MIDNIGHT FLOWER

CHAPTER 2 : NEARLY ENCOUNTER

Corporate Office Building, Late Morning

The office buzzed with nervous energy as everyone prepared for the arrival of the chairman’s son. Jenny, feeling the tension mounting, decided it was the perfect time to take her 15-minute coffee break.

“I’m stepping out for my favorite coffee,” Jenny called to Kier, who was too engrossed in his work to respond.

Jenny grabbed her purse and headed down to the café across the street, the prospect of a quiet moment with a warm cup of her favorite coffee offering a brief respite from the office buzz.

The café was relatively empty, and Jenny quickly ordered her usual—a latte with an extra shot of espresso. As she waited, she scrolled through her phone absentmindedly, still unaware of how close she was to a life-altering moment.

The barista handed Jenny her coffee, and she offered a polite smile in return. She stepped out of the café, holding the cup in one hand and pushing the door open with the other, ready to head back to the office. But as she reached the sidewalk, something caught her eye—a sleek, black luxury car driving past, just a few feet away.

Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized the driver. Shau. The man who had ghosted her—the one she couldn’t stop thinking about—was right there, just meters away. The same Shau who had suddenly disappeared from her life without a word.

Without a second thought, Jenny broke into a run, her mind racing as she tried to catch up to him. “Shau!” she called out, but her voice was lost in the noise of the city. The car continued down the street, showing no signs of stopping. "Shau!” she called out again, hoping desperately that he would hear her. But the distance between them only grew, the car edging closer to the intersection.

Jenny, now running full speed, ignored the blaring horns and the rush of city traffic around her. Her focus was solely on catching up to Shau, to confront him, to get answers.

Driven by a mix of desperation and disbelief, Jenny sprinted across the road, dodging pedestrians and weaving through traffic. But in her single-minded pursuit, she didn’t notice the car speeding towards her from the opposite direction.

The loud screech of tires on asphalt was the only warning she had before everything went black.

The Street, Moments Later

The coffee cup lay on the pavement, its contents spilled, mixing with the scattered papers from Jenny’s purse. A small crowd began to gather around her, concerned voices buzzing like static in the background. The driver of the car that hit her jumped out, panic and guilt etched on his face. He immediately called for an ambulance, his hands shaking as he tried to explain the situation to the emergency operator.

Meanwhile, Shau’s car continued down the street. He hadn’t seen Jenny running after him, nor did he hear her calls. Although he notice the commotion behind, to him, it was just another stupid driving through the city. His thoughts were occupied with work and the business meeting he was headed to.

As the ambulance arrived and Jenny was carefully loaded onto a stretcher, Shau was long gone, lost in the blur of city traffic. He had no idea that the woman he had once shared a connection with had been hurt, all because she had been trying to reach him.

The Hospital, Later that Day

Jenny slowly regained consciousness, the sterile scent of antiseptic and the distant beeping of machines filling her senses. She blinked, trying to focus, her body aching from the impact. As her vision cleared, she realized she was in a hospital bed, hooked up to various monitors. The events of earlier came rushing back—chasing Shau, the car, the accident.

Pain radiated through her body as she tried to move, a sharp reminder of what had happened. The memories came flooding back—seeing Shau, running after him, and then the sudden, jarring impact.

She saw Ashley sitting in a chair beside her bed, worry etched on her face.“Ashley?” Jenny’s voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.

Ashley's eyes snapped open, relief flooding her expression. “Auntie! Thank God, you’re awake!” She leaned forward, her voice full of concern. “How are you feeling?”

Jenny tried to sit up but grimaced at the pain shooting through her side. “I’m… I’m okay, I think."

Ashley gently pushed her back down. “You’ve got a few bruises and a mild concussion, but the doctors said you’re going to be fine.”

Jenny’s mind raced, but the thought of Shau lingered. “Shau… I saw him. I was trying to catch up to him when it happened.”

Ashley’s expression softened, filled with concern and sympathy. “I know this is hard, but you have to stop chasing after him. He’s not worth this—he doesn’t even know what happened to you.”

Jenny whispered, her eyes filling with tears. “I just needed to see him, to know why he disappeared.”

Ashley reached out and took Jenny’s hand, squeezing it gently. “I get it, but you can’t keep doing this to yourself. Shau isn’t worth risking your life over. Are you trying to say that you're having a hard time to let go because he is hot? Because he is rich?Gosh! It's not an enough reason! You need to focus on getting better and moving on.”

Jenny looked away, tears slipping down her cheeks. “I just thought… maybe if I saw him, I could get some closure. But now… he doesn’t even know what happened to me.”

