Page 68 of The Vow Thief

“Dinner?” I asked, already knowing I was going to say yes.

“Thursday evening, if you’re available. I promise no pitch decks or funding charts.”

I studied him for a moment.“All right. Thursday works.”

He reached into his pocket for his phone.“May I have your number?”

I gave it to him. A second later, my phone buzzed.

Looking forward to continuing the conversation. –Eli

I tucked it into my bag and smiled.“You don’t waste time.”

“I like momentum.”

When we left the room, he held the door for me.“Until Thursday, Sarah.”

The valet brought my car around, and as I slid into the driver’s seat, I caught myself smiling again. It wasn’t attraction. Not exactly. It was recognition between two people who understood the world in terms of cause and effect, strategy and passion.

The drive home was quiet, but for some reason, I didn’t reach for the radio this time.

I thought about the man himself. Tall, straight, confident without trying. He held the kind of stance that came from habit, not vanity.

His suit fit perfectly, charcoal with a subtle texture, with no flash or overstatement. Just quiet precision. The man understood tailoring, and probably everything else about control.

Up close, he was striking in a way that didn’t hit you all at once, but magnetic. His hair was deep brown with a trace of gray at the temples, the kind that suggested experience more than age. His skin held the faint bronze tone of someone who spent time outside, maybe for leisure.

When he looked at me, his eyes were a dark green, sharp, and unreadable. Not piercing exactly, more like he was processing information and filing it away.

He didn’t rush to speak. He smiled first, subtle and self-assured. It wasn’t the grin of a charmer; it was the expression of someone who knew his words would land when he finally used them.

I was actually looking forward to seeing him again tomorrow night. Thursday couldn’t come fast enough.

Chapter 30 - The Date with Sarah

Elliotts POV

Sanity was never peace. It was order.

My office had it in spades. The espresso machine hissed its approval. The clock ticked like a metronome. My world moved exactly the way I wanted it to, one beat at a time.

Until Lily showed up.

She never knocked when she wanted something. She stood in the doorway, barefoot, in one of those oversized sweaters that made her look younger than she was, which was probably the point.

“Do we have to do this?” she asked.“The wedding. Can’t you just… not?”

I looked up from the contract in front of me.“It’s happening in two Saturdays. I already moved it back a week for you.”

Her eyes flashed.“You’re ruining my life.”

I leaned back, folded my hands.“No, I’m saving it. You’re lucky I was even able to secure your freedom.”

She scoffed.“Sean isn’t stable; he’s a handler.”

“Exactly,” I said.“He knows how to handle you. He’s loyal to me, and that’s enough.”

Her arms crossed,“Is Mom coming?”