Leonard was surprised that Ste knew how to assemble a car, but he knew that some highly skilled race car drivers did customize or build their own vehicles to suit their driving styles. Aurora could modify cars, but something asplex and high-performance as the Dawnlight was beyond her capabilities.


    Ste''s movements were skilled and fluid, pausing only asionally to think. Her long hair was tied back in a neat, practical ponytail, and her slender figure made her look more like a recent college graduate than a mother. He had to admit, with her face and figure, she had more than enough capital to attract men''s attention.


    He walked closer, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Even if you manage to put all the pieces together, there are certain proprietary materials you''ll never find without me."


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


    Leonard looked down at her. "Half the automotive businesses in Solmaris are owned by the Lerman Group. Ste, without my permission, no one will dare assemble this car for you."


    She gave him an odd look. "Did youe all the way here just to tell me that?"


    "I came to tell you not to overestimate yourself," he said. "You''ll never be able to replicate this car."


    Ste stopped what she was doing and looked up at him. "So, are you nning to provide me with the proprietary materials, Mr. Lerman?"


    He snorted. "In your dreams."


    "In that case," she shrugged, "I''ll just have to assemble what I can with what I have."


    Leonard crossed his arms, an amused expression on his face as he prepared to watch her fail. "But from what I hear, you boasted to Israel that you would rece Aurora''s car with an identical one. Are you nning to go back on your word?"


    "Aurora voluntarily lent the car to Joshua," Ste countered. "When you lend something out, you ept the risk of damage. I offered to rece it because the Dawnlight has special meaning to her, something money can''t buy. I will do my best to give her an identical car il can. I heard you gave the Dawnlight to her as a gift, Mr. Lerman, so it must be meaningful to you too. But if you, the original owner, aren''t bothered, why should!, an outsider, care? The worst that can happen is I fail to keep a promise. It''s not a big deal. The only one who will be


    disappointed is your goddess, Aurora, not me."


    She paused, then added with a sharine smile, "Oh, and I''ll be sure to exin to Aurora that it wasn''t forck of trying. I''ll tell her Mr. Lerman deliberately obstructed the process, preventing mechanics from helping and making it impossible for me to get the right materials. She can''t


    me me for that."


    Leonard was momentarily stunned, thenughed, a harsh, angry sound. "So, your


    failure to rece the Dawnlight is now my fault?"


    In just a few sentences, she had managed to shift all the me onto him.


    "Isn''t it?" Ste said sweetly. "It seems Mr. Lerman can''t bear to see Aurora happy. But I can''t do anything about that. Knowing Aurora''s


    personality, sure she wone


    me me for not being able to rece her car perfectly. After all, my sincerity and effort are in for everyone to see."


    "Ste," Leonard said through gritted teeth, "I''m beginning to realize you''re an expert at deflection and sophistry."


    She smiled brightly. "Thank you for thepliment. So... are you going to give me the materials, Mr. Lerman?"