Tracey was running down the hall to the office of her boss. She had been working none stop on the new business proposal for the past 3 days but sadly, she was about to miss the deadline. “No no no no.. ahh I need to make this!” She thought as she ran a little faster, wanting to reach it before her boss would leave for the weekend. Normally she wasn’t the one to hand it in, normally it was the intern that got them all at once and walked up with them and they all just had to start on the next one but since she was late, she would have to do it on her own. She had actually never seen her boss before but had done a lot of thinking of what kind of man he was. Middle aged with a bold head and mean eyes, that was the first cliché thought that popped into her head but boy was she going to be wrong.

The clock was one minute to 10pm when she finally stood outside the wooden door. She let out a relived breath as there was still light coming out from under the door. “Okay calm down Tracey.” She fixed her hair and the papers before she knocked gently on the door, the sound echoing in the empty halls, almost making her feel like she was in some cliché horror movie and behind the door she would find her boss butchered before the wild chase would go, though that wasn’t the case. Instead a mild but faint voice spoke from the other side. “Come in.” Tracey did as asked, slowly opening the door and stepping inside, bowing immediately before standing straight and looking to the man the voice belonged to, her eyes going wide. “Wauw.. he’s.. he’s handsome.” She blinked as she noticed the tall, brown haired man with hazel brown, deep eyes and incredible clean skin, staring at her with a raised brow, realizing she must had looked foolishly at him and quickly composed herself. “Uh excuse me sir but I’m here to hand in my business proposal, I didn’t get to send it along with the rest, I hope it’s no trouble.” She held the papers out with slightly shaking hands, having a hard time composing herself fully out of embarrassment and nervousness. “Oh..” A warm chuckle left the man’s lips before he placed his briefcase on the desk as he was almost on his way out. “I’ll take it right now then.” He glanced to the clock. “You just reached it, great job.” He smiled kindly at her before he took the papers and noticed her shaking hands which made him gently take on of them and looking at her eyes. “Calm down. I won’t hurt you, I’m not the evil middle age boss you see in dramas.” He laughed and let go of her hand as she slowly calmed down, now simply staring at him as she was mesmerised by the handsome man in front of her. “T-thank you sir.” He calmly looked her over before looking at the name on the report. “You are the one that got moved here from Alabama, right?” He looked to her again as she nodded softly. “Yes I am.” She smiled slightly. “You are probably wondering why my Korean is good.” He couldn’t help but laugh as she saw right through him. “Yes, my thoughts exactly, care to enlighten me?” She chuckled before fixing her skirt as she pointed to herself. “I was the language advisor back in Alabama. I can speak and write 12 different languages fluently, my major in college was Korean actually.” She smiled and nodded in a proud way of herself. “I see..” He hummed slightly before he looked at her once more. “Well I am Shin Soohyun. You may call me Mr Shin normally but since I’m pretty sure it’s only us, you are allowed to call me Soohyun.” He chuckled warmly before taking the papers to his desk and placing it in the briefcase before he looked at Tracey, who was now staring at him again. “Miss?” She blinked once she was spoken to again and shook her head to snap out of it before she bowed her head. “I’m sorry. I tend to space out in thought when we get this late on a day.” She laughed shyly and cursed herself in her head for being so easily captured by this man’s looks. “Where do you live?” Soohyun asked as he took up his briefcase and turned off the desk lamp. “Oh I live on the 3^rd floor on that high blue building just three blocks from here.” She nodded quickly before her gaze fell on his soft eyes that were looking straight at her. “Oh you do? Want a ride? I live on the very top, in the penthouse.” As he finished speaking her eyes slightly widened. “You. You live there? Oh. Well then I would be very happy to get a ride actually. My bike broke this morning.” She laughed lightly before pointing to the door. “I’ll just get my stuff then.” She bowed politely before rushing out as Soohyun looked after her, chuckling lightly. “Interesting.”

Tracey met up with Soohyun at the main entrance, her smile a little brighter than before as she had now had time to calm herself down and think the situation through in her head. “Are you ready to leave?” He spoke softly as he took her hand in his, like a true gentleman and led her outside to the parking lot and to his rather fancy and expensive car. She couldn’t help but think it was obvious that he had the car he had; he lived in a penthouse after all and owned the entire company. He swiftly opened the car door for her before helping her in and closing the door once more before he slid inside the driver’s seat while undoing his tie lightly and undoing the first few buttons, making the woman beside him stare once more. Tracey looked at his jaw and down to his neck; slightly biting her bottom lip at how handsome every little feature seemed to be but as soon as his face turned towards her, she quickly looked ahead with flushing cheeks. “Put on your seatbelt please.” He chuckled and easily noticed her facial expression and the red cheeks. “O-oh! Of course sir.” She nodded and buckled up quickly before pushing her short locks back and chewing on her bottom lip. Soohyun couldn’t help but smile as it wasn’t often he saw a woman act like this around him. Normally they would throw themselves at him or flirt until he would send them away but this female did no such thing. She was shy and tried to hide completely even though she was right beside him. She dressed less flattering but everything still complimented her nice curves and pushed forward her chest in a respectful way. Her short brown hair fell perfectly on her face and the glasses somehow made her cute. She was an ordinary woman but he still found her completely attractive.

