I entered the building where I worked, feeling a small smile dancing on my lips as memories of the salsa class repeated in my mind. Throughout the weekend, as I had steadily worked on my assignment, I couldn't help but to mentally wander back to that night. It had felt so nice being with Nate, dancing the night away...
As soon as the last thought crossed my mind, particularly that name, my eyes opened widely. I had noticed that I had been thinking about the class a lot. But along with those thoughts came... Nate.
I couldn't think of him that way. He was my boss. And no matter what my friends tried to tell me, I knew there was no way something could happen between us. He was.. Well Nate. And I was just.. me, his subordinate.
I sighed as I walked out of the elevator and into the lobby.
"Good morning sunshine!" the cheery voice of Dan filled my ears. I smiled tightly as I nodded, replying to him before walking into my office.
I slumped into my seat and after a short rest, I got settled and continued to put the last touches on the assignment. While I was busily typing away, I heard a knock on my door. I turned around and frowned slightly when I saw Dan holding a bouquet of flowers and a card.
"Who's that for?" I asked curiously.
"For you." He replied with a smirk. I felt one of my brows rise in question, as if to ask really?, as I continued to look at him.
"It's not from you is it?" This wouldn't be the first time if he was the one who had gotten it for me. When I had first started to work here, I would often come to my desk to find small bouquets and cards asking for a date, with his signature on it. But he had stopped that a long time ago, hopefully getting the message.
"Nope. Someone beat me to it." He replied as he entered and placed the bouquet beside my computer screen before reaching his hand out to give me an envelop. Reluctantly, i reached out for it.
"Thanks." I mumbled.
"Don't mention it. But you have to tell me who it's from so I can tell them to back off. You're mine." He winked, earning an eyeroll from me, before walking out.
Slowly, I opened the envelop to find a card inside which had an intricate heart shaped design. I felt my eyebrows draw together as I opened it to find familiar neat handwriting.
I enjoyed spending Friday night with you. And I'm glad you didn't step on my feet. It was nice to see you comfortable with me. I hope to see you tonight.
Nate.
I read and reread it several times, wondering why he would send me something like this, all the while feeling my smile widen. I hadn't planned to go to tonight's class but maybe it wasn't too late to join.
I took out my phone from my purse and dialed the number for Hot Salsa. After a few rings, a masculine voice filled my ears as someone picked up.
"Um this is Hot Salsa. How can I help you?" The person asked warily. I had hoped that it would be Ryan so that I could maybe get a discount but I quickly dismissed that thought.
"I'd like to come to tonight's class. Is it too late to register?" I asked him. There was some shuffling before he spoke again,
"Give me a second."
I continued to work while I waited, doing my best to finish as much as I could before I was called into Nate's office, something that I wasn't looking forward to.
"Okay yeah you can come." I jumped slightly as I heard his voice again, feeling my heart rate increase at the scare. I took a few breaths in and out to calm myself before I thanked him and hung up. As soon as I returned to my computer screen, there was another knock on my door. I looked up to find Elisa walking towards me with her eyes glued to the bouquet.
"Who gave you that Cady?" She asked, fascination lacing her voice. I quickly picked it up and placed it under the desk.
"Nobody. Why are you here?" I asked, trying to tell her to avoid the topic but she didn't get the message. Instead, she walked behind my desk and picked it up, picking up the card it had come with. Before I could snatch it from her hands, she was already reading it out loud.
"I enjoyed spending Friday night with you. And I'm glad you didn't step on my feet. It was nice to see you comfortable with me. I hope to see you tonight. Nate." She looked over at me with a large smile and engulfed me in a hug.
"I'm so happy for you Cady!" she squealed. I rolled my eyes at her but I felt the corner of my lips turn into a small smile and hugged her back.
"So are you coming tonight?" She asked, walking over to the chair across from my desk and sitting down.
"Yeah I just called and told them that I'm coming."
"That's great! I can't wait to see you and Nate dancing up a storm again." She winked at me. Upon feeling my cheeks warm, I cleared my throat and saved my work.
"Why did you come here anyway?" I asked her. She sat up on her seat when she finally remembered.
"Nate," she wiggled her brows at me the same way that Dan had done last week, "wants to see you. Something about a project?" She trailed off, not quite remembering what she had been told. I nodded my head and stood up to walk to his office but stopped when I heard her speak again.
