"Really?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"He confirmed my reservation."
Richard looked toward the hostess again.
Then back at Eleanor.
For the first time, something uncertain appeared in his expression.
But only for a moment.
Then his pride returned.
"Fine."
He stepped back.
"But I suggest you be careful about making yourself uncomfortable in a place that may not be meant for you."
Eleanor looked directly into his eyes.
"Thank you for the suggestion."
Richard turned away.
As he walked back to his table, Gregory whispered:
"That was unnecessary."
Richard sat down.
"She was suspicious."
"Why?"
"Because she doesn't fit."
Gregory stared at him.
"Fit what?"
Richard looked across the room.
"The room."
Neither man noticed that Eleanor had heard him.
She simply opened her menu again.
And waited.
Because she knew something Richard did not.
He had just made the first mistake.
And it would not be his last.
The Woman They Couldn't Place
Dinner began.
Richard's investors discussed numbers.
Gregory discussed financing.
The Harbor Crown Project was moving toward completion.
Yet Richard's attention kept returning to Table Twelve.
Eleanor ordered soup.
Then roasted salmon.
Then tea.
Nothing extravagant.
She didn't drink wine.
She didn't order the restaurant's most expensive dishes.
She didn't behave like someone trying to prove she could afford the place.
That irritated Richard even more.
He whispered to Gregory:
"She doesn't even look impressed."
Gregory sighed.
"Maybe that's because she's eating dinner."
Richard ignored him.
Across the room, Daniel brought Eleanor her tea.
"Your usual."
Eleanor smiled.
"You remembered."
"I remembered the tea."
"That's something."
Daniel looked toward Richard.
Then back at Eleanor.
"Is everything okay?"
"Everything is fine."
"He bothered you?"
Eleanor looked at him.
"Who?"
Daniel lowered his voice.
"The man who came over."
Eleanor smiled.
"Don't worry about him."
"He's important."
"So?"
Daniel looked surprised.
Eleanor took a sip of tea.
"Being important doesn't make someone important."
Daniel smiled.
"I like that."
"You shouldn't let me get you in trouble."
He laughed.
"I'll try."
He walked away.
At the other table, Richard noticed.
"Who is she?"
Gregory looked tired.
"I don't know."
"Find out."
"Why?"
"Because I want to know."
Gregory shook his head.
"You're behaving strangely."
Richard looked at him.
"Strangely?"
"Yes."
"You've been watching her for twenty minutes."
"I've been watching because I don't understand."
Gregory leaned closer.
"Maybe that's the problem."
"What?"
"You think everybody needs to make sense to you."
Richard stared at him.
Then smiled.
"That's how I've made money."
"No."
Gregory shook his head.
"That's how you've convinced yourself you've made money."
Before Richard could respond, a woman approached their table.
She was elegant, perhaps forty-five, wearing an emerald dress.
"Richard?"
He looked up.
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry to interrupt."
"Not at all."
She introduced herself as Helen Voss, one of the investors attending the dinner.
She glanced toward Table Twelve.
Then back at Richard.
"Do you know her?"
Richard smiled.
"Unfortunately."
Helen frowned.
"Why?"
"Long story."
Helen looked again.
"That's Eleanor Grant."
Richard froze.
Gregory noticed.
"What?"
Helen looked at them.
"You really don't know?"
Richard slowly leaned forward.
"Should I?"
Helen laughed.
"Richard, you've spent the last three years trying to get her company involved in Harbor Crown."
The blood seemed to drain from Richard's face.
"What?"
Helen looked confused.
"Caldwell?"
"No."
"Grant."
"Grant what?"
"Eleanor Grant."
Gregory's eyes widened.
"Wait."
He looked toward Table Twelve.
"That Eleanor Grant?"
Helen nodded.
"Yes."
Richard stared at Eleanor.
She was still eating quietly.
Helen continued.
"Grant Urban Holdings."
Richard's mouth opened slightly.
He had heard the name.
Everyone in his world had.
Grant Urban Holdings owned commercial properties in six cities.
They controlled several waterfront developments.
They had invested heavily in affordable housing.
They had financed transportation projects.
And more importantly—
They owned the land beneath nearly forty percent of the Harbor Crown development.
Richard's entire project depended on a long-term agreement with Grant Urban Holdings.
An agreement Eleanor had not yet signed.
Richard's face changed.
Gregory whispered:
"You just confronted the woman we've been trying to meet for eight months."
Richard looked at him.
"She could have introduced herself."
Gregory stared.
"Why would she?"
Richard had no answer.
Helen smiled awkwardly.
"I'll leave you to it."
She walked away.
Gregory leaned toward Richard.
"Go apologize."
Richard didn't move.
"Richard."
"I didn't know."
"Exactly."
Richard looked across the restaurant.
For the first time, he saw Eleanor differently.
Not because her coat had changed.
Not because her handbag had become expensive.
Not because she suddenly looked younger.
Nothing about her had changed.
Only his perception had.
And that realization embarrassed him.
He stood.
Gregory grabbed his arm.
"Don't make it worse."
Richard shook him off.
"I need to fix this."
He walked toward Table Twelve again.
Eleanor looked up.
"Yes?"
Richard swallowed.
"Mrs. Grant."
"Mr. Halston."
The use of his name surprised him.
"You know who I am."
"I read newspapers."
He forced a smile.
"I owe you an apology."
Eleanor nodded.
"Yes."
Richard hesitated.
"I made an assumption."
"You did."
"I didn't have all the information."
"No."
"I thought—"
"I know what you thought."
Richard looked uncomfortable.
"I hope you'll forgive me."