The short ride felt like an hour for Tracey, as she wasn’t really a person that socialised and often only tended to work and take care of her brother, apart from the occasional shopping and walks to the park. She couldn’t help but let a silent sigh of relief slip her lips as they finally pulled up to the building and parked on the parking basement. “Thank you very much for the ride sir.” She smiled kindly and bowed her head before she undid the seatbelt and took her bag, getting ready to get out when a hand over hers stopped her from it and she turned her face to find Soohyun’s face only an inch from hers. “Please wait.” He spoke softly as he smiled at her. “I don’t usually do this but.” He paused and totally forgot to let go of her as he spoke. “Would you like to come up for a drink? It’s Friday after all.” He chuckled as Tracey just stared at him with her face dark red from the close contact. “Uhm.. That would.. uh. That would be nice but.” She looked down shyly to take a breath and looked back up at him. “I need to go take care of my brother, he’s home alone right now. Maybe some other time sir.” She bowed her head once more and smiled softly while he retreated his hand and stared at her almost dumfounded until she was out of the car. “Did she just?” He blinked and sat back in his seat, holding a hand over his mouth as he laughed. “I got rejected.” He laughed more and looked to the seat where Tracey had sat just a minute ago before he smiled. “hmm..”

Days passed since Tracey encountered her boss on first hand and for some reason, she couldn’t quite get him out of her head and the scene in the car, with his hand on hers, was a constant image. “Ahh I can’t concentrate.” She pouted and ruffled her hair as she looked over the rather big amount of work on her desk as she had been home for the past two days as her younger brother, Bryce, had been sick. She stretched her arms before taking a sip of her coffee and pulled herself together, starting to engulf herself in the piles of work but was soon stopped as her name was called over the speaker, saying she had something to get at the reception. “Odd..” She mumbled to herself as she got up, fixing her skirt and shirt before she walked through the halls of desks to the front, where a large bouquet of white and blue roses were placed, with a small card that had her full name. “Tracey, you seem to have gotten yourself a secret admire.” The male behind the reception desk chuckled as he held the roses out for her. “Uhm, thank you. I think.” She laughed shyly before bowing her head and walking back to her own desk, looking at the absolutely stunning roses as she sat down. “Wauw..” She was stunned and smiled almost like an idiot at the romantic gesture but at the same time, she was so confused to who would do such a thing. She reached out and took the card, her eyebrows furrowing in thought as the only thing that stood beside her name was the letter S two times. “S S.” She mumbled to herself before shaking her head and looking at the roses again. “Well thank you mysterious person, I love them.” She chuckled and placed the note in her desk before going back to work.

Weeks passed but the flowers kept coming in a steady stream, different colours and sorts each time and not once did she get any more hints than the initials on the cards, though encouraging words was now getting placed on the cards. She had about 50 cards now and her curiosity was getting the best of her. Though today the flowers that came were different and they were placed on her desk once she came back from eating dinner, as it was her late night. Normally she would get them at the front desk and carry them down, getting jealous looks from every female on the floor but today she was all alone and the flowers were blood red roses and the usual card had turned into a letter that was placed in front of the bouquet. “What is this now?” Tracey’s eyes were wide as she looked over the set up on her desk and glanced around but she saw no one. “This is weird.” She whispered to herself before she placed her purse down and took the letter, carefully opening it and to her surprise, it was a letter with instruction and sweet words.

“Dear Tracey.

I’ve been noticing you a lot since we first met. I know you have no clue who I could be since over half the staff here, has the same initials as me but you might think more clearly after this. I don’t know you at all but I’ve observed you and yes, that sounds terribly creepy but you shouldn’t think like that at all. You took me by surprise. You were so different that everyone else and there was something about you that made me want to know more but you gave me no chance for that so I got this idea to lure you into my trap with words. I have no idea if it worked but I will find that out now. If I haven’t scared you away but made you curious about me, follow these instructions to meet me. First, walk to the restroom, there should be a gift. Please change into that and walk to hall B and take the elevator to the very top floor and enter the roof. When you reach the top floor, I want you to follow the candle light path until you see a man with his back turned to you, that’s me. When you reach me, say yes or no to this question. Would you like to join me for a drink? If you say no, I won’t turn to face you but walk away but if you say yes, you are gonna join me for a drink, no matter what you think of me, deal? Now go, I’m waiting.

