Lara laughs. “I just don’t think anyone realized just how popular Eli was with the ladies until these stories hit.”
I lean back in my chair, letting out a slow breath and a crooked smile. “So what you’re saying is…I’ve snatched up the most eligible bear in town.”
She blinks. Then laughs. “I mean—yeah?” She tilts her head, turning the nickname over like she’s deciding whether to question it. “If that’s how you want to phrase it.”
I smile, then my expression shifts. “But, do you think this actually worked? I’d hate to think we disrupted Eli’s life for nothing.”
Lara’s expression turns softer now. “It’s not for nothing,” she says. “It’s for the good of the business. He agreed to it.”
“Also,” Lara says, her tone shifting, “Drake’s looped in PR about the reaction online. He thinks it’ll cool off after the event, but he wants a plan for how to frame things once you’re gone.”
I nod. I see. Drake doesn’t strike me as someone who ever leaves an angle unexplored.
“Has Eli reacted to any of this yet?” I ask, trying to sound casual even though I’m anything but.
The moment we got to the office, he was pulled straight into a meeting, so I haven’t seen his reaction. And I won’t lie, I’m a little nervous he might blow a head gasket when he finally does.
She hesitates. “He hasn’t said anything yet. But if he were upset, he wouldn’t show it to you. Normally, he’d pull me into a meeting to talk it through.”
Which tells me exactly how little she knows about the arrangement between Eli and me. Because if he were frustrated, he wouldn’t hide it. He’d bring it straight to me. He’d make sure I felt every inch of it until there was nothing left unsaid.
Since I’m part of the problem, I’m a lot less optimistic than Lara. And I’ll stay that way until I find out whether Eli plans to have a calm conversation with Drake… or quietly bury him somewhere in the woods.
Lara shifts the conversation back to business. “Your input on this pitch has been incredible,” she says. “The idea to add a small-scale 3D printing arm to product development—using recycled materials from our own waste stream—was genuinely smart. It’s sustainableandscalable.”
I can’t help the smile. “Once I understood what this company actually stands for, it felt obvious. The technology has to reinforce the mission, not contradict it.”
“It really shows the judges how far this investment could go. It’s not flashy, but it is impactful.”
“I appreciate you letting me be part of this,” I say. “And not being one of those territorial women who treat other women as competition.”
Lara snorts. “Clearly, you haven’t been in Canada long enough. First visit, you’re family. Second time—”
“You’re home,” I finish, recalling the phrase mentioned at Tiny’s.
“But tell that to these vicious women in the comments online! They don’t want me getting comfortable with Canada or Eli!”
Lara laughs, then she squeezes my hand, and I realize I needed that kind of easy, affirming touch more than I thought. “Okay, most Canadians would welcome you home. Feral women whohave been clamoring for an opportunity to end up with Eli Shaw? Maybe not so much.”
“Noted,” I say laughing.
I step out of the conference room and spot Eli holed up in his office with Drake. Whatever’s happening in there, it’s not calm. Voices are raised, hands are moving. It’s…animated.
And I’m suddenly suspicious that ethically sourced Drake is about to become environmental waste Drake.
A Brother Can’t Evolve?
Eli
I’ve scrolled through my phone at least five times in the last few minutes, thumb skimming headlines and comments like they might magically disappear if I move fast enough.
They don’t.
Gossip blogs. Business outlets. DMs from people I haven’t spoken to in years, suddenly concerned and deeply invested in my personal life.
“I told you this was a bad idea,” I say—for the third time.
Across from me, Drake leans back in his chair like this is a minor inconvenience instead of the circus it’s turning into. “I heard you,” he says. “And I’m sorry it got this out of hand. PR’s already on it. Nina’s drafting responses as we speak.”
