Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath

If one person says something looks bad, maybe they're just stirring the pot.

But when everyone who's seen it says it's bad... well, that's probably the truth.

Ronald considered this for a second, then reached over and gave Stella's cheek a playful pinch. "You and Susanna really do love a good gossip, huh?"

He'd already noticed it back when they were living in Portis City. Most of what Stella knew, she'd picked up from Susanna's latest rumor mill.

Honestly, Stella had changed a lot in the three years since she'd left Ferrowland. At least back then, she hadn't had much interest in gossip at all.

Stella chuckled. "What can I say? Maybe it's just a woman's nature?"

Ronald didn't really care. If all Stella did was chat with Susanna on the phone, he could live with it. What worried him was that Susanna seemed to rope Stella into everything lately, dragging her out of the house all the time. But if a little gossip brought Stella some fun, he wasn't about to complain.

"Hey, do you think those twins are actually just someone's stepkids?" Stella asked, curiosity dancing in her eyes.

Honestly, Susanna's theory sounded pretty believable to Stella. After all, the man who ran Black Gate had been an absolute heartthrob in his youth.

Ronald laughed under his breath. "You're impossible," he said, his voice full of affection.

He didn't bother to answer if the twins were really blood relatives or not, and Stella didn't expect any real answer out of him anyway.

They were still talking when someone knocked on the door.

"Boss," called Idris's voice from outside.

gently nudged Stella from his arms and

the room, Idris hesitated for a

"What's up?" Ronald asked.

glanced at Stella, weighed his words, then leaned in to whisper something in Ronald's

whole demeanor changed in an

ran?" Ronald's voice was

"Yes," Idris nodded.

bitter smile played on Ronald's lips, but when he turned back to Stella, his face was soft and warm again. "I need to step into the study for a

what was going on, but

with Idris, and Stella wasn't worried. After all, in Ferrowland, there really wasn't

The study.

pulled a cigarette from his pack and lit up-a habit he'd

did he run?" Ronald asked, his tone

Quarry's been acting... let's just say, unusually interested in Miss

interested" made Ronald's already cold eyes downright

laugh. "Interested? Please. Whatever

nothing. Filthy was one way

he really cared, it sure didn't look like love. More

occurred to Idris, and his face darkened. "Hogan Freeman and

raised an

thinking—maybe Mr. Quarry's interest in Stella is really about

fell silent, letting the idea