STELLA
The warm hum of conversation greeted me as soon as I stepped into the office. It wasn’t the sterile silence most people imagined when they thought of a workplace. It was lively, filled with the sound of laughter, ringing phones, and the faint tapping of keyboards. Everyone was free. Happy.
“Stella!”
I barely had time to brace myself before Nina, one of my event planners, appeared with a small box in hand. Her bright smile made the morning feel a little less heavy.
“Macarons,” she announced proudly, holding out the pastel-colored treats. “From that new bakery you told me about. Welcome back.”
My chest tightened in gratitude. I took the box carefully, the aroma of almond and sugar wafting up as I opened it. “You didn’t have to do this, Nina,” I said softly, but my smile was genu
