"Are you seriously suggesting Rachel should get famous by stirring up controversy?"


    Jasper protested, unwilling to back down. "If she doesn''t need any more publicity, then it doesn''t really matter whichposer we use, does it? There''s no reason it has to be Ste."


    Haynes ignored Jasper and turned to Rachel instead. "Rachel, if she could


    be a sensation under the name ''Star,'' there''s every chance she''ll do it again under her real name. You know better than I do just how good her music is. But of course, if you insist on using anotherposer, I won''t force you."


    Rachel flipped through the sheet music, her critical eye tinted by bias. As much as she hated to admit it, Ste''spositions were undeniably fresh and full of spirit -nothing like the formic work of those so-called famousposers. No wonder so many people had recognized Star''s talent.


    From her professional perspective, she could see that every one of these pieces had the potential to be a hit.


    Her mind made up quickly. "Haynes is right. Ms. Cameron''s original work is truly exceptional. Let''s go with her."


    She shot Jasper a look, warning him not to argue further.


    Seeing Rachel had epted it, Jasper kept quiet.


    With both parties in agreement, they soon moved on to hashing out the details.


    Ste spoke up, her tone calm and businesslike. "I''ve recorded everything discussed today. If my originalpositions are leaked, I''ll pursue legal action." Jasper sneered, "How do we know you''re not just a fraud? Maybe you stole these from someone else."


    He still couldn''t ept that Ste was actually Star. Back when she''d gone up against those international musicians, he''d supported Star. He''d even bragged about her. Who would have guessed that Star turned out to be the person he disliked most?


    Ste''s voice was cool. "If I were giarizing, I would''ve been exposed the moment I became famous-it never would havested this long. But if you''re really that worried, Mr. O''Brien, we can scrap the whole agreement right now. For the record, every one of my original pieces has been saved on myputer since the day it was written,plete with a documented timeline. I''m not afraid of suspicion or nder."


    She fixed Jasper with a pointed look. "And if any of my unpublished songs get leaked after today, you''ll be my prime suspects."


    Jasper, whose mind usually worked at lightning speed, suddenly froze The thought had crossed his mind to pull something like that-but Ste had shut him downpletely.


    Haynes spoke. "Benson, draw up a contract."


    Benson nodded and left the room.


    Haynes''s gaze shifted to Lacey, who was standing quietly to the side. She flinched under his eyes, a flicker of anxiety crossing her face.


    ?


    His tone was detached. "Lacey, as executive assistant, you shouldn''t be making such rookie mistakes. Do you realize how much of my time you wasted?"


    Lacey bowed her head. “I''m sorry, sir."


    His look grew even colder. "Starting today, you''ll be transferred to a branch office for a year."


    Lacey''s head snapped up, disbelief and panic in her eyes. "Mr. O''Brien, I—"


    He cut her off. "Or, you can hand in your resignation. Your choice."


    Her face drained of color, and she fell silent.


    el:


    Rachel wanted to plead for her, but when she met Ste''s gaze-those eyes sparkling with a barely concealed smile-Rachel flinched and held her tongue.


    As Benson left to draft the contract, Lacey shuffled away, looking utterly defeated.


    At that moment, Ste walked up to Haynes. "There''s one more thing."


    Haynes was about to ask what she meant when, out of the corner of his eye, a sh of steel caught the light.


    Before he could react, a razor-sharp knife plunged straight into his abdomen.