Page 63 of King of Rage

Stella's hand paused halfway to her mouth.

Ana tilted her head, her smile turning knowing.

“Is it because of you? Are you that woman, Stella?”

Stella's expression shifted slightly.

“For three years, I was with him, and he never showed the slightest interest in my work.” She set her cup on the counter, her brows drawing together as she tried to make sense of it. “Whenever I told him about the business, he barely paid attention. So I don’t understand why he would suddenly want to invest in it.”

She fell silent, turning the information over in her mind.

Then another thought struck her.

“Catherine’s family is also involved in the food industry.”

The realization wiped the smile from Ana's face.

“Oh, God. You don't think he invested because of Catherine, do you?”

Stella's brows furrowed.

“How could that possibly be related to her? I don't understand. It doesn't make any sense.”

Before Ana could respond, Stella's phone began to ring.

She glanced at the screen.

Ordinarily, she wouldn't have answered a call so early in the morning, but she recognized the number as belonging to one of her business partners.

She picked up the phone from the counter and brought it to her ear.

“Hello, Mr. Jenkins.”

“Miss Gibson,” the man replied. “We've made a decision, and we believe this is going to be the best course of action for the business.”

Stella straightened.

“What decision?”

“We’ve decided to hand over the management and operational control of all Licius branches in Manhattan to Miss Catherine’s Winters’s Corporation.”

“What?!”

Several customers glanced in Stella’s direction.

Realizing how loudly she'd spoken, she immediately lowered her voice, though the anger in it remained unmistakable.

“What the hell are you talking about? I'm the owner of Licius! I oversee Manhattan. Who gave you permission to hand over control of my business to someone else?”

“Miss Gibson, I knew you would be upset, which is why we didn't take this decision lightly.” Mr. Jenkins sounded increasingly uncomfortable. “But you have to understand the situation. The largest investment we've ever received came from Mr. Frost.”

Stella's fingers tightened around her phone.

“And?”

“And everyone knows that Mr. Frost’s mother has been introducing Ms. Winters as his girlfriend around the city.” He paused briefly. “Please understand, Miss Gibson. We don't want to offend Mr. Frost by refusing Miss Winters's request.”

Stella's jaw tightened.