"I don''t care how you do it, but I want Ste out of Portis City. Make her leave."


    Ste was left speechless. Was that what they wanted?


    It dawned on her that Urs''s antics were all about getting her out of Portis City.


    So, cutting ties with Yorick and the Larkins wasn''t enough; they wanted her gone from Portis City too?


    Hmph.


    The memory of Urs''s mysterious ten-thousand expenditure that she had Idris investigate shed through her mind.


    That must be it, right?


    There was more to her leaving Portis City than met the eye.


    Jaxon rubbed his temples, exasperated. "What''s the problem now?"


    Business had been hectic these past few days, and pulling an all-nighter at the office had only added to his frustration. Just hearing Ste''s name made him irritable. Cloudia''s voice was shrill with hysteria. "If she stays in Portis City, it''s curtains for Urs. She''ll be the death of her, mark my words."


    That did nothing but amplify Jaxon''s headache.


    "Why is she stirring up trouble with Urs again? I thought she was done with the Larkins?"


    Once ties were cut, they should have remained that way.


    "I don''t care. Just get her out," Cloudia demanded, her voice seething with the desire to see Ste banished from Portis City forever.


    Jaxon was livid. Thinking back to the debacle with Ste''s studio, he hesitated to make any promises.


    Closing down a studio was one thing, but exiling her from Portis City? After thest time, he was well aware that the man backing Ste was no small fry.


    "Are you even listening?" Cloudia''s rising temper was evident. She pressed on, "Do you want to see Urs dead?"


    That statement hit Jaxon hard, making him take a deep breath.


    "I''ll handle it," he finally mustered.


    After hanging up, Cloudia red venomously at Ste. "Just you wait."


    "Wait? I thought with all the influence the Larkins wield, I''d be out of Portis City by now."


    Ste''s words were like a p in the face.


    Idris couldn''t help but give Ste an admiring nce as she arched an eyebrow toward a visibly shaken Urs in Cloudia''s arms, her lips curling into a smirk. "Idris." "Yes, Miss?"


    "How''s the investigation into that ten thousand going?"


    Urs''s breath hitched at the mention of the money!


    As she locked eyes with Ste, fear shed across her face, her body trembling uncontrobly.


    Ste''s smirk widened, clearly enjoying the drama unfolding before her.


    Was Urs panicking over the very ten thousand she had secretly funneled away?


    Cloudia, catching on to the mention of the money, looked puzzled. "What ten thousand?"


    What was Ste implying? And why was Urs shaking like a leaf?


    Cloudia''s gaze shifted to Urs, who was as pale as a ghost, trying desperately topose herself but failing miserably.


    Ste''s smile deepened. "Well, that''s a question for Ms. Larkin, isn''t it?"


    Urs was petrified, her face losing any color it had left. She knew Ste was referring to the money she gave away.


    But how?


    How did Ste find out?


    Questions raced through Urs''s mind as her breathing grewbored and her heart pounded uncontrobly.