Keen actually wanted her gone too.


    She felt like an outcast-unwee wherever she went.


    Joshua, who had been quiet all this time, finally spoke up with a smile. "Ms. Pearce, if you need a ce to rest, there''s a lounge upstairs. Ms. Williams and Miss Lerman are there as well. You could go say hello."


    Aurora and Simone?


    Honestly, Rachel had always hoped to get to know them, but never found the right opportunity. She''d heard from Joshua that Ste and Aurora weren''t on good terms. Supposedly, Ste had been thrown out of her family for stealing Aurora''s fiancé.


    If she could get Aurora on her side...


    Rachel''s heart skipped with excitement.


    Joshua really was her secret weapon-so much more reliable than Jasper.


    "Thank you for the tip," Rachel said, "I''ll head up now."


    She made her way to the second-floor lounge. Sure enough, Aurora and Simone were chatting quietly on a sofa tucked away in the corner.


    Rachel approached them. "Ms. Williams, Miss Lerman-hello."


    Aurora nced up at her. "Ms. Pearce. What a coincidence."


    Rachel smiled. "Are you two here for the party as well? Oh, did you see Keen and the others just now?"


    Aurora nodded. "We saw them."


    Although Aurora replied, she made no move to invite Rachel to sit. As for Simone, she didn''t even spare Rachel a nce, let alone say a word.


    Sensing Aurora''s distance, Rachel didn''t feel awkward. She nced around, then lowered her voice.


    "Ms. Williams, I have something I''d like to discuss privately. Could we step outside for a moment?"


    Simone finally looked at her, but still remained silent.


    Aurora''s expression didn''t change. "If you have something to say, Ms. Pearce, you can say it here. Simone and I don''t keep secrets from each other.”


    Rachel didn''t press the issue. She took the seat across from Aurora.


    "Ms. Williams, I heard Ste is the long-lost daughter of the Williams family."


    It wasn''t surprising that Rachel knew-Haynes had already learned the truth about Ste''s identity.


    Aurora smiled and nodded.


    Rachel continued, "I''ve also heard that you and Ste aren''t exactly close. Rumor has it Ste even stole your fiancé."


    Aurora remainedposed. "And what are you getting at, Ms. Pearce?"


    Rachel leaned in slightly. "What you may not know is that Ste only managed to marry Haynes through some very unsavory tricks."


    Rachel''s eyes flickered as she remembered how,st time, Simone


    had taken the initiative to greet 1.9


    Joshua.


    Out of everyone in the


    group, she''d only spoken to him.


    Rachel smiled slyly. "Even Joshua, Ste''s assistant, is with her because she


    used some less-than-honorable means to force him into staying."


    That got Simone''s attention; she finally turned and looked at Rachel.


    Rachel was secretly pleased. She pressed on. "You know what they say: the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Ladies, are either of you interested in teaming up with me?”


    There was no need to spell out what "teaming up" might involve-it was clear enough.


    Aurora didn''t agree right away, but she didn''t refuse either. She looked at Rachel and said, "If you want to


    work together, Ms Pearce,


    you


    have to offer something worthwhile."


    Rachel''s eyes lit up. There was hope.


    "What kind of offer do you have in mind, Ms. Williams?"


    Aurora touched her earring thoughtfully. “Perhaps you could tell me why you were so interested in my earringsst time. Why did you... want to buy them from me?"


    At the mention of Aurora''s earrings, Rachel''s expression changed dramatically.