Ashley sighed, brushing a stray hair from Jenny’s face. “He doesn’t need to know. What’s important is that you’re safe, and you’re going to be okay. Let’s take this as a sign that it’s time to let go, once and for all.”

Jenny nodded with hesitation.

Ashley gave her a comforting smile. “I’ll be here to help you every step of the way. But for now, just rest. Everything else can wait.”

As Ashley sat back in her chair, Jenny closed her eyes, trying to block out the thoughts of Shau and the what-ifs. For now, she needed to focus on healing—both her body and her heart.

Corporate Office, The Next Day.

The office was quieter than usual, the employees still buzzing from the excitement of the chairman’s son’s visit the day before. Shau had made a brief appearance, just long enough to make an impression, before leaving for another meeting.

He had no idea about Jenny’s accident, and as he sat in his father’s office the next morning, discussing business strategies, Jenny was far from his mind.

Meanwhile, back in the office, Jenny’s absence was noticed. Kier and Marjorie exchanged worried glances, knowing that Jenny’s accident was serious but not wanting to spread gossip.

“She’ll be okay,” Kier whispered as they gathered in the break room. “Her niece said she just needs some time to recover.”

“I hope so,” Marjorie replied softly. “She’s been through enough already.”

As the office continued with its day-to-day operations, the world moved on, and so did Shau, blissfully unaware of the chaos his presence had indirectly caused. Jenny, however, would take much longer to move on, her heart heavy with the knowledge that she would never get the closure she so desperately sought.

But deep down, Jenny knew that closure wouldn’t come from Shau—it would come from within, once she allowed herself to let go of the past and embrace the future.

The Hospital, A Few Days Later

Jenny lay in her hospital bed, staring out the window as the afternoon sunlight filtered through the curtains. The physical pain from the accident was slowly subsiding, but the emotional ache lingered. Despite Ashley’s encouragement, it was hard to stop thinking about Shau and the what-ifs.

Her phone buzzed on the bedside table, breaking her from her thoughts. It was a message from Ashley.

“Hey my pretty aunt, just checking in. How are you feeling today?”

Jenny hesitated for a moment before typing back.

“A bit better. Just tired. Thanks for being here for me, Ash.”

“Of course. You must be really lucky to have a pretty and thoughtful niece like me."

Jenny smile with the immediate response.

"Well, I was thinking—maybe once you’re discharged, we could have a girls’ night in? Just the two of us. We could watch movies, eat junk food, and talk about anything 'except' Shau. What do you say?”

Jenny smiled faintly at the suggestion. A night in with her niece sounded like exactly what she needed.

“That sounds perfect. I’d like that a lot.”

Ashley sent a heart emoji, followed by a thumbs-up, and Jenny felt a small wave of relief. She wasn’t alone in this.

Jenny’s Apartment, A Week Later

Jenny sat on the couch, a blanket wrapped around her, as Ashley set down a bowl of popcorn on the coffee table. The TV was already queued up with a selection of feel-good movies, and the room was filled with the warm, comforting scent of pizza.

Ashley plopped down next to her, pulling the blanket over her own legs. “Okay, so I picked out some classic rom-coms, but if you’re not in the mood, we can always switch to action or even horror.”

Jenny chuckled, feeling more relaxed than she had in days. “Rom-coms are good. I think I could use a bit of cheesy romance right now.”

As the first movie started, Jenny felt a sense of normalcy begin to return. The laughter they shared over the ridiculous plotlines and the comfort of Ashley’s presence helped ease the heavy burden she’d been carrying.

Halfway through the second movie, Ashley paused the film and turned to Jenny, her expression serious. “Aunt, I know you’re trying to move on from Shau, and I’m proud of you for that. But if you ever want to talk about it—about him, or how you’re feeling—I’m here, okay? You don’t have to go through this alone.”

Jenny looked at Ashley, her eyes filling with tears. She hadn’t realized how much she needed to hear that. “Thanks. It’s just… it’s hard. I thought maybe if I saw him again, things would make sense, but now I realize I was just holding on to something that wasn’t there anymore.”

Ashley nodded, her eyes filled with understanding. “It’s normal to want closure, but sometimes the only closure we get is the one we give ourselves. It’s not easy, but you’re strong. You’ll get through this.”

Jenny leaned back against the couch, wiping away her tears. “I know. It’s just going to take some time. And I am very thankful to have a niece like you!” She tap Ashley's head.

Ashley smiled and reached for the remote. “And in the meantime, we have a whole night of bad movies and junk food ahead of us. We’ll get through this together.”

The rest of the evening passed in a comforting blur of laughter and conversation. Jenny felt lighter, the weight of Shau’s memory no longer as heavy.

