Abby didn''t see it that way. "Fortune favors the bold," she argued. "You can''t have your cake and eat it too. If you choose to take the shares, you have to ept the risks. What''s the problem with that?


    Or what, were you hoping Star could get the shares without any risk, while staying pure and untouched? How is that any different from Aurora? Don''t give me that sentimental crap about staying clean in a dirty world. I don''t buy it.


    So what if she bes a ''bad guy''? You know what they say: good girls get a good reputation, but bad girls get everything.


    Besides, Star isn''t stealing from him, so why can''t she take it? Or do you think Star is too ipetent to handle Leonard''s shares? If that were true, would he have offered them? If he was just giving them to someone incapable, why not give more to Simone? Was his love-addled brain so fried he forgot about his own sister


    Leonard obviously knew that giving Simone too much would be more than she could handle. Seven percent is her limit, and she''ll have to be skilled enough to hold onto it. If Star epts Leonard''s gift, she''ll definitely look out for Simone in the future. Even a guy like Leonard believed in Star''s ability and character, yet here you are, questioning her."


    No matter how much Leonard liked Ste, he couldn''t havepletely ignored Simone. She was his sister, after all, no matter how much she had betrayed him. Once Leonard was dead, Ste would hold thirty-eight percent of the shares, and Simone would have seven percent. Together, they would be thergest shareholders in the Lerman family.


    Simone knew what the family was like. Her only real ally would be Ste, because only Ste wouldn''t resort to murder for arger stake. The Lermans would kill for shares, but Ste wouldn''t. Even an idiot like Simone would know which side to choose.


    Abby looked at Foreman mockingly. "The cards Star holds now are more than enough for her to safely take over Leonard''s shares."


    Foreman was left speechless by Abby''s tirade. After a long moment, he finally managed, "If Star epts Leonard''s shares, what do you think Joshua will think?"


    Abby''s confidence faltered. For the first time, she was at a loss for words. That was right. The only remaining problem was Joshua.


    But everything Abby had said was pointless. In the end, it was all up to Ste. She turned to look at her.


    Before Ste could respond, they


    heard the


    sound of hurries


    from outside, and Antoney''s


    faintly drifted in.


    "What? Star''s gone again? That can''t be right."


    Hearing themotion, Ste''s brow twitched. Ignoring Foreman, she stood up and


    walked toward the door.


    As soon as she opened it, she saw Joshua standing right there.


    A storm of unreadable emotions flickered in his eyes, dark and turbulent.


    Ste''s heart skipped a beat. "Joshua..."


    Before the word was fully out, Joshua stepped forward and pulled her into a tight embrace.


    Seeing this, Abby took the hint and slipped out of the room, dragging


    Foreman with her. Antoney, not wanting to intrude also quietly departed


    After they were gone, Ste finally spoke. "Joshua, what''s wrong?"


    He was hugging her so tightly it hurt. "I woke up and you were gone. I thought you''d


    disappeared again."


    Ste exined softly, "I had


    something to take care of. I saw you were sleeping so deeply, so I didn''t want to wake you. Didn''t you see the note I left on the table?


    Joshua''s voice became hoarse. "...No."