The air in the room froze in an instant.


    Rachel was the first to crack. She let out a piercing scream.


    "Ah! He''s been stabbed!"


    Jasper jolted back to reality, his nerves shot. Instinctively, he moved toward Haynes to check on him.


    But Rachel clung to his arm in terror. "Jasper, I''m scared..."


    Ste, standing there with the bloody knife, looked utterly terrifying-like a cold- blooded killer.


    Seeing this, Jasper stopped dead in his tracks. For a second, he genuinely feared Ste might snap and turn on Rachel next.


    Haynes had been caught off guard; that''s the only reason she''d gotten the better of him. If he''d been ready, Ste would never have stood a chance.


    Haynes stared at the knife buried in his abdomen, his pupils contracting in shock. Disbelief and hurt flickered across his face. "...Why? Ste, do you really want me dead?"


    Ste''s longshes trembled like the wings of a moth. Her face was almost ghostly-pale and bloodless. The hand gripping the knife shook ever so slightly; after all, this was the first time she''d ever done something like this.


    Yet her eyes were steady, not a trace of fear in them.


    "Haynes, didn''t you once promise me a chance to get even? Well, I''m cashing in that promise now. The only question is will you own up to your word?"


    Haynes''s lips curled into a faint, bitter smile. His voice was hoarse. "Ste, if you hate me so much, why not go for my heart?"


    She gave him a cold, emotionless smile. "If I did that, I''d be a murderer, wouldn''t I? Don''t worry-no matter how much I hate you, I won''t kill you. Murderes with a price."


    Maybe it was themotion, but suddenly the office door flew open.


    Foreman rushed in, taking in the scene with a look of horror.


    "Star, are you alright?!"


    Jasper seized the moment. "Foreman, restrain Ste-she''s lost it! She stabbed Haynes!"


    Foreman''s eyes flickered as he realized his own slip. He''d arrived over forty minutes earlier than he and Ste had agreed. Clearly, she''d shown up early on purpose; she hadn''t wanted him there too soon.


    He stepped toward Ste, ready to intervene, but Haynes spoke up, his voice weak butmanding.


    "Foreman, this is between me and Ste. Stay out of it."


    Foreman hesitated, his gaze locked warily on Haynes, as if expecting him to do something reckless.


    Ste knew full well that she''d only seeded because she''d caught Haynes off guard. If she tried for a second blow, there''d be no chance.


    She slowly let go of the knife.


    Haynes made no move for revenge.


    Foreman exhaled quietly, relief passing over his face.


    ...


    Haynes was rushed to the hospital in short order. Ste went with them-after all,


    the contract hadn''t been signed yet.


    By now Jasper had recovered from


    his shock. He pointed an using finger at Ste, his voice shaking with rage. "You''re always preaching thew to me, Ste! I''ve already called the cops. You''re going to jail for this, you murderer!"


    Rachel, too, had snapped out of her panic. The look she gave Ste was openly


    hostile-pure ice and contempt.


    "Ste, Haynes will never let you get away with this!"


    Ste met Rachel''s hateful re with a cool, self-assured smile.


    "No, you''re wrong. Haynes won''t do a thing to me."


    Rachel''s breath caught, her face twisting in disbelief. "What did you say?"


    "If you don''t believe me, why don''t we make a bet?"


    Before Rachel could reply, Foreman cut in at just the right moment.


    "Haynes is still in surgery. Let''s


    until he wakes up before we


    about anything else.”


    Jasper red at Ste, his eyes wild with excitement now that he finally had


    something on her.