"If you agree," Leonard said, "I can make the arrangements."


    For the first time in a long while, Simone gave Leonard a genuine smile. "Alright. Thank you, brother."


    ...


    A weekter, Ste attended Zane Vance''s birthday party with Neville Connolly as her date. Joshua apanied them, but as her bodyguard, he kept a respectful distance, melting into a corner to watch over her from afar.


    Ste and Neville went to greet Zane, and the three chatted for a while. Neville, with his handsome features and eloquent speech, quickly won Zane over.


    "I was just thinking about finding a suitable match for Star," Zane said, impressed with Ste''s choice. "But now I see she already has a boyfriend. No wonder she wasn''t interested in a fine young man like Sheffield Chapman. Mr. Connolly, you''re certainly worth giving up a whole forest for. Since Star and Sheffield can''t be a couple, I hope they can at least be friends. You wouldn''t mind that, would you, Mr. Connolly?"


    "Of course not," Neville replied with a smile. "More friends mean more connections. I would never stand in the way of Star''s friendships."


    Neville''s response was gracious but firm, a subtle reminder to Zane that while he was open to friendships, he wouldn''t tolerate anything more.


    Zane pped him on the shoulder, pleased. "Don''t worry," he joked. "Even if someone tried to steal her away, Star wouldn''t have it."


    As they were talking, a familiar figure approached them.


    "Star, Mr. Vance, Mr. Connolly."


    Ste froze when she saw him. "Foreman? What are you doing here?"


    "My father and Mr. Vance were old friends," Foreman exined with a gentle voice. "He couldn''t make it tonight, so he sent me to wish M Vance a happy birthday on


    ? lrg


    behalf."


    "Foreman, my boy!" Zane boomed. "Last time I saw you, you were just a teenager. Look at you now, so distinguished. You put my own rascals to shame."


    "You''re too kind, Mr. Vance," Foreman said humbly.


    "So, Foreman, do you have a girlfriend?" Zane asked. "I could introduce you to some lovely youngdies who would be a perfect match."


    Ste and Neville exchanged a subtle nce. Zane certainly loved to y matchmaker.


    "Thank you for the kind offer, Mr. Vance," Foreman replied, "but I already have someone I like."


    Zaneughed heartily and didn''t


    press the matter. He turned to Ste. "Star, let me introduce you to some business partners." Then he


    gestured to Neville Neville my boy feel free to mingle Star will find you when she''s done." <fn87d5> Content originallyes from find?novel</fn87d5>


    "Of course. You two go ahead," Neville said.


    It was over two hourster, after


    sessfully closing a deal, that


    Ste returned to the party. S


    S the room but couldnt find


    Neville anywhere.  fo


    Just then, Joshua appeared behind her. "Neville took a call not long after you left and hasn''t been back since."


    Ste then searched for Foreman but couldn''t find him either. As she wondered where they had gone, a sudden shriek echoed from the guest rooms upstairs.