Cross My Tigress Face the Wrath (Stella)

Ronald's long, slender fingers tapped rhythmically on the dining table, creating a tension that made Finley glance nervously at Stella.

Stella sat still, focused on nothing but the task of not drawing attention to herself.

Why was Finley looking at her? There was no way she could defend Skye. Ronald had drilled into her the importance of being ruthless with anyone who posed a threat. And Skye? Speaking in her defense would only invite one of Ronald's scathing lectures later. Finley was on the verge of panic. "I really don't think that girl has the brains to pull off whatever you're suggesting."

"Oh, really?" Ronald's voice was dripping with sarcasm. "Then why did she ditch Yvonne's people? What game is she playing?"

Finley was at a loss for words, feeling like he was on the brink of tears. Why on earth did Skye dump Yvonne's crew? What was she up to?

Ronald, clearly done with Finley's faltering, shifted his attention to Stella. "You'll stay by my side for the next few days."

Skye was proving to be a difficult opponent, and Ronald didn't want to risk her taking Stella away. If Skye could leave Yvonne's people behind, who knew where she might take Stella?

Stella nodded obediently. "Okay."

But then she hesitated. "I have to go to the studio tomorrow."

"No need to go to the studio, Miss," Idris chimed in unexpectedly.

"What?" Stella was taken aback, her mind reeling. What did he mean by that? It sounded like her studio was done for.

Just as Stella was about to question Idris further, her phone buzzed. It was Tabitha calling.

Stella answered, "Tabitha?"

"Boss, we've got a problem. StarRiver Corp. has pulled out of our contract," Tabitha's voice was filled with urgency.

Stella was shocked. This was bad news. A client bringing in hundreds of thousands annually was about to walk away?

In her surprise, Stella jumped up from her chair, knocking it over with a loud thud.

She didn't care that Ronald and Finley were watching. Moving to a corner, she spoke into the phone, feeling frustrated. "What happened? We were doing fine, weren't we? And hadn't they already paid the design fee?" Why would they back out now, after being satisfied with the designs so far?

Tabitha replied, "I don't know. We just got a call from their business department. They said the contract is terminated."

"Did they give a reason?"

"No."

A major client dropping them without explanation was a recipe for bankruptcy.

Stella groaned. "Do they think our drafts are too slow? Tell them we'll finish in three days. Just three days."

This was all Ronald's fault. If he

hadn't gotten her injured, none of this would've happened. Now they were on the brink of losing the most important client they'd ever had.

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She couldn't afford to let that happen. Too many designers depended on her to keep the studio running.

Tabitha sighed. "They just said they don't need us anymore."

"They don't need us?" Stella repeated, baffled.

What kind of excuse was that?

"Does this mean we have to return the design fee?"

"They said we don't need to return it."

Stella's jaw dropped. "Huh?"

StarRiver Corp. was indeed a big player. Dismissing tens of

thousands in upfront fees without a second thought? Were their funds just blowing in the wind?

Stella bit her lip. "Is there no way to negotiate?"

Tabitha answered, "None."

Stella was speechless. The contract was gone, just like that? Without a proper reason?

...

Meanwhile, back in the dining room, voices were rising. Finley and Ronald's conversation was heating up, and snippets drifted over to Stella.

"Damn it, I don't even know who to blame now. Your sister's people were involved, and now my sister's missing."

Finley was getting desperate.

Ronald's attitude was intimidating,

but Finley was ready to play the blame game since, technically, it was his sister who was missing.

On the phone, Tabitha continued, "Boss, losing Star River Corp. is a big hit for us."

Stella replied, "What? Uh..."

Her gaze shifted away from the dining room.

It was indeed a significant loss. She had planned to hand over her studio to Susanna, largely because of StarRiver Corp.noveldrama

Now, without this partnership, was there even a point in the studio's existence anymore?