I Love You, Miss Genius

Silence hung over the study when Eloise sent him another text.

"If you want the painting, then you'll meet me in Whispering Pines Barista at 5 p.m."

His grip on his phone tightened when he read the text. His face grew grim as well.

Floyd saw the changes in his boss's expression. He couldn't resist and asked, "What's the matter, Mr. Ivor?"

"See for yourself." Ivor tossed the phone to him. "Eloise sent these texts to me."

Floyd lowered his head and read a couple of messages. He then furrowed his brow.

"Something's off. This stinks to high heaven, Mr. Ivor. Your painting was just damaged not long ago, and yet she got wind of it in no time.

"Clearly, she has been monitoring you closely. Now, she's even asking you out. Do you think she's going to try something sinister, Mr. Ivor?"

"I thought about it. It's certainly possible. That's why you're going to meet up with her in my stead. You'll find out what it is she wants." Ivor was not planning to meet with Eloise himself.

"Huh?" Floyd was shocked.

saying, "She obviously wants to meet with you, Mr. Ivor. Are you sure things are going to work out if I go instead? What am I going to do if

frowns grew deeper. "Just go ahead and meet up with her. You can come back and tell me if

Lowering his head, he looked at it

talk about the painting with you and you alone. If you send someone else in your stead, I'm going to

tone, she wasn't in

at his assistant and said, "Forget about it. I have to

Mr. Ivor."

I half-expected Eloise to state explicitly that she wants

all of this just so she could see him. So,

sat on his

image Floyd,

ou came into his mind.

at

he reminded him,

tell

this. Got