CHAPTER 5

The food was exquisite, each bite more delicious than the last, but it was Max's company that truly captivated me. He was charming and attentive, a far cry from the reserved and serious man I thought I knew. He laughed easily, shared stories, and asked me questions with genuine interest. It felt like I was meeting a completely different person—a version of Max Black the world rarely saw.

"Would you like to stay a bit longer?" he asked, his voice soft and hopeful.

I didn't hesitate. "Yes," I replied with a smile. His presence was magnetic, and I wanted this moment to last as long as possible.

We stood together, leaning against the edge of the rooftop, gazing at the glittering city below. The view was breathtaking, but I hardly noticed it; I felt like I was on top of the world for an entirely different reason. For the first time in what felt like forever, I was truly happy.

A gentle melody drifted from hidden speakers, wrapping the rooftop in an intimate atmosphere. Max turned to me, his hand outstretched. "Dance with me?"

I placed my hand in his, and he pulled me close. We swayed slowly to the music, our movements unhurried, our eyes locked. Time seemed to stop as I got lost in his warm gaze. It was as if nothing else in the world existed except for this moment.

When the song ended, we made our way to a cozy sofa nearby. The night sky stretched above us, a canvas of stars twinkling brightly. We sat in comfortable silence, the city lights below a quiet backdrop.

"It's beautiful," I said softly, gazing upward.

"It is," he replied, but when I looked at him, I realized his eyes weren't on the stars—they were on me.

The moment I walked into the office that morning, I could feel the eyes on me. Conversations dropped to hushed whispers, heads tilted together as they exchanged words I couldn't hear. My stomach churned uneasily. What is going on? I wondered. My mind instantly jumped to the date with Max. Did they know? How could they possibly know? I hadn't told a soul, and Max didn't seem like the type to talk about personal matters.

I kept my head high, trying to ignore the stares as I made my way to my desk. The moment I sat down, Monic appeared out of nowhere, practically bouncing with excitement.

"Hey! I heard you saved the day yesterday! If it weren't for you, Tony would've canceled on us. Girl, I don't know where you got the confidence to approach him like that, but wow—you were so brave!"

I blinked, momentarily thrown off. So that's why everyone's acting weird when I walked in… I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. At least they didn't know about the date. I couldn't imagine how the gossip mill would spin if that tidbit got out. No, this was something I wanted to keep private for as long as possible.

"Well, someone had to do it," I said, forcing a casual smile. "I just didn't want all our hard work to go to waste."

Monic grinned and leaned closer, her voice dropping conspiratorially. "Still, you're the talk of the office. Everyone's impressed. You've definitely caught some attention."

I swallowed hard, hoping that the "attention" she was talking about wasn't Max's. Please, let it stay this way, I thought to myself. The last thing I needed was for my personal life to become the office's latest source of entertainment.

Max walked into the office, and as usual, all eyes followed him. It was like a ritual here—everyone pausing their work to admire him, whispering in awe of his striking looks and commanding presence. He strode confidently toward his office, the way he always did, but then something unusual happened. Right as he reached the spot directly across from my desk, he paused and turned his gaze toward me.

Our eyes locked, and for a fleeting moment, it was like the world fell silent. My heart skipped a beat as flashes of last night came rushing back—the rooftop dinner, the laughter, the warmth in his eyes as we danced under the stars, and most of all... the moment we almost kissed.

I could still feel the tension in the air as he dropped me off. The way he'd leaned closer, his eyes dipping to my lips, made my breath catch. My nerves had betrayed me, freezing me in place as his face inched toward mine. Just when our lips were about to meet, I panicked and turned my head slightly. His kiss landed softly on my cheek instead, leaving me flushed and speechless. "Goodnight," he had murmured before walking away, leaving me standing there, my heart pounding like a drum.

Now, here he was, smiling at me in a way I'd never seen before—warm, almost intimate. It wasn't just a polite smile; it felt like a secret, shared only between the two of us. Then, as casually as he'd stopped, he turned and continued on his way to his office.

That small gesture was enough to set the office buzzing. Whispers rippled through the room like wildfire, and Monic was by my side in seconds, her excitement practically tangible.

"Did you see that? He smiled at you!" she gushed, her voice barely containing her enthusiasm. "Mr. Black! The man who never acknowledges anyone, let alone smiles at them! You've done it, Carmen. You've impressed him so much with what you did yesterday that he can't help but admire you. I told you, you're the talk of the office!"

I forced a smile, nodding along as Monic showered me with praise. If only she knew the real reason behind that smile. Relief washed over me, knowing that she—and everyone else—still thought his gesture was all about the deal with Mr. Syrus. The last thing I needed was for anyone to suspect the truth about last night. Because if they found out... I'd never hear the end of it.

After lunch, I returned to my desk to find a breathtaking bouquet of flowers waiting for me. The arrangement was stunning—roses, lilies, and delicate sprays of baby's breath elegantly wrapped in shimmering paper. For a moment, I simply stood there, admiring the unexpected gift.

I glanced around the office, hoping to spot someone who might have delivered them or perhaps catch a knowing look from a coworker. But no one seemed to notice. The bouquet sat there like a mystery, beautiful and untouched.

The first thought that crossed my mind was Max. Could he have sent them? My heart skipped at the possibility, but then logic quickly overruled the idea. Max wasn't the kind of man to make such a public gesture, not here at the office. If he wanted to send me flowers, it wouldn't be this... obvious. He'd likely prefer to keep whatever was happening between us discreet—just between the two of us.

Still, a small, irrational part of me clung to the hope that it was from him. The thought made my cheeks warm, and I felt a flutter in my chest. Picking up the bouquet, I searched for a note, anything that could reveal the sender. My fingers trembled slightly as I parted the flowers to look for a card... slowly picked up the card nestled within the bouquet, my hands trembling slightly as I unfolded it. The words written in elegant, bold handwriting took my breath away:

"To the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes on. You captured my heart the moment I first spoke to you. You deserve more than just flowers. Would you honor me by joining me for dinner tonight?

—Syrus."