Chapter 23: A Birthday Surprise

Emma hadn’t even thought to mark the date. The week had been hectic client meetings, project deadlines, and the ever-present hush surrounding her relationship with Jonathan. Birthdays seemed like a luxury reserved for a simpler life, one that no longer felt like her own.

So when she received an email from HR that morning about an "off-site leadership summit" at a nearby luxury hotel, she groaned. Another late evening, another suit, another line to walk between professionalism and pretense.

By the time she arrived at the venue, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the grand exterior. The hotel shimmered with opulence towering glass doors, staff in crisp uniforms, and chandeliers that dripped with crystal elegance. Emma adjusted her blazer, smoothed her hair, and stepped inside, heels clicking softly against marble.

A staff member greeted her with a polite nod. “Right this way, Ms. Bennett.”