Joshua''s dark eyes met hers.


    "Star, helping you is one thing, being together is another. They''re two different things and shouldn''t be mixed up."


    Ste seemed to want to say more, but Joshua gently pressed a long, fair finger to her lips, stopping the words before they could escape.


    "Even if we don''t end up together, I''ll never regret helping you.


    Alright, let''s not talk about this anymore. You haven''t eaten yet, have you? Shall we get some dinner?"


    Ste nodded gently. "Okay."


    In a room on the second floor, a pale-faced Leonard stood by the window, watching the two of them walk away.


    At the restaurant, after they had ordered, Ste asked Joshua about his future ns.


    "Joshua, are you really nning to move the Gardner family''s industrial focus to Solmaris?"


    Joshua poured her a ss of water. "Yes. Solmaris is a global economic hub. Many major families and corporations are rooted here. The Gardner Group can give it a try."


    "But The Gardner Group has no foundation in Solmaris," Ste pointed out. "If you shift your focus here, you''ll have to start from scratch."


    Starting from scratch wouldn''t be easy.


    Joshua seemed to have already thought it through. "That''s fine. I enjoy a challenge. But..."


    A subtle smile yed on Joshua''s lips, his deep eyes glinting mysteriously.


    "Starting from scratch is indeed troublesome. By the time I''ve grown the business enough to help you, it would be toote. I''ll have to take some shortcuts."


    Ste felt a nervous twitch. She had a bad feeling someone was about to have a very bad time.


    After dinner, Ste still had work to finish at The Williams Group, so Joshua apanied her back.


    As they entered The Williams Tower, they ran straight into Coleman Williams, who was just leaving.


    Coleman stopped in his tracks when he saw them.


    "Ste," he said coldly, "don''t let


    find out that you had anything to


    with Aurora''s disappearance


    Otherwise, I will make you pay."


    With that, he strode away without another word.


    Neither Ste nor Joshua reacted much. They were already used to it.


    Back in Ste''s office, Joshua finally asked, "Has the Williams family found any


    news on Aurora yet?"


    Ste shook her head. "No. I heard Israel


    Williams ranting earlier than et


    hem, causing them


    to miss the best window to


    nd her.


    So far, they''ve only determined that Aurora isn''t in Solmaris or Germany."


    Joshua smiled. "Star, do you want to know where she is?"


    Ste caught the hint in his tone and looked at him sharply.


    "Joshua, you know?"


    "Yes, I do," he said.


    "Where is she now?" Ste asked.


    "The Triangle Delta."


    Hearing that, Ste''s first thought was that Aurora was in serious trouble this time.


    She lowered her voice. "Joshua, how do you know?"


    "Beckett''s family has some influence. I used his family''s resources to find out," Joshua exined.


    Used his family''s resources?


    Could family resources just be used so casually?


    As if reading her mind, Joshua added, "I cracked his family''s internal encryption, so I can use his hame to deploy some of their


    assets.


    I can''t push it too far, or Beckett will catch on.


    But for simple things, like finding someone, it''s not a problem."