3

The next day at the servrance hall: as th cab pulled up in front of the hall I quickly rushed inside, not wanting to miss Bella's recital. As I searched around I found mom and dad in the front roll. As I hurried down the aisle, I spotted Mom and Dad waving excitedly from the front row, their faces lit up with pride. I felt a rush of relief; I had made it just in time. I slid into the empty seat next to them, trying to catch my breath.

"Where were you?" Mom whispered, her eyes sparkling. "I thought you'd miss the whole thing!"

"I had to finish up at work," I replied, scanning the stage for Bella. "But I wouldn't miss her recital for anything."

Dad leaned in closer, a proud smile on his face. "She's been practicing all week. You're in for a treat."

The lights dimmed, and the audience hushed, anticipation filling the air. The curtain rose, revealing a beautifully decorated stage. Bella's dance class emerged, their costumes shimmering under the spotlight. I felt my heart swell as I caught a glimpse of her in the center, beaming with joy and confidence.

As the music began, I leaned back in my seat, completely captivated. Bella moved gracefully, her movements fluid and precise, each step showcasing the hard work she had put into her performance. I couldn't help but smile as I watched her dance, forgetting about the pressures of work and the stress of the previous day.

Throughout the performance, I caught glimpses of the other parents around me, many filming their kids with their phones or snapping photos, but my focus remained solely on Bella. She seemed to shine brighter than everyone else, her infectious energy lighting up the room.

When the final note of the song played, the audience erupted into applause. Bella executed a perfect bow, her face glowing with exhilaration as she glanced out at us. My heart swelled with pride as I joined in the cheers, clapping loudly for my little sister.

"Did you see that?!" Mom exclaimed, eyes glistening with tears of joy. "She was amazing!"

"I knew she would be," I said, my voice filled with pride. "She worked so hard for this."

After the curtain fell, I got more excited. This was it, Bella's solo dance. A few minutes passed and Bella was back on the stage.

As Bella reappeared on stage, the anticipation in the auditorium was palpable. The lights dimmed slightly, and a hush fell over the crowd. My heart raced as I recognized the song; it was her favorite, a vibrant piece she had practiced tirelessly for weeks.

When the music began, Bella took center stage, her expression a mix of determination and pure joy. She moved with such grace, each step a perfect blend of strength and fluidity. The spotlight illuminated her, making her look like a star shining against the backdrop of the darkened hall.

I could see her passion in every movement—how she leaped effortlessly into the air, spun with precision, and landed with poise. It was like she was telling a story with her body, and I was completely entranced. The audience was silent, completely captivated by her performance.

As she transitioned into her finale, I felt my breath hitch. Bella executed a series of intricate turns, followed by a stunning leap that had everyone holding their breath. The moment she landed, the audience erupted into applause, but Bella was already lost in her dance, fully immersed in the music and her own expression.

I couldn't help but cheer loudly, joining in the applause, feeling a swell of pride for my sister. She looked radiant, a wide smile on her face as she danced, seemingly feeding off the energy of the audience. It was a moment of pure magic, and I felt grateful to witness it.

When the final note played and Bella struck her last pose, the audience leaped to their feet, applause ringing out like thunder. Tears of pride filled my eyes as I clapped, whistling and cheering for her. Bella bowed deeply, her cheeks flushed with excitement, and I could see her looking for us in the crowd.

As she left the stage, I couldn't wait to hug her again. She was a star, and I was beyond proud of her. I knew this performance was just the beginning for her.

When she finally rushed off stage, I swept her up in a huge embrace, lifting her off the ground. "You were incredible, Bella! That was the best performance I've ever seen!"

"Thanks,Tony !" she squealed, her eyes sparkling with joy. "Did you see my leap? I felt like I was flying!"

"I did! You're going to be a professional dancer one day, I just know it!" I replied, setting her down gently.

"Do you think so?" she asked, beaming up at me.

"Absolutely! But first, let's celebrate with that ice cream!" I said, ruffling her hair once more.

As we made our way out of the hall, I felt lighter than I had in days. Bella's performance had reminded me of what truly mattered—family, joy, and the pursuit of dreams. Whatever challenges awaited me at work, I knew I could face them with Bella cheering me on, just as I cheered for her.

