#Chapter 223: A Nice Little Chat

"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 gentle, which somehow increased my unease. “It’s a little late to be working. I guess that promotion reall