Thepany Ste had just signed with was a foreign family, yet their president was a young man from her own country.


    He looked to be under thirty, with sharp, short hair and a pair of diamond studs in his ears. His handsome face had a hint of a rebellious edge.


    Ste looked at the man before her. "Are you a friend of Joshua''s?"


    "Friend, I suppose," the man said. "But I think the word ''partner'' is more fitting."


    Partner?


    Ste silently mulled over the two words.


    To her, a partner carried far more weight than a friend. A partner was someone you had faced life-and-death situations with, someone you could trust with your life.


    Ste had rarely heard Joshua talk about his friends, but it was impossible for him not to have any.


    The man looked at her and continued, "Let me introduce myself. My name is Beckett Torres, and I''m the current head of the Torres family."


    Another family head.


    Joshua''s friends were certainly not ordinary people.


    Ste extended her hand. "Mr. Torres, it''s a pleasure."


    However, Beckett made no move to shake it.


    His expression was cool. "My apologies. I only associate with people of my own caliber. The reason I signed this contract with you, Ms. Cameron, was as a favor to Laurel. She feels she owes Joshua a great deal and has little else to repay him with, so she decided to offer you somepensation instead."


    Despite the insult, Ste showed no sign of embarrassment or anger.


    She only felt that this scene was somehow familiar.


    Before Ste could ce why, Beckett''s next words captured her attention.


    Ste raised an eyebrow. "Laurel? Are you talking about... Ms. Quinn?"


    Beckett''s deep gaze fell upon her, probing and assessing.


    Then, as if a thought urred to him, a knowing smile appeared on his face.


    "It seems you don''t know their real rtionship."


    Ste had a feeling he wasn''t talking about their friendship.


    "Their real rtionship?" she asked.


    Beckett leaned back, a faint, mocking smile on his lips that seemed to say, "So this is all you amount to."


    Ste''s eyes narrowed slightly. She had already figured out why Beckett had summoned her.


    She smiled. "Mr. Torres, to think you''d go to such great expense, signing such a massive deal with just to say a few words. I''m truly ttered


    She sat down across from him. "Don''t worry, Mr. Torres. I won''t let you waste all that money for nothing. I''ll listen to whatever you have to say."


    Beckett wasn''t fazed by her seeing through his intentions. Instead, he calmly asked, "Aren''t you curious about Joshua and Laurel''s rtionship?"


    "If I were curious," Ste replied, "I would simply ask Joshua. Why would I need to hear it from someone else?"


    Beckett seemed a little surprised. "You sound quite confident. But have you ever considered that if Joshua really wanted to tell you he would have done so from the beginning?"


    Ste thought for a moment. "The


    things left unsaid are usually th


    ones that aren''t important. After all, he can''t be expected to tell me every single detail of his entire life


    She paused, then gave Beckett a slight smile.


    "Besides, he would have to remember it first."


    "You''re smarter than I thought," Beckett said. "And more level-headed."


    "Thank you for thepliment, Mr. Torres," Ste replied.


    Beckett knew that with Ste''s currentposure, trying to manipte her would be nearly impossible.