I didn't tell Daniel about the coffee meeting with Vivian.
I told myself it was because it didn't matter. Because Vivian was just being professional.
But deep down, I knew I was lying.
Her words had planted something in my mind. A seed of doubt.
I've started noticing things I had ignored before.
The way people looked at me in the hallways, the way conversations stopped when I entered a room.
And the way Vivian and Daniel were always in meetings together. Private meetings and it were behind closed doors.
One afternoon, I was heading to the break room when I saw them through a conference room window.
Vivian was laughing at something Daniel said, her hand on his arm.
He was smiling in a way that I never thought he could.
My chest tightened.
I turned and walked back to my office.
*******
That night, Daniel texted as usual.
Daniel Tan: Long day. How are you holding up?
I stared at the message bitterly.
Me: Fine. Just tired.
Daniel Tan: Just tired? You sound off.
Me: Just thinking.
Daniel Tan: About?
How was I supposed to answer that? About you and Vivian?
Me: Work stuff. The expansion project.
A few minutes of silence.
Daniel Tan: If something's bothering you, tell me.
Me: It's nothing.
Daniel Tan: Lulu.
Me: I'm fine. Really.
Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again.
Daniel Tan: You're a terrible liar.
Despite everything, I smiled.
Me: I'm working on it.
Daniel Tan: Don't. I like that you're honest.
Me: Even when it's inconvenient?
Daniel Tan: Especially then.
I wanted to ask him about Vivian and their relationship. About what I was to him.
But I was afraid of the answer.
Me: Can I ask you something?
Daniel Tan: Anything.
Me: Why haven't we met again in person again? It's been almost a month.
There was a long pause.
Daniel Tan: I'm waiting for the right time.
Me: The right time for what?
Daniel Tan: To be honest with you about everything.
Me: You're not being honest now?
Daniel Tan: I'm being honest about what matters. But there are things I need to explain face to face.
Me: That's not ominous at all.
Daniel Tan: Lulu, I promise you, everything will make sense soon. Just..trust me a little longer.
Me: How much longer?
Daniel Tan: The gala in three weeks. We'll talk then.
Me: Three weeks.
Daniel Tan: I know it's frustrating. But it'll be worth the wait. I promise.
I set down my phone and stared at the ceiling in my bedroom.
Three weeks until I got answers.
I just hoped I was ready for it.
*******
The following week, things got worse.
I was working late again, when my office phone rang from security.
"Ms. Wang? We have a delivery for you at reception."
"A delivery? At 8 PM?"
"Yes, ma'am. Flowers.
Flowers?
I went down to the lobby in confusion.
A massive bouquet of white roses sat on the reception desk. I counted at least three dozen roses.
"Someone adores you dearly, it seems," the security guard said with a grin.
I replied thank you to him with an awkward smile, and then found the card tucked between the stems.
For your hard work.
Keep shining.
~D
Daniel. The flowers were from him.
"Everything okay, Ms. Wang?" The guard asked, seeing how my expression changed into grim.
"Yes. Thank you once again," I bowed my head a little to him.
I carried the bouquet back upstairs to my office, my mind couldn't stop pondering.
This was too much…
Back in my office, I set them on my desk and pulled out my phone.
Me: The roses are beautiful. Thank you.
Daniel Tan: You saw them already? I thought you'll see them by tomorrow.
Me: I'm still at office.
Daniel Tan: Lulu, it's almost 9 PM. Go home.
Me: Says the man who probably sent flowers at 8 PM
Daniel Tan: I have an assistant for that. You don't. Go home.
Me: These are… a lot. People are going to talk.
Daniel Tan: Let them.
Me: Daniel…
Daniel Tan: What?
Me: This is crossing the line
Daniel Tan: What line?
Me: The professional one. Boss and his employee one.
There was a long pause before he replied to me.
Daniel Tan: We crossed that line weeks ago, Lulu, with the matchmaking. We both know that.
My breath caught.
Me: Did we?
Daniel Tan: Didn't we?
I stared at the flowers and the messages. Everything between us really felt like more than boss and employee.
Me: I don't know what we're doing.
Daniel Tan: Neither do I. But I know I can't stop thinking about you. And I know these last few weeks have been the best part of my day. Every single day of it.
My hands were shaking. This… this was a confession.
Me: Daniel, this is…
Daniel Tan: Complicated. I know. But after the gala, it won't be. I promise.
Me: You keep saying that. After the gala. But what does that mean?
Daniel Tan: It means I need to tell you something face to face. Something I should have told you from the beginning.
My heart pounded faster. But it wasn't only because of hope, but also with fear.
The fear of knowing about his relationship with Vivian. And the fear about her warning the other day.
Me: Tell me now.
Daniel Tan: I can't like this.
Me: Why not?
Daniel Tan: Because you deserve better than a text message. And I need to see your face when I tell you.
I closed my eyes. And for a moment, I felt suffocated, it was hard to breathe.
Me: And then?
Daniel Tan: You will know when the time comes. Now go home, please.
He stopped texting after that last words
I turned off my computer in dazed, feeling everything was not real, that everything was a dream.
But the flowers proved otherwise.
I started to raise my hopes up, thinking that he could be the right man for me.
I started to think that the matchmaking my mother made for me finally worked.
But when I thought again about Vivian, I felt the sharp stabbing pain in my chest.
What if she does have a relationship with him?