"Something must have changed on Mr. Gardner''s end," Harold spected.


    Joshua''s initial n was to arrange for Sellers to have an illegitimate child. The scandal would destabilize his position, leaving him with two choices: marry the woman, or refuse to acknowledge the child and risk his authority. Either way, his rtionship with Aurora would be shattered. If Aurora continued to associate with a man who had a child with another woman, she''d be no better than a mistress, earning the scorn of their entire social circle. The Williams family was fiercely protective of its reputation, and as the most celebrated socialite of her generation, they would never allow their daughter to be branded a homewrecker.


    With Leonard out of the picture and Sellers entangled in a scandal, Aurora''s two main pirs of support would be gone. She would lose her leverage for a powerful marriage alliance, and she would no longer be a threat to Ste''s position at The Williams Group. The n had been perfect. They even had someone lined up to y the part, but Joshua had abruptly changed course.


    "Did Leonard do something to offend Mr. Gardner again?" Jake asked.


    "Not exactly offend," Harold said. "In a way, this new n is helping Leonard get what he''s always wanted. Or... maybe Mr. Gardner wants Sellers and Leonard to tear each other apart. If they''re busy fighting, we can just sit back and reap the benefits with a lot less effort. Personally, I think this n is even more brilliant."


    Jake considered it and had to agree. The n may have changed, but it was still a


    masterstroke.


    "I don''t know how Mr. Gardner''s mind works," Jake said, shaking his head. "How can he think so fast? It''s a tragedy to be his enemy. But I thought Mr. Gardner couldn''t be bothered with Aurora."


    (0)


    "She should have kept her admirers on a tighter leash instead of letting them constantly bother Ms. Cameron, Harold replied. "Mr. Gardner doesn''t make a habit of targeting women but that''s only if they don''t cross his tunes. Once they do, he shows no mercy. He''s never been the type to go easy on someone just because she''s a woman."


    Jake thought about it, and understanding dawned. He didn''t know the specifics, but someone had clearly crossed Joshua''s line.


    Simone was ecstatic. After weeks of being cold and distant, Joshua had finally agreed to meet her for coffee.


    She arrived at the cafe a full two hours early, too anxious to sit still. She kept ncing around, asionally pulling out apact mirror to check her makeup and hair, making sure everything was perfect.


    Time ticked by slowly. Finally, with


    just ten minutes to spare, Joshua walked in. Tall, slender, and devastatingly handsome, he immediately drew the attention of every woman in the room. Simone


    heard several sharp intakes of breath and felt a fierce urge to gouge out their eyes.


    Joshua scanned the cafe, and his eyesnded on her. As he walked toward her table, the women who had been watching him sighed with disappointment, their gazes shifting to omone filled with undisguised envy.


    The possessive anger in Simone''s heart began to fade, reced by a satisfying


    sense of pride. Joshua sat down across from her. "Miss Lerman."