Chapter Text
"You're kidding me," you mutter under your breath as you find your work desk littered in gifts and letters yet again.
It was clear you had two very dedicated admirers.
Half the presents were in gold and black. Sleek and business-like. The other half was sickly red, and had horribly romantic themes.
This had been going on for a week now, and you couldn't figure out for the life of you who it was!
No matter how many times you cleared your desk, the next morning it would be stacked to the brim again.
You sigh, tossing the bulk of the mess into a bag (in which was actually gifted by one of the two people in order to contain the gifts) until you're only left with the letters.
You play a quick game of eenie-meenie-miney-moe, and make quick work of opening the red letter. This had happened far too many times. You can't even be phased anymore.
Dear my love,
You were so lovely yesterday. I saw the way you flushed at the things I wrote to you. Now I know you do like the poetry I write <3
Have you guessed who I am yet? I hope not, for it'll still be a little while before you can find out.
I hope you like the gifts I'd prepared for you today. I've chosen them especially careful this time.
Love always,
Yours
You can't help but feel a little flattered at how dedicated this person was.
It was creepy in a way, but more endearing as well? You weren't quite sure how to explain it.
You still didn't know who it was or how they had found out so many minute details about your life... but you had to admit it kind of did make you feel loved.
You shake off the butterflies in your stomach as you move on to the next letter, envelope of pure black and of evidently sturdy, expensive material.
Hey kiddo,
You tossed out the lunch I made you yesterday. Are you not eating well?
You shouldn't do that again. It makes me upset that you're not taking care of yourself.
If you continue to prove that you can't be alone, I'll just have to do something about it sooner.
I made you another lunch today. Remember to eat it. I'll be watching you.
Remember that I love you, always.
Be good,
Dad
Now, this was the person that kind of freaked you out. It wasn't like some extremely dedicated workplace crush like the last person.
This guy had been genuinely acting like a father. The gifts he gave you were all childish toys and candy. He always signed his letters with "dad."
You knew for sure that it wasn't your real dad. Although your relationship with your biological father was alright, it was never like this. He didn't care for you at the level that this random person seemed to care.
It was unnerving and gave you the creeps. You only hoped that it was a prank that your coworkers were pulling on you.
You were interrupted from your thoughts when your coworker, Jennifer called out to you.
"Hurry up dudeee," she laughs, "You're taking forever to clear your desk."
She was someone you got along well with and considered a friend. She was in the loop with your "secret admirers" and often joked to you about it.
"Okay, okay," you giggle a little, "I'm just... reading whatever they wrote."
You stuff the letters into your bag, but not before folding them neatly back into their envelopes.
"Oh this is my favorite chocolate!" Jennifer exclaims, holding up a box of expensive looking chocolate on your desk. "Can I have one?"
You glance over at her, seeing the red gift tag and recognizing it as the "lover" and not the "dad."
You shrug. "I guess. I don't feel comfortable eating things from people I don't know, so don't blame me if you get sick."
Suddenly, your other coworker comes up from behind you, startling you a bit.
"Jeez! Henry! Please make some more noise next time!" you complain, nearly jumping out of your seat.
"Sorry," he grins sheepishly. "I don't think you should share what your admirer got you though," he says, a strange tone taking over as he looked at Jennifer.
"What if they only got it for you, and you only?"
You think about it for a moment before shrugging again. "It's only one piece. Besides, I won't eat it anyway." you reason to him.
"Oh dear," he sighs, "I can assure you it's safe to eat. Why don't you just enjoy it by yourself?"
Henry's always been kind of odd like this, but you didn't pay much mind to it.
It wasn't like you weren't weird yourself.
Before you started working here a few months ago, you heard that Henry was quite the loner. You didn't know if you believe that rumor very much though. He was always so friendly with you!
"If you say so," you give in to the sweet smelling chocolates. "Why don't I share it with both of you," you suggest, not wanting to deny Jennifer but also not wanting to ignore Henry.
You open the box, giving a generous piece to Jennifer and a prettily decorated one to Henry.
You pop your own piece into your mouth, savoring the flavor of your favorite chocolate.
