"H-hello!"
Valeric hissed at her yelling voice from the other side of the phone and glanced at the screen. "Are you okay? Did something happen?"
"No. And why would you assume that something happened?"
"You're calling me, Stella."
"Meaning what?"
"Well, I'm sure you will never call me if something isn't wrong."
"What? What kind of man are you? Why would you say such a thing?"
"Am I mistaken?"
"Of course you are. Big time! I would call you even if nothing was wrong."
"Really?"
"Mm. It's not…a big deal."
"I see. So, you're okay?"
"Yes, I am."
He rested back against his office seat and threw his head back to stare at the ceiling, abandoning his work. "Why did you call?"