Chapter 14: The Invitation

Eleanor's POV

And why did part of me feel relieved that Julian had interrupted?

I buried my face in my hands.

This was a mess. A complete disaster.

And I had no idea how to fix any of it.

---

I barely slept.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Arthur's face in the hallway. Heard Julian's voice saying the person in your room is me.

By the time morning came, I was exhausted.

I showered. Got dressed in a cream sweater and jeans. Pulled my hair back in a ponytail.

Tried to look normal. Like my world wasn't spinning out of control.

The dining room was already full when I came downstairs. Long wooden table, floor-to-ceiling windows letting in the morning light. The smell of coffee and bacon filled the air.

I paused in the doorway, scanning the room.

Chloe was at one end with Wyatt and Blake. Zach was loading his plate at the buffet.

And Arthur—

Arthur was sitting near the middle of the table. He looked up when I entered, and something flickered in his eyes.

He reached over and pulled out the chair beside him. A silent invitation.

My heart stuttered.

But before I could move, Vivienne appeared from the kitchen, carrying two coffee cups. She glided over to Arthur and sat down on his other side, setting one cup in front of him.

"Good morning, darling." She smiled at him, then looked up at me. "Elle! Come join us."

I stood there, frozen.

The seat beside Arthur was still empty. He was still looking at me, waiting.

But Vivienne was right there. Right next to him.

"Elle."

Julian's voice came from the other end of the table.

I turned.

He was leaning back carefully in his chair, one hand propped under his chin, playing with a glass of orange juice. His gray-blue eyes found mine across the room.

"Come sit over here." His voice was casual. Lazy.

Then his gaze drifted toward Arthur's end of the table, and his mouth curved slightly.

"That side's already taken."

The words landed like a punch.

Because he wasn't talking about the chair. He was talking about Arthur. About Vivienne's place beside him.

I felt my face heat.

Arthur's hand tightened around his coffee cup. Vivienne glanced between us, sensing something but not quite understanding.

Chloe caught my eye and gave me a tiny nod. It's okay. Come here.

I took a breath.

Walked to the other end of the table.

Sat down next to Julian.

He didn't say anything. Just slid the glass of orange juice toward me, his expression unreadable.

I stared at the juice. Told myself I'd made this choice because I didn't want to sit between Arthur and Vivienne like some kind of third wheel.

But I knew the truth.

Julian had said that side's already taken, and I'd understood exactly what he meant.

"Well, well." Wyatt's voice broke the silence. "Check that out. Elle's sitting with Julian today—how interesting."

Chloe kicked him under the table. "Shut up and eat your bacon."

But the damage was done. Everyone was looking at us now.

Blake cleared his throat. "So, uh, anyone else think last night's party was insane?"

"Those assholes deserved worse," Wyatt muttered.

"They got plenty," Julian said quietly. He picked up his fork, pushing eggs around his plate.

"What happened last night?"

Arthur's voice cut through the conversation. He was looking directly at me, his expression concerned.

"Elle, were you hurt?"

The table went quiet.

I shook my head quickly. "I'm fine. Just some drunk guys causing trouble. Julian and the others handled it."

"Handled it." Julian's voice was flat. He leaned back in his chair, that lazy smirk back in place. "Yeah, we 'handled it.' Though I guess some people weren't there to know the details."

He looked at Arthur, and the challenge in his eyes was unmistakable.

"Now that you're asking about it—bit late, don't you think?"

Arthur's jaw tightened. "I didn't know—"

"Of course you didn't." Julian cut him off. "You were busy."

The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.

Vivienne touched Arthur's arm. "What's going on?"

But Arthur wasn't looking at her. His eyes were locked on me.

"Elle," he said quietly. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine." I forced a smile. "Really. It wasn't a big deal."

"Hey, Julian." Zach's voice was too cheerful. "How's that scratch on your neck? That 'wild cat' really got you good, huh?"

I choked on my orange juice.

Chloe pounded my back. "You okay?"

"Fine." I coughed. "Wrong pipe."

But I could feel Julian's eyes on me, and when I glanced up, there was something knowing in his expression.

Something that said he knew exactly what I was thinking about.

The conversation shifted. Blake and Wyatt started arguing about something. Zach joined in. Chloe tried to pull me into a discussion about marine biology.

But I couldn't focus.

Because across the table, I could feel Arthur watching me. And beside me, Julian's presence was like a live wire, electric and dangerous.

Then Vivienne spoke up, her voice bright and friendly.

"Elle, you've barely eaten anything." She reached for a plate of pastries. "Here, try one of these chocolate croissants. They're amazing."

She pushed the plate toward me.

Everything happened at once.

Arthur's hand shot out, knocking the plate aside. The croissant tumbled onto the table.

"Don't give her that!" His voice was sharp. Urgent.

The entire table froze.

Vivienne stared at him. "Arthur, what—"

"Elle's severely allergic to chocolate." His voice was quieter now, but still tense. "She can't have any."

Silence.

Vivienne's face went pale. "Oh my God. I'm so sorry. I didn't know—"

"It's fine." I forced a laugh, trying to break the tension. "Really, I'm used to checking. No harm done."

But the damage was done.

Everyone was staring at Arthur.

Julian's fork clattered against his plate. When I glanced at him, his expression was dark.

Vivienne was looking down at her hands, her smile completely gone.

And Arthur—

Arthur was still looking at me. Like nothing else in the room mattered.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I should have warned Vivienne before. About your allergy."

"It's okay." I picked up my juice, needing something to do with my hands. "Everyone, just—let's keep eating."

The conversation slowly resumed, but the ease was gone. Replaced by something awkward and heavy.

Chloe leaned over. "You okay?" she whispered.

I nodded, not trusting my voice.

Beside me, Julian had gone very still. He wasn't eating. Wasn't talking. Just sat there, staring at his plate.

The rest of breakfast passed in a blur. People talked. Laughed. Tried to pretend everything was normal.

But it wasn't.

Finally, Arthur set down his coffee cup.

"I need to head back to Greenwich," he said. His voice was calm, but there was something tired underneath. "Family business. I'll probably leave this afternoon."

Vivienne turned to him. "Do you need me to come with you?"

"Yes." He nodded. "You should come."

Then his eyes lifted. Found mine across the table.

"Elle." He paused. "Do you want to come back with us?"

The question hung in the air.

I felt everyone's eyes on me. Chloe's hand found mine under the table, squeezing tight.

Vivienne's smile had frozen on her face.

And Julian—

Julian's hand clenched around his fork so hard his knuckles went white. But he didn't look up. Didn't say anything.

Just sat there, shoulders rigid, staring at nothing.

Arthur waited. Patient. Like he had all the time in the world.

Like my answer was the only thing that mattered.

I opened my mouth.

But no words came out.