Angela barely made it to her desk before Lisa’s excited shriek pierced the air.
“Oh. My. God. LOOK!”
Startled, Angela turned—and that’s when she saw it.
A bouquet.
Not just any bouquet, but a stunning arrangement of deep red roses and delicate white lilies, tied together with a satin ribbon. A small, elegant envelope peeked out from between the petals.
Her heart skipped a beat.
“Oh, this is so romantic!” Lisa gushed, practically vibrating with excitement.
The rest of the office quickly caught on. Before Angela could even reach for the flowers, a small crowd had formed around her, their curiosity and excitement buzzing in the air.
“Open the card!” someone urged.
Angela swallowed, her fingers trembling slightly as she pulled the note free. She unfolded it, eyes scanning the words.
A sharp gasp left her lips.
Lisa snatched the card before Angela could react. “What does it say?”
The room went silent for a second as Lisa read it.
A collective scream erupted.
“HE ASKED YOU TO BE HIS GIRLFRIEND?!” Lisa practically tackled Angela with excitement. “OH MY GOD, Angela! THIS IS HUGE!”
Another coworker, Tanya, clapped her hands together. “I knew it! I knew he was serious about you! Who even does grand gestures like this anymore?”
Angela barely had time to process what was happening as the girls squealed around her.
“I mean, we all knew he was obsessed with you,” another girl added, grinning. “But this is next level.”
Angela couldn’t help but smile as she looked at the card again. The words were written in perfect, elegant handwriting:
Be mine?
Simple. Direct. And somehow, it sent a rush of warmth through her.
As the celebration continued, Angela’s eyes drifted across the room, landing on Mia.
Unlike the others, Mia wasn’t squealing or bouncing on her toes. She sat quietly at her desk, watching the scene unfold with an unreadable expression.
Noticing the tension, Lisa turned toward her. “Mia, aren’t you excited for Angela?”
Mia blinked, tilting her head slightly. “Excited about what?”
Lisa waved the card dramatically. “Mr. Mysterious just asked her to be his girlfriend!”
Mia’s brows lifted slightly, but her lips remained in a neutral line. “That’s… interesting.”
Something about her tone made Angela frown. “Mia, what is it?”
Mia shrugged, leaning back in her chair. “I just think… before you say yes, you should ask some important questions.”
Lisa scoffed. “Like what?”
Mia’s gaze flicked to Angela. “Like… where does he work?”
Angela hesitated. “…I don’t know.”
Mia hummed, nodding as if she expected that answer. “Then maybe you should find out.”
Lisa rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on, Mia. Who cares where he works? He’s clearly into her.”
“I care,” Mia said simply. She turned back to Angela. “You’ve spent time with him. Do you know his workplace?”
Angela bit her lip. “No. But—”
“Then visit him,” Mia suggested, cutting her off. “Surprise him. If he has nothing to hide, he won’t mind.”
The room went silent for a moment.
Angela suddenly felt defensive. “I don’t need to do that. I already know where he lives.”
Lisa’s eyes widened. “You do?”
Angela nodded, feeling a surge of pride. “I’ve been to his apartment.”
The girls gasped.
“Oh my God, you’ve already been to his place?” Tanya gawked. “And here I thought you were playing hard to get.”
Lisa smirked. “Was it, you know… a sleepover?”
Angela’s face burned. “That’s not the point.”
Lisa and the others giggled, while Mia remained completely unamused.
“Even if he took you to his apartment,” Mia said slowly, “it doesn’t mean he doesn’t have secrets.”
Angela clenched her jaw. “What are you trying to say?”
Mia’s expression was calm, but her next words hit hard.
“He might be married.”
A sharp silence fell over the group.
Angela stared at her, heart pounding. “What?”
Mia crossed her arms. “Or he could have another girlfriend. You wouldn’t know unless you checked.”
Lisa scoffed. “Oh, come on, Mia! That’s a bit much, don’t you think?”
Mia shrugged. “I’m just saying, if it were me, I’d want to know before getting attached.”
Angela felt a sudden knot in her stomach. She wanted to argue, to tell Mia she was wrong.
What if she wasn’t?
The thought sent a chill down her spine.
Lisa, noticing Angela’s troubled expression, quickly shook her head. “Don’t let Mia’s paranoia get to you. This guy obviously adores you! He sent you flowers, asked you out in the most romantic way possible—”
“Or,” Mia interrupted, “he’s overcompensating for something.”
Angela inhaled sharply. “Mia, why do you care so much?”
Mia’s gaze softened. “Because I’ve seen this before. A guy who seems too good to be true usually is.”
Angela swallowed hard.
The air in the office felt suddenly heavy, the excitement from earlier now tinged with doubt.
Mia stood up and grabbed her coffee. “Just think about it,” she said before walking away.