Page 102 of King of Rage

“You don't have to worry about that.”

That only made Elias's grin wider.

He leaned back in his chair, watching Lucius with open amusement.

“You know, for a man who spent the last year looking like he was fucking depressed for no apparent reason, you're acting like you're about to run straight into her arms right now.”

Lucius didn't even look at him. He turned toward the entrance and started walking, his expression carefully composed.

“So you're going to Ninth Avenue now?” Elias called loudly after him.

Lucius stopped for half a second but didn't bother turning around.

“I'm not going there for her. I have business nearby.”

Then he continued walking and disappeared through the entrance.

The men exchanged amused looks.

All of them knew it was bullshit.

Xavier leaned back in his chair, a smug grin spreading across his face.

“I think we should give him five minutes before he realizes he left his dignity somewhere in the parking lot.”

***

Six Months Later

A private celebration was underway at Aurelia Palace, where the ballroom had been transformed for the evening. Crystal chandeliers cast warm light across the room, and music drifted through the air.

The occasion was worth celebrating.

Licius had officially gone international.

Stella had barely managed to take a breath all evening.

Every few minutes, someone approached her with another congratulations, another toast, or another question about the company's expansion. She smiled through all of it, accepting the praise with a glass in her hand while occasionally glancing across the ballroom.

And every time she looked toward Lucius, she found his eyes already on her.

He stood on the other side of the room with Xavier, Cassian, Maverick, and the others, surrounded by conversation. The men were doing what they always did when they were together. They talked over one another, argued about things that didn't matter, laughed at each other's expense, and drank as though none of them had any intention of going home anytime soon.

Lucius seemed to be participating in the conversation.

But his attention kept drifting back to her.

She caught him watching her again.

This time, she smiled.

The moment their eyes met, something shifted in his expression. He barely gave her another second before excusing himself from the conversation and making his way across the ballroom.

Stella watched him approach, unable to stop the smile from growing on her lips. The entire evening, he had been hovering around her, as though he couldn't bear to stay more than five minutes away.

When he reached her, his hand settled naturally around her waist.

“You've been avoiding me,” he murmured.