Meanwhile, chaos erupted at ck Gate the moment word spread that Hull had Susanna in his grasp. Before the truth came out, everything seemed like someone was plotting to force ck Gate''s hand, and now that the truth was out in the open...
Yvonne, Xander, and Hull joined forces, but their alliance was as ruthless as a pack of starving wolves circling fresh prey. Each of them was after ck Gate''s valuable territories, and while it appeared they were working together, in reality, it was every person for themselves the spoils went to whoever seized them first.
The whole situation nearly sent Derek into cardiac arrest, and Dan was constantly pestering Yvonne, calling her day and night with all kinds ofints.
Inparison to the uproar in Litamark, things in Ferrond seemed almost calm. But that wasn''t to say everyone was living the good life-take Melissa, for instance. She was miserable.
Tegan had left early that morning for Yornd. Since then, Ste had barely gotten off the phone, handling arrangements for Tegan''s arrival—especially when it came to her security detail. Ste made sure she was sending more people than usual. As she ended thest call, she spotted Finley a short distance away, eating fruit with a serene look on his face.
Ste frowned. When did he get here?
"Finley?" she called, not moving any closer.
Maybe it was the lingering memory of that stench from yesterday, but she just couldn''t bring herself to approach him. Clean or not, she needed some personal space.
Finley noticed her wariness from across the room-she stood well out of arm''s reach, eyeing him as if he might explode at any moment.
"What''s your problem, Star?"
"Do you still smell?" Ste blurted.
Finley''s jaw dropped. "You know, that''s kind of insulting."
"I was throwing up practically all day yesterday," Ste said, rubbing her stomach, "and I still feel queasy." She genuinely wasn''t trying to insult him, but her trauma was real.
Finley huffed. "I took a shower-I scrubbed myself clean. You don''t have to look at me like I''m contagious."
Ste gave him a skeptical look. "You sure?"
Finley looked exasperated, but Ste cut him off. "Alright, whatever you came over for, just say it from there."
She''d figured out that Finley wanted to talk to her otherwise, he would have left, especially if Ronald wasn''t around. Today, though, he clearly had something to discuss.
Finley pressed, "I don''t smell anymore. Seriously."
"Not important," Ste replied tly, soundingpletely done with the topic.
Finley was speechless-this girl!
He''d showered again and again since yesterday. How could there possibly be any smell left? Did she really have to det like this?
Whatever. He did owe her for yesterday, after all. He let it go.
Instead, he got to the point. "You were just arranging things for Tegan, right?"
"Yeah."
"She went to Yornd?"
Ste nodded. "She did. Why?"
Since when did Finley care about Tegan? The two of them barely even knew each
other. Was this about Tegan hugging his waist yesterday?
... That little debacle shed through
her mind. Ste cleared her throat awkwardly. "Listen, about
yesterday-Tegan really didn''t mean anything by it. Don''t take it the wrong way."
Finley replied with deadpan sincerity, "That was the first time a woman has ever hugged me."
Ste stared, baffled. “Wait, what do you mean... do you want her to take responsibility or something? Because that seems like a bit much."
Her mind raced. She shot him aplicated look. "You... that was seriously the first? There''s no way."
Finley was stunned. "What?"
“I mean, your mom''s never hugged you? And what about your nannies when you were little?" Ste pressed.
"Why do you think I''m telling you this?" Finley demanded, his patience wearing thin. Was she seriously joking with him now?
He''d never realized Star could be so cheeky-but he was in no mood for banter.
Ste just pouted. "You''re the one
saying Tegan is the first woman to
ame.
hug you, so I have to clear her She wasn''t the first, so don''t even think about holding it over her!"