MIDNIGHT FLOWER

CHAPTER 15: IMPROMPTU TOAST

Veronica was the first to notice the sudden intrusion. She quickly pulled away from Shau with a smile. Shau, on the other hand, looked up, his usual composed demeanor faltering for a split second as he met the wide-eyed stares of his employees. His gaze flickered toward Jenny, and for a brief moment, something unspoken passed between them.

Jenny, struggling to keep her expression neutral, forced a tight smile, though it felt like a mask. The sight of Shau kissing Veronica sent a sharp pang through her, and the awkwardness of the situation only made it worse. Her colleagues, meanwhile, exchanged uncomfortable glances, unsure of what to do next.

"Oh... uh... sorry about that," Kier stammered, breaking the silence with a nervous laugh. "We didn't mean to interrupt..."

Veronica, ever graceful, quickly regained her composure. She smiled at the group, her voice warm and smooth. "No worries. It looks like we're having a celebration?"

Mr. Duavis, recovering from the awkwardness, stepped forward, his hands clasped together. "Yes! Yes, of course. We just wanted to surprise Mr. Zhang and congratulate him on becoming CEO and, of course, on the engagement, and it is so nice that you are here, Ms. Chen."

Shau's face remained neutral, but his eyes flicked back to Jenny briefly. "Thank you, everyone," he said, his voice steady, though there was a tension in his posture that only Jenny seemed to notice.

Jenny swallowed hard, feeling like the weight of the cake in her hands had doubled. Her throat tightened as she stepped forward reluctantly, holding out the cake. "Congratulations," she murmured, forcing the words out, though they felt hollow.

As Shau took the cake from her hands, their fingers brushed for a second, but this time, there was no playful spark. Just a moment of tension that neither of them could escape. His eyes lingered on hers, as if he wanted to say something, but the presence of Veronica-and the entire office staff-kept him silent.

The air was thick with unspoken words, but Jenny could only stand there, painfully aware of the role she had to play in this charade, pretending everything was fine.

As the awkward silence lingered in the room, the employees slowly began to recover, offering their congratulations to Shau and Veronica with smiles. One by one, they stepped forward, their voices filled with the usual pleasantries. "Congratulations, Mr. Zhang," "Best wishes on your engagement," "So happy for the both of you."

Veronica, sensing the unease but unwilling to let it ruin the moment, took the opportunity to play the perfect fiancée. With a sweet smile, she wrapped her arm possessively around Shau's, her fingers lightly tracing the sleeve of his suit. But as she did, her eyes subtly flicked toward Jenny, watching for any reaction. There was a hint of something sharp in her gaze, as though she was searching for a sign of discomfort or guilt.

Jenny, standing in the crowd, felt the weight of Veronica's gaze and did her best to remain composed. Her heart pounded, her fingers clenched around the hem of her dress as she forced a polite smile. She couldn't let anyone see the turmoil boiling inside her. Not here, not now. Veronica's silent message was clear: He's mine.

"Thank you all for your kind words," Veronica said, her voice smooth and full of grace. She glanced briefly at Shau before turning her attention back to the employees. "Shau and I truly appreciate your support, and we're looking forward to this next chapter together."

Shau remained quiet, his expression unreadable, but Jenny could feel the tension between them as she tried to keep her distance, both physically and emotionally. He didn't meet her eyes this time, keeping his gaze focused on the floor or his fiancée.

Veronica's smile brightened, and with an almost casual elegance, she made an announcement that caught everyone's attention. "I was thinking," she began, her voice lilting with excitement, "why don't we continue the celebration after office hours? Drinks tonight on us! Let's toast to Shau's promotion and the engagement properly."