"If you two do anything funky we'll hear you so keep it down." My eyes widened as I looked at her straight face.
"Elisa!" I scrutinized her. She giggled slightly before waving her hand dismissively.
"It was just a joke Cady." I walked away before I could get the urge to do something to her for saying something so ridiculous.
I walked to Nate's office and knocked on his door. When I heard his voice, I opened it and entered. He gestured to the chair across from him and I silently walked over and took a seat.
"Did you finish the assignment?" He asked sternly. I felt my shoulders drop slightly in defeat as the tone of his voice sounded the same. It hadn't changed like I had hoped it would after we had spent some time together.
"Cadence?" I heard him say my name. I shook my head as I looked at him, silencing my thoughts.
"Um I'm almost done. Just adding finishing touches." I replied, doing my best to hide my feelings. He looked at me for a few seconds, maybe picking up on what I was trying to hide, before nodding his head.
"Good. I'd like it before you go for lunch." I nodded my head and looked away, waiting for him to say that I could leave. But intead, all I was met with was silence. I sat there for a few seconds, wondering what to do and before I could stop myself, I spoke.
"Can I ask you a question?" I blurted out, instantly regretting it. His eyebrow rose in curiosity as he continued to look at me.
"I don't see why not." He replied. I nodded my head as I squeezed my slightly shaking hands.
"Why did you send me the bouquet?" His eyes widened for a second, a time so short that I almost missed it, before he cleared his throat and pulled slightly at his tie.
"What bouquet?" His question filled the silence.
"The one that Dan gave me earlier." As soon as I finished, I saw him shaking his head no.
"I'm sorry but it wasn't me." I was confused when he said that because it was his name that I had seen. I didn't know any other Nate. And he was the only one who had been my partner for the dance class.
"But-"
"If that's all, then I'd like you to go back to working. I need that assignment soon." He said, looking down at his wrist for the time. I sighed and walked outside. I returned to my office and continued to finish the project. I couldn't wait to go home after what had happened. But then I remembered that I would be seeing him at the class later.
"Great." I mumbled to myself as I kept typing.
* * *
"Uh why's Jason talking to Ryan? They look like they're sharing a secret." We all turned our heads at the sound of Alyce's voice, to see the two of them engaged in what looked like a secret conversation.
As soon as they felt our eyes on them, they turned to face us and Jason waved, causing all of us to wave back before turning back around.
"Is that weird?" I asked, not knowing why Jason speaking to the teacher was so bad.
"Well Ryan almost never comes on time and when he does, he usually just goes into his office and comes out a little later."
"Oh." Was all I could say. I still didn't understand why that was weird but I hoped that whatever they were talking about wasn't anything bad.
We continued to talk about anything that came to our minds until we heard the music disappear. Immediately, we stood up, and walked to our spots from the last class, which I was guessing was everyone's usual spot, and joined our partners.
Nate looked at me as he smiled brightly once I reached him. Confused with what happened earlier, I smiled slightly before looking away, wondering why his behavior was so different here compared to work.
"Sorry about the late start-"
"Since when are you sorry about that Ryan?" One of the other females in the class blurted out, earning everyone's snickers, and causing Ryan to chuckle slightly.
"I guess you have a point Dorothy. Anyways, today we're going to start with something a little more complicated. But before that, I'd like to thank Cadence for gracing us with her presence again. It looks like you enjoyed your time with us on Friday." I nodded my head as he smiled at me. After our little exchange, he went on to demonstrate the move with someone, and turned on the music, before telling us how to do it.
At first, I struggled to do it ─ not because it was hard but because my mind was somewhat far away. I was still thinking about how Nate had sent me that bouquet and card but he had acted as if he hadn't sent it to me. Was there something going on that I didn't know about?
"Is everything alright Cadence?" I heard said person ask, looking up to see his worried expression. I forced a smile onto my face and nodded, immediately looking away from him. He sighed as he stepped forward, causing me to step back. He spun me around and when I faced him again, he spoke.
"If it's about this morning, then I'm sorry."
"Sorry for sending the bouquet or saying that you didn't?" I asked, slightly confused as I continued to follow his lead.
