No More Mrs. Nice Wife (Eleanor) novel Chapter 1341

"Alright, I'll be out front to pick you up around 11:30."

"Okay," Eleanor agreed before the person on the other end hung up.

Eleanor stopped at a red light and sensed the man beside her staring. She turned to glance at him. "What are you looking at?"

Seeing her expression, Ian Goodwin realized she had clearly forgotten that he had just invited her to lunch.

"I was the one who asked you to lunch first," Ian muttered sullenly.

Eleanor blinked, finally remembering. He had invited her at the supermarket, and she had refused without a second thought.

"Joel needs to discuss work with me," Eleanor said, trying to offer an explanation, though she certainly didn't need to. Who she ate with was her own business.

"Can I join you?" Ian asked suddenly.

"No," Eleanor replied, her rejection sharp and final.

Ian was speechless for a few seconds, the frustration in his chest growing heavier.

"Why not?" he couldn't help but ask, his voice laced with a faint dissatisfaction. "It's just a meal. If he can talk about work, so can I. I'm still Joel Kingsley's boss, and besides, I have work to discuss with you too."

Eleanor gave him a look. "My lunch with Joel isn't a place for outsiders to interrupt."

Outsider?

The word pricked Ian's heart like a fine needle. It was true, he was an outsider in her eyes. So what did that make Joel? A close colleague, an insider?

Ian's lips tightened, his jaw clenching. A few memories from the past surfaced, and he ground his teeth in frustration, saying, "So, you've always seen Joel as an insider? Someone you can discuss any private matter with?"

Eleanor said nothing.

Ian sighed softly. "I just wish I could be like Joel, that we could have a normal friendship."

Eleanor stopped at another red light, her gaze fixed ahead. "The way things are now is for the best."

She meant that things were fine, but her words still sent a dull ache through his chest.

He wanted to say something more, but in the end, he just forced a small smile. "I understand. I was out of line just now."

A silence fell over the car again, a sort of helpless calm.

When they reached the underground garage, Eleanor separated their groceries into different bags and handed his to him. They rode the elevator together.