Falling. for the Wrong Guy

I stare at the glittering diamond on my finger, the reflection catching the light as it blinks at me from the pale afternoon sun. It should feel warm, like a promise of love, a symbol of forever. But it doesn’t. It feels cold. Detached. As if it belongs to someone else entirely. “Why are you staring at that?” Shana’s voice breaks through my thoughts, sharp and teasing. She stands beside me at the office window, watching the city below. Her laughter is light, carefree. The opposite of the storm swirling inside me. “Just thinking,” I murmur, absent-mindedly twisting the ring on my finger. A twist I shouldn’t have made. A mistake, really. “You’re not thinking about Bryce, are you?” she asks with a raised eyebrow. “Because if you are, you’ve been doing that a lot lately, Kiana. And trust me, that guy—” “I know,” I interrupt, my tone firm, more to myself than her. “I’m not thinking about him.” But even as I say it, the thought of Bryce lingers, pulling at my chest. I shouldn’t be thinking about him right now, especially not today. It’s supposed to be our day—the day he finally proposes. The day I’ve been waiting for. It’s Valentine’s Day. The day I planned the perfect evening for us. Dinner. Flowers. A proposal of my own. Everything was supposed to go as planned. But instead, I find myself here—standing in my office, in a designer dress, with the perfect engagement ring that should have been on Bryce’s finger, not mine. “I have to go,” I tell Shana, my voice quieter now. The words feel heavy in the pit of my stomach. “Go where?” She looks over at me, clearly confused. “I just… need some air,” I say, heading for the door. “I’ll be back in a few.” Before she can protest, I’m out the door and walking down the hallway, the sound of my heels echoing in the silence. I’m not sure where I’m going, but my legs carry me toward the elevator without question. I push the button for the ground floor and wait, feeling the tension rise in my chest. The elevator doors slide open, and I step inside, staring at the empty space. I should feel happy, shouldn’t I? Bryce had promised me we’d get engaged tonight. He had promised that this day would be about us. But now, all I can think about is the conversation I overheard this morning in his office—the one I wasn’t supposed to hear. Flashback I had walked in unexpectedly, too early for our planned meeting. The door was slightly ajar, and I couldn’t help but overhear the sound of Bryce’s voice, smooth and charming, followed by a softer, more nervous voice I didn’t recognize. My curiosity got the better of me, and I pushed the door open slightly. “Don’t you think it’s time?” Bryce was saying. “You’ve been working for me for years now, and I’m… I’m ready to take things further with you.” My breath catches in my throat as I hear the assistant’s voice. Her name’s Jenny. I know that much. I’ve seen her in the office before, always hanging around Bryce, always smiling too much, laughing too loudly. She’s his assistant, yes, but there’s always been something… off about her. Something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. “I… I don’t know, Bryce,” Jenny hesitates, her voice shaky. “It’s just that you’re with Kiana, and—” “You and I both know how that’s going,” he interrupts. “We’ve been through this before. I’m ready for a change. For us to finally be together.” My stomach churns at his words. I’m not sure if he’s talking about a business deal or something more… personal. But I don’t need to hear any more. I turn on my heel and walk away, my heart pounding in my chest. The memory fades as the elevator dings, signaling my arrival at the ground floor. I push through the doors, walking out into the lobby. I don’t know where I’m going, but I need to get away from the office, away from everything. The cool air outside hits my skin as I step onto the pavement, taking deep breaths to calm my nerves. I’m only a few blocks away from the office when I hear the sound of footsteps behind me. A quick glance over my shoulder confirms it’s not Bryce. No, it’s too early for him to be chasing after me. He’s probably too busy with Jenny. I roll my eyes at the thought. But then a voice interrupts my internal monologue. “Are you alright?” I freeze, and the voice catches my attention. It’s not a voice I recognize. It’s deep, smooth, and laced with curiosity. I turn around, startled, and meet the eyes of a man who stands just a few feet away. He’s tall, easily over six feet, with broad shoulders that fill out his dark jacket. His eyes are dark as well, almost black, and they seem to pierce through me as though he’s trying to read my soul. His jawline is sharp, and his lips are pressed into a straight line, though there’s a softness in the way he regards me. “I’m fine,” I reply quickly, though I’m anything but. His presence is sudden, unsettling, like a jolt of electricity that runs through me, making my heart race even faster. “You don’t look fine,” he observes, his tone calm yet firm. I blink. I don’t know him. But something about the way he looks at me, his expression both empathetic and knowing, makes me feel seen. In that moment, I feel… understood. “I’m just… having a bad day,” I admit, though I instantly regret the words. I don’t know this man. I don’t need to be telling him my personal problems. “I can tell,” he says, taking a step closer. His gaze flickers down to my hand, and I follow his line of sight, suddenly aware of the sparkling diamond ring I’ve been twisting nervously around my finger. “I’m sorry,” I stammer, realizing he must have seen it. “It’s nothing. I just… I’m having some issues with my boyfriend.” He nods slightly. “I understand. It’s not easy. But… maybe this will help.” He suddenly reaches into his pocket, pulling out a small velvet box. My heart skips a beat. Is he about to propose to me? Is this some kind of joke? He opens the box, revealing a silver ring, not as extravagant as the one I was planning to give to Bryce, but still beautiful in its own right. The sight of it throws me off even more, and before I can stop myself, I say the only thing that comes to mind. “Will you marry me?” The words spill out of my mouth before I can think better of it. I blink in surprise, feeling the weight of my own question. Why did I say that? Why him? For a moment, everything is silent. His eyes flicker with surprise, but then a smirk plays at the corner of his lips. He takes a step forward, closing the distance between us, and in the blink of an eye, he slides the ring onto my finger. “I do,” he replies softly, his voice filled with a strange calmness that only adds to the absurdity of the moment. I stare at him, completely stunned. What just happened? Why did I do that? Before I can gather my thoughts, I hear the sound of a familiar voice calling my name from behind. “Kiana!” I turn to see Bryce hurrying toward me, his face filled with concern. But as his eyes land on the man standing beside me, his expression shifts to something darker. His jaw clenches, and I can see the flicker of jealousy in his eyes. “What the hell is going on here?” Bryce demands, his tone sharp and accusatory. I glance at the stranger, who stands there unfazed, his hand resting casually in his pocket as if he’s been in this situation before. “I… I don’t know,” I say, my voice shaky. “I—this is… This is Flynn.” Flynn—his name feels foreign on my lips, and I immediately feel a sense of unease. This is all a mess, a confusing whirlwind of emotions I wasn’t prepared for. Bryce’s eyes narrow, and I feel the weight of his anger settle in the pit of my stomach. “You’re kidding, right?” Bryce sneers. “You’re really going to throw all of this away for… for a stranger?” I glance back at Flynn, who gives me a small, reassuring nod. For some reason, it feels like the most comforting thing I’ve heard all day. “I… I don’t know what to think anymore, Bryce.” The words escape me before I can stop them. “I don’t think I want to be with you anymore.”