Chapter 9: More Than Just Curiosity
1067 Words
The executive floor fell into complete silence.
Every employee's eyes were fixed on the small paper bag in Sofia's hands.
Even Sofia looked surprised.
"For me?"
The receptionist nodded.
"Yes, Miss Reyes. A delivery rider dropped it off a few minutes ago."
"Did he say who sent it?"
"I'm sorry. He only said it was for you."
Sofia thanked the receptionist before staring at the neatly wrapped package.
Mia slowly scooted her chair closer.
"Open it."
Jenny nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes! Open it!"
Mark joined in.
"We're all curious now."
Sofia laughed nervously.
"You guys are acting like it's your gift."
"It kind of is," Mia replied with a grin. "We've all been invested since the flowers."
Everyone laughed.
Everyone...
Except Adrian.
Standing outside his office, he watched quietly without saying a word.
---
Adrian's POV
"Another one?"
His eyes remained on the package.
"Who keeps sending her these?"
He folded his arms.
"This has nothing to do with me."
"I'm simply curious."
"As the CEO..."
"I should know what's entering my company."
"...Right?"
Even he wasn't convinced by his own excuse.
---
Back at Sofia's desk, she carefully untied the ribbon.
Inside the paper bag was a small teddy bear holding a white rose.
A handwritten note rested beneath it.
"I hope this brightens your day."
Sofia smiled.
"Aww..."
"That's actually sweet."
Jenny squealed.
"Whoever he is, he's so romantic!"
Mark picked up the teddy bear.
"This is good quality."
Mia looked around dramatically.
"Confess already, mysterious admirer!"
The office burst into laughter.
Across the room...
Adrian quietly looked away and returned to his office.
He didn't know why.
But hearing everyone praise the anonymous sender...
Didn't sit well with him.
---
A few minutes later...
"Miss Reyes."
Sofia looked toward the CEO's office.
"Mr. Montenegro is calling you."
She carried the teddy bear and note before knocking twice.
"Come in."
Adrian was reviewing documents when she entered.
"You called for me, sir?"
His eyes landed on the teddy bear.
"...Leave that on the table."
She did as instructed.
Adrian picked up the note.
"You don't recognize the handwriting?"
She shook her head.
"No, sir."
"Hmm."
He placed it back down.
"What do you think?"
Sofia smiled.
"I think someone is trying to make my day a little brighter."
Adrian looked at her.
"And you're happy about that?"
"Well..."
"It's nice knowing someone thought of me."
He remained silent for a few seconds.
Finally...
"Be careful."
Sofia blinked.
"...Sir?"
"I mean..."
He cleared his throat.
"...Don't let it distract you from work."
She smiled politely.
"Don't worry."
"I won't."
As she left the office, Adrian let out a quiet sigh.
"Why did I say that?"
---
Ethan's POV
Ethan walked into Adrian's office without knocking.
"I passed Sofia on the way here."
Adrian continued reading.
"So?"
"She's smiling."
"Good."
"And she's carrying a teddy bear."
Silence.
Ethan grinned.
"You don't like that, do you?"
"I don't have an opinion."
"No?"
"You've been asking about every single gift."
"I have reasons."
Ethan sat across from him.
"Give me one."
"They're anonymous."
"That's it?"
"They're being delivered inside my company."
Ethan nodded slowly.
"I see."
Another pause.
Then...
"So if I secretly sent Jenny flowers..."
"Would you investigate that too?"
Adrian looked up.
"No."
Ethan couldn't hold back his laughter.
"There it is!"
"What?"
"You answered too quickly."
Adrian frowned.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You don't?"
"No."
Ethan stood up and patted his friend's shoulder.
"You've always been the smartest man I know."
"But when it comes to love..."
"You're completely hopeless."
Adrian simply watched him leave.
"Love?"
"Impossible."
---
Sofia's POV
By the end of the workday, the gossip had spread throughout the building.
As Sofia packed her bag, Mia leaned against her desk.
"So..."
"If the mystery guy asked you out..."
"Would you say yes?"
Sofia laughed.
"I don't even know who he is."
"But what if he's handsome?"
Jenny teased.
"I'd still want to know his name first."
Mark pointed toward Adrian's office.
"I wonder what the CEO thinks."
"The CEO?"
Sofia smiled.
"I think he's just annoyed."
"Why?"
"He asked me several questions about the gifts."
Jenny gasped dramatically.
"Oh no."
"Our Ice King is jealous."
Sofia immediately shook her head.
"Not this again."
"He isn't jealous."
"He's probably worried that office romance will affect productivity."
Mia and Jenny exchanged knowing smiles.
Neither of them believed her.
---
That evening...
Most employees had already left.
Sofia stayed behind to organize the guest list for the upcoming charity gala.
As she walked toward the copy room carrying several folders...
The lights suddenly went out.
"...Huh?"
A second later, the emergency lights came on.
The hallway glowed dimly in red.
Sofia frowned.
"Another power interruption?"
She carefully continued walking.
Then...
A voice echoed from the other end of the hallway.
"Miss Reyes?"
She turned.
It was Adrian.
"The backup generator will be on in a minute."
"Oh."
She smiled in relief.
"I thought I was going to get lost."
For the first time that day...
Adrian let out the faintest chuckle.
"You've worked here for months."
"I know."
"But everything looks different in the dark."
Sofia laughed.
"I guess that's true."
The generator hummed to life.
The lights returned.
For a brief moment...
Their eyes met.
Neither of them spoke.
Then Sofia smiled.
"Good night, sir."
"...Good night."
She walked toward the elevator.
Adrian watched until the doors closed.
Only then did he realize...
He had smiled.
---
Adrian's POV
He returned to his office.
His phone buzzed.
It was a message from Mr. Santos, the head of Security.
Sir, we checked today's delivery records. The package was sent through a courier service. The sender used a fake name.
Adrian stared at the message.
"A fake name..."
He placed his phone on the desk.
Then his eyes drifted toward the empty chair where Sofia had been sitting earlier.
Without thinking...
He picked up the small note that had come with the teddy bear.
He read it once more before quietly placing it inside his desk drawer.
He wasn't sure why.
Maybe...
He simply wanted to compare it with the handwriting from the flowers.
Or maybe...
He just didn't like the idea of another man making Sofia smile.
Outside his office...
Someone had witnessed Adrian carefully putting the note away.
Ethan smiled to himself.
"So..."
"The CEO who forgot how to love..."
"...is finally remembering."
- Writer
