Chapter 16: The White Rose
809 Words
Applause echoed through the ballroom as Sofia stepped down from the stage, still holding her Employee Appreciation Award.
Her cheeks were slightly flushed from all the attention.
"I still can't believe it..." she murmured.
Mia immediately linked arms with her.
"You deserved it!"
Jenny nodded enthusiastically.
"You practically lived in the office these past few weeks."
Mark laughed.
"I thought you were going to cry up there."
"I almost did."
Everyone laughed together as they walked back toward their table.
But as Sofia reached her seat...
She suddenly stopped.
"...Huh?"
Everyone looked at her.
Resting neatly on her chair...
Was a single white rose.
Fresh.
Elegant.
Without a card.
Without a name.
Silence fell over the group.
Jenny frowned.
"Did one of you put that there?"
Everyone shook their heads.
"No."
"I didn't."
"Not me."
Sofia slowly picked up the flower.
"...Who left this?"
---
Adrian's POV
From across the ballroom...
Adrian noticed the small commotion.
"What happened?"
One of the employees answered quietly.
"Miss Reyes found another flower."
Another?
Adrian excused himself from the sponsors.
"If you'll pardon me."
He walked toward Sofia's table.
The employees instinctively stepped aside.
Adrian's eyes settled on the white rose in Sofia's hand.
"Where did you get that?"
Sofia looked up.
"It was on my chair when I came back."
"You didn't see who left it?"
She shook her head.
"No."
Adrian examined the chair.
Nothing.
No note.
No envelope.
Just the flower.
He turned to the nearby hotel staff.
"Has anyone been assigned to this section?"
One of the waiters answered.
"Yes, sir."
"Did you see anyone approach this table?"
The waiter thought for a moment.
"I remember seeing someone wearing a hotel uniform..."
"But I assumed he was one of us."
Another employee frowned.
"I don't think I've seen him before."
Adrian's expression grew more serious.
"Ethan."
Ethan immediately walked over.
"What happened?"
"I want the hotel's CCTV footage."
Ethan blinked.
"...Already?"
"The flower didn't place itself here."
Ethan nodded.
"I'll talk to hotel security."
Before leaving, he glanced at Sofia.
"Don't worry."
"We'll figure it out."
---
Sofia's POV
She looked down at the white rose.
Unlike the previous bouquet...
This one felt different.
Someone had entered the ballroom.
Walked right up to her chair.
And left without anyone noticing.
It should have frightened her.
Instead...
It left her with one question.
"Who are you?"
---
Ethan's POV
Hotel security led Ethan into the surveillance room.
Several monitors displayed different areas of the ballroom.
"Can you rewind to five minutes before the award ceremony ended?"
The guard nodded.
The footage played.
Guests applauded.
Sofia stood on stage.
Employees watched.
Then...
A man in a hotel uniform calmly approached Sofia's table.
His cap covered most of his face.
He placed something on her chair.
And walked away.
"Zoom in."
The image became clearer.
Just as the man's face was about to appear...
The screen suddenly flickered.
Static.
Three seconds.
When the picture returned...
The man was gone.
Ethan frowned.
"Seriously?"
The guard looked confused.
"That's strange."
"We didn't lose power."
---
Adrian's POV
Ethan returned a few minutes later.
"No luck."
Adrian looked at him.
"The camera glitched."
"For exactly three seconds."
"Long enough for him to disappear."
Adrian frowned.
"Coincidence?"
"I don't think so."
Neither of them noticed...
A man standing near one of the ballroom pillars quietly lowered his phone.
A small smile appeared on his lips.
Everything...
Had gone exactly as planned.
---
The evening continued.
Dinner was served.
The guests slowly relaxed once again, though whispers about the mysterious white rose spread throughout the ballroom.
As dessert was being served, the host returned to the stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen..."
"Before we conclude tonight's dinner..."
"I have one final announcement."
The ballroom gradually fell silent.
The host smiled.
"Earlier this evening..."
"Our anonymous benefactor made the largest donation of the night."
Applause echoed once more.
"He asked for only one thing in return."
The host unfolded a sealed envelope.
"He wishes to remain anonymous..."
"But requested that this message be read aloud."
Curious murmurs spread through the room.
The host began reading.
> "To the woman in the ivory dress..."
Sofia froze.
The ballroom became silent.
> "One day..."
> "I'll find the courage to tell you who I am."
A wave of whispers swept through the guests.
Every eye slowly turned toward Sofia.
She stood motionless.
Confused.
Embarrassed.
Speechless.
Beside the stage...
Adrian's expression darkened.
This was no longer just a harmless admirer.
Whoever this person was...
They had planned everything.
The flowers.
The gifts.
The white rose.
And now...
A public message in front of hundreds of people.
For the first time...
Adrian wasn't simply curious.
He wanted answers.
And somewhere in the ballroom...
Hidden among the smiling guests...
Someone quietly watched Adrian instead.
As if waiting for him...
To make the first move.
- Writer
