If it hadn''t been for Jasper''s meddling, she never would''ve had a fair shot at negotiating with Haynes. Haynes would''ve backed her into a corner long ago.


    Funny how things work out-she almost owed Jasper a thank you.


    Ste leaned back on the sofa, eyes closed, looking for all the world as if none of this had anything to do with her.


    Haynes nced at Lacey.


    Lacey stepped forward, bent at the waist, and offered Ste a deep, formal apology.


    "Ms. Cameron, I''m sorry."


    Ste didn''t react, still silent. Jasper seemed unbothered, but Lacey remained frozen in her awkward bow, trembling, her face flushed with humiliation.


    Ste smirked inwardly. All this shame over a simple apology? Anyone watching would think she''d been forced to grovel for something far more degrading.


    Haynes clearly didn''t expect a response from Ste. He cut in, voice cool and detached. "That''s enough. Let''s put this behind us."


    Lacey bit her lip, mortified.


    Jasper rolled his eyes and flopped back onto the sofa.


    Haynes turned to Ste. "Since everyone''s here, let''s talk business."


    “Business?” Rachel had been so distracted by the scene, she was caught off guard. "What kind of business?"


    Haynes''s voice was low and measured. "You''ve been searching for Star, haven''t you? Well, you''ve found her."


    Rachel answered automatically, "I know you tracked down Star, but what does that have to do with Ms. Cameron-"


    She stopped short. Her eyes flew open, disbelief written across her face as she turned to Ste.


    "Wait... you mean she''s Star?"


    Jasper stared at Ste, stunned.


    Ste finally opened her eyes. Her expression was calm, almost indifferent "I canpose a piece for Ms. Pearce, but it won''t be under the name Star. As for the studio, you can have it for a t price-ten million. Non-negotiable. Mr. O''Brien, you should know, that''s always been my price."


    Jasper recovered quickly, disbelief morphing into protest. "Without Star''s name, there are plenty of famous and talentedposers out there. Why would we hire you?"


    Ste''s eyes were icy. "That''s a question for Mr. O''Brien, not me."


    Jasper wanted to argue, but Haynes''s earlier warning kept him silent.


    He muttered under his breath, "Haynes, we wanted Star topose for Rachel because of her reputation. Without that, it doesn''t matter who we hire."


    He shot Ste a sideways nce, barely hiding his contempt. "A nobody like Ste Cameron isn''t going to do anything for Rachel''s career."


    Jasper, now thinking clearly again, had hit the nail on the head in just a few words.


    Haynes''s gaze lingered on Ste, dark and unfathomable.


    "Ste, you know exactly why I sought out Star.”


    She met his eyes. "I do. You want


    Star''s name the public recognition. But you''re a businessman, Mr.


    O''Brien. You should know that


    reputation is worth more than


    money. Some things can be spun for


    publicity, others can''t. Even if you


    offered me a hundred million, I


    wouldn''t agree."


    Jasper bristled. "If you''re not interested, why bother showing up at all?"


    Ste''s voice was cool and clear. "Perhaps you should ask Mr. O''Brien what he''s


    done to the people around me for Ms. Pearce''s sake."


    Jasper and Rachel exchanged uneasy looks, suddenly recalling the recent trouble with Antoney.


    Jasper rememberedughing at the


    news, saying karma had finally


    caught up with Ste. Now he-


    realized-it had been Haynes pulling


    the strings all along, targeting Antoney.