S.S”

She read the letter two times to be sure she didn’t read anything wrong and couldn’t help her heart from racing. Why was she so excited? Why did she feel like she couldn’t say no, even if that was what she wanted to do? Her eyes flickered around the empty room before she let the letter fall to the ground and walked to the restroom and found a black gift with a blood red ribbon. She slowly let her fingers trace over the fabric of the ribbon before she undid it and opened the box, her eyes going wide at the sight that met her. In the box was a beautiful red dress in her size which had a slim waist but a slightly puffy skirt and long lace sleeves and a length that wouldn’t make her feel too . There was also a pair of black pumps that matched the black clutch with a silver buckle of a rose on the middle and a diamond bracelet and earrings that was also rose shaped. “You can’t be serious.” She spoke to herself as she took up the dress from the box and looked at everything else before she noticed a few make up products and perfumes by the sink and her jaw dropped again. “Who is this guy?”

She did correctly as the letter said and dressed herself up nicely, using almost everything but letting her makeup look less staged out as her outfit, though she focused on making her eyes sparkle a little more than usual. She also took off her glasses and placed on the contacts she always brought along if anything should happen to her glasses but this night seemed fitting for using them. She never gave much fought to how she looked but for some reason, all this made her excited and she wanted to look pretty for this mysterious guy. As she exited the restroom and walked to the elevator, she kept thinking about the letter over and over, trying to figure out who would write like that but it wasn’t until she stood in front of his back on the roof, she realised who the man that had set it all up was. The only man that ever asked her for a drink was her boss.

She stared at his back for nearly 10 minutes before a chuckle left his lips as he tapped his foot on the ground. “I would like an answer miss.” He was trying hard not to turn and face her as he heard her voice mumble words to herself, badly wanting to see how she was looking and if she had even done anything of the things the letter had said. “I..” She bit her lip before she straightened her back before she shyly spoke. “Yes.” She didn’t know why she was even saying yes, she didn’t know him at all and he was her boss as well, she never did things like this. “Yes I would like to join you for a drink.” She looked up at him as he slowly turned to face her, his eyes scanning her with amazement as she fiddled with the clutch. “You..” He stared at her as a broad smile covered his face. “You look beautiful Tracey.” He slowly walked closer as he took her hand, raising it to his lips before he kissed the backside of it, making her cheeks turn rosy as she shyly smiled up at him. “T-thank you. You look very handsome, like always.” She mumbled the last part before she looked away slightly, taking a nervous breath. “Don’t be nervous.” Soohyun spoke softly as he brought her a little closer and made her follow him to a private elevator at the other end of the roof and took her inside of it, making it go to the bottom floor. “My butler has taken care of your things at your desk and a babysitter for your brother, so please don’t worry about that and just enjoy the evening. Her eyes met his as he spoke and she simply nodded before she held the clutch in her hand a little tighter. “Sir?” She looked to him as the elevator started to move down. “Soohyun, call me my name please.” He looked at her softly before she nodded her head again. “S-soohyun.” She spoke his name and couldn’t help but find it a very comfortable name to say and somehow her heart pounded a little faster. “Why did you do all this for me? It’s really all so much, with the dress and everything.” She met his eyes. “You shouldn’t use that much money on me.” He chuckled warmly as he let the hand that was holding hers let go and moved it around her waist to pull her close. “I only use money on important matters and people.” He looked back at her with a soft smile. “I like you.” Her eyes went wide before she blinked them. “But. But. You hardly know me.” He let out a laugh and squeezed her waist gently. “That’s the funny thing about this. I feel like I do. I’ve watched you every day at the office and when we cross ways at the building. I’ve seen you smile over the littlest of things, watched you frustrated and sad but also seen how good care you take of people around you and how hard working you are. I’ve noticed you are rather reserved but open to people that are open to you. You have a soft spot for everything that concerns creative writing and that you are a stern but loving woman.” He tilted his head and chuckled as he saw her shocked expression. “I assume form the look on your face, that I am right.” He leaned close and placed a gentle and sweet kiss on her cheek before he took her out of the elevator, leading her to a car that was waiting for them.

Tracey said nothing the entire ride, she just sat and tried to run everything that had happened since the roses were on her desk a few weeks ago and till the moment right now, where she was sitting in a car, wearing expensive clothes and on her way for a drink with her boss, that confessed to liking her. It was all so much for her but somehow she didn’t dislike it all, actually she was starting to slowly feel comfortable in his presences, even if they weren’t speaking. Whenever she would glance at him, he would notice and look right back at her and she would turn away again but he still smiled warmly and squeezed her hand, making her cheeks flush over and over.

