Faux Vows, True Desires

Ruby didn't stick around after her sneak shots; she hit the road right away.

Lucinda didn't get a whiff of her actions.

But Zoey and the Blue family's bodyguards were in the know.

Keith was always on his toes. His bodyguards came in two flavors: out in the open and on the down low.

The undercover bodyguards seldom showed their mugs; instead, they hovered like shadows, always a step behind him. Only when the heat was on would they show up.

As Zoey was ringing Stefan, the Blue family's bodyguards were dropping a line to Keith.

Stefan had just hung up with his wife, getting the news that his father-in-law wanted to chew the fat with him.

Even if Nathan didn't show, he had planned to grab a bite with Lucinda.

Lucinda's mom had just bounced back, so she'd definitely stick around with her mom for a bit longer. Stefan couldn't be there to keep the bed warm at night, so he had to squeeze in some time during the day, lest she missed him.

No, it was him missing her.

Not long after he wrapped up the call, Zoey buzzed in.

Hearing about Ruby snapping shots of Lucinda and Keith from a distance, Stefan had a clear picture of Ruby's game.

As he got up from his desk, he responded to Zoey, "Copy that. Keep an eye on Mrs. Coleman."

Edgar walked in as he was about to head out and asked, "Boss, are you clocking out early again?"

"Yeah, something urgent came up."

Edgar was curious: "What's so urgent? Can't someone else crack it?"

"Nobody can pinch-hit for me on this one."

as he headed out. As he passed by Edgar, he patted him on the shoulder and said with a straight

"You're a lone wolf."

to your wife again? I thought there was

you need, I'm tied

him, saying, "Okay, I'll go

bit of a slacker and not too

of the Anderson family's generation were slackers; none of them wanted to

he was raised by his grandparents, and he was the

see the Scott Garment go under. And dig up Ruby's flings abroad

Stefan turned to Edgar.

workers and still has to pay them. The factory is rented so that's a daily expense. Her stores may be open every day, and people go in to look, but nobody's buying. Her company going under is just a matter of time. She's

putting the squeeze on Ruby was all Edgar's doing. Of course,

was the girl Stefan had been crushing on since he was a kid. People claimed he was nearly 30 and still single because he was waiting for Ruby to come back. That's a load of

sadly, nobody

believe that Stefan had no special feelings for

Mrs. Coleman was his true

go to

a close eye on Owen." "If Owen steps up like he usually does and helps Ruby, he might as well get ready to be replaced by Harry. Harry's pretty good; he's more suited

that if he were Trenton, he'd definitely boot the overly

level-headed and not influenced by emotions. To be honest, besides Owen and his mom, nobody

Ruby was just greedy. She wanted to marry Stefan but also use Owen for her own ends. Nobody would like a woman like that. Only

been let

planning to do once Ruby's dirt is dug

give people a good

What to do?

fight fire with

a taste of her own medicine, make her reputation plummet, make Owen give up on her once and for all, leave her with

chuckled. "I can't

stepped into the elevator, but Edgar quickly got

headed straight for