"I don't know how this person keeps getting me the stuff I like, it's kind of unnerving but sweet," you remark as you swallow the melted chocolate in your mouth.
"It is freaky, but at least you have expensive taste," Jennifer jokes.
Henry doesn't like that remark very much. At least not the beginning of it.
"I don't think it's freaky," he defends. "It's such a profound and special way of declaring utter devotion and obsession to you. You should take it the same way as you would if your lover sent you gifts everyday."
You smile a little at his words. He was always so passionate about love. He seemed like an utter hopeless romantic.
"Sure Henry, whatever you say," you tease him a little.
"Anyway," he blushes a little, embarrassed (you assume), "What's your favorite flower?"
You tell him earnestly, talking about it for a few minutes before the three of you disperse to do work.
💕...
When lunch time finally comes, you groan in relief, stretching your arms.
You think about skipping lunch, half-full from the candy you gorged on all morning already, but you remember the black letter again and shiver.
He said to remember to eat the lunch he made you.
You thought for a moment if it might be poisoned before shaking your head. You had eaten candy from both your admirers and hadn't felt sick yet.
You decided that the lunch was probably safe too.
Jennifer skips over to your desk, Henry trailing behind her.
"Let's go to the cafeteria!" she exclaims, already dragging your arm.
"I hate the cafeteria," you groan, "It's so loud."
"You'll survive!" she tells you, handing you off to Henry to haul you.
He eagerly accepts, wrapping his arms around your waist with no hesitation as he carried you with no problem.
You yelp in surprise, one arm wrapping around him in response and the other hand still gripping the lunch box tightly.
When the three of you find a table, you open the lunch box. It smells delicious.
It's nearly the picture perfect image of a nutritious and hearty lunch, except for the slight misplacement here and there from you moving it around too much.
You take your first bite, in absolute heaven from the rice alone.
You were either severely depriving yourself of good food, or whoever cooked this was a master chef.
Maybe it was both.
You didn't spend time pondering on that though, nearly inhaling the lunch without chewing.
You're so focused that you don't hear the commotion in the cafeteria.
Before you know it, Francis is sitting beside you wiping your mouth with his handkerchief while tutting softly.
You swallow quickly, sitting up straight and turning a bit pink in embarrassment.
A handful of people followed him. He was the CEO after all. Lots of employees wanted to earn extra favor with him.
One look their way and he shooed them away with a whisk of his hand.
"Hi baby," he greets you instead, the glare he sent to others turning to a mushy smile when directed at you. "It looks like you're enjoying lunch."
You interacted with the CEO a lot more than the regular employee. Not to do work... but more of just randomly bumping into him.
He always acted very close with you, it was weird. But, you weren't going to complain. You needed this job.
"Um- yeah! I am," you nod, attempting to eat more politely now that there was someone important looking at you. "I- uh- someone made it for me..." you mutter more quietly, choosing not to expose your secret admirer.
His smile widened with just a hint of something more beneath it.
"Jennifer," he addresses suddenly. "I have a report due from you in an hour. Get it done, please."
She stiffens before nodding. "See you later," she tells you before striding off to her work station.
"Henry." his eyes narrows at the man on the other side of you. "You should refrain from leaving your desk too much. I'm afraid you might be too distracting for some people."
To be fair, Henry did come visit your desk every hour. Still, you had no idea how Francis found out about it.
They both glare at each other from behind your back as you obliviously finish your lunch.
"Ah, lunch is over. I should get back to work." you say, glancing at your watch and taking the excuse as a way to slip out of the awkward situation.
Francis didn't seem to like Henry very much and Henry felt the same.
You had no idea why, but you weren't about to get involved in this mess. (You say, while being the center of it.)
When the work day finally ends, you happily head home, bag stuffed to the brim with the gifts left over from the morning.
When you get back to work early the next day, you're not surprised to see your desk overflowing again.
You can't help but notice a large bouquet of your favorite flowers with a distinct red tag tied to it or how the new lunch box doesn't have any of the things you didn't like during lunch yesterday.
Oh well. It wasn't like your secret admirers were doing anything bad.
If anything, their efforts benefited you more than anything.
You shrug it off, ready to start your work day all over again.