Winona nced at the security guard and asked, "What does she want with me?"

"She didn''t say," the guard replied.

There was a brief pause before Winona said, "Just let her wait for me in the lounge. I''ll be there in a minute."

After hanging up, Winona turned to Elysia and Jessamine.

"It''s Beatrix-Keaton''s fiancée. She''s here to see me."

Elysia frowned in confusion. "What does she want with you?"

Winona shrugged. "No idea. She didn''t say."

Jessamine scowled. "It''s obviously about Keaton. Winona, don''t go let me handle her."

Jessamine had a pretty poor opinion of the Sutton family these days.

The whole situation with the Suttons seemed like an orchestrated move to force Keaton into marrying Beatrix. On the surface, it looked like Beatrix got the short end of the stick, but honestly, Keaton was the one getting screwed over this time. He might not have really been kicked out, but those bruises were real-Richard nearly beat him half to death.

Jessamine, as Keaton''s sister, was furious.

She''d always been neutral about Beatrix-not fond of her, but not hostile either. Now, though? She couldn''t stand the woman. She was worried Winona would get hurt and wanted to go in her ce.

Winona shook her head. "No need. Things are already tense between the Suttons and the Hubers. If she sees you, she might get emotional, and you need to stay calm for the baby. I''ll go see what she wants."

"She has no reason toe after me. I''ll be fine."

Elysia asked, "Want me toe with you?"

Winona smiled. "No, you stay here with Jess. I''ll be right back."

She changed into something a little sharper, slipped on her heels, and headed out.

In the lounge by the gate, Beatrix sat primly on the couch, waiting. Her wire- rimmed sses gave her a studious look. She was all delicate features and pale skin, thin and fragile-looking-the kind of girl who''d fade into the background of a college library, lost in her books.

When Winona walked in, Beatrix stood up and greeted her politely. "Ms. Newsom."

Winona shed a vague, polite smile. "Take a seat. What can I do for you?"

Beatrix didn''t waste time. "I''m here to see Keaton. But he won''t talk to me."

Winona narrowed her eyes. "That''s between you and Keaton. What''s it got to do with me?"

Beatrix''s tone was even. "I know you''re living next door to him now."

"Yeah, I am. So?"

Beatrix got straight to the point. "Can you take me in to see him? Just for a minute?"

"No." Winona didn''t hesitate.

Beatrix''s brow furrowed. Winona exined, "I don''t want to get involved in whatever''s going on between you two."

"But, as one woman to another, let

me give you some advice. There are plenty

of good guys out there you

dont have to tie yourself to just one tree."  s

IMS

"Keaton really doesn''t like you. Instead of wasting your time on him, maybe it''s time to let go and find someone you actually click with."

"You''re notcking in prospects. You could easily find a great guy to settle down with."

Beatrix frowned again, her expression mostly unchanged, but her eyes turned icy sharp.

"You''re telling me to give up on him so you can have him to yourself, right? You think just because he doesn''t want me, he wants you?"

"If I can''t marry him, you sure as hell won''t either. Don''t forget-you''ve already been married once!"

Winona''s eyes narrowed.

"So, you didn''te here to ask for help. You came here to throw down the gauntlet?"

Beatrix stared coldly at her-no denial.

Others might be blind to it, but she

saw right through it. Richard and Janelle kicking Keaton out was nothing but a golden opportuni

for

Winona, and Beatrix wasn''t about to lose to her.  s

She had the pedigree, the credentials, the top-tier education.

She was everything Winona wasn''t She was the "good girl." Winona was just awed up actress. with a nice

face and a killer body. What else did she have to offer?  s

In Beatrix''s eyes, Winona wasn''t even in the same league.