New York Times

In a majestic Victorian mansion in Fermi Country,

"Dear, You received a wedding invitation again.  This time, the location is in the place where you are right now. I will email the address later. Are you going?" Christine is talking to her daughter over the phone. 

"Mom, I'm not sure. You know my situation right now. Maybe I will just send a gift, what do you think?" Esmeralda lazily answered her mother. She just arrived from work and was about to cook something for her dinner.

"But honey, I think it's time for you to socialize. You're already 25 years old and yet, you never introduced a boyfriend to us. When are you going to send out invitations too? If you attend, maybe you could meet someone to be our son-in-law." Christine is worried that her daughter will remain unmarried at her age. 

"Mom, I do not wish to meet and marry a man in the same circle. He could restrict my freedom. I want a simple man. I don't want to walk around the City with dozens of bodyguards. Look at me now, I'm free walking anywhere I want, to malls and streets, and anywhere. I'm really enjoying it." She really enjoys her freedom. She's so happy that she's not like the other CEOs and celebrities that was surrounded by bodyguards whenever they tour. 

"Okay sweetheart, just take your time then. Sorry for always asking." Her voice sounds lonely, but then she remembers something. "Esme dear, who is the good-looking guy beside you in the picture you sent on W******p?" She was suspicious. She suspects that her daughter is hiding something from them.

"Ah, Well he's Victor. He's an assistant manager in the company I'm working with." She felt happy talking about him, and that happiness in her voice never escaped the ear of her mother. She became more and more excited. "Oh really, he's so handsome. I will be happy if you can invite him here one day."

"Hahaha! mother dear, we're not earning that much, how can I explain it to him? Of Course, he doesn't want that I'll be the one to shoulder the fare since he knows that my salary is lower than his salary. And besides, he never said ..." She hesitates to continue. "Mom, he never said he loves me" ..she blushed when she said the word 'love'. 

"So does that mean you are waiting for him to say he loves you?" Christine widen her eyes and didn't wait for her daughter's answer. She immediately called her husband "Sweetie, our daughter is in love! She's just waiting for the boy to confess!" 

Esmeralda didn't see it coming. They really can't wait and get excited over an unsure thing, hehe. Well, if Victor says he loves me, how would she respond? She thought. Will she say "I love you too"? Wait!! She ponders. "Do I love him? Am I excited about seeing him?"  Her answer is 'yes'. She's really happy every day since they're seeing each other in the office. He even accompanies her going home to her apartment most of the time. "But what if he only sees me as a sister?" This thought made her sad. 

Her thought was disrupted by a phone call. She received it excitedly. "Hey Princess, are you free on Saturday? Can I invite you to a full-body spa and a makeover?" it's Victor. But, what?! Makeover and a body spa?! He always calls her Princess, but she never asked him why. "Okay then. I never thought you were not straight. I'll go with you on Saturday." 

"What did you say? I'm not straight? In other words, you're saying that I'm gay?!" His ego was pricked. "Okay, I will forgive you this time. but not next time." She noticed a slight annoyance in his voice. 

She regretted the words she just uttered. "Oh, I'm sorry my prince. It's not what you think. Hehe, peace!"

It's Saturday. Victor fetched her to her apartment at 6 am using a cheap car. "I want to treat you to a full-body spa so you could relax. And let's go shopping. And then let's attend a wedding. The bill is on me don't worry."

"Huh! Why?!" She wondered. "Am I so haggard? " She took a mirror from her bag to see her face if was already wrinkled that's why this man might be irritated by her looks.

"No, but our boss is getting married. Of course, we are all invited. Have you not seen the invitation email sent to all employees? We must be in our best looks when we attend his wedding." he said while looking at her eyes directly and smiling sweetly. She blushed and looked out at the window. 

They went to Apple Blossom Spa. He let her enter the spa session while he talked to the Manager. Esmeralda noticed the full smile, and happy face of the Manager while she talks to Victor. She just shrugged her shoulder and thought that they are just happy seeing their co-employee. 

When Victor went to the couch to wait for her, the Manager and the Spa employees chattered excitedly.  "Did you see the girl? They are perfect together" "Boss  V already found a woman he likes. This is the first time he introduce a girl to us. My gosh! The girl is so lucky to have Boss V! So to the one who chases Boss V, dream on!" 

"Yes, Madam Jo-ann Glenn will be heartbroken for sure. Good for her. I don't like her for Boss V." That's the employee's conversation. Their faces changed upon mentioning Jo-Ann's name. She's a flirty girl who always comes to their spa, demanding free and special treatment because she's allegedly Victor's childhood sweetheart. But they never saw him treat her well. In fact, when Victor is around, Jo-ann girl is well-behaved and super kind to them. 

After the spa, next is a shopping spree. They went to various brand stalls, and everything they shopped is for her. 

"Hey, Vic! I thought you said 'we'?" Why do we only buy things for 'me'?! Uy that's enough, you're increasing my debt huh?!" She said, thinking of repaying him when she receives this month's salary.

"Vic? Well, I love that! it sounds like music to my ears. Please say it again. Hehe" 

Esmeralda thought of teasing him again while they walk to the next stall in Alisha Mall. She put her arms around his and sweetly said "Vic my love, would you mind stopping buying things for me? It's time to buy for yourself. Our savings might run out." She acts like a loving wife.

Her words have impacted a lot to Victor. His heart goes "labdub, labdub,labdub" rapidly. He can't stop looking at Esmeralda's beautiful face full of smiles until they reached the E.M. fashion store. 

Esmeralda was reluctant to go with him inside. Victor thought that she was reluctant to go inside because it was pricey and she think they couldn't afford anything from there. 

"Don't worry I saved my salary, to buy you something from here. I guess you like this brand too since all the girls in the office save money to buy E.M.Fashion garments and shoes" he said while he hold her hand which was in his arms, and then he lead her inside the store.

"Do I really need to wear a high-end dress at the wedding? We will just attend there, they won't notice us anyway, hmmm why are you doing this for me? I don't think it's necessary Victor". She said while pulling her hands away.

" You will know later. But please believe in me, don't mind others' words. Just me please." He tightened his grip on her left hand while he looked at her lovingly and then he intertwined their fingers. 

" Okay" is the only word she can utter now. In her mind, she asks a question. "Is this my boyfriend? He acts like one. " His palm is so warm against her, it made her comfortable  

Esmeralda took a picture of the E.M.Fashion Store facade, using her right freehand, and posted it on I*******m.

The post shows its branch. It created a huge scoop of news over the internet in just a few minutes. She forgot that she hadn't yet logged out of her company's official account so the post was shared a million times by the user and admirer of the brand, with the caption below."E.M.Fashion CEO is in Centaurus City." "Will the owner of E.M. fashion attend the wedding?" "For the first time in history, the owner and designer of E.M.Fashion will be attending a wedding."Tan Company collaborates with E.M.Fashion?"

 There are too many speculations about her, but she doesn't know about them. She just turned off her cell phone immediately after uploading the photo. Even the famous New York Times Magazine joined the news. The very first person who got excited is Greta. It's a dream come true for her. And Christine, she's over the moon. She thought, at last, her daughter will come out of her den and socialize. 

When Victor saw the post that went viral, he regretted that they checked out from the store immediately. They could have met the owner of E.M.Fashion. They could have seen how does she look like.

The hour of the wedding is fast approaching, the entourage will begin at 2 pm. So they are very busy. All branches of Apple blossom restaurant and the Spa's will be closed, so they can attend the Grand Wedding of the year. They are all invited because Victor Tan values every employee they have. In return, they're all respectful to him and the girl he values. They also work for him wholeheartedly.