"Where the hell is Alex?"
Sophie glanced at the time again. 9:42 AM. He was never late. Ever.
She had been hoping to get some explanations from him this morning and she had come early to come. It was almost 10 am and Alex was nowhere to be found.
If he truly got an engagement ring, she wondered if it was before he came to her apartment and after? She wondered if it was hers or for another?
Sophie chewed on her lip. This wasn’t like him. What could be keeping him?
She checked her phone again. No messages. No missed calls. Nothing.
Just as she was about to text him, the sound of the executive elevator opening made her head snap up.
Alex had arrived.
He walked in, looking sharp as always, but something was off.
His usual commanding presence was there, yet there was an unfamiliar tension in his movements. His jaw was set, his shoulders were stiff, and his eyes—cold and unreadable.
Sophie barely thought before standing up and rushing after him.
"Alex!" she called, catching up just as he reached his office door.
He turned, his face expressionless. "What?"
She hesitated for a second. "Are you okay? You’re never late, and—"
"I’m fine," he cut her off, his tone clipped.
She blinked at the monotone response. "Are you sure? Because you seem—"
"I said I’m fine, Sophie."
That shut her up.
His eyes held no warmth, no teasing glint, nothing that made him Alex.
Her fingers curled at her sides. "Okay," she said softly, taking the hint. "I’ll let you work."
She turned and walked away, but a heavy weight settled in her chest.
This wasn’t normal.
Something was wrong.
She went back to her desk and immediately dialed Benita.
Benita picked up on the second ring. "Tell me he proposed!"
Sophie sighed. "No, he didn’t."
Silence.
Then a dramatic gasp.
"WHAT?!" Benita shrieked so loudly that Sophie had to pull the phone away from her ear.
"Benita, calm down," Sophie muttered.
"CALM DOWN?! Are you seriously telling me that after he was seen buying a ring, after the entire city practically confirmed he was about to propose, he DIDN’T?!"
"Yes, Benita," Sophie groaned. "It was probably just a rumor."
"A rumor?" Benita scoffed. "Girl, I saw the video. He walked into that jewelry store and walked out with something. If it wasn’t a ring, then what the hell was it?"
"I don’t know," Sophie admitted, feeling a familiar pang of disappointment settle in her chest.
She hated that she had let herself hope.
Hated that she had spent the entire night tossing and turning, wondering if maybe, just maybe, Alex had bought that ring for her.
But now?
She didn’t even know where they stood.
Her thoughts were cut short by the ringing of her intercom.
She quickly said, "I have to go," and disconnected the call before picking up.
"Come to my office," Alex’s voice came through the speaker.
Her heart stuttered.
She inhaled deeply, exhaling slowly to steady herself. Stay calm. Don’t assume things.
After a few seconds, she stood, smoothing down her blouse, and walked toward his office.
The moment she stepped inside, her breath hitched.
There it was.
A small jewelry bag sat on his desk.
Her pulse skyrocketed, her hands going clammy.
Was this…?
"Sit," Alex said, his tone neutral.
She slowly took a seat, her eyes flickering between him and the bag.
He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temple before looking at her.
"How was your weekend?"
She blinked.
Seriously?
He was asking about her weekend?
She studied him closely. He wasn’t looking at her with his usual teasing smirk. There was no warmth, no playfulness.
It was like he was detached.
Her throat felt dry. "It was fine," she said carefully.
"You?"
"Fine."
The way he said it, though, made her doubt it.
"Are you sure you’re okay?" she asked, unable to help herself.
His jaw tightened slightly. "I already told you I’m fine."
Liar.
She could see it in his eyes.
Before she could press further, Alex gestured toward the bag on the desk.
"That’s yours," he said.
Her breath caught as she stared at him, then at the bag.
Her heart pounded.
Was this really happening? Was this a proposal?
No. That didn’t make sense.
If it was a ring, wouldn’t he be more… romantic?
Wouldn’t he at least ask her to marry him first?
She swallowed hard, trying to control her racing thoughts.
Alex wasn’t saying anything. He was just watching her.
Her hands felt heavy as she reached for the bag.
She hesitated for a brief moment before pulling it closer and peering inside.
A small, elegant jewelry box rested at the bottom.
Her chest tightened.
This was it.
She carefully lifted the box out, her fingers trembling slightly as she opened it.
Her heart stopped. It wasn’t a ring. It was a necklace. A beautiful, delicate necklace.
Her mind blanked.
For a second, she didn’t know what to feel.
Disappointment? Relief? Confusion?
Alex said nothing.
Sophie forced herself to look up at him. "A necklace?"
His lips pressed into a thin line. "Yes."