The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 428

After Abby’s name had surfaced, finding Stella hadn’t been all that difficult.

Benson glanced at Stella, whose expression was anything but friendly, and cleared his throat.

“Ms. Cameron, we’re… here to speak with Star.”

Stella’s eyes flickered.

If Haynes had managed to track her down, it meant he knew everything.

Haynes shot Abby a quick look. “Ms. Murphy, would you mind giving us a moment?”

Abby glanced at Stella, silently asking for her approval. Stella gave her a brief nod.

Abby nodded and left the room with Benson.

Once they were gone, Haynes walked over to Stella.

His deep, inscrutable gaze settled on her, as if he was sizing her up for the very first time.

“So, you’re Star.”

He realized, in that moment, how little he truly knew about Stella.

They’d been married for five years, and in all that time, she’d never held a job.

Whether she worked or not had never mattered to him. He’d simply never asked about her past or her career.

It stunned him to learn that, beyond playing the violin and speaking fluent French and German, she was also the elusive, universally admired composer known only as Star.

Stella knew perfectly well why Haynes was here, so she didn’t bother with pretense. “I won’t be Rachel’s personal composer. You’d better find someone else.”

Haynes held her gaze. “Why not?”

Stella had braced herself for this—she didn’t look surprised.

“There are plenty of ways for you to promote Ms. Pearce, Mr. O’Brien. You don’t need to step on me to do it, do you?”

Haynes’s expression darkened. “If you’re worried about being targeted, I’ll hire a top-notch PR team to handle it.

If you don’t want to appear in public, I can make the arrangements. Whatever you need, just say the word.”

“I don’t need anything from you.” Stella’s tone was ice-cold. “The only thing I want, Mr. O’Brien, is for you to leave and never show up in my life again.”

Afternoon sunlight slanted through the blinds, casting bands of light and shadow across Haynes’s striking features.

“Is it because of me that you’re refusing this job?”

Stella’s patience was wearing thin. “Glad you figured it out. But honestly, even if it wasn’t you, Mr. O’Brien, I still wouldn’t take it.

Your involvement just gives me even more reason to refuse.”

Haynes met her gaze, unflinching. “Stella, you should know by now—when I set my mind to something, I always get it.”