Chapter 223

*097%

11:25 “Stella?” The name escaped my lips in disbelief as I registered the familiar face standing before me, her expression seemingly pleasant.

Her smile widened, displaying perfect teeth. “Surprised, Evie?”

My mind raced, attempting to process the sudden appearance of my coworker outside the office premises. Stella was friendly, but she seldom ventured outside the professional realm during work hours. Her sudden appearance in the middle of the street felt odd, almost surreal.

“Stella, what are you doing here?” I stammered, trying to compose myself.

“I just happened to be in the neighborhood,” she replied casually, though her eyes flickered with an intensity that unnerved me.

I glanced around, noticing the passersby, but the street seemed oddly deserted. Unease settled in the pit of my stomach. “I need to get back to work,” I said, taking a step backward.

“Evie,” Stella’s voice was gen which somehow increased my unease. “It’s a little late to be working. I guess that promotion really set you up for some busy hours, huh?”

I blinked rapidly. I didn’t think she’d be paying that much attention to any news surrounding my name. I’d already taken a piece of property from her as well as her ex–fiancé. I figured just seeing my face would disgust her, but she looked serene in the moment.

“You heard about that,” I murmured, adjusting my purse over my shoulder.

She smirked. “Who hasn’t? I suppose you’ve had enough practice by now. Good for you.”

“Thank you?” I managed, my voice caught between astonishment and caution. I didn’t mean for it to sound like a question. “I hope things are going well for you, Stella.”

There was a brief pause, and I caught the twitch in her eyebrow as she looked away. “Well enough.

Of course, there’s no wedding to prepare for now, and the thousands of dollars that I’ve spent have gone down the drain.”

I winced, and she caught my reaction before I could shake it off. Instead of displaying an offense, she waved it off. “Money means nothing to me, so that’s hardly anything to be concerned about. I won’t harass you about it either.”

There was a surprise. Oddly, her demure appearance and manner of speaking were causing me more unrest. Seeing her so calm and mature about the whole thing was more terrifying than satisfying, as if I’d missed a vital part of something.

“Anyway,” she continued, stuffing her hands into her coat pocket and looking around. “I… I wanted to apologize also. For everything I’ve done.”

I bit my lip, taking in her earnest expression. “O–Oh. Well, apology accepted,” I murmured, glancing back. The office building was just a couple of feet away. “Thank you for that, but I should really get going.”

Stella’s gaze was intense as she moved closer. “Wait, Evie. Please. I know things have been awful between us, but I’d like to move past all that.”

I edged further away: “I promise you it’s fine, Stella. Trust me when I say you weren’t the most difficult person in my life.”

Something darkened in her expression at those words. By then, I’d already decided that it was time to take my leave. As I turned away, however, I felt her hand grip my wrist.

“Why are you in such a hurry?” she asked suddenly, coming up beside me. “I have a lot more to say to you.”

I hesitated, uncertainty gnawing at me. Timothy–my heart skipped a beat at the thought of him.

Stella and Timothy had a history, a complicated one. How could I explain his involvement in my life without irritating her already fragile state?

“Oh, you know,” I stammered, choosing my words carefully, “I’m just getting picked up soon and don’t want to. keep them waiting.”

Stella’s brows furrowed, a flicker of suspicion crossing her features. “It’s dangerous out there alone, especially while you’re waiting. Why don’t you come sit in my limo until then?”

The offer took me by surprise. Stella Fitzgerald, once the epitome of ruthless power, was now extending an olive branch. I warred with myself, torn between distrust and curiosity..

“I… I don’t think that’s necessary,” I replied, my voice faltering slightly. “I’ll be fine.”

Stella’s eyes narrowed, a glint of determination sparking within them. “Evie, please. You don’t have to like me Emergency calls only but trust me on this. It’s not safe.”

I swallowed hard, my mind racing. Stella’s concern felt genuine, yet I couldn’t shake off the apprehension. Being trapped in a vehicle with her felt too personal. “I appreciate your concern, but I really must go.”

Stella noticed my unease, her eyes scanning the street outside. She gestured to the limo pulling up to the curb. The windows were too tinted for me to see the driver. “At least until he gets here. When he’s here, you can just hop right out after.”

There was sincerity in her eyes, and right then I knew she’d figured out who I was waiting for. There wasn’t any malice in her words, however.

he door open With a sigh, I followed her towards the sleek, black limousine parked nearby. Stella held the gesturing for me to enter.

Reluctantly, I slipped inside, the plush leather seats offering a strange comfort. The door clicked shut behind me, enclosing us in a cocoon of silence.

Stella settled across from me, her posture rigid yet poised. “I must say, Evie, you look like you could use a drink,”

Stella offered, her voice smooth and composed.

I hesitated for a moment before accepting the crystal glass she extended towards me. As I took a cautious sip, the familiar burn of whiskey trailed down my throat, offering a fleeting sense of comfort.

Stella observed me closely, her eyes searching. “I’ll be honest, I’m actually glad you took Timothy away.”

Her unexpected admission caught me off guard. “What do you mean? Why would you be glad?”

A wistful smile graced her lips. “Because Timothy was never meant to be a part of my life, or yours for that matter. He was a complication, a distraction. And you, Evie, you took him away, freeing me from that entanglement.”

Confusion swirled within me. Stella’s words seemed incongruous with the woman I once knew–a calculated and ruthless figure who played the game of power with precision. Her sincerity was disarming, but I couldn’t shake off the underlying sense of foreboding.

Before I could dwell on her words, a sudden rumble shook the limousine, the engine roaring to life.

Panic surged through me as I realized we were moving, the world outside blurring past the tinted windows.

Emergency calls only OR…

* 097% C 11:25 “What’s happening?” I demanded, my voice edged with urgency. I lunged towards the doors, frantically attempting to ope them, but they remained firmly lock”

Stella watched me impassively, her expression unreadable. “I suggest you stay calm, Evie. There’s no use trying to escape.”

My heart hammered against my ribs as fear threatened to overwhelm me. “Let me out! Why are you doing this?”

A wave of dizziness washed over me, the room spinning as I struggled to keep my bearings. I clutched at the armrest, my vision blurring at the edges.

“Enjoy the ride, Evie,” Stella’s voice echoed faintly in the haze that enveloped me. “You’ll feel better soon.”

My protests dissolved into a distant murmur as darkness crept in, swallowing me whole.