With a helpless sigh, Jessica turned around to return to her office, the envelope clutched tightly in her hand.

Her heart raced with expectations and trepidation for whatever the envelope held. A soft smile subtly plastered her lips.

She was aware of the curious onlookers, their gazes heavy on her.

They wanted her to open the envelope right there, under the hungry eyes of staff and strangers but this was her privacy, and she would decide when and how to open it.

While she walked towards her office, the low whispers of her staff echoed loudly in her ears.

She could feel their stares, the envy, the jealousy, the few genuine smiles among them. But whatever they thought, it was not her concern.

With a push the door to her office creaked open, her eyes widened in shock. It was as though she had been immersed in a sea of flowers.

Her assistant and the young man had the flowers arranged. Each corner of her office was now adorned with a different array of flowers, carefully arranged in breathtaking patterns.

To put simply, her office had been totally transformed into a living garden. Jessica marveled at the beauty and yet worried about its care.

"Can I get a horticulturist to help tend to them?" She asked as the man set down the last vase of rose.

"You don't have to bother about hiring any, it has been paid for."

"P…Pa…paid for?" She stuttered, her gaze darting between the man and her assistant.

"Yes, you don't have to think about that." He assured her again.

With the arrangement concluded, the young man gave her curt nod. "I will take my leave, ma'am." He said.

With a click the duo left the office and it fell into silence. Jessica took her time to look round the office…no, the sea of flowers.

She shook her head both appreciative and fulfilled. Stopping beside her desk she dropped the envelope on it and took pictures of the office from various angles.

Once done, she settled back into her seat as she carefully pulled out the content of the envelope but surprisingly, it was an invitation card.

Jessica's brow furrowed as she studied it closely. Expensive, hand written in bold letters. A small smile crossed as she read the content.

Babe,

May I have the honour of being your date for the evening at 8pm.

She shook her head, grabbed her phone on the table and dialed his contact and it was picked on the first ring.

"I thought you have been working your butt off at the Group, do you still have the time for a date?" She smirked.

His chuckle rich and calming filtered through the phone."Does that mean one must work without relieving stress? Wouldn't that be exhausting?"

"Okay, thanks for the flowers. They're beautiful," she said softly. She was certain that if he were here in person, she would have pulled him close for a hug.

"And the date?" He asked for confirmation.

"I will." She said, a relieved sigh escaped her lips.

After the call, her phone blared with notifications. Jessica Temple throbbed. She was sure the scene of the flowers signing had made its way to the media.

This outcome wasn't a surprise, she had expected it. With how long the car had spent in front of the company, her appearance and the signing of the delivery.

Yet she was curious to see what was painted in the media. With a click she opened the notification and several headlines and speculations stood out glaringly.

Lovely: A van delivers flowers

A mysterious man surprises girlfriend with a van of flowers, is this the new way of confession

Angel's wear stumped with flower vans, a proposal or confession.

The messages weren't left out Bella, Anna, the Old Lady Santiago were all inquisitive.

"Was this Davis doing?"

"Is he proposing?"

"Jess, it's not your birthday yet? Why bathed with a sea of flowers?"

As she read, she couldn't hide the smile on her lips—genuine and relieved.

For people like Julian, they had no time to waste in texting, they called her immediately asking for an explanation.

~Hours later~

Jessica returned home tired after a long day but not without a brief stop at the hospital to check on Linda Briggs and her little daughter.

It had become part of her routine. More troubling was the fact that no one had visited Linda. Since regaining consciousness, the woman had drowned in tears, unable or unwilling to speak of what had happened.

She made a mental note to have her subordinate dig into her situation. Deborah was already waiting for her at the door.

A sweet smile plastered across her face as she stepped forward to take her handbag from her "Welcome home," she greeted.

Jessica nodded lightly "And your day?"

"Very well." Deborah answered, leading her into the house.

"Drop it off in my room, let me see the kids, I might soon be off." Jessica said as she made her way towards the nursery.

