𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐑𝐄 | 𝓟𝓮𝓭𝓻𝓸 𝓟𝓪𝓼𝓬𝓪𝓵 |

21

The afternoon sun had gradually given way to the approaching night, casting long shadows across the cityscape outside my windows. I sat in the midst of a seemingly endless meeting at work, my patience waning with each passing minute. The whiskey in my glass offered a semblance of solace, its amber hues swirling as I swirled the glass absentmindedly.

Hours had stretched into eternity, and my hope of Pedro's arrival began to dim with the unanswered text message I sent him.

Just as I contemplated calling it a night and resigning myself to solitude, a knock on the door disrupted the monotony of my thoughts. For a fleeting moment, I entertained the notion that it might be the dinner I had ordered, a welcome distraction from the endless meeting that refused to conclude.

Standing up, I made my way to the door, grateful that my camera and microphone were both turned off, allowing me this brief respite from the professional facade I wore. Opening the door, I was met with the sight of Pedro standing on the porch, a bouquet of red tulips in one hand and a fast-food bag in the other.

A genuine smile graced Pedro's features as he quipped, "I assaulted the delivery man when I saw him at your door," he confessed. "Did you order enough food for two, or am I crashing your dinner plans?"

I chuckled softly, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly at his unexpected arrival. "I'm afraid it's just for me, but I could be persuaded to share if you like some Chinese food."

Pedro offered an apologetic smile, "Sorry I'm late. Those interviews ran longer than expected."

"It's alright," I reassured him, a hint of understanding in my tone. "I know the feeling all too well. In fact, I'm still technically in that meeting," realization dawned on me. "Shit the meeting," I hurriedly I ran inside the house to find my coworkers bidding farewell to each other, so I just says goodbye to the faces on my screen and closed the laptop lid.

Pedro, who was already inside the house, set the food bag on the counter separating the kitchen from the living room, his gaze lingering on the half-full glass of whiskey in the table with my laptop. "Rough meeting?"

I nodded and gave him a wry smile. "You could say that. Would you like a drink?"

"I could have one," Pedro replied with a nod, his eyes reflecting a mixture of sympathy and concern.

I walked over to Pedro to take the bouquet of tulips he was still holding. I accepted the flowers with gratitude, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Thank you for these."

"They're not nearly as beautiful as you," Pedro said softly, his eyes holding mine for a moment longer than necessary.

A blush warmed my cheeks at his words, and I leaned forward to place a tender kiss on his cheek, a silent expression of gratitude and affection. With a shared understanding, we moved to the kitchen and engaged in light banter as we unpacked the food and set the table.

As Pedro and I busied ourselves with setting the table and preparing dinner, a comfortable silence settled between us, punctuated by the clinking of utensils and occasional laughter. It was Pedro who broke the silence, his curiosity evident in his voice as he asked about my recent endeavors.

"So, what have you been up to lately?," Pedro inquired, his eyes meeting mine briefly before returning to the task at hand.

I paused, momentarily lost in thought, before answering. "Well, I've been working on movie sets, helping with production and assisting wherever needed. It's been pretty varied - some days are quiet, others are hectic. But last week I got a call from Disney."

Pedro's eyebrows raised in surprise, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "That's big news. What's the project?"

"They're working on a new movie and they want me to be the production manager," I explained, a mixture of excitement and determination coloring my words. "The lady you saw in my office earlier was one of the writers on the movie. We've been coordinating a lot of details."