1 Mornings

The rowdy and bustling city had long maintained its rowdy nature, seemingly resistant to any change.

The Monday morning frenzy was in full swing, with everyone rushing to work. Not a single person walked leisurely or strolled around lazily. Lydia, too, found herself caught up in the rush as she hurriedly made her way out of her apartment and towards the bakery.

Arriving a few minutes early, Lydia understood well that time waits for no one. She hastily tucked away loose strands of hair behind her ears before stepping into the bakery.

"Good morning, Lydia," a familiar feminine voice greeted as soon as she entered. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw her co-worker, Janice.

"Morning to you too," Lydia replied, quickly donning the apron she had set aside for the morning.

Janice was not one for excessive chatter, which lent a sense of calm and relaxation to the place. Though reserved, she had a strong personality.

"Lydia, you know I'm standing here, right?" another co-worker, Jace, waved at her with a hint of bashfulness. Jace had a considerable crush on her and occasionally attempted to get to know her better, but his shyness often led to awkward encounters. 

"Good morning, Jace," Lydia responded, albeit her reply didn't seem entirely convincing to him. He let it slide, understanding her reservations.

The day kicked off with a steady stream of customers, each seeking snacks for school lunches, work breaks, and various other reasons.

As the day slowly and abruptly drew to a close, the outside traffic subsided. Despite the day winding down, delivery calls continued to come in.

Finally, closing time arrived. But just before the shop could be closed, the phone rang.

"Yes, hello, we're nearly closed," Lydia answered.

"This is NAFEV Company. We require a plain vanilla cake to be delivered here," a female voice spoke on the other end of the line.

"Um...okay? Is this some kind of prank?" Lydia was uncertain of what to say, as the idea of a prestigious company like NAFEV calling a small bakery for a delivery seemed surreal.

"No, this is not a prank. Please deliver it as soon as possible," the woman insisted. Lydia still had her doubts.

After several minutes of reassurance, confirmation, and providing directions for the cake drop-off, Lydia began to believe, though it still felt like an elaborate prank or a dream where pranks blur with reality.

There was only one way to find out. Without further hesitation, she carefully packed the cake in a striped bag and sealed it in a small, fancy box.

Mounting her bike, she embarked on the journey towards the company, silently praying that it wasn't a prank. The thought of a gigantic embarrassment looming over her if it were only added to her trepidation.

****

Upon arriving at the building's gate, the security guards displayed disbelief and denied her entry.

Determined to clarify the situation, Lydia called the company's phone number. After a brief conversation with the guards, she was finally granted access.

Standing outside, Lydia was awe-struck by the building's enormous size and stunning beauty. She found herself lost in admiration, oblivious to her surroundings.

"Hey, what's the deal with the lady who just entered? Why is she standing there?" the first security guard asked his colleague.

"I don't know, should we just leave her be? She'll snap out of it soon, right?" the other guard replied nonchalantly.

However, Lydia remained in her trance, marveling at the building. It wasn't until she realized she was in a public place that she snapped back to reality.

"I just embarrassed myself. Have I never seen a large building before? How pathetic!" she mumbled to herself before entering the building hastily.

"See, I told you she would snap out of it," the security guard chuckled, returning to his post. Encountering a lady who admires majestic architecture wasn't an everyday occurrence for him.

Meanwhile, Lydia made her way to the top of the building using the elevator. Throughout the ride, she kept her head down, avoiding any potential conversations she wasn't prepared for.

"I should have styled my hair better and put on some light makeup. I had no idea there would be so many people around. Now I feel like a monster from my grandma's stories come to life," Lydia complained, striving to regain her composure.

The elevator finally stopped, and she hurriedly stepped out. The floors were impeccably clean, allowing her to see her reflection clearly.

"I came here to deliver this order," Lydia stated to the middle-aged woman seated nearby.

"Yes, I called for it... I'm not sure why the CEO chose a small business instead of larger cake companies," the woman muttered, though she managed to maintain a smile. "Okay, just leave it here," she indicated a clean table. "The CEO will return from his meeting soon. Thank you so much, and sorry for any inconveniences!"

"No problem," Lydia reassured her. After accepting the payment, she turned around but accidentally collided with someone's broad chest.

"I'm so sorry, I wasn't paying attention..." her sentence trailed off as soon as she caught sight of the man in front of her.

He was undeniably attractive.

Perfectly slicked-back onyx-black hair, a face that defied imperfections and radiated beauty. A sharp nose, a V-shaped jawline, and soft pink lips... he was simply too perfect.

"Good morning, sir," the words slipped from her mouth as she continued to stare at him, unable to tear her gaze away.

Reality hit her when he returned her gaze with an awkward expression.

"Good evening, actually," she greeted again, attempting to regain her composure. "Thank you for the call. Goodbye," she addressed the woman and was about to rush out when his strong hand pulled her back to where she had initially stood.

"Miss Lydia, right?" his deep voice reverberated through the room.

"Yes?" she replied, unsure of what he was about to say, anxiously waiting.

"I will see your boss tomorrow!" he stated abruptly before letting go and disappearing into his office.

"Why?" Lydia found herself posing questions that were unlikely to receive answers.

Without any response from either the mysterious man or the middle-aged woman, Lydia left the company and headed straight home, confident that Jace would properly lock up and tidy the shop.

On her way, numerous thoughts flooded her mind.

"Why did the CEO request a cake delivery from a small shop? Why does he want to see my boss? Have I seen him somewhere before?" She abruptly halted. "How does he know my name?"