Doubt flickered across Ste''s face, but she stood up and said, "Show me, would you?"


    Ray finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Ms. Cameron, I appreciate it."


    In his office, Foreman rubbed his tired brow, exhaustion etched across his handsome features. He hadn''t had a decent night''s sleep in ages.


    His secretary, Abigail, entered quietly andid a folder on his desk. "Mr. Richards, here''s the file you wanted."


    Foreman barely nodded, reaching for the documents, already poised to flip through them.


    "Mr. Richards." Abigail hesitated, biting her lip. "Maybe you should take a break. You look-"


    "That won''t be necessary," he cut in, his tone cool. "You can go."


    She lingered, worry and something softer shadowing her eyes. "Mr. Richards..."


    Foreman''s voice turned icy. "That''s all, Abigail."


    Swallowing her concern, Abigail lowered her gaze and left the room.


    A few minutester, another knock sounded at the door.<fnd4bf> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? ?ovelFind</fnd4bf>


    Foreman''s frown deepened. Without looking up, he called out, "I''m not hungry,


    and unless it''s urgent, I don''t want to be disturbed."


    There was a brief, expectant silence. Whoever hade in didn''t leave.


    He nced up, annoyance barely hidden-then stopped short, surprise flickering across his face. "Star? What are you doing here?"


    As soon as the words left his mouth, something seemed to dawn on him. His expression darkened. "Did Ray say something to you?"


    Ste met his gaze. "He told me you haven''t rested in days. And you haven''t been eating."


    Foreman''s lips pressed into a thin line. "You''re busy enough as it is. Ray had no business bothering you about this."


    "Foreman, what''s going on? Why is Leonard suddenly targeting you?"


    A shadow crossed Foreman''s eyes. The truth was, he''d coerced Simone into stealing confidential information from The Lerman Group, hoping to strike@fatal blow at Leonard and, in doing so So get revenge for Ste Simone had seeded, but Leonard had turned the tables, using the situation to set a trap. He''d been outmaneuvered-yed by Leonard and his sister.  s


    But none of this was something he could ever tell Ste.


    He forced a gentle tone. “Maybe he just doesn''t like me. But don''t worry- Richards Holdings isn''t as fragile as it looks. I''ll handle it."


    Ste hesitated, then spoke quietly. "Ray said you sold off your own stocks and used all your liquid assets to help me. That''s why


    Richards Holdings ended up in


    trouble, and why Leonard took the chance to strike." She let the words bang in the air for a moment, ther asked, "Foreman, this ''Mr. J''... is that you?"


    s


    Foreman''s eyes narrowed slightly. "Mr. J''?"


    Ste decided to be direct. "The only reason I was able to buy the Pearce Group shares wasn''t because I sold my original stock. Someone-this mysterious ''Mr. J''-invested five hundred million for me. I''ve tried to find out who he is, but there''s no trace. Foreman, was it you?"


    Foreman''s heart lurched.


    Someone had invested five hundred million for Ste? And she didn''t know who, only that the man called himself ''Mr. J''?


    Suddenly, everything made sense-why she''de to see him herself, why she looked so concerned. Ray''s words had led her to the wrong conclusion.


    But it was an


    an understandable


    mistake. Foreman had already transferred.pany funds into a private_ount, nning to give Ste the money the moment she asked for help. In the end she hadn''t needed it, so he''d left it untouched After shepleted the acquisition, Richards Holdings ran into trouble. He''d thrown the money into the stock market to stabilize things, but it only worked for a few days before


    everything spiraled out of control again.


    s