Hyacinth quickly checked her messages and found one from him.
"So, did you like my gift or not?" he asked eagerly.
"Liked is an understatement, I loved it... but I'm not going to accept it," Hyacinth responded.
"Why Hya?" he asked, confused.
"I want something else from you," Hyacinth typed back.
"Anything you want is yours," he replied.
"I want you. I want to see you and meet you on my birthday, no matter what," Hyacinth confessed.
"I need to think about it... but what if I come in front of you? Will you accept me?" he asked hesitantly.
"What the hell kind of question is that?" Hyacinth typed back, a mixture of surprise and amusement.
"Of course, silly! I would absolutely accept you," Hyacinth replied with a smile forming on her face as she typed her response. "It would be the best birthday gift ever."
Her heart raced with anticipation as she waited for his reply. Moments later, the familiar typing indicator appeared, signaling his response was on its way.
"I'm relieved to hear that. I was afraid you might not feel the same way," he messaged back.
Hyacinth couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for him. She remembered how difficult it had been for her to gather the courage to express her feelings. She decided to reassure him and let him know that her answer came from the depth of her heart.
"Please don't doubt my feelings," Hyacinth replied. "You mean so much to me, and I genuinely can't wait to see you."
As the minutes ticked by, their conversation continued. They discussed the details of their meeting and shared their excitement about spending Hyacinth's birthday together. The thoughts of finally being in each other's presence filled them both with joy and anticipation.
...
She got ready for work and arrived at the office, feeling as though it was her first time entering the building. She noticed that everyone seemed to be staring at her, possibly because they had heard about the events of the previous night. Nervously, she made her way to her cabin and discovered a beautiful bouquet of roses and tulips on her desk. Smiling, she speculated about who could have sent it and eagerly grabbed the accompanying note.
The note read, "For the world's most beautiful person who owns my heart..." Her cheeks flushed with a mix of excitement and shyness. She quickly sent a text message to express her gratitude: "Thank you…"
The response came swiftly: "You're most welcome…"
Curiosity getting the better of her, she decided to ask about their meeting: "So, when are we going to meet? I might need to take the afternoon off from work…"
His reply piqued her interest even further: "You won't need to ask your boss for time off…"
Slightly perplexed, she asked, "How and why is that?"
"Just wait and watch," he replied cryptically.
Feeling a sense of confusion, she pressed on with her inquiry: "I don't understand. You always seem so sure about my boss. Do you bribe him or something?"
"It's not like that. When you meet me, you'll understand everything," he assured her.
"Let's see then," she responded, feeling a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty.
"I hope you don't panic. Meet me at 7 at Temple Street Restaurant," he suggested.
"Done. I can't wait!" she exclaimed eagerly.
"I hope you remain the same with me after you meet me," he expressed nervously.
"I'm sure I will," she reassured him.
Just as the conversation came to an end, her office phone rang, signaling that her boss was calling her. She quickly made her way to his cabin, with the sound of her bangles tinkling sweetly. Her boss, Mr Schneider and Mr Douglas who was also in the office looked up and noticed her presence. Her voice was so melodious, he had never heard it here before. They couldn't help but admire how the bangles seemed to have been made for her arm alone.
"Ms. Hawkins , you can take the rest of the day off," Mr Schneider stated unexpectedly, surprising her.
"But why, sir? I'm feeling well," she responded, confused by his generous offer.
"We give holidays to every employee here," he explained with a warm smile.
"Okay... I will go as soon as I finish my tasks," she replied gratefully.
"As you wish," he nodded, returning to his phone call. "Is everything ready? Okay, okay... I'm on my way."
" I need to get something ready" Mr Douglas suddenly stood up with a sweet smile on.
" What is it" Mr Schneider asked narrowing his eyes at him.
"A secret" Mr Douglas winked at him and left the office shortly.
Mr Schneider rolled his eyes and then resumed working. He suddenly thought of Hyacinth and smiled.
...
As she left his cabin, Hyacinth packed up her belongings, brimming with excitement. Knowing she was going to meet her lover face-to-face for the first time, she decided to make a quick stop at a shopping mall. She picked out a stunning out fit, some stylish shoes, and a few accessories to complete her look.
At 6 pm, Hyacinth stood in front of the mirror, feeling both hopeful and self-conscious. "Do I look good?" she asked herself, seeking reassurance.
Her reflection smiled back at her. "Oh, okay, you've asked that question 30 times already. Relax, you look fantastic," she replied, trying to calm her nerves.
"Okay, maybe I'm just a bit nervous," Hyacinth admitted, taking a deep breath to compose herself.
With her nerves settled, Hyacinth summoned a ride and headed to the Temple Street Restaurant.
...
She reached the designated place where the manager had directed her—a dimly lit hall. A hint of fear tingled in her, making her slightly anxious. The manager guided her inside the hall and left immediately, saying, "I'm not supposed to come inside..."
As she stepped in, something soft and delicate tickled under her shoes. She bent down to see and discovered rose petals strewn across the floor. Suddenly, a beam of light focused solely on her, creating a radiant circle around her.