Chapter 8: One More Chance

Carl's confession left me standing speechless.

For over a year, the man I laughed with, argued with, and slowly fell in love with had been standing right beside me.

And I had never realized it.

I lowered my eyes, too embarrassed to look at him.

"I'm sorry," I whispered again.

"I didn't even give you a chance to explain."

Carl smiled gently.

"Then let me start now."

"Properly."

He walked to the conference room door and held it open.

"Would you have dinner with me again?"

"Not as an investor."

"Not as your colleague's friend."

"Just as Puppy."

I couldn't help smiling.

"I'll think about it."

"That's already better than being blocked," he replied with a laugh.

The awkwardness between us slowly began to disappear.

Over the following week, Carl visited Mike Tech almost every day.

Sometimes he brought coffee for the entire department.

Sometimes dessert.

Sometimes nothing at all.

He simply found excuses to stop by.

Naturally, the office gossip spread like wildfire.

"Mr. Graham definitely likes Winnie."

"Do you think they're dating?"

"They'd make such a beautiful couple!"

Whenever I heard those whispers, my face would immediately turn red.

Neil, however, enjoyed adding fuel to the fire.

"Winnie, Carl specially bought your favorite cheesecake today."

"Carl, Winnie skipped breakfast again."

"Carl, hurry up before someone else steals her away."

"Neil!" both of us said at the same time.

The office burst into laughter.

One evening, after everyone had gone home, I found a small gift box on my desk.

Inside was another crystal necklace.

It looked almost identical to the one I already owned.

A handwritten note rested beneath it.

"You once said beautiful things should come in pairs."

"I couldn't give this to you online..."

"So I'm giving it to you now."

No signature was necessary.

I already knew who it was from.

The next day, I wore it to work.

Carl noticed the moment we met.

His usually calm expression softened into the warmest smile I'd ever seen.

"It suits you," he said quietly.

"Thank you."

"I like it very much."

That afternoon, Neil suddenly walked into my office carrying two movie tickets.

"Bad news," he sighed dramatically.

"I can't make it tonight."

"So you two will have to use these instead."

"What?" I asked in confusion.

"They're for you and Carl, obviously."

"I'm not wasting expensive VIP tickets."

Before I could refuse, Neil had already disappeared.

Carl appeared a moment later, holding the same confused expression.

"Did Neil force movie tickets on you too?"

I laughed.

"Looks like he planned this together."

"Then... should we disappoint him?" Carl asked.

I looked at the tickets.

Then back at him.

"No."

"Let's go."

The movie itself wasn't particularly memorable.

What I remembered most was that Carl quietly handed me popcorn every time the bucket became too heavy.

He covered my eyes during the scary scenes.

He silently offered me tissues during the emotional ones.

He never once tried to hold my hand.

Instead...

He respected every inch of space between us.

As we walked out of the cinema, snowflakes began falling from the night sky.

"Winnie," Carl called softly.

"Can I ask you one question?"

"Go ahead."

"Can we start over?"

"This time..."

"Without misunderstandings."

I looked into his sincere eyes.

Then, for the very first time...

I reached out and held his hand.

"Okay, Puppy."

"Let's start from the beginning."

Carl's fingers tightened around mine.

His smile was brighter than all the lights lining the snowy street.