Rachel''s cheeks flushed with embarrassment.


    "I never expected Haynie would actually manage to invite the star."


    "Well, now you can finally stop overthinking everything, right?"


    Jasper paused, a smug grin lighting up his face.


    "Did you see Ste? She looked absolutely pathetic. Haynie won''t even let her set foot in O''Brien Enterprises anymore. Meanwhile, you didn''t even need to be announced—they just waved you right through. That''s the difference."


    The elevator soon stopped.


    Together, they made their way to Haynes''s office.


    Jasper never missed a chance to take a jab at Ste when he could.


    "Haynie, on our way up, we ran into Ste downstairs. Lacey told me you''d given strict orders-Ste''s banned from O''Brien Enterprises, and anyone who lets her in is immediately out."


    "But of course, Ste didn''t care. She tried to force her way in anyway. Lacey couldn''t do anything about it, so she had to call security. Rachel and I happened to walk in on the whole mess."


    "Rachel, being the softie she is, tried to stick up for Ste. Not that it mattered— Ste just turned around and mocked us instead..."


    Haynes paused, surprise flickering across his face.


    "Ste was here?"


    "Yeah. Lacey said after thest time she got past the front desk, you nearly fired both the receptionist and security. Now, Lacey won''t let her linger for even a minute..."


    Jasper hadn''t finished when Haynes abruptly called out, "Benson, go downstairs and bring Ste up."


    Jasper and Rachel both stared at him, utterly bewildered as they exchanged nces.


    About ten minutester, someone knocked at the office door.


    Benson stepped in, looking sheepish. "Mr. O''Brien, Ms. Cameron... she''s already left."


    Half an hourter, Lacey approached Ste with a sour expression.


    "Ms. Cameron, Mr. O''Brien... asks that you return to the office."


    So Ste hadn''t been lying after all.


    She really did have an appointment with Haynes.


    Ste scrolledzily through the news on her phone, not even bothering to look


    up. "Tell Haynes I''m busy right now. I don''t have time."


    At that moment, Ste was loungingfortably in a café, looking anything but busy.


    Lacey knew Ste was putting her through the wringer on purpose.


    Biting her lip, Lacey lowered her voice.


    Cams.Cameron, I''m sorry a


    earlier... It was my fault. I


    let it go and not hold


    bet


    me."


    Ste watched Lacey struggle to swallow her pride, then calmly took a sip of coffee.


    "You''re not in any position to


    negotiate with me. If you want me toe back, tell your boss to ask me


    himself. After all, if he can''t manage his own staff, that''s on him"


    Lacey stared at Ste, stunned.


    Haynes had already sent her to apologize and personally invite Ste back- wasn''t that enough of a concession?


    And yet Ste still refused to y along. She was actually acting high and mighty?


    Who did she think she was?


    But Ste acted as if she hadn''t noticed the shock on Lacey''s face, scrolling through her phone at her own unhurried pace.


    Haynes really was efficient-the online rumors were already fading from the headlines, and the trolls were noticeably less active.


    Lacey opened her mouth to say something, wanting to urge Ste not to push her luck.


    But it was painfully clear: the woman in front of her was nothing like before.


    She''d walked away without a


    vel


    backward nce, and now she could say such brazen things without a hint of hesitation. Ste was no pushover these days.


    Lacey could only swallow her pride and slink away to report back.


    "Mr. O''Brien, I''ve already apologized to Ms. Cameron, but she refuses to return unless you invite her yourself."


    There was a faint trace of resentment in Lacey''s voice as she spoke.