I smiled to myself–so it was her.


    Thorsten must have told her my name.


    When Sasha arrived, I was lounging in the garden, soaking up the sun. She strutted up to me in full


    “rich wife” mode, her posture screaming arrogance. “Keira Kay, you’ve got some nerve making me


    come all the way here to find you.”


    “You’ve got it wrong.” I replied,pletely calm. “You came because you wanted to see me.”


    Sasha’s perfectly made–up face twisted into an ugly scowl. “You know why I’m here, don’t you?”


    She stood there, casting a shadow that blocked my sunlight. I had to admit, from my angle, her


    hourss figure was… impressive.


    It wasn’t hard to see why a guy like Thorsten would be attracted to her. Even I could appreciate her


    appeal -both visually and practically.


    I smiled. “I have no idea. Is your daughter looking for a ydate?”


    If it weren’t for Milly, Sasha and I would never have crossed paths, and we definitely wouldn’t be


    here having this conversation.


    Funny enough, it had also been right here in this garden where I’d first bumped into her and


    Thorsten.


    “Cut the act,” Sasha snapped, clearly trying to y the alpha card.


    I pursed my lips. “Act? Please, everything about me is 100% original.”


    Her body was wless–so wless that it was obvious she’d had some help from a surgeon.


    Sure enough, myment hit a nerve. Sasha’s face turned red as she pointed a perfectly


    manicured finger at me. “I know you’re jealous of me, but for the record, I’m all–natural. If you don’t


    believe me, feel free to get it checked.”


    Pfft!


    I burst outughing. Wow, did she really just say that? She had the looks, sure, but the brains? Not


    so much.


    Then again, it made sense. A smart girl wouldn’t end up as Thorsten’s side chick


    I decided to cut to the chase. “Alright, enough. Why are you here?”


    “You know why,” Sasha said, barely keeping her anger in check


    Honestly? I had no clue. Her fury seemed based on a whole lot of her own imagination.


    “Ms. Grey, you’ve got three minutes. I suggest you get to the point,” I said, slipping into the authority


    I’d been used to for years.


    Before joining OceanixCorp, I’d been Jace’s assistant, and thanks to our engagement, my position


    had always been just a step below him, but definitely above most others.


    a moment,


    Sasha blinked, a bit thrown off by my sudden shift. The arrogance on her face faded, and for a


    looked unsure. Her lips trembled as she finally said, “Stop trying to seduce Thorsten,”


    Oh.


    I almostughed again. No wonder Ron had said she wasing at me like a wife catching a


    mistress. She’dpletely misunderstood everything.


    I stood up from my chair, meeting her gaze head–on. “If you did your homework, you’d know my


    background. Do you really think I’d be interested in some old man?”


    Sasha’s face paled instantly.


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    She wasn’t much older than me–maybe we were the same age–and yet she’d chosen to be with


    someone like Thorsten.


    I could see why, though. With Thorsten’s wealth and connections, it made sense. Maybe it wasn’t


    love. Maybe it was survival.


    As I started to walk away, I softened my tone, leaving her with one final truth. “I get it. You’re scared.


    If Thorsten ever took an interest in me, it could affect your position. And, to be honest, I bet you’re


    even more worried about the inheritance you and Milly are banking on.”


    Her eyes went wide, her expression crumbling as she realized I’d hit the nail on the head.


    It wasn’t about love between her and Thorsten. It was about money. I didn’t care to dig any deeper,


    so ! smiled and said, “Goodbye.”


    I’d barely taken two steps before she called out, “Keira.”


    I turned, seeing her standing there, her confidence shaken. Her gaze wavered as she asked, in a


    much softer voice, “Can we… Can we be friends?”