𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬

𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝟑𝟖

Sadira stood in front of the sleek, reflective elevator doors, feeling a mix of excitement and anticipation. She hadn't been home long from her trip back after Cupcake Wars, but Davis had insisted that she come to his condo first. He'd been adamant in his last message, telling her he had a surprise waiting, something to cap off her incredible win. She couldn't help but smile thinking about it. Davis had always been the type to spoil her, but this time it felt different-like he wanted to celebrate her victory as much as she did.

The elevator ride felt slow as it ascended toward the upper floors of his building. The soft hum of the machinery barely registered as her mind raced with thoughts of what he might have planned. Knowing Davis, it would be something thoughtful, personal, and extravagant all at once. She leaned against the wall, her heart quickening in her chest, thinking about how lucky she was to have someone who cared for her like this.

When the elevator finally dinged at his floor, Sadira took a deep breath, grabbed her carry-on bag, and stepped out into the quiet hallway. The plush carpet beneath her feet muted her footsteps as she made her way to his door. She knocked softly, a little flutter of nervous energy building in her stomach. She could hear movement from inside before the door opened to reveal Davis, his warm smile stretching across his face.

"There she is," he said, his deep voice smooth and full of pride. He pulled her into a hug before she even had time to say anything. "My champion."

Sadira laughed softly, melting into his embrace. She felt the weight of the past few days fall away in his arms, the stress of competition and travel dissolving as he held her tight. When he pulled back, his eyes sparkled as he looked down at her.

"Come on, I've got something for you." His voice was full of excitement as he stepped back, letting her into his condo.

As soon as she stepped inside, the scent of something sweet and floral hit her. Sadira's eyes widened, her breath catching as she saw the spread on the table near the windows. A massive bouquet of baby pink roses stood tall in an elegant vase, their petals delicate and perfect, catching the soft afternoon light that filtered through the curtains. Beside the bouquet sat a Chanel purse-quilted leather, the kind of luxury she'd admired but never thought to buy for herself-and a sparkling piece of jewelry in a velvet box.

"Davis, you didn't..." Her voice trailed off as she took a few steps toward the table, her hand covering her mouth in disbelief.

He came up behind her, his hands gently resting on her shoulders. "Of course, I did. You deserve it, Sadira. Every bit of it."

Her heart swelled as she turned to face him, blinking back the emotion that threatened to surface. "I don't even know what to say."

He smiled softly, his hands sliding down to take hers. "You don't have to say anything. I'm just proud of you. I wanted you to come here first because I wanted to remind you of how much you mean to me. I'm lucky to have you."

Sadira glanced back at the gifts, taking in the thought and care he'd put into everything. The baby pink roses were her favorite, and the Chanel purse-sleek, stylish, and so perfectly her-was something she knew had taken effort. But it wasn't just the material things that had her heart racing. It was the way he always seemed to know exactly what would make her feel special, the way he supported her dreams without hesitation.

"Thank you," she whispered, squeezing his hands. "This means the world to me."

Davis led her toward the table, gently nudging her to take a closer look at everything. "Open the jewelry box," he said with a mischievous grin.

With a small laugh, she reached for the velvet box, her fingers trembling slightly with excitement. As she flipped open the lid, her eyes widened at the sight of a delicate gold necklace, a heart-shaped pendant encrusted with diamonds. It shimmered in the light, catching her breath.

"Davis..." Her voice was soft, filled with awe. "It's beautiful."

He reached up, brushing a stray curl away from her face. "I saw it and thought of you. I wanted you to have something to remember this moment, something to remind you of how incredible you are every day."

Her chest tightened with emotion. She placed the necklace gently back into the box and turned toward him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "You really didn't have to do all this."

"I know I didn't," he said, pulling her close. "But I wanted to. You deserve to be celebrated. You've worked so hard, and I'm so proud of everything you've accomplished."

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them away, not wanting to ruin the moment with crying. Instead, she kissed him softly, letting her gratitude and love flow through the kiss. When they pulled apart, she rested her forehead against his, her heart full.

"Let's sit down," he said, guiding her to the couch. "I want to hear all about Cupcake Wars-every detail."

They settled onto the couch, and Sadira started telling him about the competition. She described the challenge of preparing multiple desserts under the pressure of the clock, the excitement of meeting the celebrity judges, and the adrenaline rush of being named the winner. She talked about how Chris Brown had tried to flirt with her, and how Teyana and Taraji had come to her defense, making her laugh even though she was nervous.

Davis chuckled. "I saw that. I almost threw a pillow at the TV when he started with that smooth talk."

Sadira laughed, nudging him playfully. "Don't worry, babe. You're the only one I'm coming home to."

He grinned, his eyes full of affection. "Good to know. But seriously, I'm so proud of you. I was glued to the TV the entire time."

Sadira rested her head against his shoulder, feeling the warmth and comfort of being home with him. "It still feels surreal. I mean, winning Cupcake Wars? That's something I dreamed about, but I didn't think it would actually happen."

"Well, it did," Davis said, kissing the top of her head. "And you deserve every bit of it. And now, with that prize money, you can finally get the oven you've been talking about."

She sighed happily, her mind already racing with ideas for expanding Sweets and making her dream bakery even better. "Yeah, that oven's going to change everything. No more struggling with multiple trays in those tiny ovens. I'll finally be able to bake everything at once."

Davis smiled, his arm wrapped around her. "I can't wait to see what you do with it. You're going to take Sweets to the next level."

Sadira smiled, feeling content and at peace. She had worked so hard to get to this point, and now everything was finally falling into place. With Davis by her side and her bakery set to grow, she knew that the future was full of possibilities.

As they sat together, surrounded by the beautiful bouquet of roses, the luxurious purse, and the shimmering necklace, Sadira couldn't help but feel like the luckiest woman in the world. And in that moment, she knew that no matter where life took her, she'd always have Davis cheering her on from the sidelines, just as she'd always be there for him.

"Thank you," she whispered again, her heart full of gratitude.

Davis pulled her closer, his voice soft and reassuring. "Always, Sadira. Always."