As he stepped outside, the hum of the city gradually faded behind him. Pushing through the glass doors, he felt the weight of the day settle on his shoulders. The evening air greeted him with a cool touch as he emerged from the building. A mile away, his driver waited in the idling car, the engine purring softly through the stillness of the streets. Picking up his pace, he headed towards the vehicle.
"Boss, the mistress called to have you taken straight home," the driver informed him as he approached.
"Take the day off, Lucas. I'll handle things from here," Kendrick replied, pulling out his wallet. He handed Lucas his card and added in his gentle yet assertive tone, "Get something nice for your siblings and grandma. Treat them to dinner on me."
"But boss, the Madam—" Lucas started to protest.
"Don't worry about her. I'll deal with that later," Kendrick interrupted.
"Yes, boss. Thank you, boss," Lucas replied, before driving off moments later.
With a smile, Kendrick savored the solitude, relishing the quiet of the parking lot and the unspoken promise of tomorrow's chaos. Settling into the driver's seat, he maneuvered through the evening traffic. The blur of headlights danced past him, the city alive with motion and noise, until his phone lit up on the dashboard—her name flashing across the screen.
For a split second, time seemed to slow, and all he could hear was the pounding of his own heartbeat. Three years had gone by, and a simple call from her still set his heart racing. He picked up and answered. On her end, laughter, music, and the buzz of a crowd enveloped the conversation, a vibrant world continuing without him.
"Hey," she said, her voice slicing through the noise like a melody meant just for him. "Are you really sure about this, Elsie? You know Mom would be upset if I didn't go to my birthday party."
"I know, but who cares?" she responded. "That old woman doesn't like me anyway. I'd just annoy her by stealing you away."
Joan peeked through the narrow crack of the window blinds, her breath fogging the glass as she spotted Kendrick stepping out of his car. Adrenaline coursed through her veins, anticipation making her heart race.
"He's here!" she hissed, her voice barely above a whisper, as she waved her hand for everyone to get into position. Chairs scraped across the floor, glasses clinked nervously, and a few muted giggles rippled through the private room, excitement palpable as the lights dimmed.
Elsie adjusted the candles on the cake, the golden light flickering across her face, revealing the nervousness she tried to mask. Joan turned to her, a flicker of concern crossing her features. "Where's May?" she whispered, her voice taut.
Elsie froze for a brief moment, a flash of worry in her eyes. "Uh—she said she had to take a call. She's probably on her way up," she replied quickly, forcing a bright smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
Joan sighed, irritation simmering beneath her calm facade. "She'd better hurry," she muttered under her breath, anxiety prickling at the back of her mind.
A tense silence fell upon the room, the chatter dying down as everyone instinctively held their breath. Outside, the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder — steady, unhurried, like the ticking of a clock drawing closer to a climactic moment.
Kendrick opened the door.
For a heartbeat, everything went still. The air crackled with a mix of excitement and nerves. Joan mouthed the count — one… two… three — and the room erupted:
"Happy birthday to you—!"
Applause, laughter, and camera flashes filled the air, enveloping Kendrick in a wave of affection and surprise. He knew they'd planned something — the suspiciously quiet coworkers, the veiled hints in Joan's tone, the not-so-subtle text from Lucas. But he hadn't expected this.
Not the warmth that hit him square in the chest the moment he stepped inside. Not the familiar faces, lighting up with joy, shouting his name. And definitely not her.
In the center of it all stood Elsie, holding the cake, the flickering candles casting a glow that seemed almost magical. Her smile was brilliant but careful — the kind that hinted at something deeper, something more complicated lying just beneath the surface.
For a moment, the crowd faded into a blur of sound and color; all he could see was her. His gaze locked onto hers, and time seemed to stretch, the air thick between them.
When the final "Happy birthday, dear Kendrick—" faded into a hush, Elsie stepped forward, her voice soft and sincere. "Make a wish."
He looked at her, the flickering light painting echoes of shared memories across her face. "I already did," he said quietly, a seriousness underscoring his words.
The candles went out in a single breath, smoke curling into the dim light, swirling like the emotions building between them.
Cheers erupted once more, glasses clinking, music rising to a crescendo, yet Kendrick and Elsie lingered — a quiet island amid the celebration, both acutely aware of the weight of the moment. They pretended not to notice how the air between them felt charged, fragile, and alive, like a secret waiting to be shared, a tension laden with possibility that left them yearning for more.