Horace shook his head. "Ma''am, Mr. Griffith never came. He must be too busy..."


    "Horace." Joanna cut him off with a bitter smile. "You don''t have tofort me. I know he doesn''t want toe. Natalie isn''t here, but she''ll tell Sebastian everything I''ve done."


    "Sebastian doesn''t trust me anymore."


    Horace listened, seeing how upset she was, but he held his tongue. He had suggested she hypnotize Sebastian long ago. Was she still gambling on his love for her?


    "Ma''am, let me get you something to eat. What would you like?" Horace asked.


    Joanna hadn''t eaten sincest night and was starving. "Get me some oatmeal. You can pick out the rest. I''m really hungry, so please hurry back."


    Horace nodded. "Of course!"


    He left in a hurry. After watching over Joanna all night, his hair was greasy and he looked a bit disheveled, yet his every thought was for her well-being.


    Joanna leaned weakly against the hospital bed. After a long while, she picked up her phone from the nightstand. She hesitated for a moment before dialing a familiar number.


    "Joanna, why are you calling so early?"


    Tears welled up in Joanna''s eyes. "Wendy''spany was a shell. All the money I''ve earned over the years is gone. I need tech specialists now. You have to help me find a way."


    "Joanna, I told you not to take such a big risk, but you wouldn''t listen. Wendy has been in the business world for thirty years. You were probably outmaneuvered by her."


    Joanna frowned, not believing Wendy could have known her n in advance. "Impossible. She couldn''t have known my n."


    Joanna refused to believe it.


    "Joanna, sometimes you''re just too confident. But it''s okay. I''ll help you find the tech people. Come next spring, when our project kicks off, you''ll earn back everything you lost," he said,forting her with augh.


    Joanna said in a low voice, "Okay. Sebastian doesn''t trust me anymore. What do I do?"


    "What can you do? If you can''t handle it, there are other women. You''re my woman. To be honest, I don''t want you to marry him anyway. Don''t worry, I know he doesn''t trust you. I''ve already sent other women to get close to him. He won''t know what hit him."


    Hearing him say, "You''re my woman," instantly lifted Joanna''s spirits.


    "Okay. When are youing back?" Joanna missed him terribly.


    "The day Sebastian dies. Joanna, I have a n, and I need you to help me execute it."


    Joanna replied, "Tell me."


    ***


    When Natalie woke up, it was


    already bright outside. Seeing that it was another overcast, rainy day, she closed her eyes to go back to sleep. This kind of weather was perfect for sleeping in


    A knock came from the door.


    Natalie sat up again, thinking of Zenobia and Susan. They were probably hungry


    anding to get her for breakfast.


    She slipped on her shoes and happily went to open the door.


    She was slightly surprised to see Sebastian.


    He lookeddike he hadn''t rested well


    faint dark circles


    his and his weary expet


    There


    made him look a bit haggard.


    Natalie was surprised. "You didn''t go backst night?"


    Then she suddenly remembered that this was his territory, and he had his own private suite here.


    "Right," Sebastian nodded lightly, his deep voice carrying a captivating quality.


    Natalie asked, "Do you need something?"


    Sebastian held up the breakfast in his hands. "Let''s have breakfast together I''ve already arranged your two friends to be served


    Natalie was at a loss for words.


    She had been thinking about getting a bowl of beef noodle soup in a little while.


    Sebastian added, "I got you beef noodle soup."