I never cared for romance. It always seemed like a fantasy to me, something that only existed in movies and not in real life. But then came the gifts—flowers, chocolates, even books I had wanted. No name, no clues. Just a secret admirer who knew too much. Someone had been watching me. But who? And why?
To be honest, I was never the romantic type. It had always been that way. Since my teenage years, I never understood why everyone was so obsessed with romantic comedies.
The grand gestures, the dramatic confessions, the over-the-top happy endings—it all seemed staged and unrealistic to me.
That wasn’t how love worked in real life. At least, that’s what I believed. But someone was determined to prove me wrong.
One day, I arrived at work, juggling my coffee and my bag, only to freeze in front of my desk.
A huge bouquet of flowers sat there, radiant and overwhelming. Attached to it was a note.
My heart pounded as I unfolded it, hoping for a name. But all it said was: “Your smile brightens my days.”
“Did anyone see who left this?” I asked, holding up the note.
Robert looked up from his computer. “No. I was the first one here. It was already on your desk when I arrived.” His usual warm smile made me trust him.
Robert was my favorite colleague. He was kind, considerate, and always had my back.
“Wow,” Brian called from across the room. “Someone actually noticed you exist.”
I rolled my eyes. Brian was my least favorite coworker. He never missed a chance to tease me.
Since my first day at the office, he had made it his mission to get on my nerves.
“Do you have to be like this?” Robert shook his head. “Are you jealous because the flowers aren’t for you?”
Brian smirked. “Oh, look, our knight in shining armor.” Before I could respond, he was already gone.
“Thanks,” I said to Robert.
“Always happy to help,” he said with a wink.
I smiled, pushed the flowers aside, and turned on my computer. Work had to come first.
Robert, Brian, and I were all working on projects for the company, but only one of us would get a promotion.
Winning meant recognition, respect, and a career boost. Losing meant months of effort wasted. I figured that was why Brian had been even more unbearable lately.
He loved competition and enjoyed getting under my skin. This was a battle, and in battles, anything goes.
I couldn’t let him—or even Robert—win. I was one of the few women in the company, and I had worked hard to get here.
If my project got funded, it would prove that I belonged, that I was just as good—no, better—than the men.
But then there were the gifts. My secret admirer’s presents didn’t stop—they came almost daily.
At first, I didn’t mind. One day, a bouquet. The next, chocolates. Then came sweets and books I had wanted but never voiced out loud—at least not that I remembered.
Then it stopped feeling sweet and started feeling… unsettling. I wasn’t the type of person to dream of romance.
I didn’t swoon over mysterious admirers. I analyzed, questioned, and doubted. How did this person know so much about me?
Someone had been watching me. Someone knew my habits, my preferences. I didn’t feel flattered. I felt scared.
“You must be happy to have a secret admirer,” Robert said one day, leaning back in his chair.
“Honestly, it creeps me out,” I admitted.
Robert raised an eyebrow. “Oh, come on. It’s sweet.”
I shook my head. “I’m not so sure about that.”
Brian, who had been listening in, grinned. “True. It’s probably some psycho who’ll be waiting outside the office one day to get rid of you.”
I grabbed a pencil and threw it at him. “Only a sick idiot like you would think that.”
Brian dodged it easily. “Hit a nerve?”
I turned back to my work, pushing away the uneasy thoughts. My mind was already consumed by my project.
I just wanted to get it over with. The presentation wasn’t until February 14th. Ironic, right?
Brian wasn’t done. He strolled over and glanced at my computer screen. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
I turned the screen away from him. “Stop snooping. You just want to steal my idea.”
“My idea is way better,” Brian said, crossing his arms.
“Sure,” I said, dripping with sarcasm.
Brian rolled his eyes and walked away.
I sighed and reached for my paper cup, but it was empty. “I really need to buy a water bottle. I’m tired of running to the cooler all the time,” I muttered to myself.
The next morning, when I got to work, a fancy new water bottle was on my desk.
A note was attached: “So you don’t have to keep running to the cooler.” I froze.
What the…?
Someone had been listening to me. Someone from this office.
“Want to grab lunch?” Robert asked, appearing beside me.
“Yeah, sure,” I said, distracted.
“Nice bottle,” he said, pointing at it.
“Yeah,” I murmured, picking it up.
“You don’t seem too happy about it. Didn’t you want one?” Robert asked, watching me closely.
I nodded, but my mind was racing. Something didn’t feel right. Then it clicked. It was Robert. Robert was my secret admirer.
He sat next to me every day, close enough to hear my offhand comments. He knew my favorite things.
He was always kind and supportive. Who else could it be? It made perfect sense.
I wanted to ask him, to confirm my theory. But the presentation was too important.
I couldn’t let myself get distracted now. My focus had to be on my project.
On February 14th, we finally presented. The conference room was packed, tension filling the air.
As the discussion began, I listened carefully. Robert’s project was discussed first.
Then Brian’s. The executives asked questions and debated their ideas. But no one mentioned mine. Not even once.
“You’ve talked a lot about Robert’s and my project, but nothing about Leslie’s,” Brian suddenly said, his voice firm.
“Do you think it’s even worth discussing?” our boss, Paul, asked without glancing at my report.
Ouch. That stung.
Brian straightened up. “I think it’s the best of the three. It’s clear Leslie’s project is the strongest.”
I had to stop my jaw from dropping. Brian was standing up for me?
“I don’t think so,” Robert chimed in. “I still believe my project is the best—or at least Brian’s. Men are better architects than women.”
I felt like I had been slapped. Robert, the one I thought supported me, had said that?
One of the senior executives finally looked at my project. He flipped through the pages and slowly nodded. “I think Brian is right. Leslie’s project is the strongest.”
A heated debate followed. People argued back and forth, throwing around numbers and strategies. I held my breath, waiting for the final decision.
Almost an hour later, we left the conference room.
I had won.
My project had been chosen. Relief and pride flooded me. I knew I had earned it.
“Thanks for standing up for me,” I said to Brian as we walked down the hallway.
He shrugged, hands in his pockets, and kept walking.
I turned to Robert. My excitement quickly faded. “You acted weird during the presentation. Especially considering how you feel about me.”
Robert frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I know you like me. You’re my secret admirer,” I said, crossing my arms.
Robert blinked. “What? Where did you get that idea?”
“Everything fits. Plus, you’re always nice to me,” I said.
Robert sighed. “I’m just polite. I have a girlfriend.”
“Oh…” My stomach dropped.
“Yeah. And I still think my project should have won,” he added.
I shook my head. “Learn to accept defeat,” I said, walking away.
If it wasn’t Robert, then who was it?
Now my secret admirer scared me even more…
