Selena spent the next few days wrapped in an inexplicable haze of emotions. The mystery surrounding the secret admirer lingered in her mind, but she couldn't deny that something about the bouquet made her feel… seen. As if the sender knew parts of her she kept hidden from the world.
At work, everything seemed normal on the surface, but she sensed a subtle tension in the air. People whispered about possible changes coming to the company. Reza, who always tried to lighten her mood, noticed her unusual quietness.
"Selena, are you okay?" he asked one afternoon.
She hesitated for a moment, then forced a smile. "Just… a lot on my mind."
Reza didn't press further, but something in his eyes told her he was worried.
That evening, as she walked home, a sudden vision struck her. It wasn't as chaotic as before this time, it was vivid and oddly peaceful. She saw herself in a garden, under a canopy of stars, with a man standing beside her. Though his face remained hidden, she felt warmth emanating from him. A feeling of being home.
Her heart pounded as the vision faded. Was it a glimpse of her future? Or just her mind playing tricks on her?
Before she could process what she had seen, a familiar black luxury car slowed down beside her. The tinted window rolled down, revealing a face she had never expected to see up close Alexander, the enigmatic CEO whose mere presence always drew attention.
"Need a ride?" His voice was calm, smooth, but his eyes held something deeper a quiet intensity that made Selena's pulse quicken.
Selena froze for a moment, her mind racing. Why was he here? And why now? She wanted to refuse, to keep her distance, but something about him made it impossible to say no. Reluctantly, she nodded and stepped into the car.
The atmosphere inside the car was thick with tension, but not the uncomfortable kind this tension was charged with something she couldn't quite name. Neither of them spoke at first. The quiet hum of the engine filled the space, but it only seemed to amplify her racing thoughts.
Finally, Alexander broke the silence. "You seem troubled."
Selena turned to him, surprised by his observation. "It's… nothing I can't handle."
Alexander's gaze flicked toward her briefly before returning to the road. "You don't always have to handle everything alone."
His words struck a chord deep within her, stirring emotions she thought she had buried long ago. A part of her wanted to push him away, to retreat behind the walls she had built over the years. But another part a quieter, more vulnerable part yearned to believe him.
"Why are you here?" Selena finally asked, breaking the silence. "It's not every day the CEO of the company offers an employee a ride home."
Alexander's lips curved into a faint, enigmatic smile. "Let's just say I was in the neighborhood."
Selena raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "In the neighborhood?"
He chuckled softly, a sound that was unexpectedly warm. "I could say I'm checking on my employees' well-being, but that would sound too formal. Maybe I'm just curious about you, Selena."
Her heart skipped a beat at his words. There was something disarming about his honesty, yet it only made her more guarded. "Curious?" she echoed.
Alexander didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned a corner, guiding the car smoothly down a quieter street lined with trees. "You're different," he said at last. "There's a calm strength in you, but also… something hidden. Something that makes you stand out in a way most people wouldn't notice. But I do."
Selena's breath caught in her throat. How could he see so much when she tried so hard to blend in, to remain unnoticed? His words felt like they stripped away the layers she had carefully built around herself.
They drove in silence for a while longer, the tension between them shifting into something softer, more intimate. Finally, Alexander pulled up in front of her apartment building.
"Thank you for the ride," Selena said quietly, her hand on the door handle.
"Anytime," Alexander replied, his voice low and sincere. As she stepped out of the car, he added, "Selena… if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here."
She turned back to him, meeting his gaze. For a moment, the world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them. Then, with a faint nod, she closed the door and walked toward her building.
As she entered her apartment, Selena leaned against the door, her heart pounding. What had just happened? Why did it feel like something had shifted, as if a new chapter of her life had begun without warning?
That night, as she lay in bed, memories of their conversation replayed in her mind. Despite her initial hesitation, she couldn't deny the strange connection she felt with Alexander. It was as if he saw through the masks she wore, straight to the core of who she was.
But as comforting as that thought was, it also terrified her. Because letting someone in meant risking everything especially when that someone was a man like Alexander, with his own secrets and shadows.
As sleep finally claimed her, Selena found herself drifting into another vision. This time, it wasn't peaceful. She saw Alexander standing on the edge of a cliff, the wind whipping around him as dark clouds gathered overhead. She tried to call out to him, to warn him of the danger, but no sound came from her lips. Then, in a flash, he disappeared, leaving only emptiness behind.
Selena woke with a start, her heart racing. What did it mean? Was it a warning about their future? Or just her fears manifesting in her dreams?
Whatever the answer, one thing was clear her connection with Alexander was more than just chance. It was a tangled web of fate, filled with uncertainty, longing, and a danger she couldn't yet understand. And no matter how much she wanted to keep her distance, she knew deep down that she couldn't walk away. Not now.
Not when something far greater than either of them had already begun pulling them together.