Accidental "I Do"

Episode 011

The Perfect Plan Unravels

By the time the company-wide event was set to begin, Jasmine felt a strange mix of calm and anticipation. She stood in front of the office bathroom mirror, adjusting her dress for the hundredth time.

The soft blush fabric hugged her frame perfectly, the delicate lace on the neckline adding just the right touch of romance. Despite the outward perfection, her trembling hands betrayed her nerves.

She leaned closer to the mirror, running a finger along her eyeliner, making sure it hadn’t smudged. Her reflection stared back at her, wide-eyed with excitement.

“Tristan,” she murmured under her breath, rehearsing the words she’d practiced a hundred times. “You’re the most amazing person I’ve ever met, and I—”

“You’re overthinking it again!” Maya’s cheerful voice rang out as the bathroom door swung open.

Jasmine turned sharply as Maya stepped inside, holding a small makeup bag in one hand.

"Maya, you're supposed to be at the company event. Filling in for me," Jasmine exclaimed.

Maya had a sheepish grin on her face. "Well, I told Derek to fill in for us."

"Fill in for us? Is that even a thing ?" Jasmine asked.

"I couldn't leave you all alone. You were already even overthinking it."

“I wasn’t overthinking,” Jasmine lied, turning back to the mirror. “I was just... fine-tuning.”

Maya raised an eyebrow, setting her makeup bag on the counter. “Fine-tuning? Sure, let’s call it that. Honestly, Jaz, you’ve been preparing for this moment for weeks. You’ve got it locked down. Now, let me help you so you don’t psych yourself out.”

Jasmine sighed, grateful for her friend’s calm confidence. “Thanks, Maya. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Maya smiled warmly and started unpacking her bag. “You’d be fine, but your lipstick might not be.”

The two women stood side by side at the counter as Maya reapplied Jasmine’s lipstick. The faint scent of vanilla filled the air as Maya worked, her movements precise and steady.

“You know,” Maya said after a moment, “I don’t usually get emotional about this kind of stuff, but you’re really pulling out all the stops here. A proposal, tickets to California... It’s romantic as hell.”

Jasmine’s cheeks flushed. “I just want it to be perfect. Tristan deserves that.”

“And you deserve to be happy,” Maya replied firmly, stepping back to admire her handiwork. “Okay, take it from the top. Let’s hear the speech one more time.”

Jasmine hesitated, her nerves suddenly kicking in again. “Do we have to?”

“Yes,” Maya said, her tone leaving no room for argument. “Come on. I’m your rehearsal audience, and I need to feel the love.”

Taking a deep breath, Jasmine clasped her hands together and faced the mirror. “Tristan, you’re the most amazing person I’ve ever met. You’ve been my rock, my best friend, and—”

“And the love of my life,” Maya interrupted with a teasing grin.

“Stop!” Jasmine laughed, swatting at Maya’s arm.

Maya chuckled, holding up her hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay. I’ll behave. But seriously, don’t forget the eye contact. It’s everything.”

“I know,” Jasmine said softly. “I just... I want him to really understand how much he means to me.”

“He will,” Maya said with certainty. “You’re pouring your heart out here, and he’s going to see that. You’ve got this, Jaz.”

As they wrapped up the rehearsal, the muffled sounds of laughter and chatter filtered in from the hallway. The company-wide event was in full swing, and the festive energy was visible.

“You know,” Jasmine said as she capped the lipstick and slid it back into her bag, “You should really get to the event. I don’t want to be the one who makes you skip out entirely.”

But Maya didn’t move. She studied Jasmine for a moment, then let out a sigh. “No, I’m not going. I’m staying here.”

Jasmine blinked in surprise. “What? Maya, you don’t have to do that. This is your chance to mingle with the higher-ups. You’ve been looking forward to this event all month!”

Maya shrugged casually. “Eh, it’s just another company mixer. Besides, you’re about to do something huge, and there’s no way I’m leaving you to deal with it alone.”

Jasmine’s chest tightened at her friend’s words. “Maya... You’re seriously the best. I don’t know how I got so lucky to have you in my corner.”

“Well, you did let me copy your chemistry homework for a year in college,” Maya joked, smirking. “I’m just returning the favor.”

Jasmine laughed, a small weight lifting from her shoulders. “Thanks for staying. It means a lot.”

Maya waved a dismissive hand. “Enough with the sap. Let’s focus on the task at hand — getting you ready to blow Tristan’s mind.”

As they went over the plan one last time, Jasmine couldn’t help but feel a little lighter. Maya’s unwavering support was a balm to her nerves, and she was starting to believe that maybe, just maybe, everything would go exactly as she hoped.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw someone rush past the bathroom door. Through the mirror, she spotted Sarah, Tristan's assistant, carrying two empty valentine-themed coffee cups.

“Was that Sarah?” Maya asked, glancing toward the door.

Jasmine nodded absentmindedly. “Yeah. She’s been buzzing around the office all day.”

“She looked excited about something,” Maya mused.

Jasmine shrugged, her thoughts already drifting back to Tristan. “Doesn’t she always? Sarah’s like a walking exclamation point.”

Maya laughed. “True. But something about her seemed... different. Oh well, not our problem.”

Jasmine smiled faintly, her focus firmly on her proposal.

Maya zipped up her bag and gave Jasmine’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Alright, Jaz. You’re ready. Go knock him off his feet.”

Jasmine turned to her friend, her heart swelling with gratitude. “Thanks, Maya. For everything. I really couldn’t have done this without you.”

Maya smiled, her eyes soft. “You don’t need me, Jaz. You’re going to be amazing. But if you do need me, I’m just a phone call away. Got it?”

“Got it,” Jasmine said, her voice steady despite the butterflies in her stomach.

As Maya stepped out of the bathroom, Jasmine turned back to the mirror. She adjusted her dress one last time, smoothing out invisible wrinkles.

“This is it,” she whispered to herself.

Taking a deep breath, she straightened her shoulders and whispered, “It’s time.”