CHERRY

It had been six months since I started working for Manuel, and I had enjoyed every single moment of it. I was fortunate to have a friendly, understanding boss, a comfortable working space, and a few colleagues who were more like friends. There was a sense of camaraderie that made the workdays feel lighter, and for the first time in a long while, I actually felt like I belonged somewhere.

But, like with any job, there were a few challenges. One of them was the snide comments from some of the other female coworkers. The way they shot me dirty looks or whispered behind my back whenever I walked past—like they were certain I couldn’t hear them. Well, I could hear everything, but I chose to ignore them. If they didn’t stop soon, though, I was prepared to throw all decorum aside and confront them. There was only so much I could tolerate.

My thoughts were interrupted by the sudden ring of the office phone, slicing through the quiet hum of my workspace. I picked up the receiver, a smile creeping onto my lips when I saw the caller ID.

“Hey, Goddess...” Manuel’s voice came through, smooth and low, but clear enough for me to hear. It was the nickname he’d given me after teasing me for my perfectionist ways.

“Hi, Manuel,” I replied cheerily, my tone light. I couldn’t hide the happiness in my voice. I always loved talking to him.

“Could you come to my office for a moment? There’s something I need to tell you.” His voice seemed unusually serious, and that caught my attention.

“Is everything okay?” I asked, my calm tone betraying the nervous flutter in my stomach.

“Everything’s fine,” he reassured me. “Just come to my office, please.”

“Alright, I’ll be there in a minute,” I said, hanging up the phone with a slight frown creasing my brow. What was it that he needed to tell me?

I stood up from my desk, smoothing down my skirt and patting down my hair, even though it didn’t really need it. I reapplied a bit of lip gloss, not sure why I felt the need to look perfect, but I did it anyway. I took a deep breath and walked across the office to Manuel’s door, just opposite mine. I knocked softly, then entered when I heard his voice call, “Come in.”

“Hey, boss. You said you wanted to see me?” I asked, standing in front of his desk, trying to ignore the knot of curiosity tightening in my chest.

“Hey, Cherry. Yes, please, have a seat,” he said, gesturing to one of the chairs in front of his desk. I complied and took a seat on the plush swivel chair, feeling my heart beat a little faster than usual.

“So... What’s going on?” I asked, my voice betraying my growing concern. “You sounded nervous earlier, and you look nervous now.”

“Everything is fine for now,” he said, his eyes meeting mine with an almost serious intensity. “But your answer will determine if things stay fine.”

I raised an eyebrow, a chill running down my spine. “Okay, now you’re really scaring me,” I admitted, half-joking, half-genuine.

He let out a soft laugh, shaking his head. “Calm down. It’s nothing to be scared about.”

I exhaled, trying to steady my nerves. “Alright, hit me with it,” I said, bracing myself for whatever bombshell he was about to drop.

Manuel leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving mine, as if trying to weigh his words carefully. “I’m not going to beat around the bush. I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and I’ve kept it to myself up until now, but I can’t hold it in any longer.” He paused, taking a deep breath. “Cherry... I like you.”

I froze, blinking, unsure if I heard him correctly. “Not in a normal way that we like people,” he continued, his voice thick with emotion, “but in a romantic way. I would’ve said that I loved you, but love is too big a word to describe how I feel right now, and I don’t want you to think I’m some kind of creep. You’d probably call me crazy if I told you I loved you, but I’ll say this—I like you. A lot. More than you probably realize.”

My mouth went dry, and I found myself unable to respond right away. He had caught me completely off guard. I just sat there, frozen, feeling like the world around me had stopped moving. But Manuel wasn’t finished.

“I’ve liked you since the first time I laid eyes on you,” he said, his voice soft but unwavering. “The moment I accidentally bumped into you and broke your phone, I liked you. I liked you the second you walked into that interview room and asked to be considered for the job. At first, I liked you because of how beautiful you are, but as time went on, I got to know you better. I saw the kind of person you are, and I realized that what I felt wasn’t just a passing attraction. You’re amazing—inside and out.”

He chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck, clearly trying to ease the tension. “I noticed how you bite your lips whenever you’re nervous, like when you think you’ve done something wrong. I noticed how you tap your feet when you’re bored. I noticed how you chatter away whenever you meet new people. And I noticed that you always wear blue, so I’m almost sure your favorite color is blue.” He looked at me with a playful grin. “These are just a few of the little things I’ve noticed about you. I won’t mention everything, though—otherwise, I might come off as a complete weirdo.”

