Eleanor remained silent for a few seconds after answering Raven's call.
She had so many questions.
Why did you disappear?
What really happened to your mother?
What did Jeff do to you?
Why are you hiding behind that mask?
But she couldn't ask any of them.
Not yet.
Instead, she smiled.
"How are you feeling?"
Raven leaned back against the headboard.
"Better."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"You sound tired."
"I am."
Eleanor smiled.
"Then rest."
Raven was quiet.
"You sound different."
Eleanor's heart skipped.
"Different?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"I don't know."
Raven closed her eyes.
"You sound like you're thinking about something."
Eleanor looked at the file sitting on her desk.
"I am."
"What?"
Eleanor hesitated.
"You."
Silence.
Raven opened her eyes.
"Me?"
"Yes."
A faint smile crossed Raven's face.
"That's dangerous."
"Why?"
"Because I might start thinking about you too."
Eleanor smiled.
"Maybe that's not such a bad thing."
Neither woman spoke for a moment.
Then Raven quietly said,
"I'll call you tonight."
"I'll be waiting."
The call ended.
Eleanor stared at her phone.
She couldn't help smiling.
Then her eyes moved back to the file.
The smile disappeared.
---
The Hale Family
Eleanor spent the next few hours researching.
She didn't want gossip.
She wanted facts.
She discovered that Raven's mother had been one of Chicago's most recognizable socialites.
She had attended charity events, business dinners and political gatherings.
Her name had appeared in newspapers regularly.
And Raven had often been photographed beside her.
Eleanor found another article.
HALE HEIRESS MARRIES ISABELLA JONES.
She stared at the photograph.
There was Raven.
Young.
Beautiful.
Happy.
Standing beside Bella.
Then Eleanor found another article.
SOCIALITE'S DAUGHTER VANISHES AFTER MOTHER'S DEATH
Her stomach tightened.
The article mentioned rumors.
A troubled marriage.
Financial disputes.
And Bella.
Eleanor frowned.
She remembered Bella.
Everyone in certain Chicago circles had heard something about her and Raven's marriage.
But most people had treated it as another wealthy-family scandal.
Eleanor had never known the truth.
Until now.
---
At Apex Raven Global, Raven stood before the floor-to-ceiling window.
Jane entered.
"You're feeling better?"
"Much."
"Good."
Jane placed several documents on the desk.
"The Hawthorne property has officially been transferred."
Raven nodded.
"And the others?"
"Three more are almost complete."
Raven picked up the documents.
"Jeff hasn't figured it out?"
"Not yet."
A small smile appeared beneath her mask.
"Good."
Jane hesitated.
"There's something else."
Raven looked up.
"Eleanor was here yesterday."
Raven's expression softened.
"I know."
"She stayed with you during your rut."
Raven became still.
"Yes."
Jane smiled slightly.
"You trust her."
Raven didn't answer immediately.
Then she said,
"Yes."
It was one word.
But Jane knew how significant it was.
Raven trusted almost nobody.
---
Meanwhile
Jeff was becoming desperate.
He sat across from his financial adviser.
"How much do I have left?"
The adviser hesitated.
"Not much."
Jeff slammed his hand on the table.
"What do you mean, not much?"
"Your debts have consumed most of your liquid assets."
"What about the properties?"
"Several have already been sold."
Jeff's eyes narrowed.
"To whom?"
"We're still investigating."
Jeff stood.
"I want the buyer's identity."
The adviser swallowed.
"We've tried."
"Try harder."
---
That evening, Bella found Jeff sitting alone.
She looked at him carefully.
"You're losing everything."
Jeff didn't respond.
"Jeff."
"What?"
"Whoever is buying your properties…"
She paused.
"I think I know who it is."
Jeff looked at her.
"Who?"
Bella's voice dropped.
"Raven."
The room went silent.
Jeff slowly stood.
"Don't say that name."
"Why?"
"Because she's gone."
Bella stared at him.
"Maybe she isn't."
Jeff's face had gone pale.
---
Later That Night
Eleanor stood by her bedroom window.
Her phone rang.
Raven.
She answered.
"Hello."
"Are you busy?"
"No."
"Good."
Eleanor smiled.
"How are you?"
"Better."
"That's good."
There was a pause.
Then Raven asked,
"Why did you sound strange earlier?"
Eleanor's heart skipped.
She had to be careful.
"I was just tired."
Raven didn't respond.
Eleanor looked down.
There was something she wanted to say.
Something she couldn't.
Instead, she whispered,
"Raven?"
"Yes?"
"If someone hurt you in the past…"
She stopped.
Raven waited.
"Would you ever forgive them?"
Raven's voice became cold.
"No."
Eleanor swallowed.
"Not ever?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because some things can't be forgiven."
Eleanor closed her eyes.
She knew exactly what Raven was talking about.
But she didn't know the whole story.
Not yet.
Then Raven's voice softened.
"But I'm not living in the past anymore."
Eleanor smiled.
"That's good."
Raven paused.
"Why did you ask?"
Eleanor looked out at the city.
"Because I want to understand you."
Silence.
Then Raven quietly replied,
"Maybe one day I'll let you."
Eleanor smiled.
"I'll wait."
Neither woman knew how dangerous that promise would become.
Because Eleanor was already beginning to uncover the truth.
And Raven was getting closer to telling it herself.
To be continued…