When Love Comes Late by PASSION

His eyes twinkling, Matthew laughed.

“Not even close.

”

Stella, half-amused and half-serious, cautioned him, “Don’t overstep.

”

“It’s merely a ki*s.

How can it be too much?” Matthew quipped, his eyebrows arching playfully.

They had grown close, making it hard for him to pull away despite Stella’s insistent nudges.

Finally, he left the room reluctantly.

No sooner had Matthew left than Elizabeth entered the office, her demeanor stormy after having inquired around to locate this new workplace.

Her anger palpable, she made no effort to hide her feelings.

Upon seeing that Matthew wasn’t there, Elizabeth dropped all pretense of civility, strode past Stella without acknowledgment, and took a seat in the office chair with an air of authority.

of emotion, as

her condescension, stating bluntly, “You should be aware that I’ll be taking

”

not to respond, which only spurred Elizabeth

treat my words

consult me before making any decisions,

dismissively, eager to avoid any

a note of firmness, Stella then said, “If there’s nothing else of importance, I

leaving my

fell flat, eliciting none of the expected

of reaction left Elizabeth feeling

contain her growing rage, Elizabeth stood abruptly, her

take over my mother’s studio by ingratiating yourself

I’m her daughter.

may have curried favor with her temporarily, but

tactics to yourself and stay away from my mother,” she

Stella remained seated, staring blankly,

efforts to appear unfazed, Elizabeth’s

for the kind of maternal support that Elizabeth received from Bella, a safety net

without maternal protection, Stella doubted she’d ever experience