To her surprise, it was Mason standing behind her, looking at her with a slight, amused smirk. The moment their eyes met, she felt her pulse slow just a little, the tension in her shoulders easing.
"Mason," she breathed, a smile instantly spreading across her face, both relieved and happy to see him.
"Ellen," he replied, his tone casual but warm, as if he wasn't surprised to find her here.
Before she could say anything else, Philip appeared just behind him. "Ellen! What a pleasant surprise!" Philip greeted her with far more enthusiasm than she had expected, his smile wide as he looked genuinely happy to see her.
Ellen chuckled softly, turning her attention to Philip. "Hi, Philip. It's good to see you too," she said warmly. She always found Philip's energy refreshing. He was one of the few people in Mason's world who seemed genuinely approachable and friendly.