In that moment, Braden froze, never having imagined her feelings ran this deep. He had always thought they were just good work partners.
Now that things had come to this, he wasn't sure how to face her.
"Is it really such a big deal that I like you? Can't you see it?" Mylee clenched her fists. "Of course, you only have eyes for Elise. You never see me!"
Braden was taken aback. "You've been watching her all this time?"
"What if I have been? We suddenly broke up—why shouldn't I know the reason?" Mylee replied haughtily, grabbing his wrists.
She was clearly determined not to give up until the bitter end. She refused to believe she couldn't make him yield.
Braden sighed in defeat, like a deflated balloon. "You know perfectly well that dating is just a front," he said helplessly.
Mylee's frustration twisted her pretty face into a frown. "But it's because I like you! Why else would I swallow my pride and lower myself like this?"
"It's not me making you feel low—it's you who's settling," Braden said gently, releasing her tightly held hand once again. "You're beautiful, talented, and you have your own opinions and ideas. You shouldn't waste your time on me."
"Since I'm so good for you, why can't you at least try to like me, to be with me?" Mylee softened her tone, changing her approach.
If being forceful wouldn't work on him, then maybe showing vulnerability would.
To her, love was like that—as long as there was a chance, she was willing to use any means necessary.
"I just see you as a colleague. That's how I've always felt. If you can't manage your feelings… well, we may not be able to stay friends," Braden said firmly, almost harshly. "I'll get the car, wait here. It's still work hours, after all, and we need to get back to the office."
Mylee said nothing, averting her gaze.
Braden continued, "I'll pretend none of this happened today. Hopefully, when we're back at the office, you can keep your focus on work."
With that, he headed towards the parking lot, leaving Mylee standing alone.
"I won't give up," she muttered to herself, her eyes dark, already plotting her next move.
------
After work, even though she and Jakobg barely spoke anymore, Elise no longer dwelled on him. Maybe, as Braden had said, Jakobg liked someone else. If that was the case, she'd just keep her distance to avoid interfering with his love life.
Seeing Braden and Mylee so close today had left a sour taste. She'd met his previous girlfriends before, but this time it felt… different.
She was just about to call him for a chat when she realized she hadn't unblocked him yet. She did so, then shamelessly dialed his number.
But strangely enough, Braden didn't pick up or even reply to her texts, just like that day he'd gone missing with a fever.
Elise decided to stop bothering him, guessing he might be mad and avoiding her on purpose.
"Fine, ignore me then!" she huffed at her phone, stuffing it back into her bag and clocking out.
But after work, she saw Braden standing at her doorstep, holding a bouquet of bright red roses.
Elise was stunned but tried to keep her cool. "What are you doing here?"
He turned, his voice unusually soft. "Bringing you flowers. Do you like flowers?"
"Not if they're from you," she replied, her pride refusing to let her admit her happiness at seeing the bouquet.
Baden's face almost fell. So much for Nathaniel's advice that girls loved flowers. If a girl didn't, he'd said, just go straight for a hug.
What a lunatic. He actually had the nerve to use such a pathetic tactic.
"I bought this especially for you. I want us to make up. I want us to talk like we used to, go out, eat together. I don't want us to keep up this cold war, and I hate seeing you mad at me. I'm sorry, I know I messed up." Braden finished the lines with apparent sincerity, but inside, he was cringing.
Great, now he'd probably have nightmares tonight after spouting all that cheesy nonsense.
"You..." Elise's face contorted, and she took a few steps back. "Are you…possessed or something?"
She couldn't help it. His words were so absurd, they sent a shiver down her spine.
Or maybe he was just so overworked that he'd completely lost his mind.
Baden's mouth twitched. Possessed?
Possessed? She actually came up with that?
Clearly, she'd watched too much supernatural drama.
"I'm just here to apologize sincerely, that's all." He walked over, holding out the bouquet to her. "Forgive me, please?"
He was stubborn. He wouldn't leave her doorstep until she'd let this go.
Nathaniel's advice better work, or he'd be hauled off by the cops before he even got a chance to win her over.
"Can I even say no? I'll take the flowers, alright? Just please, stop saying things like that—it's creepy, I won't sleep tonight." She snatched the flowers, hugged them to her chest, opened her front door, and dashed inside.
Braden stood there, stunned, before it finally clicked—did he just… succeed?
Well, Nathanael really did know his stuff. No wonder he ranked first in their matchmaking agency.
------
Carrying the vibrant bouquet of roses into her room, Elise sat down and gazed at them, gently brushing her fingers over the petals. The delicate, dewy blooms were so beautiful that she couldn't look away, completely captivated.
She carefully counted them—eleven red roses. But why that number? She had no idea.
Eleven… But 11th isn't her birthday.
She leaned on the desk, toying with the roses. It had been ages since she'd received flowers, and surprisingly, the person who sent them wasn't her lover—just a close friend she'd grown up with.
During the cold war over the past few days, she had thought about how he usually treated her well. Still, she couldn't help but feel upset—how could he joke about something as serious as feelings? Although asking him to pretend to be her groom had been a ridiculous idea, she'd thought their connection was solid enough for it to be harmless, with no strange feelings or misunderstandings arising between them.
But after seeing how Mylee seemed genuinely interested in him, she began to wonder if maybe they were a little too close, making Mylee view her as a kind of imaginary rival.
She even noticed how Mylee's gaze grew increasingly odd, almost as if she disliked seeing her more and more.
Was it just her imagination? She wasn't entirely sure.
She pushed aside her unsettled thoughts and looked back at the bouquet of red roses, a soft smile unconsciously spreading across her face.
This must be a tactic someone taught him; Braden was never this smooth.
But at least he had a conscience, still knowing how to make her happy.
Without realizing it, she drifted into the joy brought by the roses and fell asleep at her desk.