I was still in shock, staring at him, unable to form words. It was like my mind couldn’t catch up to what was happening. But I couldn’t hide my emotions forever.

“Cherry?” He said softly, concern in his eyes. “Are you going to say anything?”

The voice sounded distant, like it was coming from a faraway place, but I finally snapped back to reality. “Goddess?” he repeated, his voice bringing me back to the present.

“Jesus,” he laughed softly. “Was my confession so shocking that it left you speechless?”

I blinked, trying to collect my thoughts. “Sorry, I guess I just wasn’t expecting it.”

“But did you mean everything you said?” I asked hesitantly, still unsure of how to process it all. “You’re being serious, right?”

“Of course, I am.” Manuel’s tone was warm, genuine. “I wouldn’t have said all that if I wasn’t. I know it’s a lot to take in.”

I laughed nervously, biting my lip. “Oh my goodness, I don’t even know how I feel about this. It’s... it’s a lot to process.” I trailed off before looking at him again. “Actually, I’ve been meaning to say something too…”

His eyes widened in mock horror. “Oh, please, don’t tell me you have someone else.”

“No, no!” I laughed. “It’s not that. It’s just…” I paused, gathering my courage. “I like you too. A lot. In fact, I’ve liked you since the very first day I saw you. I didn’t think much of it at first—I thought it was just a silly crush because I thought you were way out of my league. But then it didn’t go away. I kept it to myself because, well, I’m just an employee, and I thought it was wrong to think of my boss that way. I never thought dating you was even an option.”

I looked up at him, my heart racing as I realized what I was saying. “But now? Now it feels like it could actually be a reality.”

Manuel’s face lit up, his eyes twinkling. “You like me too?! That’s amazing!” he said, laughing with genuine joy. “You just made me the happiest man on Earth.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at his infectious happiness. “Does this mean we’re dating now?” he asked eagerly, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

I raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at my lips. “Not yet,” I teased. “Not until you ask me properly.”

His eyes widened comically before he dropped to one knee, pulling the swivel chair to face him. He took my left hand and held it up, his expression suddenly serious, despite the excitement still dancing in his eyes.

“Cherry, the most beautiful woman in the world... will you give me the honor of being your boyfriend? I promise to love you, to cherish you, to make you laugh, cook for you, and always stand by your side.”

I was grinning from ear to ear, my heart fluttering. “Yes, I’ll be your girlfriend.”

He stood up, pulling me into a tight embrace before gently pressing his lips to the back of my hand. I giggled at his sweetness. He was so silly.

He held both of my hands and lifted me from the chair, his hands resting on my waist as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

“Can I kiss you?” he asked softly, his voice almost reverent.

I nodded, my pulse quickening as I closed my eyes, waiting for his lips to meet mine. Slowly, his lips brushed mine, sending a jolt of electricity through my body. It started gentle, like a promise, a whisper of something more, before deepening into something more intense, something real.

His kiss was gentle at first, almost hesitant, as though testing the waters. I responded in kind, feeling the warmth of his hands as they slid around my waist, pulling me closer. I could feel my heart beating faster as the kiss deepened, the world outside of us fading into oblivion. In that moment, it was just the two of us, locked in a silent agreement, both of us finally acknowledging what had been simmering beneath the surface for months.

When he finally pulled back, his forehead pressed against mine, I found myself breathless, my mind racing. “Wow…” I breathed out, still trying to process everything.

“Yeah,” he muttered, his voice hoarse with emotion. “I’ve been wanting to do that for so long.”

I looked up at him, my hand still resting against his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart against my fingertips. “So, what now?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Well, now we go out and celebrate,” he said, his smile infectious. “Just you and me. A proper date. No work. No distractions. Just us.”

I couldn’t help but grin, feeling a weight lift off my chest. “That sounds perfect,” I said, my heart full as I stepped back slightly, my hand still clasped in his.

Manuel leaned in one more time, placing a soft kiss on my lips, before pulling away and standing upright. “Let me grab my coat,” he said, moving toward his office wardrobe. “We’re going out tonight.”

I nodded eagerly, watching as he slipped into his coat. I still felt like I was floating—like I was still absorbing the fact that everything had changed in an instant. I had gone from being his assistant, to being something far more important, someone he had truly cared about all along.

And the feeling was mutual. As much as I’d tried to suppress it, the truth was undeniable.

“I’ll be right behind you,” I said, my heart still racing, though now for a different reason. This was the beginning of something new, something thrilling. And for the first time in a long time, I was excited about what the future held.