No one would be foolish enough to broadcast something like this; if anything, they''d carry it out discreetly, with no one the wiser.


    Suddenly, Coleman spoke up. "It would be best to get to the bottom of this before we do anything rash. What if Ste didn''t actually borrow the money from Haynes or Neville? If their cash flow is still strong and we blindly make a move, we might just be walking into a trap."


    Coleman''s tone grew more serious. "Haynes and Neville aren''t people you want to underestimate. If we give them the slightest opening, we could end up paying a heavy price. And most importantly, we risk souring our rtionship with Ste for good."


    Israel shot Coleman a nce. "Since when did you get so cautious, Coleman? If Ste didn''t get the money from Haynes, then where else could she possibly have gotten that much cash?"


    Coleman frowned. "Didn''t Ste meet with an investorst time? It''s possible shended some new investment."


    Israelughed, openly dismissive. "I met that so-called investor-Jake, or whatever he called himself. No background, nothing on file; the guy''s a ghost. Do you know the funniest part? He imed he was going to invest half a billion dors in Ste. Would you believe aplete stranger if they told you they''d wire you half a billion?"


    Israel waved a hand, as if brushing away the very thought. "He''s a con artist, in and simple. Even Ste didn''t buy his story-surely you''re not falling for it, are you?"


    Coleman replied, "Maybe that guy''s a fraud, but that doesn''t mean there aren''t other investors out there..."


    Israel cut him off. "Coleman, don''t tell me you''re so rattled by Ste that you''ve started seeing her as some kind of mastermind. Even if someone did want to invest, who coulde up with that kind of money on such short notice? There are only a handful of families in the country who could pull that off in three days, and Ste doesn''t have anywhere near that kind of influence."<fn3063> For original chapters go to FindN0vel</fn3063>


    As they spoke, Ste and Shawn''s father finished signing the paperwork and exchanged contracts. The sound of camera shes lit up the room, followed by a wave of apuse.


    Skyler and his father both looked visibly unsettled.


    Without asking for their help, Ste had pulled together the funds and managed to buy twenty percent of the Pearce Group''s shares. In just a matter of days, she had aplished something extraordinary.


    It was clear that many shareholders


    in the Williams Group would start to see Ste in a whole new light. And if Aurora ended up joining thepany she''d bepletely overshadowed by Ste-there would be nopetition. Ste''s standing would rise far above


    Aurora''s.  s


    When the deat


    was announced as


    sessful,dsrael could barely keep himself from storming the stage to stop it But he knew he couldn''t do n''t do that He clenched his fists, silently hoping for somest-minute disaster to derail the agreement. Cóntent belongs to s


    But nothing happened. The signing went off without a hitch. All the Williams family could do was sit there faces dark with frustration, unable to do a thing in front of the crowd.  s


    Watching Ste beam with triumph, Israel''s face turned ashen. He was so furious


    he nearly lost hisposure.


    Just then, his phone buzzed.


    The caller ID made him pause.


    He muttered a quick excuse to those around him and found a quiet corner to answer the call.


    "Leonard? What''s going on? I wasn''t expecting to hear from you."


    Leonard''s gravelly voice came through the line. "So you actually let Ste sign the deal with the Pearce Group? Pathetic."


    Israel''s tone turned icy. "If you called just to insult me, I''ll hang up right now."


    "Wait." Leonard stopped him. "I actually called because I need your help with something."


    As if worried Israel would refuse, Leonard added, "It''s about Ste."