Corporate Hearts

The afternoon light filtered through James's bedroom window as I folded his shirts, arranging them by color the way he preferred. Navy first, then grey, then white.

Six years of loving someone teaches you their preferences better than your own.

I'd fallen into this routine without meaning to—cleaning his apartment on my days off, keeping his space organized while he climbed the corporate ladder at Pemberton Corp.

We worked at the same company but lived separate lives during office hours. Secret relationship. Professional distance. All the things we agreed were necessary.

His sock drawer was a mess, as usual. I pulled everything out to reorganize, and my fingers brushed against something solid. Something that didn't belong.

A small velvet box.

My heart stopped. Then it raced so fast I thought I might faint. I opened it with trembling hands, and there it was—a diamond ring, catching the light like a promise. Beautiful. Perfect. Everything I'd been waiting for.

I snapped the box shut and shoved it back under his socks, my mind spinning.

He was going to propose. After six years of waiting, of wondering, of watching other couples move forward while we stayed frozen—he was finally ready.

I grabbed my phone and called Sophie—my closest friend at Pemberton Corp, the loud, red-haired HR coordinator who became my confidante over shared lunches and late nights at the office.

"Belle? What's wrong? You never call during the day." Her voice was sharp with concern, the way it always got when she sensed something was off.

"Nothing's wrong," I said, pacing the bedroom. "Sophie, I found a ring. An engagement ring. Hidden in his drawer."

Silence. Then: "That’s… exciting."

"I know right?! We've been together for six years. This is the next step."

"Belle..."