The Office, A Few Days Later

When Jenny returned to work, she was greeted by sympathetic smiles and concerned inquiries from her colleagues. Kier and Marjorie fussed over her, making sure she was comfortable and not overexerting herself.

As Jenny settled back into her routine, she noticed a shift in her mindset. The thoughts of Shau were still there, but they were quieter now, less intrusive. She was focusing more on her work, her friends, and herself.

During lunch, Marjorie stopped by her desk. “How’s it going, Jen? Settling back in okay?”

Jenny nodded, a small smile on her lips. “Yeah, it’s actually nice to be back. It feels good to have something to focus on.”

Marj grinned. “That’s the spirit."

As they chatted, Jenny realized that she was beginning to move forward. It wasn’t easy, and there were still moments when thoughts of Shau would creep in, but she was no longer consumed by them.

She was healing—slowly, but surely. And with friends by her side, she knew she would be okay.

The Office Break Room, Mid-Morning

The break room was buzzing with excitement as the employees gathered for their morning coffee, the topic of conversation centered around the chairman’s son, who had recently made his visit to the office.

Marjorie poured herself a cup of coffee, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Did you see him again yesterday? I can’t believe how hot the chairman’s son is! He looks like he just stepped out of a magazine.”

Gemma nodded eagerly, leaning in closer to the group. “I know, right? Tall, dark hair, those sharp features… He’s absolutely gorgeous. And that suit he was wearing? Perfect fit.”

Kier who was normally quiet during these conversations, couldn’t help but join in. “He’s not just good-looking—he’s got a real presence. When he walked into the boardroom, everyone just stopped and stared.”

Marjorie sighed dreamily. “I heard he’s not just a pretty face, either. Apparently, he’s really smart and super successful in his own right. No wonder the chairman is so proud of him.”

As the chatter continued, Jenny walked into the break room, oblivious to the ongoing discussion. She was focused on getting her caffeine fix before heading back to her desk, her mind still on the work she had to catch up on after her time off.

She grabbed a mug from the cabinet and started to pour herself some coffee, half-listening to the conversation around her.

Kier noticed Jenny’s arrival and grinned, eager to include her in the gossip. “Jenny! Did you see the chairman’s son? He has been visiting the office this past weeks. He’s practically a walking heartthrob. What do you think?”

Jenny looked up, a bit surprised at the sudden question. “The chairman’s son? No, I didn’t see him. What’s all the fuss about?”

Gemma waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, you missed out! He’s like something out of a romance novel. I can’t believe you didn’t see him.”

Kier chuckled, shaking his head. “Seriously, Jen, if you see him, you wouldn’t have been able to take your eyes off him. The guy’s got it all—looks, brains, charisma. Total package. And I am very sure you will finally forget that man who ghosted you."

"Someone ghosted Jenny?" Gemma and Marjorie suddenly wanted to ask Kier more about this ghost.

"Oh! No nothing. It was just a joke." Kier laugh.

Jenny raised an eyebrow, amused by their enthusiasm. “Well, I’m sure I’ll run into him at some point. But honestly, I’ve got so much work to do, I haven’t really thought about it.”

Marj leaned in closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “Oh, trust me, when you do meet him, you’ll definitely think about it. He’s the kind of guy who leaves an impression.”

Jenny laughed lightly, taking a sip of her coffee. “Well, I guess I’ll have to keep an eye out for him then.”

The group continued to gush about the mysterious chairman’s son, speculating on his life, his relationships, and what it might be like to work under him. But Jenny, still preoccupied with her own thoughts and the tasks ahead, didn’t give it much more attention.

As she finished her coffee and headed back to her desk, she couldn’t help but wonder what all the fuss was really about. Little did she know, the man they were all talking about was none other than Shau—the very person she had been struggling to move on from.

The Corporate Office, Early Afternoon

The office was bustling with activity as employees moved between meetings, typed away at their desks, and answered phone calls. There was an air of urgency, with everyone focused on their tasks.

Jenny had just finished a meeting with her team and was heading back to her desk. She was lost in thought, her mind preoccupied with the work she needed to catch up on. She walked quickly down the corridor, holding a stack of files in one arm and her phone in the other, scrolling through her emails.

Meanwhile, on the same floor, Shau was wrapping up a conversation with one of the department heads. He had spent the morning getting acquainted with the company’s operations, and now he was making his way back to his temporary office to review some documents. With his mind on the tasks ahead, he moved purposefully through the hallways, his focus sharp and his stride confident.

As Shau exited the conference room, he turned the corner at the same moment Jenny was about to enter the hallway from the opposite direction. For a split second, they were on a collision course, both oblivious to the other’s presence.

Jenny glanced up just in time to see a tall figure moving quickly toward her.

***TO BE CONTINUED***