MIDNIGHT FLOWER

CHAPTER 15: IMPROMPTU TOAST

Veronica was the first to notice the sudden intrusion. She quickly pulled away from Shau with a smile. Shau, on the other hand, looked up, his usual composed demeanor faltering for a split second as he met the wide-eyed stares of his employees. His gaze flickered toward Jenny, and for a brief moment, something unspoken passed between them.

Jenny, struggling to keep her expression neutral, forced a tight smile, though it felt like a mask. The sight of Shau kissing Veronica sent a sharp pang through her, and the awkwardness of the situation only made it worse. Her colleagues, meanwhile, exchanged uncomfortable glances, unsure of what to do next.

“Oh... uh... sorry about that,” Kier stammered, breaking the silence with a nervous laugh. “We didn’t mean to interrupt...”

Veronica, ever graceful, quickly regained her composure. She smiled at the group, her voice warm and smooth. “No worries. It looks like we’re having a celebration?”

Mr. Duavis, recovering from the awkwardness, stepped forward, his hands clasped together. “Yes! Yes, of course. We just wanted to surprise Mr. Zhang and congratulate him on becoming CEO and, of course, on the engagement, and it is so nice that you are here, Ms. Chen.”

Shau’s face remained neutral, but his eyes flicked back to Jenny briefly. “Thank you, everyone,” he said, his voice steady, though there was a tension in his posture that only Jenny seemed to notice.

Jenny swallowed hard, feeling like the weight of the cake in her hands had doubled. Her throat tightened as she stepped forward reluctantly, holding out the cake. “Congratulations,” she murmured, forcing the words out, though they felt hollow.

As Shau took the cake from her hands, their fingers brushed for a second, but this time, there was no playful spark. Just a moment of tension that neither of them could escape. His eyes lingered on hers, as if he wanted to say something, but the presence of Veronica—and the entire office staff—kept him silent.

The air was thick with unspoken words, but Jenny could only stand there, painfully aware of the role she had to play in this charade, pretending everything was fine.

As the awkward silence lingered in the room, the employees slowly began to recover, offering their congratulations to Shau and Veronica with smiles. One by one, they stepped forward, their voices filled with the usual pleasantries. “Congratulations, Mr. Zhang,” “Best wishes on your engagement,” “So happy for the both of you.”

Veronica, sensing the unease but unwilling to let it ruin the moment, took the opportunity to play the perfect fiancée. With a sweet smile, she wrapped her arm possessively around Shau’s, her fingers lightly tracing the sleeve of his suit. But as she did, her eyes subtly flicked toward Jenny, watching for any reaction. There was a hint of something sharp in her gaze, as though she was searching for a sign of discomfort or guilt.

Jenny, standing in the crowd, felt the weight of Veronica’s gaze and did her best to remain composed. Her heart pounded, her fingers clenched around the hem of her dress as she forced a polite smile. She couldn't let anyone see the turmoil boiling inside her. Not here, not now. Veronica’s silent message was clear: He’s mine.

“Thank you all for your kind words,” Veronica said, her voice smooth and full of grace. She glanced briefly at Shau before turning her attention back to the employees. “Shau and I truly appreciate your support, and we’re looking forward to this next chapter together.”

Shau remained quiet, his expression unreadable, but Jenny could feel the tension between them as she tried to keep her distance, both physically and emotionally. He didn’t meet her eyes this time, keeping his gaze focused on the floor or his fiancée.

Veronica’s smile brightened, and with an almost casual elegance, she made an announcement that caught everyone’s attention. “I was thinking,” she began, her voice lilting with excitement, “why don’t we continue the celebration after office hours? Drinks tonight on us! Let’s toast to Shau’s promotion and the engagement properly.”

There was a collective murmur of agreement from the crowd, their earlier awkwardness evaporating as the prospect of a night out replaced it. The employees nodded enthusiastically, already buzzing with excitement for the evening ahead.

“That sounds great!” Kier said, grinning widely. “We’ll definitely be there!”