After an hour, she was back to their room but then her steps faltered in the middle of the room.

On the bed was an expensive gift box tied with a velvet golden ribbon. She walked over and settled down on the bed beside the box.

A note stuck on the top. "Your dress for the evening. I have something to do in the office, a driver will pick you up by 7:30."

Jessica sighed as she glanced at the clock. "Got enough time to get ready." She muttered.

Just as she took the box to untie the ribbon, a soft familiar tap came from the door. "You come in." She said carelessly.

The door creaked open and Deborah stepped in, a tray of food balanced in her hand.

Carefully she set it down on the centre table beside the couch, pulling the window open to let in the evening light.

As she turned around, her gaze darted from the box to Jessica, "Ma'am, your stylist is here." She announced.

Jessica's head snapped up to meet her gaze, her brow furrowing "Stylist?" She murmured thoughtfully.

"I didn't have any plans with her." She stated.

But Deborah shook her head "it seems Sir sent her over." She said, the implications clear. Jessica nodded in understanding yet couldn't help but wonder why he had to send a stylist over.

"Isn't it just a date?"

Why spend so much time over a stylist?

No matter what she thought, she still shrugged her shoulders and decided to go with the flow. "He must have his reasons," she concluded thoughtfully.

"Alright, give a few minutes," she answered. Deborah smiled and left the room.

Jessica slumped back into the bed with a deep sigh. Pulling her handbag closer, she took out her phone and dialed his contact.

Surprisingly, she couldn't get through, she tried repetitively yet it kept failing. Her hand faltered as she stared at the phone stunned, a few thoughts crossing her mind.

"A few things to do in the office, your number not going through?"

"What exactly is going on?"

"Or are you doing it on purpose?"

Jessica shrugged her shoulders, dropping the phone on the bed. A quick bath, then settled down for a light quick meal just as Deborah had already prepared.

She didn't bother eating much. Just a taste of the dish. Once she was done, the stylist came over to help her get ready for the date.

After working on her for an hour, the stylist finally stopped. Staring at the woman in the mirror, Jessica's jaw dropped.

She rarely had the time to make up unless she had an important meeting or banquet to attend. But seeing herself in the mirror carefully made up for a date, her heart fluttered.

Her thoughts raced with expectations and imaginations for the evening, a soft smile gracing her lips.

"What about your dress?" The lady asked, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Jessica left the dressing table and returned to the bed, slowly she opened the package revealing a delicate silky deep red dress. As she lifted the gown out of the box, it shimmered under the light.

"Here." She said as she handed it out to her.

The stylist took the gown carefully, unzipped it and helped Jessica into the gown. Their breath caught at the effect of the gown.

A floor-length mermaid gown in deep red silk satin that hugs her curves softly before flaring at the hem, giving her a seductive look.

The bodice was an off-the-shoulder with a subtle sweetheart neckline, elegantly showing her collarbones without being overly revealing.

A delicate beadwork of crystals were hand-embroidered along the neckline and down the sides, catching the light with every movement.

A thigh-high slit on one side adds a hint of allure, topping it with a diamond necklace glittering under the light with mid-heeled stilettos.

Given her bold make up, she was enchantingly seductive.

"We're done," the stylist whispered in awe.

"Thanks." Jessica smirked.

With one final glance at the mirror she picked up a simple clutch just then Deborah stepped in to announce the driver's arrival.

Her heart skipped a beat. "Driver?" She asked, her tone tinged with surprise.

She glanced at the clock, surprised. She gave a curt nod "Alright, I will be down in a brief." She answered.

Moments later, she stepped outside. The cool evening air brushed her skin, easing her nerves until her gaze landed on the sleek car waiting for her. Her breath caught.

"He changed cars?" She murmured, then shrugged and boarded the car.

There was no changing it now. He had arranged everything, and she would follow it through.

The car slowly pulled away from the estate, her gaze trained outside the window as she took in the sight of the beautiful night lights of the city.