As the clock struck noon, the open-plan office buzzed with the familiar sounds of ringing phones and clicking keyboards. Serena glanced at the clock on her monitor, relief washing over her as she saved the last document she had been working on. It was finally lunch break, and she could escape the constant flurry of emails for an hour of reprieve.
Grabbing her salad and coffee from her desk, she made her way to the small but cozy break room. She had just settled at the corner table by the window when Anna burst in, her curly black hair bouncing with each hurried step.
"Serena!" Anna called, her voice a mix of excitement and mock seriousness. "What's this about you receiving a fancy little package this morning, huh?"
Serena froze mid-sip, her cheeks instantly warming. "I don't know what you're talking about," she replied far too quickly, focusing intently on stabbing a piece of lettuce with her fork.
"Oh, don't play coy," Anna said, sliding into the seat across from her with a knowing smirk. "I saw the delivery guy hand it to you at your desk. A shiny black box with a bow? From Ryan? Care to explain?"
Serena sighed and set her fork down. There was no escaping Anna once she got curious. "It's nothing, really. Just a small gift."
Anna leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands. "A 'small gift'? From Ryan? The same Ryan you've been awkwardly texting late at night? Spill, Serena. This is prime lunch break gossip material."
Serena groaned, her voice tinged with playful exasperation. "Fine. He sent me...a necklace. He must have remembered I mentioned liking this specific jewelry."
Anna's eyes widened, and she let out a low whistle. "That's not just thoughtful—that's borderline romantic. Come on, is this the guy from the meeting last month? The one you said had a 'nice smile'?"
"Yes, that's him," Serena admitted, her voice quieter now. "We've been talking since then. He's sweet, but it's not what you're thinking."
"Oh, it's exactly what I'm thinking," Anna teased, wagging a finger at her. "The man remembers your preferences and sends gifts to your office. That's a declaration, Serena. Next thing you know, he'll show up with flowers, and this is not the first gift from him."
Serena chuckled despite herself. "You're incorrigible."
"And you're hopelessly in denial," Anna countered. "So, when's the next date?"
Serena hesitated and then sighed. "Tomorrow evening. Dinner at a new Italian place downtown."
Anna's face lit up. "You're going on a dinner date, and you didn't tell me? What am I, chopped liver?"
"It's not a big deal," Serena said, trying to downplay the fluttering in her chest. "We're just... getting to know each other."
"Getting to know each other?" Anna laughed. "Serena, people don't send gifts like that for casual acquaintances. Admit it, you like him."
Serena bit her lip, finally giving in to a small, shy smile. "Okay, maybe I do. A little."
Anna gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. "A confession! This is better than the office drama last week when Claire accidentally sent that email to the wrong client."
They both burst into laughter, the tension melting away as they continued their lunch. As the hour ticked by, Anna kept teasing Serena, but underneath the playful jabs was genuine happiness for her friend.
Anna looked at her friend stuffing her mouth with lettuce so she wouldn't have to give further information and smiled, she was genuinely happy for her ; Serena had been apathetic towards the idea of relationship over the past two years they have known each other and now this.
***
Ryan stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows of his corner office on the 46th floor, the sprawling cityscape stretching out before him. Skyscrapers shimmered in the afternoon sun, their glass façades reflecting the hustle and ambition of the world below. But Ryan's thoughts were far removed from the noise and chaos of the city, his thoughts tranquil.
He glanced at his phone on the desk, where a delivery confirmation message blinked on the screen. The gift had been delivered, the third time he was having a gift delivered to her in her office. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he imagined Serena opening the box, her delicate fingers untying the satin ribbon, her eyes lighting up when she saw the silver necklace.
It wasn't an extravagant gift—just a simple, elegant piece she'd admired in passing during their one of their previous conversations. Serena had thought nothing of it, casually mentioning how much she liked understated jewelry, but the moment had stuck with him. It was her way, he realized, to find beauty in simplicity, to appreciate the little things most people overlooked.
Ryan turned back to the window, his hands slipping into his pockets. It had been a long time since he'd felt this way—this quiet, steady pull toward someone. Serena was different. She was sharp and witty, yet unassuming, her laughter warm enough to soften even his most stressful days.
He wondered if the necklace was too forward, but part of him didn't care. She deserved to know he was paying attention, that he valued her enough to remember the small things.
His reflection in the glass caught his eye, his expression unusually pensive. Maybe this wasn't just another fleeting connection. Maybe Serena was someone worth taking a chance on.
The thought settled in his chest as the city buzzed below, and for the first time in years, Ryan felt a glimmer of something he hadn't dared name: hope.