CHAPTER FOUR
Breathless and spent, Stella used the last remaining strength in her legs to power over the finish line, before staggering to a tree. She leaned against it, her arms quivering, gasping for breath.
In another minute, Carrie would cross the line. When she did, Stella decided she was going to walk straight over to her and apologize. Despite having been baited by the tall brunette, the punch had been unacceptable. Her superiors would believe it showed a loss of control, even though she’d felt fully in control and as if it had been the only sensible course of action to defuse a potential attack.
Gulping in oxygen, Stella was planning her apology, when there was a tap on her shoulder.
She straightened up, releasing her grip on the rough bark, feeling a twinge of guilt that Marc
