The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 1263

Stella finally understood what Neville had meant about an inescapable blind date.

"Mr. Vance, my boyfriend isn't Joshua," she clarified. "It's Neville. We've known each other since my time in Novaris, and he has helped me a great deal."

Zane's expression softened slightly. "Neville, you say? He's a decent young man, certainly one of the more promising of his generation. However, most of his business is outside of Solmaris. The help he can offer you here is limited. Star, The Williams Group owes eighty percent of its success to your mother. But now, everything that should be hers is controlled by your father and brothers, and they intend to give a piece of it to that illegitimate daughter. Are you willing to stand by and watch them squander your mother's legacy?"

Stella smiled faintly and replied, "Mr. Vance, even if I were to marry for power now, it would be impossible to take back The Williams Group overnight. An alliance like that would broadcast my intentions to the world. If I move too quickly, I'll attract their attention and they'll try to stop me. My foundation here is still weak. The only reason the Williams family hasn't moved against me is because they don't see me as a threat."

She paused. "Right now, they think I'm with Joshua. They haven't intervened because they believe that relationship offers me nothing more than emotional support; he provides no strategic advantage. The moment they realize I can't be controlled, especially if I ally myself with a powerful family, they will move to clip my wings. You know as well as I do, Mr. Vance, now is not the time for an open war."

Zane considered her words for a moment, and a look of genuine admiration crossed his face. "You've thought this through, Star. You're right, you can't afford to show your hand yet. Since you have a boyfriend, I won't push the matter. But please, just meet Sheffield. Think of it as simply making a new acquaintance."

Zane nodded back and continued walking, but after a few steps, he stopped and glanced back. The man's profile was as sharp and flawless as a sculpture. He was undeniably handsome; it was no wonder Stella kept him around. As long as she wasn't serious about him, it didn't matter if she kept a few pretty faces for company. The danger was in letting feelings get involved. Women who fell in love were ruled by emotion. That had been Nora's fatal flaw.

Joshua entered Stella's office. "Was Mr. Vance here on business?" he asked casually. The way Zane had looked at him suggested the conversation had been anything but ordinary.

Stella rubbed her weary temples. "Yes. He was trying to play matchmaker."