21!Surprise!

Sylvia 

After a stressful day at work, Dr. LindaI called me that an impromptu meeting was scheduled this evening and it was a very important meeting. I packed my bags and headed for the conference room, admits my tiredness and fatigue.

Getting to the conference room I pushed open the door to the conference room, expecting nothing more than the usual project update with my team. My mind was still half-tangled in work, charts, emails, budgets, and I was already thinking of what I would say first.

But I barely took two steps inside when the lights flipped on, and a loud chorus of “Surprise!” exploded all around me.

I stopped in my tracks, completely stunned.

The room, usually so plain and clinical, had been transformed. There were colorful streamers hanging from the ceiling, balloons floating by the windows, and a giant cake at the center table. Applause filled the air, and smiling faces turned toward me.

My eyes widened. “What is…? What’s going on?” fatigue and tiredness immediately leaving my body.

Dr. Linda stepped forward, grinning from ear to ear. “We did it anyway,” she said, giving me a warm wink. “You tried to dodge it, Sylvie. But honestly? You deserve a celebration.”

I blinked, still trying to process what was happening. “A celebration? For what?”

“Are you serious?” she laughed, putting a hand on her hip. “For you heading the hospital, For increasing patient satisfaction in the past quarter. For running this place like a boss, even when you're tired, frustrated, and still somehow keep smiling, like right now,” she said and everyone laughed.

I opened my mouth to protest, but she held up a finger. “No arguing. Just enjoy this.”

I looked around, finally noticing who was there. Some faces were familiar, colleagues from the hospital, a few doctors I’d worked closely with, and even a couple of nurses from the early days. But others… were more unexpected.

Investors. Administrative board members. A few journalists with their press passes dangling from their necks. And then… at the back of the room, standing stiffly near the wall… Maryanne and Emily.

Maryanne wore a carefully crafted smile, like she was trying to pretend she was pleased, though the tightness around her eyes said otherwise. Emily, on the other hand, looked outright sour, arms folded, her mouth set in a flat line. I met their eyes briefly, just long enough to let them know I saw them, and then turned my gaze away.

And that’s when I saw Logan.

He was leaning casually against one of the tall windows, wearing a soft gray shirt that made his eyes look impossibly blue. When our eyes met, he straightened up and walked toward me with that familiar, confident stride of his.

“You look beautiful,” he said smoothly, his voice cutting through the soft buzz of conversations around us.

I blinked at him, caught off guard. “Logan… what are you doing here?”

He shrugged, smiling in that boyish way that made my stomach flip, something I hated admitting. “Dr. Linda invited me. She thought I should see what an actual queen looks like when she’s celebrated.”

I laughed, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “Well, I didn’t exactly dress for royalty today. I didn’t even wear makeup, I thought this was a regular meeting,” I said, while hiding my face a little.

“You didn’t need it,” he said dramatically, while pulling my hands away from my face. “You walk in here glowing like that, and everyone forgot what they came here for.”

I rolled my eyes playfully. “You’re ridiculous.”

“And you’re radiant,” he shot back without missing a beat.

I shook my head, trying to hide the blush rising in my cheeks. Before I could say more, one of the investors came up to shake my hand.

“Miss Sylvie, I must say, we’re impressed,” he said with a formal nod. “The changes you’ve implemented have already shown returns. We’re excited about the direction you’re leading this place.”

“Thank you,” I said, doing my best to sound polished and professional, even though I was still trying to catch up with the moment. “It’s been a team effort. I’m lucky to have people who believe in the vision.”

“To tell the truth, I was very shocked when I heard the hospital would be hosting a Free treatment day and it was all your idea. I didn't actually support the idea, but I'm glad it turned out well.”

“I'm glad, you're happy sir.”

“Next time, I would like you to improve me about any event you want to engage in, I'm an investor, and to invest in what I'm hearing for. I should be able to invest in activities, before outsiders invest.”

“That wouldn't be a problem sir, sorry for not informing you about it.”

“No no no, that's not a problem at all,” he said, while patting my back gently.

More investors followed, asking questions, making small talk, complimenting decisions I didn’t even think they noticed. I did my best to stay engaged, offering smiles, answering politely, all while aware of Logan hovering nearby, close, but never overstepping.

He knew when to jump in with a charming remark to lighten the mood, or when to pretend to be just another observer. He was... good at this. At reading me. At making it easier to breathe when the pressure mounted.

At some point, the lights dimmed slightly, and Dr. Linda emerged from the crowd holding a cake with a single golden candle burning at the top. Everyone began to sing, off-key and half-laughing.

“Happy… uh… welcome Day? Celebration Day? Boss Lady Day?” someone shouted mid-song.

Everyone laughed. I laughed. For the first time in days, maybe weeks, I laughed without thinking.

As the song ended, Dr. Linda gave me a mock bow. “Make a wish, Sylvia.”

I looked at the candle, flickering gently, and closed my eyes. Peace. Growth. Love, I thought. Then I blew it out, and everyone cheered.

As the cake was being cut and passed around, Logan leaned in again, his voice low so only I could hear.

“I’m glad I could be here for this,” he said. “You really do deserve all of this. And more.”

I turned to him, meeting his eyes. “Thanks, Logan. I wasn’t expecting this… but I’m really touched.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment. Then softly, he added, “You make people want to celebrate you. Whether you believe that or not.”

Something about the way he said it, the softness, the honesty, made my chest tighten.

“Thanks,” I whispered again, more quietly this time.

The night slowly began to wind down. One by one, people started leaving, exchanging warm goodbyes and congratulating me again. I hugged Dr. Linda tightly.

“Thank you,” I said, holding on a second longer. “This meant more than you know.”

“I do know,” she whispered back. “Now go enjoy the rest of your night.”

As I walked out of the conference room with Logan beside me, the building quieter now, I felt a strange warmth settling in my chest.

“You know,” Logan said, sliding his hands into his pockets, “I think this is the start of something big. You’re going to do great things, Sylvie.”

I looked at him, really looked at him. For all the rocky history, for all the mess we’d both been through, right now, in this moment, he was standing beside me. And it felt… right.

“Maybe,” I said, smiling. “Maybe it is.”

And for the first time in a long time, I believed it.