The Heart Of Strings: Elyse's Melody

Chapter 11: The CEO’s Invitation

Prom was a week away.

And somehow, despite my protests, I already had four potential dates, five custom dress recommendations, and exactly zero control over the situation.

“So,” Hanna began, twirling a pen between her fingers as she lounged on my bed, “David says he’s buying a silver tux ‘to match whatever you eventually wear.’ Daniel’s pretending he’s too cool to ask you directly. Adrian’s probably writing you a ballad. Lance might build a prom-themed AI just to calculate the best moment to confess again. And Cyrus…”

She trailed off dramatically, eyes glinting.

I sighed. “What about Cyrus?”

“He’s planning something,” she whispered. “I feel it in my spine.”

Before I could answer, my phone buzzed.

Cyrus: Meet me at the garden courtyard. Now.

I stared at the screen. No explanation. No punctuation. Classic Cyrus.

“He summoned you, didn’t he?” Hanna grinned.

“I’ll be back,” I muttered.

Hanna winked. “If he proposes under cherry blossoms, I want pictures.”

---

The garden courtyard behind the music building was quiet—hidden from most of campus. Cyrus stood beneath the wide sakura tree, its soft pink petals fluttering around him like a scene from an anime.

Of course, he looked utterly unbothered in his crisp, dark jacket and navy-blue shirt. Hands in his pockets. Cold eyes, unreadable.

“You’re late,” he said.

“It’s been three minutes,” I replied.

“Three minutes and fourteen seconds,” he corrected.

I sighed. “Why am I here, Cyrus?”

He looked at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. “You don’t like parties.”

“I don’t hate them,” I said cautiously.

“But you don’t like being the center of attention.”

“Not really.”

Cyrus stepped closer, his voice dropping slightly. “So why haven’t you said no to the prom?”

“I don’t know. Maybe because Hanna would tackle me if I did.”

“Or maybe,” he said, taking one more step closer, “you’re scared you’ll break someone’s heart.”

My breath caught.

“I—”

He held up a hand. “I’m not accusing. I just want to know where your head is.”

“I’m overwhelmed,” I admitted. “All of you confessed. Then you sang that song. Then Zane showed up and threatened everyone with violence.”

Cyrus cracked the faintest smile. “He offered me a business card labeled ‘Professional Sister Repellent.’”

I blinked. “Wait, seriously?”

“He said it was a joke. I’m not entirely convinced.”

We both laughed, softly.

Then he said, “Elyse… I want to ask you something. Not as the CEO of Virell Corp. Not even as your childhood friend.”

I looked at him, heart suddenly louder in my chest.

“I want to take you to prom,” he said quietly. “Not to make a statement. Not because it’s expected. Just because… I want to see you smile. And if I get just one dance with you, even if you never choose me—I’ll be satisfied.”

“Cyrus…”

“I know I’m not the easiest to love. I say the wrong things. I overthink. I act like emotions are a problem to be solved.”

“They’re not,” I said softly. “They’re something to be felt.”

He nodded. “And I feel something when I’m around you.”

The wind picked up, carrying a swirl of petals between us. Cyrus reached out gently, brushing one from my hair.

“I never believed in fate,” he said. “But then you came back into my life like some unfinished chapter—and suddenly, everything made sense again.”

I swallowed hard. “I don’t know if I’m ready. For any of this.”

“I don’t need an answer now. I just need your ‘yes’ to one night.”

I hesitated. “You’ll dance with me even if Hanna puts me in something insane?”

“I’d dance with you in battle armor,” he said dryly. “Though I suspect Hanna would prefer a backless evening gown.”

I laughed. “She’s already narrowed it down to three.”

“I’ll coordinate my tie accordingly.”

I stepped back slightly, looking up at him. “You’re a lot warmer than you pretend to be.”

His eyes met mine, surprisingly soft. “Only with you.”

---

When I returned to the dorm, Hanna was waiting with Zane, both sitting in front of my closet with an open laptop and a growing pile of makeup kits.

“You have ten seconds to explain the cherry blossom rendezvous,” Hanna said without looking up.

“He asked me to prom,” I replied.

Zane frowned. “Did he offer to buy out the whole venue too?”

“No,” I said. “He just… asked.”

Zane leaned back. “Okay, that’s mildly respectable.”

Hanna squealed. “Wait, does that mean you’re going with Cyrus?”

“I didn’t say that!”

“But you also didn’t say no,” Hanna grinned wickedly.

I groaned. “Why is my life a romance drama?”

“Because I manifested it,” Hanna said proudly. “Now, let’s talk hair.”

---

End of Chapter 11