It was obvious now-Jarrod and his group had come out here to celebrate New Year's Eve with Joseph.

Elodie finally understood why Jarrod had turned down his grandmother's

suggestion to come out for the festivities together. He'd already made plans with Sylvie.

Sylvie, in Jarrod's eyes, was always his top priority.

No one understood this better than Elodie.

Alexander could hear the edge in Octavia's voice, but he simply glanced over at Jarrod. "Mr. Silverstein, what a coincidence. We're here for a team retreat, and you all happened to pick the same spot."

His tone was light-making it clear that Elodie hadn't crashed their plans on purpose.

After all, this was their company outing. It was pure chance the groups had run into each other. Was Elodie really to blame?

Jarrod looked up. "We decided to come last minute, actually. Really is quite the coincidence."

"Who knows if Elodie didn't just drag everyone here as an excuse..." Octavia muttered.

Maurice let out a short laugh. "Easy, sis. You're being a bit too sharp-you'll leave everyone with no way to save face."

didn't exactly buy

hand, seemed entirely unbothered. She greeted Alexander with cool composure,

her signature graceful smile. Yet behind that warmth was a pride that was impossible to

her greeting with a polite, insincere smile. "Ms. Fielding, with the people you have backing you,

need to argue. She was

detached from

even bother responding to Octavia, but instead turned to Alexander. "Did we reserve

had handled all the arrangements. "I'll check with Esme,"

Elodie was by her barbs, only grew

then, Freya, called over by Joseph from the tents, spotted Elodie's group. "Hey, come join us! There's loads of space

Elodie hesitated.

eyebrow, watching her with

crowd of friends and

Elodie hadn't wanted to join them for dinner at all when she first saw Jarrod's

over, grabbing her hand.

had

was awkward-she found herself sitting directly across from Jarrod, their eyes likely to meet

hesitated, but in the end, decided not to make a

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