Just as Eleanor finished exchanging numbers with the young biologist, a deep male voice sounded beside her. "Dr. Sutton, are you finished? A word, if you please."

Eleanor looked up. "Of course." She nodded a farewell to the biologist and followed lan to a quieter spot.

"I'm heading back to Goodwin Manor in ten minutes. Would you like to ride with me?" lan asked.

Her daughter was at Goodwin Manor, so Eleanor naturally had to go pick her up. She nodded. "Alright, let's go together."

She hadn't driven, and with the roads around the venue blocked off, hailing a cab would be impossible. She had no choice but to accept his offer.

A flicker of a smile crossed lan's eyes. "I'll have Gavin Young bring the car to the entrance."

Ten minutes later, Eleanor and lan left the banquet together. It was already eight- thirty.

Once settled in the car, Eleanor rubbed her temples wearily. Networking was definitely not her strong suit. In truth, she had been on edge all evening.

"Tired?"

Eleanor suddenly looked up and asked, "Would it be possible to arrange a dinner with Mr. Aaron? I'd like to discuss the foundation with him."

lan's brow furrowed slightly. "Is that necessary?"

Eleanor's gaze was clear. "Yes. I'm using his money for my research, and I want to ensure the contract grants him appropriate rights, like priority application of the research findings or partial patent sharing." She added earnestly, "I don't want people to think I only received this funding because of my connection to you, nor do I want to put you in a difficult position or be a source of criticism."

Walden Wells wasn't the only one who thought that way tonight. The Guild of Commerce was a vast, complex organization; there were surely many others with the same opinion.

Eleanor was doing this because she wanted the grant to be based on fairness, transparency, and mutual benefit, not on some ambiguous personal debt.

Most importantly, she didn't want lan to bear the pressure alone.

lan looked at her intently. This was her way of drawing a line in the sand, of confirming that their partnership was strictly business, untainted by personal feelings.

"I understand," lan said with a slight smile. "I'lFarrange it. But not as a personal meeting. It should be a format discussion between your research team and the foundation That's more appropriate."

Eleanor was slightly taken aback. On this matter, lan's approach was more logical

and considerate.

She nodded. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. It's the right thing to do," lan said, taking off his glasses and elegantly folding them. "The foundation's support of your research is an investment. Clarifying the rights, responsibilities, and benefits for both sides is crucial for a long-term collaboration?"

Eleanor felt he had a point. Thinking of it that way put her mind at ease. On a professional level, lan was indeed an excellent partner.

lan set his glasses aside. Without the frames to shield his eyes, the emotion within them was more apparent.

When you love someone to your very core, your eyes betray an overwhelming possessiveness.

And a desire for control was an intrinsic part of his nature.

Eleanor had been looking out the window, but the intensity of his gaze made her uncomfortable. She turned to look at the man beside her.

lan's expression instantly softened, and a gentle warmth radiated from him. "Rest if you're tired."

"Okay," Eleanor murmured, unconsciously hugging her arms as a chill from the air conditioning washed over her.

lan noticed. He spoke to Gavin, who was driving. "Turn the heat up a few degrees." Gavin immediately adjusted the temperature.

lan unbuttoned his suit jacket and shrugged it off, then undid the top two buttons of

his white shirt, revealing the strong, clean lines of his collarbone.

As the streetlights cast shifting

shadows across his brow and eye

sockets he smiled faintly His

already handsome features,

combined with his natural aura,

created an alluring presence.

Unfortunately, Eleanor's mind was elsewhere, lost in thought about the future of her

work.