On the way, as Neville drove past a restaurant, Ste suddenly said, "Neville, could you wait for me for a moment? I need to grab some takeout."


    Neville pulled the car over.


    Inside, Ste ordered abo meal and told the server, "No peppers, onions, or parsley, please. And could you also make sure the sd and the dressing are packed separately? Please have the dressing on the side."


    Hearing her specific requests, Neville''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    After getting the food, Neville asked, "Star, is that for Joshua?"


    Ste nodded, surprised. "Yes, how did you know?"


    "You said he was in the hospital," Neville replied. "And besides, you love spicy food, and I''ve never known you to turn down parsley."


    During their dinner conversation, Neville hadn''t pressed for details about Leonard, so Ste hadn''t mentioned why Joshua was hospitalized.


    "How is he doing now?" Neville asked.


    "He''s fine, really," Ste said. "He should be out in a few more days. One of his friends is with him at the hospital now. He just texted me saying Joshua didn''t eat dinner tonight, probably because he doesn''t like the hospital food, so I''m bringing him something."


    Neville''s gaze grewplicated. "You seem to know his tastes quite well."


    "He''s my head of security," she said. "We spend a lot of time together every day. It''s inevitable that I''d notice a few things."


    Neville''s expression became even moreplex. "I understand, Star. You don''t have to exin."


    Ste paused, a little taken aback.


    Neville didn''t say anything more. "Let''s go, Star. I''ll take you back."


    ***


    At the hospital, Joshua stood by the window of his room, his gaze alternating between his phone and the world outside. He had been standing there for a full<fnbfc2> Get full chapters from find{n}ovel</fnbfc2>


    half-hour Ste had said she would be back by eight. It was now ten past, and there was still no sign of her.


    Harold stood nearby, wiping cold sweat from his brow. *Ste, pleasee back soon!* he thought frantically. *If you don''t, he''s going to turn into an ice sculpture.*


    With each passing minute, the temperature in the room seemed to drop. Harold could feel Joshua''s agitation growing, a palpable tension in the air.


    Around eight-thirty, a soft knock sounded at the door. Ste pushed it open and walked in, a faint smile on her face, clearly in high spirits. She was carrying two bags. One was cleanly a gift from a man judging by the elegant wrapping. She had gone to see Neville, so Harold assumed the gift was from him.


    Seeing her finally return, Harold let out a massive sigh of relief. "Ms. Cameron, you''re finally back! Uh, I just remembered I have some work to finish up, so I''ll be heading out now..."


    Without waiting for a reply, he practically bolted from the room.


    Ste stared at his retreating back. "Harold, I brought you dinner..." she called out, but he was already gone, disappearing down the hall too quickly to be stopped.


    Joshua''s eyes fell on the smile on Ste''s face, and he found it intensely irritating. "Weren''t you supposed to be back by eight?" he asked, his tone deceptively casual.