Chapter 51 A Moment of Stillness
Early in the morning, Eloise carried a package into the room.
"Mr. Johnson, you have a delivery."
Armando glanced at the handwriting on the label, then at the sender's name. It was from Elizabeth.
He opened the box and found a porcelain-faced doll inside. Without hesitation, he told Eloise to place it in Sloane's room.
Sherry came downstairs just in time to hear his instructions. Her gaze fell on the doll in Eloise's hands, its delicate features catching the light.
"Who sent Sloane such a beautiful gift?" she asked with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Elizabeth," Armando replied, taking the coat Axel handed him and draping it over his arm. "I'm heading to work."
Sherry's smile tightened at the mention of Elizabeth's name. She leaned in and kissed Armando lightly on the side of his face. "I have an event later myself."
She watched his car pull away before turning back into the house. Upstairs, she walked into Sloane's room.
Sherry picked up the doll, her manicured nails pressing into one of its glass eyes until it dented. She carried it into the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and let the water soak its head.
Her expression was cold as she walked out, the dripping doll dangling from her fingers. She tossed it onto the floor and called Eloise in.
"Sloane's doll got wet from her diaper," Sherry said smoothly as she changed the baby's diaper. "Throw it out. If Armando asks, tell him it was ruined."
"Yes, ma'am." Eloise picked up the doll but was stopped again.
"And wipe the floor. It's filthy."
Eloise nodded and left.
Meanwhile, Armando's car had barely left Imperial Garden when Tom, sitting in the passenger seat, began outlining the day's schedule.
"Mr. Johnson, at ten o'clock you're meeting Mr. Sutter at TechStrong to discuss the partnership."
Armando's thumb paused over his phone screen. "Understood."
The deal between the Johnson Group and TechStrong involved shares, profits, expenses, and risk—nothing to take lightly.
By nine-thirty, the Johnson Group team arrived at TechStrong's headquarters.
Armando stepped out of the car, dressed in a black shirt and white tailored trousers. His gaze immediately found Elizabeth.
"Good morning, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Davis, everyone," she greeted brightly. "This way, please."
Armando gave her a polite nod. "Morning."
Tom smiled at her, and the other department heads—who all knew Elizabeth—greeted her warmly.
She led them toward the elevators, her mermaid-cut skirt accentuating her narrow waist. Inside, she pressed the button for their floor.
"Mr. Johnson, did Sloane receive her gift?" she asked, her perfume faint but noticeable in the enclosed space.
Armando glanced at her. "She did. Thank you."
He caught her reflection in the elevator's polished doors as they ascended.
Elizabeth guided them into the meeting room, and the discussion between the Johnson Group and TechStrong began.
The meeting dragged on. Yosef drained his coffee and tapped the cup lightly.
Elizabeth understood immediately, taking his empty cup. She noticed Armando's cup was nearly empty too and reached for it.
Their hands brushed—warm skin against skin. For a moment, the air seemed to still.
Her nails were painted a soft pink. She withdrew her hand.
Armando's gaze flicked to her fingers before he took the cup, sipped, and set it down. Only then did she carry both cups out.
By the time the meeting ended, it was past one.
"Mr. Johnson, want to try lunch here at TechStrong?" Yosef asked with a grin.
Armando handed the documents to Tom. "Sure."
They headed to the cafeteria.
"Miss Penrose, how do you think TechStrong's lunch compares to the Johnson Group's?" Yosef teased.
"Both are good," Elizabeth replied easily. "But after a while, any menu can get old."
"You should say TechStrong's is better."
She smiled and indulged him. "Alright—TechStrong's is better."
"That's more like it."
Their banter was casual, almost friendly. Armando listened in silence.
At the cafeteria, Yosef and Armando took a table together. Elizabeth was about to sit with Tom when Yosef called out, "Miss Penrose, join us."
With Yosef insisting, she brought her tray over.
"You eat a lot," Yosef remarked, eyeing her plate. "Don't women usually diet?"
Elizabeth shot him a look. "Today's menu happens to be my favorite."
She pushed her plate toward Armando. "Mr. Johnson, pass me the onions. You don't like them anyway, do you?"
Even with her memory loss, she still remembered fragments of his preferences.
Armando met her eyes briefly, something unspoken passing between them.
"Miss Penrose, what about me?" Yosef cut in. "What don't I like?"
Elizabeth's feelings for Armando weren't news to Yosef. He was surprised she remembered Armando's tastes even now.
"I don't know what you dislike," she answered honestly, "but I do know what you like."
Yosef leaned forward. "And what's that?"
"Everything on your plate," she said with a small tilt of her chin.
Yosef fell silent.
After lunch, the Johnson Group team left. Elizabeth returned to her office to organize the day's reports before bringing them to Yosef.
He was lounging on the sofa, cigarette in hand. "Armando will marry Sherry," he said suddenly.
Elizabeth blinked at the abrupt statement.
"We were classmates," Yosef went on. "I watched his romance with Sherry eventually end in a breakup. He's stubborn—after hanging on for so long, it's hard to let go, regardless of whether he still cares."
A chill crept into Elizabeth's fingers, but her smile stayed bright. "So when Sherry came back, we divorced."
If both sides had moved on, why did Sherry still target her?
"As long as you understand, don't chase after him," Yosef said, glancing at his watch. "Take a painting to Greenview Mansion for Emma."
He'd recently acquired a master's work through his connections. Emma, an artist, loved collecting paintings.
Elizabeth's pulse skipped at the mention of Greenview Mansion. "Alright."
She and Uriah loaded the painting into the car. On the way, Uriah chatted. "Miss Sutter is really adored by the Sutter family."
Elizabeth smiled faintly. "She is."
Emma had always been lucky.
Elizabeth turned to look out the window. At this time of day, Timothy should be at the hospital.
When they arrived at Greenview Mansion, she spotted Timothy and Emma at the door. Timothy's sleeves were rolled up, his posture relaxed beside her.
So he hadn't gone to the hospital today.
"Miss Penrose, thank you for bringing the painting," Emma said warmly.
"You're welcome."
Elizabeth didn't look at Timothy. She and Uriah carried the painting inside.
"Right here is fine, thank you," Emma said, touching the canvas with obvious delight.
Elizabeth's gaze swept the living room. The decor had changed. The plush pillows she'd loved when she stayed here to recover were gone—replaced by pillows printed with Emma's face.