?Chapter 503:

    Snapping out of her thoughts, Ste brushed it off. “No big reason. I’ve just been working with him a lottely, figured I’d get your take.”

    Sharon didn’t press, waving a hand. “Well, I’m not a fan. Could be just me, but still—keep your guard up.”

    Sharon had a solid gut for reading people. And now, hearing this from her too, Ste couldn’t help but feel a little more on edge.

    “Oh, by the way,” Sharon said, suddenly smirking, “what’s the deal with you and William? That man jumped into the ocean to save you like his life depended on it. He looked like he’d rather drown than let you go under.”

    Ste had been caught off guard too. William’s reckless dive had left her stunned. She hated owing people anything, buttely, her tab with him kept growing. At this rate, she had no clue how she’d ever settle the score.

    “William’s just my boss,” Ste said, keeping it vague.

    Honestly, she didn’t know how to exin it. That answer would have to do.

    Sharon rolled her eyes. “Please. What kind of boss dives into the ocean for you? You’re holding out on me!”

    Ste let out a groan. “I swear, Sharon, I don’t even know. He told me he’s into me, but I’m not in the right headspace for all that. I just got out of a marriage with Marc, and right now? I’m all about making money and getting financially stable.”

    She wasn’t against romance—but she wasn’t ready either. And as for William… she’d never really seen him that way. Honestly, she used to think he was gay.

    “He confessed?” Sharon said, eyes wide.

    She stared at Ste,pletely shocked.

    “William confessed his feelings to you?” she repeated.

    “Shhh!” Ste hissed, tugging at Sharon’s sleeve. “Keep it down! It wasn’t some grand speech, he just… told me how he feels. It’s not like he asked me out or anything.”

    Now that she’d said it out loud, her brain felt scrambled. Between William and the whole Shaun situation, her head was spinning. So, she stood up, trying to change the subject.

    g?lnσν????s, the heart of storytelling

    “I’m stuffed. I’m going to bed.”

    Thankfully, Sharon let it go. If she’d kept digging, Ste might’ve lost sleep over it.

    Three dayster, the gallery reopened with a bang. Crowds poured in, curious eyesnding on the new painting. And it delivered—a total knockout. Even better than the original. Ste felt like she’d hit the jackpot.

    Shaun strolled up beside her, crisp in a silk shirt, hands casually in his pockets.

    He stood there a moment, taking in the artwork.

    “This piece holds up,” he said. “Adolf really put in the effort.”

    Ste smiled. “All thanks to you, Mr. Smith. And… sorry I bailed on that dinner the other time.”

    She didn’t offer to make it up to him with a dinner, and Shaun caught the subtext.

    “It was just dinner, Syl. No big deal,” he said smoothly. “But, if you’re serious about making it up to me—I’ve got something you could help with.”

    Ste raised an eyebrow, curious. “What kind of help?”

    Shaun leaned against the table, his voice casual. “The Smith Group’s working on a new project. Everything was smooth at first, but we hit a snag. The new tech just stopped functioning properly. You’re the expert—I was hoping you could take a look.”

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