Jessa and Marjorie exchanged excited glances, clearly happy for any excuse to have a good time. “We wouldn’t miss it!” they chimed in, and the others followed suit, their previous discomfort forgotten in the light of the impromptu party.

Veronica’s smile never faltered as she looked around the room, soaking in the attention, but her eyes once again flickered toward Jenny, as though making sure she was listening. There was a possessive air to the way she stood next to Shau, her arm still looped through his, her body pressed close to his side. It was a silent but deliberate display: I am the woman beside him, and you are just the assistant.

Jenny’s chest tightened. She swallowed hard, trying to ignore the sting of jealousy creeping in. The reality of Shau’s engagement was always something she had tried to compartmentalize, but now, with Veronica so openly staking her claim, it felt harder to bear. Still, she nodded along with her colleagues, feigning excitement like everyone else.

“I’ll see you all there,” Veronica said with a wink, her gaze sweeping across the group before landing once more on Jenny. “It’ll be a night to remember.”

Jenny' thought of spending the evening watching Shau and Veronica play the perfect couple was the last thing she wanted, but there was no way she could refuse. Not without raising suspicion.

As the crowd began to disperse, returning to their desks to wrap up the day’s work, Veronica leaned in closer to Shau, giving him a playful kiss on the cheek. “I can’t wait for tonight,” she whispered, loud enough for Jenny to hear.

Jenny’s stomach twisted, but she kept her composure, turning to head back to her desk.

As she walked away, she could feel Shau’s eyes on her, but she didn’t dare look back. The office now felt like a battlefield, and she was caught between two worlds—one where Shau was hers, if only in secret, and another where Veronica was determined to keep him by her side for the world to see.

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As the final minutes of office hours ticked away, Jenny packed up her desk, her heart heavy with the tension that had simmered all day. Shau hadn’t spoken much since the morning's awkward interruption, and she had been trying to push aside her own emotions, determined not to let it affect her work. But now, as the evening drew closer, she knew there was no avoiding the looming celebration.

“They’re waiting for us at the lobby,” Jenny said quietly, breaking the silence. “Mr. Duavis and the others are all ready for tonight’s celebration.”

Shau looked up at her, his expression unreadable for a moment. He sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. “I know we’ve been quiet all day,” he began, his voice low and serious, “but I need to make things clear with you.”

Jenny met his gaze, keeping her face calm, even though her heart raced slightly. She had been anticipating this moment, knowing that what had happened earlier had weighed on both of them.

“I didn’t start that kiss,” Shau said, his tone firm but earnest. “It was Veronica. She pulled me in, and... it all happened right as the door opened. I was caught off guard.”

Jenny listened carefully, her expression softening. She could see the conflict in Shau’s eyes, the way he was trying to explain himself without sounding defensive.

“I believe you,” Jenny said softly, stepping closer to him. “I know it wasn’t you.”

Shau blinked, a small flash of relief crossing his face.

She smiled gently, trying to ease the tension between them. “Everything’s alright. We’re fine.”

Shau exhaled, some of the weight lifting from his shoulders. He stood from his chair, moving toward her, his eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and something deeper. “Thank you, baby” he said quietly, his hand resting on her arm, squeezing gently. “I needed to hear that.” He kissed her forehead.

Jenny gave him a reassuring smile, even though a part of her still ached. She wanted to believe that everything was okay, and for the most part, it was. But there was no denying the complexity of their situation, especially with Veronica so deeply entwined in Shau’s life.

“But tonight…” Jenny said, her voice soft but firm, “you need to keep your distance. Everyone will be watching, especially Veronica. You know how many eyes will be on you—and on us.”

Shau nodded, his expression becoming more serious. He knew she was right. Tonight was not just a celebration of his promotion; it was also a stage for his engagement, a spotlight that Veronica was more than ready to bask in. If he showed any signs of tension or distance, people would notice. And the last thing they needed was more suspicion.

Shau reached out, taking her hand in his for a brief moment, squeezing it gently. There was an unspoken understanding between them, a bond that, despite everything, remained strong. “I appreciate you, baby,” he said softly, his voice filled with a sincerity that made her heart skip a beat.

