A few days later, Marcus received an unexpected phone call during his lunch break. It was a representative from Whitmore Industries. The voice on the other end informed him that Mrs. Whitmore wished to meet him personally to express her gratitude. Stunned, Marcus agreed, though he couldn’t quite believe why someone of her stature would go out of their way for him.

The meeting was set at a prestigious restaurant in the heart of Atlanta. Marcus didn’t own a suit, but he put on his best shirt and polished his shoes until they shone. As he and Kayla entered the restaurant, they were greeted by Eleanor herself. She was elegant and poised, yet her eyes were filled with warmth and appreciation.