Leaning in, Mr. Franco lowered his voice and gave Ste a suggestive smile. "And they all have rigorous health screenings. They''re perfectly healthy and very... clean."


    He shot a quick nce at Joshua, who was sitting on her other side, before whispering, "Definitely no worse than the one you have with you."


    Ste was speechless. She was finally beginning to understand why rich and powerful men always had so many women around them. It wasn''t just women throwing themselves at them; even their business partners would make arrangements.


    Come to think of it, aside from Rachel, Haynes had never had any other women around him all these years. In a way, was that considered self-control?


    As they spoke, the five men on stage began their performance. They started with a synchronized, high-energy dance routine, like a boy band. The music was infectious, and the handsome performers were giving it their all, winking and blowing kisses at Ste.


    She had to admit, Mr. Franco had good taste. The men were wless in terms of looks and physique. And yet...


    They were still a littleckingpared to Joshua.


    Ste paid little mind to the rumors that swirled around her and Joshua, though she couldn''t avoid hearing them entirely, especially from the Williams family. She''d always known Joshua was attractive, but between their professional rtionship and the constant threat from their enemies, she''d never really given his looks much deep thought.


    But now, reying the sight of him fresh from the shower earlier, she felt the telltale heat bloom across her cheeks.


    His physique was quite impressive, too. The muscles were beautifully sculpted... she wondered what they would feel like to the touch...


    Ste stared at the stage, appearing focused, but her mind was reying the events of the afternoon. What was wrong with her? Was she overworked? Was she really starting to lust after Joshua?


    Feeling thirsty again, she instinctively reached for the ss on the table beside her.


    A long, slender hand intercepted hers, cing the ss directly in front of her.


    "Thank you," Ste murmured, taking the ss. She took a sip, then paused as a thought urred to her. She turned her head.


    Joshua was staring at her, his eyes fixed on her face. In the shifting stage lights; his gaze seemed cold and sharp. Ste, already flustered by her own thoughts, felta pang of guilt, as if she''d been caught red handed.  s?novels


    Her hand trembled, and a little water sloshed onto her skin.


    "Joshua, why aren''t you watching the show?"


    ax


    He took a napkin and gently dabbed the water from the back of her hand before answering coolly, "It''s just group of men posturing on a stage. What''s there to see? Wouldn''t it be strange for a man like me to be watching them?"


    Then his tone shifted slightly. "You, on the other hand, Star... you seem quite engrossed. Do you like it?"


    The dim lighting made it hard to read his expression. Although Ste''s eyes had been on the stage, her mind had been a million miles away, she hadn''t really seen a thing they were doing. To cover her embarrassment, she took another sip of water.


    "...It''s all right."


    As the words left her mouth, the five models on stage simultaneously ripped their shirts open. Five perfectly sculpted torsos were suddenly on full disy, right in her line of sight.


    Ste had studied art; she''d seen performances of every kind. But the raw, wild energy of that moment caught herpletely by surprise.