Chapter 204

Nina's POV

I stormed out of the Court, my rage burning through every nerve in my body. Watching Serena walk free in there made me want to scream. How does my dear stepsister always manage to land on her feet? Pure luck, that's all it is. Everything Serena has ever gotten was handed to her on a silver platter.

Backing to my carBackigBackingto, my phone lit up with Rachel Thorne's name. My anger gave way to instant anxiety. This whole mess was my fault and Serena's lawyers had torn our case apart.

Gripping my phone, I wondered if the Sinclair shares I'd just acquired were about to be yanked back. Taking a deep breath, I answered: "Rachel."

"Forest & Flame. Now." The line went dead.

I could feel her fury through the phone. But when I arrived at the exclusive spot, Rachel was the picture of old money elegance, delicately stirring her wine.

"Rachel," I started quickly, "This was completely my fault. I never thought Jessa would mess up it so badly after fifteen years as StarRiver CFO..."

"Water under the bridge," Rachel cut me off with practiced smoothness. "I don't waste time dwelling on past failures."

I stood there awkwardly, my bag clutched like a shield.

"Moving forward is what matters in this business," she continued, her nails tapping against the goblet.

"So why did you call me here..." I ventured carefully.

"This represents thirty-one percent of Sinclair Group," Rachel said, sliding a leather portfolio across the table.

I froze, my stomach dropping. After I'd botched everything, she was offering more shares?

"This makes you the majority shareholder of Sinclair," she stated, her voice crisp.

I stayed silent, trying to read the angle. Rachel Thorne didn't give anything away without a reason.

"Take it," she pushed the portfolio closer.

My hand hovered over the documents. Finally, I had to ask: "The deal was these shares if we won the case. But we lost. I don't understand..."

"Sinclair means nothing to me. It's a small fish in my pond. You want it so badly? It's yours." Her tone was carefully measured.

I wasn't some naive debutante fresh out of university. "What's the catch?" I asked directly.

A slight smile curved her lips. "While your oversight cost us in court, Nina, you're not completely useless. I'm still willing to work with you. Take the shares. When I need something, you'll hear from me."

"And if that something's illegal?" I challenged.

"More illegal than what we've already done?" she replied archly.

I clenched my jaw, knowing full well that taking these shares meant being her puppet indefinitely. But ambition has always been my weakness. With these shares, I would control Sinclair. All those people - Grandma, Mom. They always favored Oliver, my useless brother who couldn't tell a merger from an acquisition. Why should he inherit everything just because he's Daddy's only son? The thought made my blood boil.

I took the portfolio.

"Serena proved... more resourceful than expected," Rachel mused. "And I clearly underestimated Lucas Harrington's involvement."

"Serena is... tenacious," I agreed carefully.

"I'll be in touch when I have a plan," she dismissed me with a wave of her hand.

Serena's POV

After seeing Quinn off, I returned to my apartment.

To be honest, I hadn't been completely comfortable with Eleanor living with me before. Even in a place this size, having a roommate took some getting used to. But now that she was gone, the silence felt overwhelming.

I missed Eleanor. I found myself wondering if she was settling into her new place okay.

Picking up my phone, I hesitated before hitting her contact. I knew she'd been worried about me through this whole legal mess.

When the call connected, my heart suddenly raced. "Serena." Eleanor's voice came through.

I snapped back to reality. "Eleanor, we won. The court ruled in our favor."

"Just saw it on the WSJ. Way to go, girl." Eleanor's tone was warm, but different.

I could feel she wasn't the same carefree Eleanor. Something had shifted - she sounded more grounded, more mature. It hurt to hear that change.

"How are you holding-" I started.

"I'm good, really good," she jumped in, with forced brightness. "You know what they say - everything happens for a reason. When life gives you lemons... well, maybe there's a better cocktail waiting around the corner."

"Are you seeing Jace?" I asked directly. I had my reasons for asking. First, there was something in her tone when she mentioned "better cocktails" - a warmth that felt genuine. Something - or someone - was making her genuinely hopeful.

Plus, Lucas had mentioned Jace would check in on her. If they could just be honest with each other instead of playing these games...

"What makes you think that?" Eleanor deflected, her voice taking on that overly theatrical tone.

I frowned.

"Me and Jace? Please," Eleanor continued. "He can barely manage his hedge fund, let alone a relationship. Jace and I..." She paused. "Look, I'll admit it - I was pathetic. All these years, turning down elites, pretending I was too focused on my career... meanwhile hoping Jace would get tired of those fashion week models and realize what he was missing. God, I sound like a bad rom-com."

I gripped my phone tighter, debating whether to tell her what I knew.

"I didn't want to admit I still had feelings for him," Eleanor continued. "I wasn't just lying to you - I was lying to myself. Acting like I was living my best life, like seeing him with someone new at every Gala didn't kill me. Truth is, all those late nights, I was just trying to numb it."

"Eleanor, actually-" I tried to break in.

"But it's different now. I've moved on," she cut me off. "I've met someone."

"What?" I nearly knocked over my candle.

"Trust me, I'm as shocked as you are. Who knew getting over someone could happen so fast?" Eleanor laughed. "That night I finally told Jace how I felt, everything seemed perfect. Next day, he's making out with some girl at our house's gate. Now I realize I was reading too much into it. Sometimes things just... change."

"You're not just saying this?" I didn't want to doubt her, but this seemed sudden.

"I wasn't going to tell you yet. Seemed too quick - didn't want to look like some desperate socialite jumping from one guy to the next," Eleanor said sheepishly. "But I didn't want you worrying about me either. So... it's Drew."

I actually did knock over the candle this time. Eleanor and Drew? Sure, they ran in the same circles, but they seemed about as compatible as The Plaza and McDonald's.

"I know, right?" Eleanor continued. "I always saw him as just another trust fund kid. Then he tells me he's had feelings for me for years. Drew always surrounded by models - had been carrying a torch for me this whole time. I had no idea. It... it got to me."

"Being touched by a gesture isn't the same as love..." I felt compelled to point out.

"I knew you'd say that - you always were the pragmatic one. But sometimes that's exactly how it happens. Not everyone can have your classic 'meet-cute' at a wine tasting. Sometimes it builds slowly. And what makes you fall for someone if not when they surprise you, show you who they really are? I never thought I'd feel this way about Drew, but now... I can't imagine not giving this a chance."

I could hear real happiness in her voice. This was completely different from her conversation with Quinn last night. Something had shifted.

So that was it? After years of Jace and Eleanor's "will-they-won't-they" drama, it was really over?

Thinking of Jace... I held back, ultimately deciding not to reveal everything. Some feelings, once put to rest, should stay buried in the past.

"You and Quinn can stop walking on eggshells around me. I'm good. And if I ever really need you, you'll know - I'll be the one showing up at your door with a bottle of Veuve," Eleanor declared.

"Deal," I agreed.

"Gotta run - I'm taking a cooking class."

"What?" That was unexpected.

"While I figure out my next move, might as well learn some life skills. Can't survive on Sweetgreen forever," Eleanor said with surprising sincerity.

I could tell she was genuinely trying to move forward. If Drew could bring light back into Eleanor's world, who was I to question it?

"Then I won't keep you from your culinary education," I said, smiling.

"Once I master more than avocado toast, you and Quinn are coming over for dinner."

"Promise?"

"Cross my heart."