Aurora hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Maybe she''s just still upset about what happenedst time."


    Simone listened to their conversation with a nk expression, the more she heard, the more Aurora struck her as a total phony.


    How odd-she''d never seen Aurora that way before.


    After Ste and her friends left, Foreman seemed to have finally found a topic worth discussing. Grinning, he turned to Joshua. "Joshua, you seem to know the Lerman family''s heiress pretty well, don''t you?"


    Joshua replied coolly, "Not that well."


    "But I''ve seen you two together at Neo-Vespera quite often."


    Joshua shot him a look, eyes full of meaning.


    "Mr. Richards, you''re always so busy with work, yet you still find time to notice what others are up to-especially Simone... Tell me, is it because you''re curious about her that you pay such close attention?"


    Foreman smiled mildly, unruffled. "I am curious about the Lerman heiress. After all, things between Star and her brother are practically at war, and yet Miss Lerman still takes an interest in Star''s friends... I really can''t figure out what''s going on in her head. Joshua, you''d better be careful-don''t let anything slip that shouldn''t, and don''t let her wheedle information out of you. Who knows, maybe she''s using her charm to gather intel for her brother and her best friend."


    Ste''s expression shifted slightly at that.


    She trusted Joshua-but notpletely. Foreman''s words weren''t without merit.


    Of course Joshua caught the provocation in Foreman''s tone. He replied dryly, "Charm, huh? Is she even charming? Funny, I must''ve missed that. You really have low standards, Mr. Richards-calling a woman like that ''charming''? If I had to spend time with her, I''d probably wake up screaming in the middle of the night."


    He leaned back, gaze sharpening. "And you, Mr. Richards, seem unable to talk about anything but Simone. Honestly, it seems like you''re the one interested in her. What''s the point of fishing for info through me? If you''re that curious, want me to send you her number? You can go ask her yourself."


    Foreman: "...


    Ste: "..."


    11


    Joshua''s sharp tongue never failed to sting.


    Foreman was fuming from Joshua''s verbal judo, but he didn''t mind-nting a seed of doubt in Ste''s mind was enough for now. As for Joshua... he''d settle that score after dealing with Leonard.


    Speaking of which, Foreman nced subtly in Simone''s direction, a sh of cold calction in his eyes before it vanished.


    ...


    For the next three days, Joshua


    stuck to Ste''s side like glue, ying the perpetual third wheel, and Sabotaging every attempt Foreman made to get her alone.


    Foreman seethed inwardly, but there was nothing he could do.


    Three dayster, Foreman finally left.


    Ste, Abby, and Joshua drove him to the airport.


    No sooner had they said their goodbyes than Ste''s phone started ringing.


    It was Jonathan Williams.


    "Star, today''s the deadline for your bet with Leonard. You haven''t forgotten, have you?"


    Ste replied, "I remember."


    "If you''re free,e back now. Leonard''s already here, waiting."


    So he was already there. Eager, aren''t we?


    Ste''s voice was calm. "Got it."


    But just as she finished speaking,


    the airport PA system announced an


    imminent departure-loud enough that Jonathan heard it through the phone.


    Jonathan''s tone changed instantly. "Ste, are you at the airport right now?"


    "Yeah," Ste answered.


    "You''re not nning to run away, are you?"