He didn’t speak up until they reached their destination, which was simply their apartment building and he quickly got out to open the door for her. “This way my dear.” He chuckled and took her hand in a gentle grip, helping her out before he led her inside. “Since you declined last time, I thought I would make it more comfortable for you by being a place you could easily run away from if it got too much for you. So what better place than where you live, just on a higher floor?” He laughed warmly as Tracey softly smiled and mumbled a kind thank you under her breath before they entered the elevator of that building as well. “You are really going out of your way just for a drink.” She chuckled and looked up at him. “Oh but it’s not just a drink.” He looked at her with a cheeky smile. “It’s my confession and the start of a life where I will strive to make you mine.” He nodded firmly before looking ahead with lopsided grin. “Because that is what I will work my very hardest for, so you will like me too as I like you.” He took a side glance at her and smiled affectionately as he noticed the red colour that spread over her cheek, making him cup one of them as he stared into her eyes. “You are one weird man.” She spoke as one of her hands rested against his firm chest. “hmm, so I’ve been told.” He chuckled before resting his forehead against hers. “You really look amazing you know.” Her heart didn’t seem to be able to calm down at how close he was or the looks he gave and even the words he spoke. Everything he did just made her more and more lost in him and she had no idea how her rational thinking suddenly got ruined like this, by one man.

They didn’t speak another word the rest of the elevator ride, they simply stared into each other’s eyes and nothing else seemed to be important. The eye contact only broke when they reached the floor of their destination and Soohyun once again took Tracey’s hand and led her inside the fancy penthouse that made her gasp. “Waah, this place is. Just wow.” She blinked before she looked up at him. “My place looks like it was made in the 80’s and then it looks like 2020 in here.” She laughed and before he let go of her hand to walk to his kitchen and take out some champagne and strawberries before he returned to her, gesturing for her to follow him to the balcony, which she did. He placed the things down on the little table in front of an outdoor couch before he made her sit down with him so they could look over the city view. “Do you like it?” He asked while looking at her breath taking face, gesturing to the view. Her eyes wandered over the scene as a wide and happy smile spread over her pink lips. “It’s amazing. I can’t believe you get to see this every day.” She met his eyes, immediately feeling shy at the way he was staring at her. “You can just come here and watch it every day?” His eyes pierced through hers in an intense but affectionate gaze, making her heart jump. “Every day?” She asked as she leaned in while he did the same. “Yes, anything for you.” He flashed a charming smile as he reached out to gently tug a strand of hair behind her ear before he reached out for the champagne and pecked the corner of her lips before he pulled away to open the bottle, as she simply sat frozen with her fingertips touching the corner his lips touched as her eyes blinked. “You know if you are gonna react that way every time I kiss some part of your face, we will have to practice a lot.” A slight smirk covered his lips as he noticed how her face suddenly matched her dress. “Aigoo. Cute.” He muttered before popping the bottle and pouring the champagne into two glasses and handed her one but soon noticed how her shoulders were shivering and swiftly placed his glass down to take off his jacket and ever so gently placing it over her shoulder before he took the glass again and held it up with a soft smile that made her knees go weak. “Cheers to a lovely new connection.” He bowed his head and she did the same with hers before she took a small sip of the glass, glancing at the view once more as her hand mindlessly rested on his thigh, making him smile a little wider as he s his arm around her shoulders and held her close to his warmth.

They sat like that for almost an hour, not talking or moving, simply enjoying champagne and strawberries while looking over the impressive view, until Soohyun suddenly stood up and headed inside, making Tracey’s eyes go wide in surprise and confusion but he soon returned with a grin plastered on his face as the sound of slow soothing music started to play behind him. “Does the lady care for a dance with a simple business man?” She couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh as she placed the glass down and stood up, letting the jacket fall on the outdoor couch before she took his hand. The second she did, she was pulled towards him and pressed closely against his chest, making her heart skip a beat while she looked up at his handsome face. “Just relax.” He spoke ever so softly and with a caring tone as his hand rested on her lower back and the other took her hand before he started to lead her with the music as they stared into each other’s eyes deeply. “Thank you.” She spoke softly. “For everything. I don’t know how to ever repay you for how good you’ve been to me and assume you will continue to be.” He let out a chuckle and pulled her even closer. “I could think of something though.” He smirked rather ily before he leaned down so their lips almost touched, their breaths mixing. “Kiss me.” He whispered in his deep low voice while his hand that was holding hers, slipped around her waist with the other, while her hands rested on his shoulders. “Just kiss me and you would have repaid everything.” He smiled before her eyes looked into his until they closed and she closed the gap between them, her lips touching his in a gentle and tender kiss, her heart fluttering along with his. They both melted in merely seconds and the kiss became deeper and slowly they moved their lips together until Soohyun pulled back to peck her lips a few times as he looked into her eyes. “That felt really good.” She let out a rare giggle before she whispered as her lips met his again. “Then why did you stop?” A smirk reached his lips before they kissed once more, passion taking over them as they pressed against each other and dwelled in the moment that would be the start of a new life, together