Caitlin walked up to Stella's desk, dropping two thick files in front of her with an air of disinterest.
"The boss wants to see you. Take these to him," she said flatly.
Stella frowned, glancing at the files before looking up at Caitlin. Why would he call me?
"Go to the 30th floor," Caitlin added with an exaggerated eye roll before strutting away, leaving Stella with an uneasy feeling twisting in her gut.
Reluctantly, she gathered the files and made her way to the elevator. The moment the doors slid shut, the silence wrapped around her like a noose. The button for the 30th floor glowed ominously, and the further up she went, the more suffocating the air seemed to become.
When the doors finally opened, she was met with an eerie stillness. The entire floor was empty, save for a single door at the end of the hall. No secretaries. No staff. Just a long, silent walk to the unknown.
Simon leaned back in his chair, smirking as he listened to her heartbeat flutter erratically beyond the door. Like a rabbit caught in a wolf's den.
Stella inhaled sharply, steadying herself before knocking.
"Come in," came the deep, velvety voice from within.
Her fingers curled around the handle, hesitating for just a second before she pushed the door open.
Simon's gaze dragged over her as she stepped inside—black ribbed turtleneck hugging her form, a blue-and-black checkered skirt cascading down to her ankles, cinched at the waist with a belt. Black combat boots finished the look, adding an edge to the otherwise soft appearance.
He didn't say a word at first, only watching.
Intriguing.
"Good morning, Stella," Simon said, his voice smooth yet carrying an undeniable weight.
Stella dipped her head slightly. "Good morning, Boss. These are the files you requested." She placed the two thick folders neatly on his desk, keeping her expression neutral.
Simon leaned forward, fingers tapping idly against the leather-bound surface. "Do you know why I called you here, Ms. Stella?"
She met his gaze briefly before shaking her head.
He tapped a finger against the files. "These are the latest prototypes from our company. I want you to analyze them and draft a detailed report on both. A full breakdown—functionality, efficiency, market viability."
A flicker of excitement lit up Stella's eyes before she could stop it. Finally, something I actually enjoy.
She nodded, reaching for the files. "Understood." Turning toward the door, she was about to leave when hesitation crept into her mind.
She stopped.
"Why me?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder.
Simon smirked, a glint of something unreadable flickering in his dark eyes. "Because you're smart. I trust you'll deliver what I need."
There was an unspoken weight in his words that made the hairs on the back of her neck rise.
"You will report directly to me once it's done," he continued, his voice dropping a fraction lower. "Before lunch."
Stella swallowed, her jaw tightening. She gave a curt nod before walking out, her pulse unsteady.
Back at her desk, she pushed everything else aside and focused on the files.
One was a blueprint for a cutting-edge body armor, designed for maximum protection while maintaining flexibility. The other was a highly encrypted communication software, something sleek, dangerous—capable of blocking even the most advanced surveillance attempts.
Before lunch, Stella found herself in Simon's office once again, standing across from his imposing desk as he flipped through her report. His sharp eyes scanned the pages with an unreadable expression.
"You're actually good," Simon said finally, his voice smooth yet laced with something that made her stomach twist.
Stella furrowed her brows. What was that supposed to mean?
"I'm assigning you to the prototype division," Simon continued, closing the file with a quiet snap. "I'll inform Caitlin. From now on, you'll be working directly on our latest developments."
Stella nodded stiffly, suppressing the discomfort curling inside her. The last thing she wanted was to draw unnecessary attention to herself—especially from him.
That evening, instead of heading home, she made her way to Blake and Naomi's house.
"Aunt Stella!"
The shrill cry of excitement was followed by the rapid patter of small feet. Stella barely had time to brace herself before a little body collided into her legs.
"My Bella!" Stella laughed, scooping the child into her arms effortlessly.
Bella squealed with delight as Stella pressed playful kisses to her cheeks, making exaggerated growling sounds before attacking her with tickles. The little girl shrieked in laughter, gripping onto Stella's sweater.
As she stepped into the warm familiarity of the house, for the first time that day, Stella felt herself breathe.
Stella hugged Noami and sat on the couch as Bella ran off to play with her toys.
"So, how's it working with Simon's doppelgänger?" Noami asked, concern evident in her voice.
Stella let out a deep sigh. "Uncomfortable—and every bad adjective you can think of."
Noami frowned. "Where's Blake?"
"Working," Noami replied.
Rocco and Blake owned bars, so their work schedules were never fixed.
"Did you just get back from work?" Stella asked, eyeing Noami's outfit.
"Yeah, about an hour ago," Noami said, stretching.
"I'm going to take a bath. Can you set the table for dinner?"
Stella nodded. As she arranged the table, Blake walked in, washing his hands before sitting down.
"Hey, Stels," he greeted.
"Hi," Stella said, offering a small smile.
"There's something important I wanted to talk about," Blake said, his tone turning serious.
Stella gave him her full attention.
"You handle Simon's accounts, which helps with income tax, but when it comes to assets, Simon's account may get deactivated."
"What do you mean?" she asked, frowning.
"You'll need to sell one of the islands," Blake explained.
Stella went still. A moment passed before she finally spoke.
"Delour. I'll sell Delour."
Blake nodded. "I'll prepare the documents by next month."
Stella nodded in return, her mind elsewhere.
Noami wrapped her arms around Blake, kissing him, and Bella rushed toward them. Blake picked her up, peppering her with kisses as she giggled.
Stella felt a pang in her chest. If Simon were alive, maybe we would have had this too.
After dinner, she quietly left for home.