The clock struck midnight, and the air buzzed with the scent of roses. Valentine's Day. Lovers' Day. A day that should've felt special, but instead, I was alone. Daniel, my boyfriend, was miles away, and I had promised Jennifer I'd stay in, wallowing in solitude.
But Jennifer had other plans.
"Come on, Celine, you're not spending today alone! There's an engagement party at Emily's, and it's going to be amazing. You're coming with me."
Her enthusiasm was unshakable, so I reluctantly agreed, knowing I'd never hear the end of it.
I slipped into a sleek black dress, just enough to make me feel dressed up without overdoing it. "You look beautiful," Jennifer said with a grin, her eyes scanning my outfit. "I hope they won't try to steal you away from Daniel tonight."
I laughed, trying to hide the tug of unease in my chest. I was looking good, but Daniel wasn't here, and this was supposed to be our day. Yet, I found myself adjusting my heels and heading out the door.
The venue was a sprawling hotel, the kind that seemed to shimmer with money and elegance. A sea of rich, well-dressed strangers moved around, their laughter and clinking glasses blending into the soft hum of the music. Jennifer was already lost in the crowd, reconnecting with old friends and acquaintances. I, on the other hand, felt like an outsider, sinking into my seat and scanning the room for something, anything, familiar.
The servers brought me champagne. I took a sip, my eyes darting around for Jennifer. The loneliness gnawed at me, and just as I began to regret agreeing to this, a man approached.
He was older, his face etched with time, but his presence was commanding.
"Hello, beautiful," he said, extending a hand. "I'm Dickson."
I hesitated, then shook his hand, offering a polite smile. "I'm Celine."
He took a seat next to me, his gaze lingering just a moment too long. The conversation was superficial, but I was grateful for the distraction. Yet, my eyes kept searching the room for Jennifer, who was lost in laughter with a group of people across the room.
Before I could excuse myself, Jennifer appeared, pulling me to the dance floor. The music was a blur, and by the end of the night, I couldn't decide if I'd enjoyed myself or if the evening had been a mere distraction from the emptiness of being without Daniel.
The next morning, I woke to the sound of a soft buzzing. Half-asleep, I stumbled to the door and froze when I saw it: a gift, wrapped in delicate white paper, with a note attached.
"I love you, and I want to have you all to myself, forever."
My heart skipped a beat.
I smiled, holding the note to my chest. "It's Daniel," I whispered to myself, the warmth of his affection filling me.
But when I reached for my phone to call him, the line was dead. His number wouldn't go through. Confused, I set the phone down and went back to the gift, trying to make sense of it.
Then, an anonymous message pinged on my phone.
"Meet me at the five-star hotel tonight."
My heart raced. Could this be Daniel? Had he planned a surprise for me? Perhaps he was ready to take the next step, to finally propose. I couldn't help but smile at the thought. We'd known each other since childhood—he wasn't rich, but he had always been every woman's dream.
I dressed quickly in a stunning red dress, adding the luxury accessories from the gift. The outfit sparkled under the light, and I admired myself in the mirror. But as I finished my look, a strange thought nagged at me. Where did Daniel get the money for a five-star hotel and these expensive gifts?
I dismissed the thought. Daniel was a man of surprises, after all.
Just as I was about to leave, a sleek black car pulled up in front of my house. My breath caught. He was here.
I opened the door, and the driver smiled at me, his expression calm. "Miss, your ride is ready."
Inside, the car was luxurious, its interior soft leather and polished wood. The drive felt surreal. I could almost imagine Daniel's face, his sweet smile as he led me to the hotel, the place where he'd finally surprise me.
The hotel itself was breathtaking—romantic, dimly lit, a place straight out of a fairy tale. I gasped as I walked through the grand lobby, taking in the lavish décor. This is it, I thought. This was the moment I'd been waiting for.
I stood there, breathless, my heart pounding in anticipation. And then, I saw him.
Daniel.
Except... it wasn't him