Shawn''s heart fluttered like a cat pawing at a ball of yarn-restless, itching, wanting more.


    "Of course not. Even if I lied to anyone else, I wouldn''t dare try it on a gorgeous woman like you, Ms. Cameron."


    He was practically spellbound, hisposure slipping away with each passing second. Grinning, he raised his ss, inching closer to Ste.


    "To Ms. Cameron," he said, eyes gleaming with thinly veiled desire. He tried to tip her delicate chin up with the rim of his ss, aiming to press her lips to the drink.


    Ste''s expression turned ice-cold in an instant.


    With a swift, decisive motion, she snatched the ss from his hand and flung its contents straight into Shawn''s face.


    The private lounge, which had been filled withughter and chatter, fell eerily silent.


    Everyone stared, stunned. No one even dared to breathe.


    Shawn, now dripping and humiliated, snapped back to his senses. Pointing an angry finger at Ste, he exploded, "Did you really just throw that at me?! Don''t you want this contract anymore?!"


    Ste''s face remained impassive. "Not enough to sell myself for it."


    Exposed and publicly humiliated, Shawn''s anger boiled over.


    "You think you''re so pure, huh? Just another used-up tramp pretending to be innocent. You-"


    He never finished. Suddenly, a hand mmed his head down onto the bar with a sickening thud.


    "Crash!"


    Bottles and sses shattered, spilling liquor everywhere.


    The shock was enough to silence the whole room-no one dared to move.


    Shawn was left sprawled over the bar in a humiliating pose, his head pinned down


    by the foot of a sharply dressed, strikingly handsome young man.


    Ste, for her part, didn''t look the least bit surprised or upset.<fneb1d> This text is hosted at find?novel</fneb1d>


    She knew Shawn wasn''t the first, and he certainly wouldn''t be thest.


    In a calm, even voice, she said, "Joshua, let''s go."


    Joshua lifted his foot and followed her out, leaving the stunned crowd behind.


    Out in the corridor, Aicken mopped sweat from his brow.


    "Ms. Cameron, I''m so sorry. I never imagined things would get so out of hand." Ste didn''t me him. "I know."


    Women always draw the short straw in the professional world.


    Ste had seen it all before, back when she yed the violin. It happened constantly.


    Now, even as a neer to business, she''d already steeled herself for it.


    It wouldn''t end here. If anything, it would only get worse.


    Meanwhile, Shawn, still reeling from his public humiliation, slunk into another


    private lounge. His fa


    was swollen, several teeth were missing, and he whistled when he talked  s


    "Mr. Lerman, that pretty boy with Ste-he''s trouble. I couldn''t get anywhere near her."


    Leonard sat lounging on the couch, legs crossed, half his face hidden in shadow, his expression unreadable.


    "No matter how tough he is, he''s only one man. All you have to do is get her alone. Once you do, you can do whatever you like."


    Shawn hesitated. "But she''s still the Williams family''s heiress..."


    Leonard''s voice was low and rough. "Her rtionship with the William''s family is already on the rocks. Trust me--if something were to happen. they''d never make a scandal out of it. They''ll sweep it under the rug."  s


    Shawn still looked doubtful. "She seems pretty tough. If she puts up a fight, I doubt it''ll be that easy."


    Something small and discreetnded in Shawn''s hand.


    "This is a colorless, odorless


    diffuser. Keep her in the room fomet


    five minutes, and even the fiercest woman will melt in your arms. The rest-I''ll take care of for you.''  s