Ste nodded. "Yeah, I have an important contract to sign tonight."


    Joshua''s expression was unreadable. "Is that so? I thought now that you have Aicken, you wouldn''t need me anymore."


    His words hung in the air, oddly cold.


    Ste replied, "Why would you say that? You and Aicken arepletely different."


    He fixed her with a dark, searching look. "We both work for you. How are we any different?"


    Ste hesitated, thrown off by the question-she''d honestly never thought about it


    that way.


    For a moment, she was at a loss for words.


    Just then, someone knocked softly on the office door.


    Aicken''s voice drifted in from the hallway.


    "Ms. Cameron, there''s an urgent file that needs your attention."


    Ste answered, "Wait for me in my office, I''ll be there in a sec."


    "Understood." She heard his footsteps retreat.


    Once Aicken was gone, Ste turned back to Joshua. "Joshua, don''t overthink this. You saved my life. You''re the person I trust most. No matter what, Aicken will never be more important than you."


    Joshua''s face didn''t flicker. "Foreman saved you too. So, he''s important as well?"


    Ste found Joshua''s mood today unusually strange.


    But she was in a hurry-she needed to check those documents and get ready for the contract signing tonight. She said, "Joshua, both you and Foreman have helped me so much. You''re both important friends to me. That''s what matters." She started toward the door. "I have to go for now. I''ll call you before I leave."


    She didn''t wait for a reply, just hurried away.


    Joshua watched her go, his eyes growing colder and more distant.


    Lately, Ste had been so busy. They hardly saw each other anymore. Whenever they did talk, Aicken always seemed to show up with work for her. Situations like today had happened more times than he could count.


    A familiar frustration simmered in Joshua''s chest.


    ***


    That evening, Ste arrived right on time at the downtown lounge.


    Aicken was with her, sitting beside her in the back seat, quietly going over the important points for the contract signing.


    Joshua, as usual, drove them there, silent and withdrawn.


    This was Ste''s first time signing a business contract. She took it seriously, arriving half an hour early.


    Aicken said, "The otherpany isn''t in the same league as The


    Williams Group, but given where ourpany stands right now, this this deal


    could save us, we tand it, we could survive three years without another contract.”  s


    Ste understood the weight of this. "I know."


    When they entered the private meeting room, she was surprised to find that the


    other party had arrived early as well.


    One of the men stood up with an easy smile.


    "Ms. Cameron, sorry we didn''te out to greet you-I''m Shawn Pearce."


    He looked to be in his early forties, wore rimless sses, and carried himself with authority. He was the man Ste would be negotiating with tonight.  s<fn9e2e> Updates are released by f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn9e2e>


    Ste walked over and politely extended her hand.


    "Good evening, Mr. Pearce. I''m Ste."


    He shook her hand, but as he let go, Ste felt his fingers brush the back of her


    hand in a way that made her skin crawl.


    Her gaze chilled, but she forced herself to let it slide.


    Shawn gestured for her to sit beside him. "I''ve heard Aurora is the most beautiful woman in our industry, but I have to say Ms. Cameron, you''re just as stunning and every bit as graceful. You certainly give Aurora a run for her money."  s


    Ste met hispliment with a calm, almost indifferent smile.


    "Mr. Pearce, are there any details in the contract you''d like to discuss further?"


    But Shawn''s eyes stayed fixed on her, his attention unwavering.