Blind Date with My Boss

Chapter 5: The Necklace

Amelia sat in the bus, her face flushed with warmth that had little to do with the heat outside. She absentmindedly scrolled through her phone, her thoughts lingering on the events of the evening—Victor, her mind raced, and she couldn’t help but smile as the bus rocked gently back and forth.

Just then, her phone rang, breaking her from her thoughts. She saw it was Emily calling, and she quickly swiped to answer.

“Hello?” Amelia said, trying to keep the excitement from spilling into her voice.

On the other end, Emily’s voice rang out with her usual cheerful enthusiasm. “Ame...lia! I’m so busy! I can’t even meet up with you on your birthday! So, what’s my girl planned for tonight?”

Amelia chuckled, a little nervous energy creeping into her laugh. “Victor wants to see me, so I’m heading over there now.”

“Victor!” Emily’s tone shifted, becoming more curious, almost skeptical. “Why is he calling you on your birthday, after he made you do all that work for his new menu?”

Amelia grinned, leaning back in her seat. “That wasn’t work, Em. I had a blast. I learned so much, too.”

“Goodness, you are really head over heels for Victor,” Emily said, her voice laced with amusement. “But he’s never been the type to remember birthdays. Why is he calling now? And... wait—no way!” Emily’s voice trailed off, a sudden realization dawning on her.

Amelia’s heart skipped a beat. She blushed furiously, her hand instinctively pressing against her phone as if to hide her face. “No way, what?”

Emily gasped, her voice taking on a teasing edge. “Was that necklace from before really your birthday gift?”

Amelia froze, her mind racing to catch up with her words. “Necklace?”

Suddenly, a vivid memory flashed before her eyes. She and Emily had been at Victor’s restaurant a few weeks ago. As they ate, Emily had spotted a beautiful necklace.

“Wow,” Emily had said, her voice excited but puzzled, “Why is a woman’s necklace here?”

Amelia, focused on her meal, hadn’t thought much of it at the time. “Maybe a customer left it behind,” she had suggested.

But Emily wasn’t so easily distracted. She had moved over to Amelia’s seat, sat down beside her, and opened the jewelry box, revealing a striking garnet necklace.

“Look, this is a garnet!” Emily had said, her voice filled with wonder. “Is he dating a girl born in January? Remember that foreign model girl?”

Amelia, only half paying attention, continued eating. “She went back to her country after Victor rejected her.”

Emily had raised an eyebrow, a hint of mischief in her tone. “Then is it that journalist writing an article on his restaurant?”

Amelia shook her head. “She was flirting with Victor but stopped after he friend zoned her.”

Emily, always the inquisitive one, hadn’t stopped there. “That YouTuber?”

Amelia’s lips curved into a small smile. “She asked him out on a live stream.”

Emily had laughed. “Yeah, I remember. And got rejected live, right?”

Amelia had nodded, amused. “Yeah, pretty much.”

“Well, then maybe that necklace is your birthday present,” Emily had said, a sly grin spreading across her face.

Amelia had blinked, looking at the necklace again with fresh eyes. “You think so? Let me take a proper look.” She had stretched her hand toward the necklace, her fingers grazing the cool surface of the garnet stone. Emily had been quick to point out the obvious.

“No, this is way too expensive to buy for a friend,” she had said, her tone incredulous.

Amelia blinked, snapping back to the present. Her heart was racing. “Oh, I remember that necklace now,” she said, her voice trembling with excitement.

Emily’s voice was positively bubbling with joy. “That necklace really was for you!”

Amelia bit her lip, her blush deepening. “Come on, but you said it was too expensive to buy for a friend.”

Emily’s laugh was light and teasing. “Then maybe he is planning to transfer from the friendship bus to the boyfriend express?”

Amelia couldn’t help the small, giddy laugh that escaped her lips. “Stop it, Em.” But even as she said it, her heart fluttered at the thought. Could it be? Was Victor now thinking of her in a way that went beyond their friendship?

Before she could let her thoughts wander any further, the loudspeaker of the bus crackled to life, interrupting their conversation.

“If you are transferring to bus 6, please exit at the next stop. The exit is to the right.”

Amelia sighed, the moment feeling suddenly so ordinary despite the whirlwind of emotions that had just swirled through her. She stood up, gathering her things as the bus slowed to a stop.

“Well, I gotta go, Em. I’ll let you know how it goes,” Amelia said, feeling a little self-conscious.

“Good luck!” Emily’s voice was warm with support, though there was a playful edge. “And don’t forget—you owe me the full details later!”

Amelia chuckled, her heart still racing. “You got it,” she said, hanging up as she stepped off the bus, her mind already on Victor and what the night might bring.