Chapter 54

AMARA’S POV

My alarm rang like it always did—annoying, loud, and completely uninterested in the fact that it was my birthday.

I groaned, rolled over, and slapped my phone until it shut up. For a few seconds, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to convince myself to get up.

Then my phone buzzed again.

I grabbed it with sleepy eyes, expecting a reminder or an email, but it was a message.

Davina: HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LOVE!!! 🎉❤️

Another message followed immediately.

Cynthia: Happy birthday Amara. May this year be kind to you.

Then another.

And another.

I blinked at the screen, my lips tugging into a small smile.

It felt… nice.

But it didn’t feel like some big moment. Not the way birthdays used to feel when I was younger. Now it just felt like a date on the calendar that everyone else remembered more than I did.

I dropped the phone on my bed and sat up.

“Another year,” I muttered, more to myself than anything.

I dragged myself out of bed, took a quick shower, dressed up, and tied my hair neatly. Nothing special. Just my usual office look. Simple and clean. I wasn’t about to start celebrating something when I had work waiting for me.

Work didn’t care if I was born today.

–

The office was the same as always, cold air conditioning, the smell of coffee, and people moving around like their lives depended on deadlines.

I walked in and went straight to my office. I switched on my computer and started my day. Emails. Schedules. Calls. More emails. More schedules. More calls.

I didn’t even have time to breathe properly. At some point, I caught myself checking the clock and wondering why my chest felt tight.

It wasn’t even sadness. It was just… emptiness.

Like today was supposed to mean something, but I didn’t know what. I kept working anyway.

That was easier.

The rest of the day dragged.

My phone buzzed a few times with birthday messages, but I didn’t open them immediately. I didn’t want to start feeling anything in the middle of work.

Around 4pm, I was arranging files when the intercom on my desk lit up.

I picked it up. Then his voice came through.

“Amara.”

My spine straightened automatically.

“Yes, sir?”

“Come to my office.”

That was all. The line went dead.

I swallowed and stood up, smoothing my skirt like I was about to walk into court. I walked to his office door, knocked, and entered.

Dorian sat behind his desk like he owned the air in the room. He didn’t even look up immediately. He was signing something.

“Sir,” I said softly.

“Sit.”

I sat. He kept signing.

The silence was uncomfortable, and I hated that I was the one waiting like I had nothing better to do.

Finally, he dropped the pen and leaned back.

“You’re leaving early today.”

I blinked. “Sorry?”

He repeated it like he was talking to a child.

“You’re leaving early.”

I stared at him, confused. “But… I still have pending schedules and—”

“You’ll do them tomorrow.”

My brows pulled together. “Is something wrong?”

“No.”

Then why was he acting like this?

He picked up his phone and tapped the screen once, then looked at me again.

“A dress will be delivered to your apartment. Be ready by 8pm.”

For a second, I genuinely thought I misheard him.

“A dress?” I repeated.

His expression didn’t change. “Yes.”

I sat there like an idiot.

“Dorian… what is this about?”

He paused for a moment, like he was considering giving me an answer, then said simply, “Dinner.”

My mouth opened slightly.

“Dinner?” I echoed, my voice sounding ridiculous even to me.

He nodded once.

“Why?” I asked before I could stop myself.

His eyes narrowed just a little, not in anger, but in that familiar way he always looked at people when they questioned him too much.

“Just because.”

That was his answer.

Just because.

I held his gaze, waiting for him to laugh or say he was joking. But Dorian didn’t joke. He stood up and reached for a file beside him.

“You can go.”

That was the dismissal.

I stood slowly, still trying to process it.

“Sir…” I started again.

His eyes met mine. The warning was silent but loud. I swallowed the rest of my words.

“Alright. ”

And I left.