"Bye, Melody," Angie said as she grabbed her handbag. She offered a wave, conveying that she was done with the day's work and was ready to bolt.
Melody looked up from her cabin window and returned the gesture, watching Angie stride out of the office before silence enveloped the space.
With the rest gone, she wanted to tackle her workload right away. She didn't want to let it pile up, so she powered through it, and finished it eventually when the sun had begun to set.
Once completed, she made her way downstairs, greeted her colleagues on the ground floor, and headed to the restroom to change for her date night.
Unexpectedly, Ethan had sent her a package that afternoon, and the moment she opened it, excitement lit up her face. Inside was a stunning navy blue dress, accompanied by silver chains, heels, a bracelet, and earrings. A smile had spread across her face at the luxurious surprise.
Ethan was that prince she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. He was always giving her princess treatment.
In the restroom, she swiftly shed her formal attire and slipped into the navy blue dress—a chic mini ball gown with thin straps and a low neckline.
She adorned herself with the sparkling jewelry before stepping out and walking towards the mirror.
She quickly retrieved her brush from her bag, untied her hair, and let it cascade down in smooth, dark waves. A quick touch of powder followed, along with black mascara, eyeliner, and silver eyeshadow that accentuated her eyes. She finished with lipstick and a clear gloss, stepping back to admire her completely transformed reflection. The Melody from earlier, buried in work was absolutely unrecognizable.
Grabbing her handbag as the alarm rang at 7:00, she headed out to the entrance, where her Uber was waiting.
Without delay, a sleek black car pulled up in front of her. "Miss Melody Brown?" the driver inquired.
"That's me," she replied confidently, sliding into the car. They drove smoothly toward SkyView Tower, one of Cinder City's most luxurious venues known for its breathtaking views and exceptional service. Just then, she noticed Ethan's call coming through.
"I'm on my way," she told him.
"Alright, I'll be waiting," he responded before ending the call.
Melody leaned back in her seat, feeling exhilarated. The sun had dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with vibrant pink and orange hues as they passed by a blur of cars, buildings, and hotels adorned with blinking lights.
When they arrived at Skyview Tower, she stepped out of the car with poise, taking a deep breath as she surveyed her surroundings.
The sprawling skyscraper lived up to its name, with a stunning fountain in front that sent clear water into the air. The sliding door in front called out to her and she walked towards it, professionally walking through it without mistakes as this kind of luxury wasn't new to her.
She took in the structure on the inside, filled with exquisite lighting, elegant chandeliers, air conditioning, fresh flowers, and captivating artwork.
A professional-looking woman then approached her with a warm but assertive smile. "Are you here to meet Ethan Stuart? Miss Melody"
"Yes," Melody confirmed with a nod.
"This way, please," the woman said, leading her to the designated table.
Upon arriving, Melody's smile widened at the sight of Ethan, who glanced up from his phone. His surprise turned into a bright smile as he stood, pulling her chair out for her like a true gentleman.
"I made the right choice selecting blue. You look stunning," he complimented.
"Thank you. You look great too," she replied, her voice clear and sweet.
Once seated, Melody surveyed the magnificent view of the sprawling city outside the window before returning her focus to him. "Have you ordered anything yet?" she asked.
Ethan shook his head. "No, I was waiting for you."
She smiled sweetly, appreciating his gentlemanly remark.
Ethan raised the bell by the side of the table and rang it twice before leaning on the chair as they awaited the waiter.
But soon, he leaned towards Melody, holding her soft hands in his, with his gaze fixated on her. "Could I kiss you today, Melody? You deserve to be lavished with kisses for looking this beautiful," he teased.
She chuckled, "You've got quite a way with words."
"Will you let me?" he persisted, even though knowing that she wouldn't allow it. He hoped that she would at least agree, even if it was just once. He couldn't hold himself back when she looked this good.
"You know we're waiting, Ethan... ," she asserted.
Ethan's smile faltered very slightly but with control, there was the excuse coming, he could feel it, and in response his grip on her hand for a moment tightened.
"But today" Melody continued, her voice low and shy. Just then, the waiter approached. Ethan released his hold on her to receive the menu.
Melody pressed her lips together, swallowing her words. She wanted to be bold and tell him they could share a kiss today only if the waiter hadn't interrupted them.
She observed Ethan as he ordered their meal. Once the waiter left to fetch their food, he seamlessly transitioned to a new topic.
Melody decided to let it go; after all, steering clear of intimacy would mean nothing would happen, and she was safe for today.
"I'm sorry to say this, but I have to go on another business trip, Melody. I've explored every option to avoid it, but it's unavoidable," he said.
Melody smiled, lowering her lashes briefly before lifting her gaze to meet his. "I understand, Ethan. I can see how hard you're working, and I truly appreciate everything you do. I'm grateful to have you in my life."
"I appreciate you too, Melody," he replied earnestly.
A silence fell between them before she urged herself to speak up. "What do you think about getting married, Ethan? Let's not drag this out any longer. Aunt Nina is already on board, and I've been considering it seriously."
Ethan narrowed his eyes. Marriage? That wasn't on his agenda. Thankfully, just as he raised his gaze, the waiter approached with their meal, providing a perfect escape from the conversation.
The food was presented with a tantalizing aroma, and the wine was poured. With a smile, Ethan gestured for Melody to begin eating, but she hesitated before digging in.
Once again, the conversation was brought to a hold, she noticed.
She shrugged internally, perhaps there was a reason. When the perfect time came, they would hold the conversation and things would turn out well between them.
Melody began to eat. It was fried rice with a rich mix of incredible veggies, salad, prawn and chicken.
"Does it taste good?" Ethan inquired.
She nodded with a smile. "It's great"
Everything progressed smoothly; they exchanged smiles and savored the food, until someone unexpectedly approached.
"Baby," a female voice called out.
Melody looked up, curiosity piqued, and saw a woman gliding into Ethan's seat. Her eyebrows pulled together in confusion.
The woman wrapped her arm around his neck and kissed his cheek right before Melody's eyes. "What are you doing here, Ethan? You told me you had work."
Melody paused, her lips parting in disbelief, her heart racing.
Ethan stiffened.
The woman removed her glasses—it was Natalie.