Timmy hurried to the maintenance room, calling out for the janitor who had collected the trash bags earlier. When he entered, he realized no one was around. Slapping his forehead, he muttered, "Of course, it's lunchtime. Everyone's out getting food."
He headed to the storage room, where all the trash bags from the building were piled up. His eyes widened at the sight of the massive heap of garbage. His knees almost gave out from the overwhelming sight.
"Please, let me find this picture quickly," Timmy whispered, hoping for some luck. He began sifting through the bags, grumbling to himself, "Where is everyone? They should be helping me with this. I need to eat too, you know. If I'd known he really wanted that picture, I wouldn't have taken it. I saw his hesitation, but I didn't think twice."
He sighed heavily and continued talking to himself, "Why can't he just ask his father for another copy? I don't deserve this. But knowing him, that damn pride won't let him do it. Oh, poor me."
While Timmy was busy searching, Samuel sat in his office with his eyes closed, rubbing his forehead. Ever since he saw that picture, he couldn't get it out of his mind. He tried to focus on his work, but the image kept resurfacing, distracting him completely.
"What the heck is wrong with me?" he muttered.
It felt like bubbles of that image were constantly popping up in his mind, and he found himself wanting to burst every single one of them.
"What kind of spell is this? Argh!" he groaned in frustration.
Unable to take it any longer, Samuel decided he needed the picture back. When Timmy mentioned that it had already been collected by the janitor, Samuel couldn't contain his frustration. "No!" he burst out.
His mind raced with thoughts, 'How long will this torment last? This can't be happening!'
Samuel urgently ordered Timmy, "Go get it. Give me back the picture."
He couldn't stand it any longer. He needed that picture out of his head, or he wouldn't be able to concentrate on anything else.
After about 20 minutes, Timmy finally returned, holding a plastic bag containing the pile of pictures. As he handed it to Samuel, he let out a sigh of relief.
Timmy considered himself lucky. Just a few minutes into his search, the janitors had returned from lunch and noticed him rummaging through the trash.
Timmy's eyes lit up when he spotted the janitor who had collected the bags from their office. He hurried over and asked, "Do you know where the trash bag from our office is?"
The janitor nodded and replied, "Yes, sir. I haven't put it away yet; it's still in my cleaning cart."
"Perfect! I need that bag," Timmy said, feeling a wave of relief.
Back in the office, Timmy watched as Samuel fumbled through the pile of pictures, searching for that particular one. Curiosity got the better of him, and he felt frustrated for not taking a better look at the picture his boss had held earlier.
Samuel carefully sifted through the pile until he found the picture he was searching for. He held it up and stared at the girl in the photograph. She had long brown hair, warm brown eyes, and a soft, kind smile that seemed to radiate through the photo.
His eyes lingered on her smile as if it held some secret he needed to unlock. The image captivated him, a stark contrast to the harsh reality he was used to. Samuel flipped the picture over, hoping to find some clue about why it had such a hold on him.
On the back of the photo, he saw neatly written information:
Name: Zinnia Lopez
Background: A painter and only daughter of the Lopez family, who owns Lopez Digital Studios.
Contact Number: 823-0205-xxxx
Location of Upcoming Date: LL Restaurant
Date and Time: This Saturday at 5 p.m.
Samuel's heart raced as he read the details. The name "Zinnia Lopez" was unfamiliar, but the background information caught his attention. Lopez Digital Studios was a well-known name in the industry, and he had heard of it before.
He was particularly intrigued by the mention of an upcoming date and the contact information. His mind raced with questions. Why had his father selected this girl for him?
Samuel felt a mix of curiosity and frustration. The picture seemed to have a magnetic pull, and the information on the back only deepened his confusion.
He looked at Timmy, who was still standing nearby, his expression a mix of relief and curiosity. "Timmy," Samuel said, his voice low but firm, "I need you to find out everything you can about Zinnia Lopez. I want to know why my father picked her out as a possible candidate."
Timmy nodded quickly, eager to help. "I'll get on it right away, sir."
But before Timmy could leave, Samuel stopped him. "Wait! There's no need. For sure it's because of her wealth and status," Samuel said, pausing before continuing, "Go take your lunch first."
As Timmy left the office, Samuel returned his gaze to the photo. The girl's smile seemed to offer a rare moment of warmth amidst the cold, transactional nature of his world. Samuel felt a pang of something he hadn't experienced in a long time—hope or maybe even curiosity.
The day of the date finally arrived. Samuel entered the restaurant and saw her sitting at a table, looking elegant and poised.
He had seen countless beautiful women, but Zinnia's beauty was different. The picture didn't do her good. She was much more beautiful in person almost magical. She radiated a kind of aura that left him momentarily awestruck. He can't help himself but be drawn to her.
He was about to greet her as he approached, but before he could say anything, she spoke without even looking at him.
Samuel almost chuckled to himself upon hearing her words, 'For the first time, someone is really disinterested in me. This is interesting,' he thought.
___________________________
Author's Note:
I just want to express my heartfelt thanks to all of you for your support and for reading this story. I'm so happy to have won silver in the Weekly Love Tales - White Moonlight contest. I couldn't have achieved it without you all.
Thank you so much!