Later that same evening as we all finished having dinner it was time for me to head back to work, time to deal with the overwhelming pressure from Thompson.

"Do you really have to go?" Bella cried as she held onto my hand.

"Don't worry, I'll be back tomorrow and we'll hang out the whole day." I reassured her.

"But you said we'll have a little girl night today." She said.

I patted her head, "we can do that tomorrow, we can even go to the spa." I told her.

"Come on let your brother go, your dad and I have a great present waiting for you."

The office was eerily quiet when I arrived. The usual hustle and bustle had faded, leaving behind only the soft hum of computers and the distant flicker of the fluorescent lights. I made my way to my desk, trying to mentally prepare myself for whatever Mr. Thompson had in store.

Just as I was settling in, I heard footsteps approaching. I looked up to see Thompson striding toward me, his usual scowl plastered on his face.

"You're late," he snapped, though I had arrived right on time.

"I had a family commitment," I replied, keeping my tone as neutral as possible.

Thompson grunted. "I don't care about your family. I care about results. The presentation isn't going to prepare itself." He threw a thick stack of papers onto my desk. "You'll be working through the night. This needs to be flawless by morning."

I clenched my jaw, holding back a retort. Instead, I nodded and sat down, flipping through the papers. As expected, it was a mess—Thompson's notes were scattered and half-coherent, leaving me to decipher his vision.

Hours passed, and the office remained empty except for me. The clock ticked closer to midnight, and exhaustion weighed heavily on my eyelids. I couldn't help but think of Bella, probably fast asleep by now, and how I had promised her we'd hang out tomorrow. I wasn't sure how I'd make it through the day if I didn't get any rest.

Suddenly, a soft voice broke the silence. "Need some help?"

I looked up to see Daniel leaning casually against the doorway, a small smile playing on his lips. I blinked, startled. "What are you doing here?"

"Late night work seems to be a theme around here," he said, stepping inside. "Figured I'd check in on you."

"I've got it under control," I replied, though my aching shoulders and drooping eyes said otherwise.

Daniel glanced at the pile of papers on my desk and raised an eyebrow. "Looks like Thompson's really pushing you."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. The truth was, I felt buried under the pressure, and seeing Daniel here just added to the confusion of everything happening at work.

Suddenly he walked up behind me and leaned on over my shoulder our faces inches apart, he looked at the screen attentively reading my presentation. "Seems like you spelled a few words wrong." He said softly.

"This, that, and this one." He added pointing at the misspelled words.

As he continued talking I couldn't stop looking at him, I knew Daniel was handsome but up close you can see all his perfect features. He looked good, model face, perfect body and great career.

As I I continued to admire him he suddenly turned to look at me, this time our faces were so close that we could've kissed if we wanted.

A smile appeared on his face, "if you keep looking at me like that I might think that you want to eat me whole."

My heart raced, and I quickly averted my gaze, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. "Sorry, I didn't mean to—" I stammered, flustered.

Daniel chuckled softly, clearly amused. "Relax, Anthony. I'm just teasing." He straightened up, but the playful gleam in his eyes lingered. "But really, you should get some rest. Working this late isn't doing you any favors."

I nodded, trying to focus on the screen again, but my thoughts were still buzzing. Daniel had always been charming, but this moment felt different. More personal. I wasn't sure what to make of it.

"You've got talent, you know," Daniel said, his voice lowering slightly. "Thompson might not see it, but I do. You're sharp, hardworking… and honestly, you deserve better than how he treats you."

His words hung in the air between us, and for a moment, I wasn't sure how to respond. Did he really believe that, or was this just more of his charm?

"Thanks, Daniel," I managed to say, my voice quieter than I intended. "It means a lot, hearing that from you."

He gave me a slow nod, his eyes lingering on mine for just a second longer than necessary. "I mean it. Don't sell yourself short, Anthony."

With that, he gave me a pat on the back and started walking toward the door, but before leaving, he glanced back with a smirk. "And remember, next time you're staring, try not to make it so obvious."

I let out a nervous laugh, watching him leave, unsure whether to feel embarrassed or intrigued. One thing was certain—Daniel was full of surprises, and tonight's interaction left me with more questions than answers.

Tbc