One

The early morning breeze skimmed across my flushed cheeks and my heart fluttered in anticipation as I held the gift box in my hands.

I stealthily made it into the palatial compound and my eyes filtered past the shrubs, standing tall on each side of the pathway that led to a giant entrance door.

From the corner of my eyes, I sighted my boss sneaking out of what I assumed to be their backyard. I turned to face her with a warm smile that graced my lips and she waved, looking like a doll in her Mickey mouse pajamas.

She glanced over her shoulders and back at me, causing her brown hair to whip her in the face as she scanned the massive compound again to ensure nobody was present.

"Hello!" She whisper-yelled and crinkles highlighted the sides of her blue eyes. "He's still asleep, what about the saxophonist?"

"They're outside, I wanted to come in first to make sure it's safe," I whispered back, feeling giddy.

"Get them in." She collected the gift box from me and I rushed back to the gate to usher my colleagues and saxophonist in.

Collecting the box from her, she slowly pushed the door open and it made a loud creaking sound. We winced and shared a look amongst ourselves.

"Don't worry, he sleeps like a dead body." She sniggered and we did the same. "But I have to ensure that he's still asleep."

She slid into the hallway, leaving us in the grand foyer. My eyes widened at the magnificent decorations and chandelier that swung above us.

"Clear." She returned, clapping silently.

We decorated the white-painted living room and sprinkled red and white petals on the floor. Balloons hung from the ceiling and my eyes watered at the romantic decor we had done.

Lola opened an event and planning company two years ago and I was her personal assistant. Surprisingly, we became topnotch in less than eight months. Of course, everybody wanted to patronize big Daddy's daughter because Lola planning your event meant one thing–Popularity. Miss Lola had invited me and my colleagues to decorate her home for the fourteenth of February Valentine's day and her fiance's birthday. She wanted to surprise him.

"Well done, guys." Lola cheered softly when we finished decorating the house, flashing her thumbs at us. "I'll go get him."

She switched off the lights and we hid behind their leather sofas, waiting for her clue to yell surprise.

My palms turned clammy and for a brief moment, a sad feeling washed over me. My boyfriend was away in Miami for a business trip and would be back in two weeks time. Sadly, I couldn't spend today with him or–Fuck it, every day spent with him was like Valentine's day.

I shrugged the feeling off, at least, he bought me a lot of exotic gifts before embarking on his trip.

"I don't know, he said he's here to discuss business." I heard her silvery voice from a distance, accompanied by their footsteps and I held on tight to the party popper.

"By six in the morning?" He asked grouchily. "Today is my day off."

My eyebrows fused into a frown at the familiarity in his voice.

"He's here." Her voice bounced off the four walls of the living room.

We jumped up at the cue and screamed, "Surprise!"

The saxophonist began to play, and the light was switched on. Adrenaline pumped through my veins as I pulled a small string from the party popper and it emitted a popping sound, while confetti flew out of it.

The man was buttered in a blue robe and his hands were held up to shield his face.

"Happy birthday, baby!" Lola squealed, throwing her hands around his waist to hug his towering frame.

"You shouldn't have..." He dropped his hands and hugged her, plastering a kiss on her forehead.

Fixating my gaze on his face, my face turned white and the empty party popper slipped from my hands. The air around me became thick with dread as realization hit me.

'Is that-Is that-' my subconscious stammered as our eyes jammed.

I held my breath and his blue eyes widened.

"Sheldon?" My lips trembled as his name flew out of my mouth. "What is going on here?"

My heart pounded violently against the walls of my chest as my eyes grew misty.

"Is this the Miami, and business deal?" I asked, unsure of how to address the issue and the saxophonist stopped playing his instrument.

Lola pulled away from the hug and shuffled her gaze between Sheldon and me. "Baby, do you know her?"

"Nope, never seen her." He answered with an expressionless face and my heart sank into my stomach.

"Sheldon!" My voice broke and my knees buckled as tears rolled down my cheeks.

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" Sheldon wrapped an arm around Lola's curvy waist and pulled her in front of him.

He planted a kiss on her cheek and hugged her from behind. "She must be an obsessed fan or must have decorated for one of our company celebrations," He muttered.

My boyfriend of two years just denied me in front of another woman, which only meant one thing–They had been fucking and I have been the side woman for two fucking years!

My stomach tied itself into knots and I stood rooted to a spot; tongue tied with a crawling skin as my colleagues all looked at me with pity.

"You bastard!" I screamed and Shelly, who was the secretary rushed to my side, encircling my waist.

"What's happening here?" A husky voice asked from the doorway and I turned to face him.

He was tall and neither lanky nor built, I wasn't sure, he was wearing an oversized sweater. A bouquet of roses could be seen in one hand, while the other had a small box in it.

"And who are you?" Sheldon asked, narrowing his gaze into crinkled slits.

"Lola's boyfriend."

Gasps erupted in the air and Sheldon released Lola with a furrowed forehead.

"Oh, he's just a lovesick ex begging for my love." Lola waved dismissively at the man cladded in black straight pants, and his hair gelled back. "Remember Cole?"

Sheldon asked, "The puppy that wouldn't let you be?"

She nodded and they guffawed. My chest constricted.