The office air was filled with an excited buzz. Streamers, balloons, and the aroma of catered food gave the entire branch a festive mood that hadn’t been felt in months. It was Adrian Sinclair’s birthday. Though the CEO had made no big announcement himself, Miranda—the ever-commanding branch manager—had taken the initiative to rally the staff behind a grand surprise.
Each employee was instructed to come with a gift, particularly if they felt Adrian had helped them in some way. Aria had stared at that message on the office platform for almost an hour. It wasn’t just about a gift—it was about what it would mean if she gave him one.
“Are you finally wrapping it?” Jenna’s voice snapped her from her thoughts.
“Yeah,” Aria murmured, tying a simple black ribbon around the box.
“I hope it’s no
