The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Stella paused, caught off guard. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Joshua said, "It's the first time I've realized I actually have so many good qualities."

Stella grinned. "There's another important quality I forgot to mention."

Joshua looked at her, a touch of anticipation in his eyes. "What's that?" She replied, "You're in great shape. And, well, you're really handsome." Joshua couldn't help but laugh, and Stella joined in, their laughter mingling and filling the room.

That was the scene Abby walked in on as she pushed open the door-a moment of unexpected harmony that made her pause. Strangely enough, back when Joshua had spent so much time around Stella, she'd never noticed this sense of ease between them before.

Hearing the door, Stella turned. "Abby, you're here?"

Abby nodded. "The lab's sent over the results."

Stella's expression turned serious. "What did they find?"

"It was definitely tampered with someone did it on purpose," Abby said. "And the employee who brought the car back yesterday? He's gone missing."

look surprised. "That

continued, "There's something else. This morning, I saw the new stories and rumors about Joshua

the people making those posts. Turns out, all of them have business ties to

a glance at Stella. “But... that still doesn't prove

besides Haynes, who'd

Aside from Haynes, she couldn't think of anyone

to know whether Haynes is behind this, why not

up. Of course she could just

for her phone when it started ringing on

said, getting up and stepping out into the hallway to

a bit of comfort. "Joshua, don't worry about those things people are saying online.

but for some reason,

warmed Joshua's heart and put

Abby. Star

for Neville and Marvin, everyone else—even Candida-called Stella "Star." It was just how things were; their working relationship had always been relaxed, more like friends than colleagues. But Joshua had always addressed her as "Ms. Cameron." To suddenly hear