The Ex-Wife's Burning Elegance novel Chapter 23

Jasper shot Stella a piercing glare. “Lay a finger on Rachel,” he hissed, “and you’re over. Just wait till Haynie gets a hold of you!”

Stella finally looked up at him with a hint of amusement. "Jasper," she said earnestly, "have you outgrown being just a simp? Are you now aspiring to be a full-blown lapdog?"

Jasper's face turned crimson with fury.

He pointed an accusatory finger at Stella. "Haynie, Foreman, did you hear that? She called me a lapdog! And earlier, she said I was a simp!"

Foreman cleared his throat gently. "Jasper, maybe it's best to leave this to Haynie."

"No!" Jasper raised his voice, "I'm not leaving until Haynie gives me a fair explanation!"

Stella shrugged nonchalantly. "Then stay here all you want. I've got things to do." She tried to brush past them, rubbing her sore wrist.

Haynes' expression darkened as he caught her wrist again, though this time with a gentler grip. Stella still couldn't shake free.

Jasper opened his mouth to speak further, but Haynes' icy demeanor silenced him. Seeing this, Rachel remained silent as well.

Haynes roughly pushed Stella into an empty room, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Stella, is this your new game of playing hard to get?"

Stella frowned. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Haynes' eyes gleamed with mockery. "Last time, you faked being in danger to lure me in, and it turned out to be nothing. Stella, when did you start resorting to such low tactics?"