Ste finally understood what Neville had meant about an inescapable blind date.


    "Mr. Vance, my boyfriend isn''t Joshua," she rified. "It''s Neville. We''ve known each other since my time in Novaris, and he has helped me a great deal."


    Zane''s expression softened slightly. "Neville, you say? He''s a decent young man, certainly one of the more promising of his generation. However, most of his business is outside of Solmaris. The help he can offer you here is limited. Star, The Williams Group owes eighty percent of its sess to your mother. But now, everything that should be hers is controlled by your father and brothers, and they intend to give a piece of it to that illegitimate daughter. Are you willing to stand by and watch them squander your mother''s legacy?"


    Ste smiled faintly and replied, "Mr. Vance, even if I were to marry for power now, it would be impossible to take back The Williams Group overnight. An alliance like that would broadcast my intentions to the world. If I move too quickly, I''ll attract their attention and they''ll try to stop me. My foundation here is still weak. The only reason the Williams family hasn''t moved against me is because they don''t see me as a threat."


    She paused. "Right now, they think I''m with Joshua. They haven''t intervened because they believe that rtionship offers me nothing more than emotional support; he provides no strategic advantage. The moment they realize I can''t be controlled, especially if I ally myself with a powerful family, they will move to clip my wings. You know as well as I do, Mr. Vance, now is not the time for an open war."


    Zane considered her words for a moment, and a look of genuine admiration crossed his face. "You''ve thought this through, Star. You''re right, you can''t afford to show your hand yet. Since you have a boyfriend, I won''t push the matter. But please, just meet Sheffield. Think of it as simply making a new acquaintance."


    Before Ste could protest further, Zane held up.a hand. "Don''t worry, Star. There will be no reason for your boyfriend to misunderstand. My birthday is next week I''m hosting as party, and invite Sheffield. You should bring Neville. It will be a good opportunity for me to see if he''s as impressive as the rumors say." <fn995d> For original chapters go to FιndＮovel</fn995d>


    Ste let out a quiet sigh of relief. "Alright."


    Zane left soon after, passing Joshua in the hallway on his way to Ste''s office.


    "Mr. Vance," Joshua said with a polite nod.


    Zane nodded back and continued walking, but after a few steps, he stopped and nced back. The man''s profile was as sharp and wless as a sculpture. He was undeniably handsome; it was no wonder Ste kept him around. As long as she wasn''t serious about him, it didn''t matter if she kept a few pretty faces forpany. The danger was in letting feelings get involved. Women who fell in love were ruled by emotion. That had been Nora''s fatal w.


    Joshua entered Ste''s office. "Was Mr. Vance here on business?" he asked casually. The way Zane had looked at him suggested the conversation had been anything but ordinary.


    Ste rubbed her weary temples. "Yes. He was trying to y matchmaker."