Page 64 of King of Rage

“What request?”

“She personally called and asked to take over the Manhattan operations. Several partners agreed because they don't want to have any problems with Mr. Frost.”

Stella's anger surged so violently that she could barely keep herself from shouting.

Lucius had invested in her business, and now he was using his influence to hand it on a silver platter to Catherine?

She swallowed hard, forcing the fury burning in her throat back down.

Mr. Jenkins continued, his voice placating.

“Please, Miss Gibson, try to remain calm. Everything will be fine. This is only temporary. It's not as though the arrangement will be permanent.”

“Temporary?” Stella repeated, her voice dangerously quiet.

“Yes. For now, just let Miss Winters take over the operations. Once she gets tired of it, you can take back control. It's your business, after all, so this shouldn't become a serious issue.”

Stella's grip tightened around the phone.

“Are you seriously telling me to sit back and let someone else run my business because you don't want to upset Lucius?”

“Please, Miss Gibson, don't misunderstand me.” Mr. Jenkins sounded desperate to placate her. “We're only thinking about the company's reputation and our working relationships. You know how these things are. We cannot afford to offend Mr. Frost.”

Stella's nostrils flared.

“And what about my reputation? What about my business?”

“I'm asking you to understand the situation. Please don't do anything that might offend Mr. Frost. It's important for everyone involved.”

Stella stared straight ahead, her anger simmering beneath a frighteningly calm expression. She didn't even wait for him to finish speaking. She hung up the phone and slammed it down on the counter, her fingers trembling with barely restrained fury.

Ana immediately looked at her, concern replacing the curiosity on her face.

Stella's chest rose and fell rapidly as she muttered, “So this is what it was for.”

She dragged a hand through her hair, her expression twisting with anger.

“This is why he invested in Licius.” Her voice trembled with fury. “He probably intended to give my business to Catherine as a fucking wedding gift for his fiancée.”

Ana remained silent, watching her carefully.

“Now I understand why he was suddenly so interested in investing in Licius. All these years, he never praised my business. Not even once. He couldn't have cared less about what I was doing.”

Stella's hands curled into fists at her sides.

“But now, suddenly, his girlfriend wants my business, and he invests in it just so he can hand it over to her?” She let out a disbelieving laugh, shaking her head. “Was this his plan all along? To take everything I built and give it to his fucking fiancée just because she wants it?”

Her voice cracked with fury.

Stella could barely breathe. The anger coursing through her body was so intense that she had to grip the edge of the counter to steady herself.

Ana watched her with growing concern.

“Why does that sound so familiar?” she asked quietly.

Stella turned toward her.

“What?”