did you bring it?"
"Because your mother already called."
Eleanor closed her eyes.
"Of course she did."
That evening, Sofia called again.
"You're going."
"Mom."
"No arguments."
"I have work."
"You always have work."
"I don't like these events."
"You used to."
"I've changed."
Sofia sighed.
"You've been through a lot, Eleanor. You need to get out. See people. Have fun."
Eleanor leaned back in her chair.
"I don't know."
"Just go for a few hours."
Eleanor was silent.
"Fine."
Sofia immediately brightened.
"Wonderful."
"But I'm leaving early."
"Deal."
Eleanor smiled.
"Goodnight, Mom."
"Goodnight, darling."
The call ended.
Eleanor looked at the invitation again.
A charity gala.
Wealthy families.
Business leaders.
Politicians.
Socialites.
Exactly the kind of place she usually avoided.
She sighed.
Then her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Raven.
Eleanor smiled.
She answered.
"Hello."
"Are you attending tomorrow?"
Eleanor blinked.
"How did you know?"
"Jane received an invitation."
"Oh."
A pause.
"Yes."
"So am I."
There was silence.
Then Raven asked,
"Good."
Eleanor smiled.
"Why?"
Another pause.
"I wanted to know if I'd see you."
Eleanor's smile slowly grew.
"You could have just said that."
"I did."
"Not exactly."
Raven gave a quiet laugh.
It was rare.
Eleanor had only heard it a few times.
And she liked it more than she wanted to admit.
"I'll see you tomorrow," Raven said.
"I'll see you."
They ended the call.
Eleanor stared at her phone for a moment.
Then she shook her head.
"What is happening to me?"
Across the city, Raven sat in her office.
Jane stood across from her.
"You're going."
"Yes."
"You hate charity galas."
"I have business interests there."
Jane smiled.
"Of course."
Raven ignored her.
"Who else is attending?"
Jane opened her tablet.
"Several major families. Vance Capital Holdings. The Blackwood Consortium. Several Chicago investors."
Raven's attention sharpened.
"The Blackwood Consortium?"
"Yes."
Jane hesitated.
"And there's something else."
"What?"
"The company attempting to purchase the Willow Creek property is sending a representative."
Raven's expression hardened.
"Jeff?"
"Possibly."
Raven stood.
"Find out."
Jane nodded.
"Already working on it."
Raven walked toward the window.
The gala suddenly wasn't just a social event.
It was an opportunity.
Later that night, Andrea entered Raven's private office.
"We have another problem."
Raven turned.
"What?"
Andrea placed a photograph on the desk.
A masked figure.
Black clothing.
Black mask.
No identifiable features.
Raven studied it.
"Where?"
"Near the northern district."
"Same group?"
"We think so."
"Think isn't enough."
Andrea nodded.
"We're still trying to identify their leader."
Raven looked at the photograph.
"Don't approach them."
Andrea raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"I want to know who they are before they know we're watching."
Andrea smiled.
"Smart."
Raven picked up the photograph.
"And tomorrow?"
"The gala?"
"Yes."
Andrea's expression became serious.
"We have reason to believe someone connected to the organization may be there."
Raven looked toward the city.
"Then we'll watch."
The next evening, Eleanor stood in front of her mirror.
Her dress was elegant and simple.
She adjusted an earring.
Her phone buzzed.
A message.
Raven: I'm already here.
Eleanor smiled.
She typed back.
Eleanor: Don't leave before I arrive.
The reply came almost immediately.
Raven: I won't.
Eleanor stared at the message.
Her heart beat a little faster.
She didn't know what tonight would bring.
She didn't know that Raven would be watching the crowd for someone dangerous.
She didn't know that Jeff might be closer than she thought.
And she certainly didn't know that the gala would be the first time the two of them would be seen together in public.
Eleanor picked up her purse.
"Let's go."
Across Chicago, Raven stood beneath the lights of the gala entrance.
Her black mask caught the attention of everyone around her.
But she ignored them.
Her eyes remained fixed on the entrance.
Waiting.
Then a black car pulled up.
The door opened.
Eleanor stepped out.
Raven's eyes immediately found her.
And for the first time that evening, she forgot about everything else.