We heard footsteps behind us.
"Good morning," said Anamarija, offering a brief smile.
Chak turned without a word and walked into the kitchen.
She sat down next to me and whispered quietly:
"Someone's softened up."
I barely managed to smile back. I didn't know what to say.
Chak soon returned to the dining room, looked at us, and said:
"Once you're done eating, get changed. We're leaving."
"Where to?" I asked.
"To the LF lab. I need something," he replied curtly and left again.
*This could've been the moment,* I told myself. *It was the perfect opportunity.*
Anamarija and I quickly finished eating and each went to our own rooms.
When I stepped into my room, I shut the door behind me. Chak was buttoning up a beige shirt. I stepped closer and said:
"You could've told her earlier. That was your chance and you missed it."
"I didn't want to ruin her day first thing in the morning," he said coldly.
"I'll tell her… when the time is right."
"And what if that time never comes?"I snapped back.
Chak said nothing. He simply walked past me and closed the door behind him.
I pulled a shirt from the closet, put it on, and couldn't shake the unease in my chest. I wasn't just angry about the secret — I was angry because I saw him running from responsibility.
When I reached the entrance, Chak was already gone.
"Where is he?" Anamarija asked.
"I think he's already in the car," I replied.
When we got to the car, Chak was indeed already inside. His expression was hard. The tension in the vehicle was suffocating, and no one spoke.
---
LF Lab
Rattan was already waiting for us at the entrance. As we walked in, people started greeting Chak — but most eyes settled on Anamarija. She walked right next to Chak, her lips pulled into a nervous smile.
As we entered the elevator, Anamarija leaned toward me and whispered:
"I'm not used to people staring and bowing."
I gave her a small smile. I didn't have an answer — I knew this was just the beginning.
When we exited the elevator, Chak said:
"Wait here. I'll be back soon."
"Where's he going?" she asked me.
"I think to see Kit," I replied.
Anamarija turned to Rattan and asked:
"Are you going to follow me around again today?"
Rattan gave her a silent nod.
She turned back to me and said:
"Let's take a quick look around."
She walked quickly down the corridor and stopped at a wall lined with old photographs.
"Is that Chak and Kit?"she asked.
"Yeah, it is. They founded LF Lab,"I told her.
"Wow, I didn't know that..."she said softly.
A few minutes later, Chak returned holding some folders. Without a word, he led us into the conference room.
Once inside, I sat next to Chak, and Anamarija sat across from him. I could see the room had an effect on her. Her eyes paused on every detail.
I took out my notebook and pen. Soon after, Kit entered.
"Good morning," he said, greeting Anamarija and me with a smile.
He sat down and started organizing documents.
A few minutes later, the door creaked open again.
"Ms. Orasa has arrived — with Mr. Vikran," the assistant announced.
Chak immediately turned to Anamarija.
"Rattan, take her to my office. She can go over the documents there."
Anamarija stood up, looked at Chak in surprise and said:
"What if I don't want to go?"
"You will," he said coldly. 'I don't want them to see you."
"Fine," she murmured.
"Miss, this way please," said Rattan, gesturing politely.
Anamarija gave me one last glance. I turned to Chak and quietly said:
"Go after her."
Chak looked at me — but before he could move, Orasa and Vikran entered.
Orasa looked around the room and sat down across from me. Vikran slid into the chair Anamarija had occupied just minutes earlier.
"Lucky us, Bella's not here today," said Orasa with a cold smile. "I can't stand her self-confidence."
I looked at Chak. His expression was ice-cold.
He grabbed my hand under the table. I looked him and I know what he thinks. I'm with you Chak I'm not going anywhere.
"Where is Bella?"Orasa asked, her eyes sharp with passive aggression.
"Uh… sleeping. Jet lag," I replied calmly.
"Shame she's not here,"added Vikran. "I wanted to show her the declaration to make sure it's okay."
"Let's start the meeting,"Chak cut in coldly, scanning the files.
During the meeting, I kept stealing glances at Vikran. He seemed calm… but too focused. Watching everything — especially the door. As if waiting for Anamarija to walk in.
I started to wonder what exactly his plan with her was.
---
When the meeting ended, Orasa got up briskly, glanced once more around the room, and left without another word.
"I'll stay here a bit longer," said Vikran calmly — almost too calmly. "I've got a few things to finish."
I looked at Chak. He didn't say anything, just nodded and stood. As we gathered the meeting papers, I saw Chak quickly send a message. I just caught a glimpse of it:
"Rattan – bring her. They can come to the conference room."
He always controls everything. Always knows the exact moment.
A few minutes later, the door opened again. Rattan entered, followed by Anamarija.
Vikran sprang to his feet like he'd been waiting for her all along.
"Bella!" he said, with the expression of someone genuinely expecting her. "Perfect timing… I wanted to show you the corrected declaration from last time."
Anamarija looked at him, slightly confused, but smiled politely — clearly noticing he'd called her Bella. She didn't correct him.
"Sure," she said, and they sat next to each other at the long table.
Vikran spread out the documents and pointed at the lines he had corrected.
"I think I got it right this time — I included everything you mentioned," he said with a trace of pride.
Anamarija scanned the text, then paused at one line.
"Hmm… Here, you wrote 'cone starch' instead of 'corn starch'," she said, frowning slightly. "Do you have a pen?"
"Of course,"he said, immediately pulling one from the inside pocket of his blazer.
Their fingers brushed briefly as he handed it to her. Her hand was cold. His slightly trembling.
She corrected the word with an elegant flick, then handed him the pen back.
"Now it's right,"she said softly.
