The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 1078

Sensing her distraction, Joshua paused mid-sentence and looked down at her.

“What’s wrong?”

His deep, clear eyes reflected her silhouette, calm and still as a glassy lake—unfathomable, but never turbulent.

Stella snapped back to herself at once.

What on earth had she just been thinking?

If Joshua had ever intended to take advantage of her, he certainly wouldn’t have waited until now.

A flush of shame crept up her cheeks.

She’d really been judging a gentleman by her own suspicious standards.

She’d never seen Joshua as a typical man, and perhaps, to him, she wasn’t much of a woman either.

“It’s nothing,” Stella murmured, turning her gaze away. Casually, she asked, “Do you really understand all this business stuff?”

She half-expected Joshua’s usual answer: “I know a little.”

But this time, he surprised her. “Yeah, I used to work in an office before. I actually know quite a bit about it.”

Stella blinked, a little taken aback—but then, it made sense. Joshua was sharp; he didn’t have to be a bodyguard for a living.

While she was still mulling this over, Joshua spoke again.

“So, if there’s anything you’re confused about, you can always ask me first. If I can’t help, then go to Mr. Connolly.”

Stella’s gaze flicked toward him.

He met her eyes without hesitation and added, “Mr. Connolly’s always swamped at work. If you interrupt him, it could cost the company a fortune. I’m your employee—it makes perfect sense for you to come to me. Mr. Connolly, no matter how close you are, is still an outsider. It’s not right to trouble him all the time.”

Stella thought it over and realized he had a point.

Nora was gone, but she’d left behind three sons. With Jonathan and his brothers around, the two families remained inextricably linked.

Skyler made introductions, presenting Aurora and Stella to everyone.

Stella had already met the shareholders who’d supported Nora during the family recognition dinner. She greeted them now with a polite smile, and they returned her warmth. Stella looked so much like Nora, and the poise she’d shown at the banquet had left a strong impression—she hadn’t let Nora down, and the shareholders placed great hopes in her.

After the introductions, Skyler turned to Stella. “Star, this is the current head of the Cameron Group—your uncle.”

Stella looked over and saw a middle-aged man about Skyler’s age, smiling kindly at her.

“Star, right? I’m Nora’s older brother—your uncle Hugo,” he said.

He gestured to the young man seated beside him. “And this is Aherne Cameron, your cousin.”

Stella shifted her gaze from Uncle Hugo to Aherne, taking in the faces of her extended family for the first time.