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Anna's eyes widened in shock. "Me?" she asked, incredulous.

Xavier nodded, grinning at her reaction. "Yes, you."

Anna stared at him for a moment, completely caught off guard by his playful request, unsure whether to laugh or smack him.

"You're being bad," Anna teased, chuckling softly as she watched Xavier finally put on his trousers. He grinned, his playful mood evident.

Anna then reached for her phone, bringing up the picture Maureen had sent her using Xavier's phone. She held it out to him. "This is it. Maureen sent this using your phone. She can stoop to any level trying to ruin me."

Xavier's expression darkened with anger as he looked at the photo. "I'm sorry, Anna. Holy moly! She must have taken advantage of me when I was drunk," he said, frustration evident in his voice.

Anna nodded, understanding. "I believe you, Xavier."

He reached out, fondling her shoulders gently, his voice earnest. "I promise this will never happen again."

Anna smiled, reassured by his words. "Yesterday, I rented a whole movie theater just for us, and—" Xavier began, but Anna cut him off, her eyes wide with surprise.

"What!? A movie theater?" she exclaimed, her surprise turning into excitement.

Xavier nodded, a smile tugging at his lips as they locked eyes. The air between them shifted, growing more intense as their gazes lingered on each other's lips. Unable to resist, Xavier grabbed her by the waist and pulled her closer, kissing her slowly. Anna closed her eyes, her arms wrapping around his waist as she melted into the kiss.

After a few minutes, Xavier pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against hers. "From now on, you belong to me, Anna. No one else. Not Maureen, not Michael. Only me," he declared with firm possessiveness.

Anna nodded, her heart racing as she met his gaze. Xavier then pulled her closer again, kissing her with a deeper intensity, holding her waist tightly as if he never wanted to let go.

They kissed deeply, Xavier's hands moving to lift her toward the bed, but Anna smiled and pulled back slightly. "I could do this all day," she teased, making a move to leave.

Xavier caught her wrist, pulling her back gently. "Wait, where are you going?" he asked, a playful yet serious edge to his voice.

Anna smiled, glancing back at him. "Ugh, we can't get too distracted; we both have work today," she reminded him with a knowing look.

"You're a tease!" Xavier chuckled, shaking his head, but he couldn't hide the admiration in his eyes.

"I'm making breakfast," she announced with a grin before heading toward the kitchen.

Xavier watched her go, his heart swelling with affection. "You have no idea how much I've waited for this, Anna. Tonight, you'll know everything," he murmured to himself, anticipation building within him.

***

In the kitchen, Anna prepared breakfast with a cheerful energy. She quickly dialed Jessica's number, excitement bubbling in her voice.

"Hey, Jessie! It happened... You were right," Anna said as she cleaned up the kitchen, her voice full of joy.

"About what?" Jessica asked, sounding puzzled.

"We kissed!" Anna confessed, her tone both happy and shy.

"What? Oh my God, tell me everything! Tell me!" Jessica's excitement matched Anna's.

"It was amazing! Michael never kissed me like that. I can't even put it into words... It was like magic!" Anna gushed, her happiness palpable.

"Oh my God! I'm so jealous! I need a man... but I'm so happy for you, bestie!" Jessica giggled, sharing in Anna's joy.

As Anna finished cleaning, she found herself in front of a door that had always been closed in Xavier's house. He had told her it was just a storage room, but something about it piqued her curiosity. She reached out to touch the knob, only to find it locked again.

"Weird," Anna muttered, momentarily forgetting she was on the phone with Jessica.

"What? What's weird?" Jessica asked, her concern evident.

"It's just a storage room, but I feel like there's something he doesn't want me to see," Anna replied, shrugging off the thought as she turned back to the kitchen.

"Anyway, Jessie, do you wanna get brunch?" Anna asked with a laugh, shifting the conversation back to lighter topics.

"Yes, I need you to tell me everything!" Jessica replied eagerly, her excitement undiminished.

***

Anna finished preparing a dinner of jollof rice and grilled chicken, the aroma filling the house. Just as she set the table, Xavier walked in from work. The sight of him brought a warm smile to her face, and he returned it with equal warmth.

"Wow, I could get used to coming home to such wonderful cooking," he said, smiling as he loosened his tie.

