The unexpected call from Matthew caught Stella off guard, her expression changing subtly as she listened to him.
Gripping her phone tightly, she managed a calm response.
“I’m at the studio. Let’s talk over lunch if you’re free.”
Matthew agreed without hesitation.
After Stella hung up, her expression grew somber.
Entering the studio, she tried to focus on the backlog of design sketches, but her thoughts were scattered, her pencil moving almost aimlessly across the paper.
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Suddenly, the image of the man in the wheelchair she had glimpsed earlier flashed through her mind. Snapping back to reality, she realized she had inadvertently sketched his piercing cold eyes. They seemed hauntingly familiar!
She frowned in concentration, trying to piece together the fleeting image from the rearview mirror.
As she pondered over the drawing, the doorbell rang. It was Matthew, arriving much earlier than expected.
Stella asked in surprise, “Why are you here already? I thought we agreed to meet for lunch.”
Matthew’s expression was one of concern as he observed Stella’s pale face.
He had sensed something amiss during their phone call and couldn’t concentrate at work, prompting him to come early.
“I was worried about you. What’s going on? You seemed different this morning.” He scrutinized her, looking for any sign of distress.
Inviting Matthew inside, Stella began to recount her morning.
“After you left, I called Miley, only to find out she’s on a business trip.
So, I took a taxi…”
She hesitated, the flicker of fear in her eyes betraying her attempt at composure.
“I just came straight to the studio.”
Matthew noticed the brief tremble in her voice. He held her gaze, searching for the truth.
“Is that all that happened? Nothing unusual on the way? Stella, please don’t hide anything from me.”
Confronted with Matthew’s probing eyes, Stella hesitated before admitting, “There was an odd taxi driver. He drove recklessly, and it unnerved me. But I’m okay now.”
Matthew’s frown deepened, sensing her reluctance to reveal the entire story.
“Stella, there’s more, isn’t there? Why aren’t you telling me everything? Did I do something wrong?”
Stella’s expression stiffened, realizing she could no longer withhold the truth. After all, the taxi driver was after Matthew.