The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance

Fortune favors the bold, Stella thought. Taking risks was dangerous, but there was no reward without them.

She said, "There's no reconciling things between Leonard and me. One of us will have to fall. Leonard and Israel—they're both going to do everything in their power to trip me up. They haven't come after me yet, but that's only because the timing isn't right. Instead of sitting back and waiting for their attack, why not strike first?"

She paused, then added, "Actually, this might be the best chance I'll ever get. As for the losses..."

Her tone was calm and even. "If Leonard and Israel ever get an opening, the damage to me won't be any less than it is now. The end result would be just the same. So why not use this opportunity to seize the initiative and teach them both a lesson?"

When she finished speaking, she noticed Haynes studying her with a look she hadn't seen before.

Stella raised an eyebrow. "What is it? Have I missed something? Did I overlook a flaw in my plan?"

to take others' opinions seriously-even Aicken's advice, she'd listen to with care. You had to be

"No, your reasoning is sound. You've covered every angle, and honestly, I'm

in the Williams family for a few months, but her sharp, instinctive way of approaching problems was the mark of real talent. Sure, she'd had help from others, but if she hadn't taken things to heart, no strategist in the world could have

I underestimated you before. I won't

her head. "Let's not dwell on that. What I want to know is what exactly went wrong with

of the company, Haynes's eyes darkened, becoming nearly

I called Foreman and offered my help. He turned me down-said he could handle it

UT

Unless the situation is truly dire, neither of us

it under control, so I didn't worry. But as things spiraled, I reached out