Anna's smile widened. "I finished up at the restaurant early, so I thought I'd surprise you with something special," she replied, her tone filled with affection. "Especially since it was Valentine's Day yesterday."

Xavier's expression softened with regret, and he nodded. "Which will never happen again, I swear," he promised as he began to unbutton his shirt.

Just as Xavier made to leave for the living room, Anna quickly stopped him. "Wait, don't go in there yet. I have a surprise for you," she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Intrigued, Xavier followed her as she led him out to the poolside. The area was beautifully decorated with flowers and a small cake she had made herself. The gentle glow of candles illuminated the setting, creating a serene and romantic atmosphere. A bottle of wine was set on a table beside the cake, completing the intimate scene.

Xavier's breath caught in his throat as he took in the sight. He was clearly touched, his eyes reflecting the emotions that words could barely convey. "Anna… you have spoiled me," he said softly, his gaze locking with hers, filled with so much love and gratitude.

"Happy birthday to you!" Anna said joyfully, her smile bright and genuine.

Xavier chuckled, a mix of joy and a hint of sadness in his voice. "I've spent so many holidays and birthdays alone that I forgot what it's like to be comfortable with someone," he admitted, his voice growing tender as he took her hands in his.

"Well, you can get used to it now that I'm here with you," Anna responded, giving his hands a reassuring squeeze.

Xavier smiled deeply, his eyes searching hers. "I think I'm ready to show you something," he said, his tone carrying a hint of anticipation.

Anna's eyebrows furrowed slightly in curiosity. "What is it?" she asked, tilting her head.

Xavier's smile grew as he led her inside. "You've always wondered what's in that closet, right?" he teased, nodding toward the mysterious door she had often pondered about.

Anna nodded, her heart beating faster with excitement. "Yes," she whispered, her smile matching his.

"Come on, let's see," Xavier said with a playful giggle, taking her hand as they headed toward the closet together, anticipation building between them.

Xavier gently took Anna by the hand, leading her toward the closet door that had always piqued her curiosity. As he opened it, a soft glow from within greeted her, and she stepped inside, her breath catching in awe. The closet was transformed into a beautifully intimate space, filled with carefully arranged pictures of her, surrounded by flowers and sweet-smelling candles. Each photograph captured a moment, a memory, a piece of the past that connected them.

As Anna looked around, her eyes landed on several neatly placed boxes in different corners of the closet. With a sense of anticipation, she opened the first one, revealing a letter inside. She unfolded it carefully and began to read.

"Dear Anna, it's my first year away from you. I bought this with the money I saved. Happy birthday, missing you. —Xavier."

A smile tugged at her lips as she looked back at Xavier, who was standing there, watching her with a warm smile of his own. She could feel the depth of his emotions in those simple words.

She moved to the next box, her hands trembling slightly as she opened it. Another letter, another piece of his heart.

"Dear Anna, it's been two years. I bought this with the money I earned, not sure if you like it."

Anna's heart swelled with emotion as she carefully set the letter aside and reached for the next box. This time, she found not just a letter but a beautiful dress folded neatly inside. She held it up, admiring the intricate details and the thoughtfulness behind the gift.

"This dress is so beautiful," she murmured, her voice thick with emotion as she admired it.

Xavier's voice was soft as he explained, "Throughout the years, I would buy things that reminded me of you."

Anna's eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she moved to the last box. She opened it with trembling hands and found yet another letter.

"Anna, I've finally saved enough money to spoil you. Every wish, every dream you've ever had will now come true."

She couldn't hold back her emotions any longer. She turned to Xavier, her eyes brimming with tears, her voice a whisper of his name. "Xavier…"

Tears trickled down her cheeks, but they were tears of joy, of overwhelming love. She was so moved by the depth of his feelings, the time he had spent loving her in silence, waiting for the right moment.

Xavier stepped closer to her, pulling her gently into his arms. "Anna, I have to tell you something," he began, his voice trembling slightly with the weight of the words he was about to say. He took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest as he finally confessed, "I've loved you for ten years."

Anna stared into his eyes, searching for any sign of doubt, but all she found was sincerity and a love so deep it took her breath away. For a moment, she was speechless, simply overwhelmed by the enormity of his confession.

And then, she smiled—a radiant, tearful smile that lit up her entire face.