After making his way up the stairs, Jordan eagerly stepped towards the center of the platform. There, he received a warm embrace from a fellow speaker and was handed the coveted trophy.
With a heart full of excitement and a broad smile lighting up his face, he approached the standing microphone.
He bent slightly forward, addressing the audience with a humble yet passionate tone.
"First and foremost, this award took me by surprise. I am overjoyed to announce that my efforts have finally been recognized. I owe a debt of gratitude to everyone who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, from the dedicated staff to the talented cast, for making this achievement possible. And, yes, before arriving here, I encountered someone remarkable. That person gave me a good luck charm, and I must say, your presence has inspired this wonderful gift for me. You have added to my special day just as I have to yours," he expressed, concluding his speech and stepping away.
As he descended the steps of the seating area, he was met with congratulatory words from several industry colleagues, just as he neared Sydney's seat.
Sydney, seated comfortably, watched him with a glowing smile. She was almost tempted to stand, but her instincts held her back.
Instead, she raised her hand in applause, her eyes filled with admiration.
As the event concluded, many attendees made their way to their respective means of transportation. Sydney, too, was guided by officials to a waiting vehicle.
As the door swung open for her, she hesitated, turning her head thoughtfully in a particular direction.
"Hey!" Jordan called out eagerly, his voice reaching her as he made his way toward the van. But before he could get any closer, her vigilant security team quickly intervened, blocking his path. Sensing the tension, she gently urged them to step back with a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, I know him," she said with poise. As she moved towards him, an assistant discreetly lifted the hem of her elegant dress, allowing her to glide forward with grace.
"Hello," Sydney greeted him warmly, a bright smile lighting up her face.
"Congratulations," she added softly, her words carrying genuine warmth and sincerity.
"Thank you so much," he replied, a shy smile accompanying his hand as it nervously reached up to scratch his head.
"What would you like to say?" she inquired, perceiving the nervousness in his demeanor.
"Well, I was thinking it might be nice to get your number now that we've become friends," he ventured, hope lacing his words.
"Friends? Who told you that?" she retorted with a playful edge, a teasing frown crossing her features.
"Oh, I just thought—" he began, stumbling over his words.
"What did you think? I was expecting you to say I'm your good luck charm," she teased, her words drawing laughter from him.
"Where's your phone?" Sydney asked, her tone shifting to one of business-like efficiency.
"Oh, here it is," he replied, fumbling to retrieve his phone, as Sydney gave him a knowing look before tapping in her number.
Handing back the device with a mischievous glint in her eye, she said, "I can't wait to receive a message from you."
"Yes, you will definitely get one from me," he chuckled, amusement dancing in his eyes.
Suddenly, silence wrapped around them, a quiet moment that felt both awkward and charged with unspoken words.
"So, I suppose it's time for me to head home now," Sydney admitted, her voice tinged with reluctance.
"Yeah, see you later," he replied with a shy wave as Sydney climbed into the van.
Upon arriving home, Pene was immediately buzzing around her, brimming with curiosity about the day's events.
Sydney wandered over to the dining table, a steaming cup of coffee nestled in her hands, with Pene eagerly trailing behind.
She settled into a chair on one side while Pene took her place opposite, her eyes alight with anticipation. However, Sydney casually lifted the lid of her laptop, deliberately avoiding Pene's gaze.
"Come on, Sydney, spill the beans. What's different this year?"
With an air of nonchalance, Sydney glanced at her laptop screen briefly, then wrapped her hands around her cup, savoring a sip of her coffee.
"Oh really, Sydney, are you just going to ignore me? Please, I need to know."
"Alright, alright, there was this guy," she confessed, unable to withstand Pene's relentless questioning, which only made Pene lean forward, her body language shouting intrigue as her eyes locked onto Sydney, ready for gossip.
"A guy? Tell me more! What kind of guy is he?"
"Hey, don't take it too seriously; he was just one of my biggest admirers," Sydney clarified with a hint of amusement.
Her eyes sparkled with mischief, teasing, "Oh my, you didn't actually give him your number, did you?"
"Pene, it's just—" Her words trailed off as she felt the buzz of her phone. Swiftly, she snatched it from the table, outpacing Pene's reaching fingers.
"Hey," Sydney exclaimed, her eyes widening as she noticed a text from an unfamiliar number. Another notification soon followed.
"This is Jordan. I hope I'm not disturbing you."
Sydney's face brightened with delight, an involuntary smile spreading across her lips.
"Oh my goodness, don't tell me that grin is because of him," Pene teased, trying to swipe the phone, but Sydney swiftly reclaimed it, playfully swatting Pene's hand away.
"Ouch!" Pene yelped, retracting her hand in mock offense.
"Who's it from? Is it that guy?"
"So what, Pene? I'm entitled to a bit of privacy," Sydney retorted, a hint of defiance in her voice.
Pene raised her hands, feigning surrender with a chuckle.
"My bad, my bad," she laughed, clearly amused.
Sydney remained silent, her lips forming a slight pout as she focused on the screen. When she finally saw the message, her thumbs danced across the keyboard in response.
Time slipped away, and before long, Sydney realized Pene had quietly left the scene.
Her eyes wandered around the dining area, settling on the empty chair. Pene had departed without a word.
Checking her phone, she was startled to discover she'd been lost in conversation with Jordan for hours, the night having slipped into the early morning light.
Stifling a yawn, she glanced at her laptop, now in hibernation from neglect.
Switching it off, she retreated to her room, but her connection with Jordan persisted through the night, leaving her with but a few hours of sleep.
Sydney awoke with the break of dawn, dressed elegantly, and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast. Just as she was about to step out, she caught wind of Pene's astonished voice echoing through the hallway.
"Is that really Sydney?" Pene exclaimed, her voice tinged with disbelief as she approached.
"Where on earth are you headed? You're not exactly known for your early mornings, so what could possibly be pulling you out of bed at this hour?" she continued, her eyes drawn to Sydney's stylish outfit with evident curiosity.
While Sydney typically favored a more relaxed style, she reserved such attire for special moments.
"Sydney, are you actually going somewhere?"
"Well—" Sydney began to reply, but their attention was diverted by the sudden buzz of the telecom, revealing a man standing at the gate.
Pene, puzzled, reached for the telecom and then turned her questioning look towards Sydney.
"He's not here for me," Pene noted, a hint of confusion in her voice.
Sydney offered a knowing smile.
"Actually, Pene, he's the one I've mentioned to you before."
"What? Why is he here? Don't tell me you're heading out with someone you just met last night!"
"It's just a date—" Sydney tried to explain.
Pene's eyes widened in shock.
"Don't look at me like that; times are changing, after all," Sydney remarked, glancing at her watch.
Planting a quick kiss on Pene's cheek, Sydney announced, "I'm running late, bye," and with that, she swept out of the house, leaving Pene in a daze.
As the door clicked shut, Pene stared blankly at it, voicing the question that lingered in her mind.
"When did she start going on dates?"