"The second one." He spun me several times before we were stopped for Ryan to demonstate another move.
We were on our fifth dance move of the night when Ryan stopped us again by turning off the music. He stood before all of us and smiled.
"We don't usually do this, but I think we've all earned a break. But before you go off to do whatever, Jason come up here." Ryan said, gesturing for Jason to go to the front.
We all turned to look at him as he walked to his belongs, taking something out of a bag, and walking to the front.
"The floor's all yours." Ryan went to sit on a chair on the side and joined all of us in watching Jason in curiosity as he walked over to Lexxie. She remained in her spot, her facial expression portraying her confusion.
"What're you doing?" She half whispered as he got closer to her. His smile widened as he stood before her, looking insanely happy.
"Lexxie," he began, trying to look for his words, "I know that we haven't been together for that long, it's only been two years. But it feels like we've known each other for a long time." As I heard that, I finally realised that he was going to propose to her. And judging by the small squeals I heard, I wasn't the only one who had figured it out. But unfortunately, the person being proposed to was not part of the group of people who knew what was going on.
"Okay? What about it?" Lexxie asked Jason. He laughed slightly and went to continue speaking but she stopped him.
"Can you please get to the point? I'm really confused." She said. I was surprised that she hadn't caught on to it by now. She was a very diligent person, it was really hard to get anything past her. But obviously, that wasn't completely true.
"Is that what you want? Because I prepared a whole speech to say to you." Jason replied, looking slightly hurt that he won't be able to say his speech.
"A speech?" She asked, turning around as she thought about what was going on. When she finally figured it out, her eyes widened, and he hands flew to cover her mouth.
"Are you proposing to me right now?" She asked him. He beamed as he nodded, walking closer and kneeling on one knee. He pulled out a red box and opened it to reveal a ring which I couldn't see from where I was standing. But judging by the gasps from the women close to them, it must have been a sight to behold.
"Lexxie, I love you and I know that this feeling won't go away. Ever since I started to feel this way, I knew that I wanted to spend my life with you─it was all I could dream of. So will you please help make my dream come true by becoming my wife?" I couldn't help the tears I felt around my eyes and the smile on my lips as I continued to look at them. I knew that there was no way that she would reject him, she had been dreaming of it too, maybe even longer than he had.
There was a moment of silence as everyone else looked at them in bated breath. Finally, she began to nod her head frantically before screaming "Yes!"
Everyone clapped as Jason's smile widened, as he placed the ring on her finger and stood up to engulf her in a hug.
"I love you so much Lexxie." He mumbled into her shoulder. They pulled away and kissed slightly before Lexxie replied,
"I love you too Jason."
I looked over to Nate as the newly engaged coupled hugged, wondering how he was reacting to everything. Instead of seeing him smiling like everyone else, he had on a straight face and he clenched his fist. He turned to look at me when he noticed that I was looking at him.
"Are you okay?" I asked, worried about his behavior. He quickly covered his solemn expression with a smile before nodding.
"Yeah. But I have to go, I have an appointment right now so my friend is going to fill in for me. Is that alright?" He asked.
"Yeah I guess." I replied. I looked over at the entrance when the door opened to find someone who looked very familiar. He looked in our direction, his beautiful brown eyes shining like they did the last time I had seen him. I felt my lips curve into a smile as he walked over to us.
He greeted Nate with what looked like a high-five before they hugged briefly.
"How's it going man?" Dennis asked him.
"Not too bad. I need to go now so here's my partner Cadence." Nate quickly said goodbye to us before walking away, leaving Dennis with me.
"Do you remember me?" I asked him, smiling as I hoped that he did. But to my disappointment, his eyebrows drew together in confusion.
"Should I?" he asked, in a rude tone, taking me aback. It was one thing to forget someone but it was another to be disrespectful.
"I'm Cadence, remember? From the club?" I trailed on, trying to get an ounce of recognition. But he shook his head.
"Aren't you Dennis?" I asked, a little desperately. He chuckled slightly as his cold eyes shone with laughter.
"I'm sorry but you've got the wrong person. I'm Dylan."
"What?" I asked, more to myself.
He looked exactly like Dennis. In fact, he was his mirror image. So how could he tell me a different name?
Was this some kind of joke?
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