Page 157 of Modern Romance March 2025 (5-8)

“Damn it, Stella. I don’t like losing. It makes me fight dirty, but there is nothing wrong with how you reacted last night. It was incredible. I want that for as long as it lasts. If you want a divorce when it burns out, fine. But it’s already lasted five years. It will last at least that again, I promise you.”

“As if I want to tie my life to someone who makes me feel small the minute he’s angry with me! Been there, done that, and I took a train to Zermatt to get away from it. Now let me out before I start screaming.”

With a muttered curse, he opened the door.

* * *

That couldn’t have gone any worse, Atlas thought, as Stella’s footsteps retreated down the stairs.

Then he heard her shriek from the lower floor.

He leaped toward the stairwell and peered down at her. “What happened?”

“They fired me, didn’t they?” She shook her phone at him. “Three months’ pay as per my contract since they don’t have cause, but they believe they do have cause in terms of damage to the company reputation so I’d better leave without a fight. Also, they’re putting out a statement that I don’t work there so the buzzards will get out of their lobby. Thanks alot!”

She stomped down another flight of stairs and the slam of her bedroom door resounded through the house.

Fantastic.

He went down to the main floor and his PR manager picked up her head from studying the screen on her laptop.

“I’m guessing we’re not any closer to our own statement?”

“No.” Damn it.

He walked into the den where a pair of lawyers were working, closed the door and issued fresh instructions that he hoped would be a good use of their time since he wasn’t giving up on marrying Stella.

He went to her door, prepared to hear crying or glass breaking or even the sound of the helicopter while she flew herself out of here.

Instead, he heard her speaking German.

“It’s not a waste of time. Or money. You’re not quitting, Beate. No. Don’t listen to him. You’regood. We’ll find the money.” A lengthy pause, then, “That won’t happen. I’ll move in before I let him do it. I may have to. Don’t tell Grettina, but I’ve lost my job. They didn’t even give the scandal a chance to die down. No, it’s not like that. He’s someone I met a long time ago, but that’s not why I’m calling. Are you able to go visit the apartment today? The one from the link I sent you? If not, I’ll come tomorrow—”

Atlas rapped his knuckles on the door.

Stella opened it and held up a finger at him, continuing to speak into her phone.

“There are? How many? Hmph. But they only spoke to Grettina? Not the little ones? Good. And Pappa doesn’t know? That’s good. Let Elijah know they’ve been there. Hopefully, he can keep Pappa at the hotel. If he comes to the house…” She touched her brow. “Look, I have to go, but I’ll text you my plans in a little while. Give everyone my love.”

“Your sister?” he guessed as she ended the call.

She nodded and sank onto the edge of the bed. “You were right about them finding my family. Three different reporters were at the house today, asking Grettina about me. I thought I could go there, but…” There was no anger or blame in her voice, just worry and weariness. She dropped her elbows onto her knees and buried her face in her hands.

“Tell me what’s going on with your father,” he insisted as he closed the door.

She winced as she lifted her head, as though he was physically twisting her arm.

“Upstairs, you said he made you feel small and that’s why you ran away.” He angled the only chair in the room to face her and sat down in it, putting their feet toe to toe.

She flickered her gaze to the closed door.

“I’m not going to judge you,” he assured her. “My father refused to acknowledge me until he saw a use for me. I have so little respect for him, I’m plotting to take his job. You can’t shock me.”

She stopped clicking her thumbnails together and frowned at him. “Do you really hate him for making you? Because people can’t help who they’re attracted to.”

“They can control how they act on that attraction,” he shot back. “They don’t have to take advantage of a naive girl who’s never been off the island where she grew up. They don’t have to hide the fact that they’re married and leave without saying goodbye. They especially don’t have to call her a liar when her father calls to say she’s pregnant. Maybe they could send her some money to help raise their son, instead of refusing outright to have anything to do with either of them.”

“Did he really?”

---