Vikran watched her closely, then gently, almost silently, reached up and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Thank you… Bella," he said, his voice lower — holding more than just words.
Anamarija held his gaze for a moment, then subtly pulled back and returned to the document.
I sat across from them, and my blood boiled. Chak stood a few steps away, near the window, silent. His face blank, but his fists… clenched.
Vikran wasn't just correcting a document.
He was starting to write something entirely different.
When she handed the document back, Vikran asked:
"Do you have time for coffee?"
"Maybe another time," she replied calmly.
She stood up and walked over to me.
"Let's go," said Chak.
"Goodbye," she said, giving Vikran one last glance.
---
As we drove, I kept watching Chak. His face was unreadable. But the moment I noticed him turning toward the shopping mall, I knew where we were going.
When we stepped inside, I saw how Anamarija was taken aback by the interior.
A few seconds later, she asked, "Where is everyone?"
"I reserved the entire mall just for us," Chak replied.
"You mean all the stores are open only for us?" she asked, wide-eyed.
Chak simply nodded.
"Then let's go into every single one," she said with a grin.
I smiled and nodded along.
That's when Chak said, "You can buy anything you want, no matter the price. Anamarija, you need to find a dress."
"For what?" she asked.
"For tomorrow."
"Alright," she replied without hesitation.
We entered the first shop. She grabbed my hand, smiling.
"Let's have some fun."
She picked up a T-shirt, held it against me, then shook her head.
"Not your style."
Then she called out, "Chak!"
He walked over to her. She turned slightly toward him and, in a soft whisper, asked,
"Which shirt would suit your boyfriend?"
I felt my face flush.
"Beige would look good on him," Chak said calmly.
"I agree," Anamarija added with a smirk.
Chak glanced at me quietly, his gaze softening for just a second.
"What about this one?" I asked, pulling a dark blue shirt made of a light fabric off the rack. "I imagine you in this… by the sea… no tie."
Chak raised an eyebrow slightly, but I noticed the faintest hint of a smile forming at the corners of his lips.
"No tie?"
"Mhm. And the all buttons undone," I added—maybe too confidently.
My heart skipped a beat when I saw him actually picturing it.
"Alright," he said. Then turned to the shop assistant who had appeared almost immediately.
"Please bring this shirt in my size."
As she walked away, he stepped closer and said softly,
"If you wear one too, unbuttoned… but in a different color, I will too."
My eyes immediately flicked to his lips.
"Deal."
Then Anamarija's voice rang out:
"Guys, look at these!"
We turned around to see her holding up two T-shirts—one beige, one black.
One read in big white letters He's mine , the other I'm his.
"This is too much," I said, though I couldn't help but laugh.
"Exactly perfect," Anamarija replied confidently.
"A nice reminder for anyone who might forget."
Chak stepped closer and took the black one in his hands. He studied it for a moment, then looked at me. His expression wasn't serious, but not relaxed either—more like he was testing the waters.
"Would you wear it?" he asked. His voice was low, almost intimate.
I laughed. "If you wear yours."
The next second, it was already in my hands, and Chak handed his over to the assistant, who returned with the dark blue shirt in his size.
"Shall I wrap them as a set?" she asked with a gentle smile, a glimmer of curiosity in her eyes.
"Yes," Chak replied, for the first time showing a truly genuine smile in the store.
"And include the shirt as well."
I looked at him—relaxed, almost playful, one hand in his pocket, his hair slightly messy and falling over his forehead. Not just the director. Not just the boss. Not just the mysterious man I was madly in love with.
He was exactly the version of himself I'd always wished he'd be with me.
As we walked toward the cashier, Anamarija whispered between us,
"You two are the most beautiful couple I've ever seen."
Chak didn't say anything, but I felt his hand gently brush my lower back. I couldn't stop myself from smiling.
As we left the shop, I noticed a small boutique with beautiful wooden photo frames. Something pulled me in.
I stepped closer and spotted one that stood out—simple yet elegant. Dark wood, slightly matte, with a thin silver line along the inner edge of the glass.
I picked it up and turned it in my hands.
Chak came up beside me.
"What about this one?"
I looked at him and said,
"I want to put one of our photos in here. For my nightstand."
Something flickered in his eyes—something tender. He didn't look away.
"You mean… our photo as in ours?"
I nodded. "If that's okay with you. I mean… if you want that too."
Chak was silent for a few seconds, then gently took the frame from my hands, a soft smile tugging at his lips.
"Let's choose one that'll last… a long time."
He walked to the shelf and picked one nearly identical—but with a slightly more solid frame. As if he were saying this one will endure.
"This one," he said. "And we'll take the photo tomorrow. On our trip."
His words were quiet—but full of certainty.
For a moment, it felt like I had breathed in too much air at once.
Behind me, Anamarija spoke gently,
"This will be the most beautiful trip ever. I can feel it."
She turned to face us, holding a pair of white summer sandals and sunglasses.
"And if you two don't take a photo, I'll take ten!"
We both smiled at her.
Chak walked to the register and bought the frame—he didn't even ask for the price. Then he handed it to me, along with a soft look.
"For your nightstand," he said.
"And for mine too."
Not long after, we made our way to a quiet restaurant in the mall. It was minimalistic but cozy, with an open view of the sky slowly turning amber. The food was already waiting for us—Chak had clearly pre-ordered.
We ate in calm, warm silence, occasionally broken by light conversations. Anamarija asked about Chak's favorite islands and teased me about how much rice I could eat.
"Anamarija," Chak began slowly, "there's something I need to tell you about Vikran."