She pulled her hand away, giving him a final nod. “Let’s go. It’s time to face the crowd.”

With one last glance, they left the office together, the tension between them now eased but the weight of the night still pressing on their shoulders. As they descended in the elevator, the air between them was calm, but there was a silent agreement that tonight would be challenging in more ways than one.

When the elevator doors slid open, the lobby was already buzzing with excitement. Mr. Duavis, Kier, and the rest of their colleagues were gathered near the entrance, chatting and laughing as they waited. Veronica was there too, standing elegantly by Shau’s car, her eyes lighting up as she saw him approach.

Shau straightened his tie, his posture shifting into his usual confident stance as he stepped forward to greet the crowd. Jenny, staying a few steps behind, watched as Veronica moved toward him, wrapping her arms around his in a way that felt both possessive and staged for the benefit of their audience.

“Ready to celebrate, darling?” Veronica cooed, loud enough for everyone to hear, her eyes briefly flicking to Jenny before settling back on Shau.

The group made their way to an upscale bar downtown, the kind with dim lighting, plush seating, and an extensive menu of high-end cocktails. The mood was lively, with everyone still riding the high from Shau’s promotion and engagement announcement. The bar buzzed with the sound of chatter, laughter, and clinking glasses.

As they all settled into a spacious private area, Veronica naturally took her place next to Shau, wrapping her arm around his once more and flashing a dazzling smile to the group. She was every bit the picture-perfect fiancée, basking in the attention as she ordered drinks and made sure everything was just right for the evening.

But to anyone paying closer attention, the tension between her and Shau was palpable.

While the group cheered and toasted to Shau’s success, Veronica leaned closer to him, her voice low but filled with sweetness laced with steel. “Isn’t this nice, darling?” she said, glancing around at the happy faces of the employees. “Everyone’s so thrilled for us.”

Shau, his expression tight, turned to her with an almost imperceptible sigh. His voice was barely above a whisper as he murmured back, “Stop the act.”

Her smile faltered, just for a second, but she quickly recovered, her grip on his arm tightening. She responded through clenched teeth, “What act, darling? We are celebrating us—or have you forgotten that already?”

Shau pulled his arm away slightly, his gaze shifting toward the rest of the group, where Kier, Jessa, and Marjorie were raising their glasses. “To Mr. Zhang! The new CEO!” they cheered, followed by another round of applause. Shau forced a smile, raising his own glass to join them, though his mind was far from the celebration.

The bar was in full swing, with drinks being poured generously and laughter echoing around the room. Veronica, still clinging to Shau like a prized possession, watched as the group laughed and chatted about the night’s events. She had her perfect smile plastered on, but beneath it, a storm brewed—she couldn’t help but notice the occasional glances Shau gave Jenny, subtle but enough to stir her jealousy.

As the drinks continued to flow, Veronica stood up, her eyes gleaming with mischief as she tapped her glass lightly with a spoon to get everyone’s attention.

“Everyone, I just wanted to say a few words,” Veronica announced sweetly, her voice cutting through the chatter. “Let’s take a moment to toast to Shau, our wonderful new CEO. And of course… to us.” She gave Shau a knowing glance.

The group raised their glasses with murmurs of congratulations, and Veronica’s eyes flickered toward Jenny, who was seated at the far end of the table, quietly observing the scene. Sensing her opportunity to assert dominance, Veronica smirked.

“And let’s not forget our dear Jenny,” she said, her tone sickly sweet. “She’s always there for Shau, isn’t she? I mean, where would Shau be without his lovely assistant? Jenny, you must be exhausted with all the work you do for him.” Veronica’s voice oozed with false concern. “Why don’t you tell us about your… special duties?” she added, her gaze sharpening as she set her trap.

A few of the colleagues exchanged awkward glances, sensing the tension in her words. The atmosphere shifted slightly as everyone waited to see how Jenny would respond.

Shau glared at Veronica, and glance to Jenny with worry.

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