The day had finally come.
After a long, exhausting week filled with back-to-back meetings, deadlines, and countless cups of bad office coffee, the Strategy and Design team had finally arrived at the resort hotel booked for the company's annual team building.
Luggage wheels rolled across polished floors. Laughter echoed under high ceilings. The hotel lobby was bright, airy, and far more luxurious than any of them had expected.
"Wow," Jenny gasped, eyes wide as she turned in a slow circle. "I can't believe they chose this venue. It's beautiful—like, expensive beautiful."
"Feels like something out of a magazine," one of the designers added, snapping a quick photo of the crystal chandelier.
"Looks like the budget fairy finally visited HR," another joked.
Noah dragged his suitcase behind him and whistled low.
"This isn't team building—this is vacation en grande."
The group shared a laugh—until a man in a tailored suit stepped forward, holding a clipboard and a bundle of keycards.
"Welcome to the Aurelius Grand Resort," the hotel manager greeted. "We have your rooms prepared. Here are your keycards. We hope you enjoy your stay."
He began handing out keys one by one.
"Wait, am I dreaming or what?" Noah said, frowning at the gold trim on his card. "Did this say VIP Room?"
Jenny's eyes widened. "No way. They booked us VIP suites?"
"We're going to be spoiled," Steven grinned, nudging Jenny. "I'm sure ours has a jacuzzi, babe."
Zoe, still stunned by the venue, stepped forward when the manager addressed her.
"You must be Ms. Rivera," he said politely. "Here's your room key. Also, a letter from your CEO."
Zoe's fingers hovered for a second before accepting the envelope and keycard. Her name was handwritten on the front, neat and familiar.
"Thank you..." she said slowly.
But her mind was already spinning.
This has Stacy written all over it.
Of course it did. The upgraded rooms, the choice of venue, the VIP treatment—it wasn't hard to guess who pulled the strings.
And though a part of her heart fluttered at the thought... another part sank.
She can't do this. It's not fair to the others. It'll look like favoritism.
But the letter says otherwise.
She read aloud:
"The upgraded rooms are not for everyone. You and your team played a major role in the success of the Lumière Montclair project. It's only fair that you enjoy the reward. This is our way of sharing the company's success and expressing our gratitude for your hard work. You all deserve this. Enjoy."
There was a brief silence.
Then Noah let out a low whistle.
"Wow. I didn't know our CEO had that kind of warmth in her."
Jenny chuckled. "Seriously. Who knew she had a heart under all that frost?"
"Yeah," Noah added, smirking, "this whole 'thank you' letter is kind of adorable. I think being nice suits her better than being the Ice Queen."
Zoe managed a small smile, folding the letter carefully and tucking it back into the envelope.
"She just knows how to recognize good work," she said, keeping her voice even. "It was a big win for the company. We all put in a lot."
"Come on!" Jenny cheered, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Let's go check out these famous VIP rooms! I need to see this bathtub."
"Bet it comes with free wine and a Bluetooth speaker," Noah added, already walking toward the elevators.
Zoe followed, envelope clutched tightly in her hand, trying not to overthink it.
Upstairs...
They each peeled off into their assigned rooms with excited chatter echoing down the hallway.
-
Zoe slid her keycard into the lock. The light turned green with a soft beep.
She stepped inside and froze.
The room was breathtaking.
A wall of glass windows opened to a balcony view of the ocean. The queen-sized bed was wrapped in crisp white linens. A modern, freestanding tub sat elegantly in the corner near a tiled accent wall. There was even a velvet lounge chair, a fully stocked minibar, and a small fruit platter on the side table.
But what caught her attention... was what sat in the center of the bed.
A bouquet of tulips—soft pink, her favorite color.
Zoe slowly stepped closer, her fingers brushing the petals.
A small card was tucked into the ribbon. No name. Just a line of simple, elegant script:
"Rest well, you deserve it."
She didn't have to guess.
Of course it was from Stacy.
Zoe sat on the edge of the bed, tulips in hand, staring at the note.
Her heart was warm.
Her head... full.
She sighed, whispering under her breath:
"You're going to get us in trouble."
And she smiled anyway.
-
After settling her things, Zoe headed down to the lobby restaurant where her team was already gathered, chatting and waiting.
"I'll have the cold-pressed acai and pomegranate blend, please. Thank you," Zoe told the waiter with a smile.
Jenny leaned in, eyes bright with excitement. "I really think we can win the games tomorrow."
Zoe raised an eyebrow, curious. "Oh? And why's that?"
Jenny grinned confidently. "Well, for starters, we've got the most luxurious rooms to crash in. Nothing beats a good night's rest before the competition."
Noah laughed. "Speak for yourself—I think we're on the same wavelength."
Zoe smiled, catching their playful energy. "Makes sense. How about the other departments? Are they all here yet?"
"Marketing's over at the other restaurant," Noah replied. "They're already holding their own little party."
Just then, the waiter returned with their drinks, setting them carefully on the table. Noah took a sip and immediately nodded in approval.
"Wow, this is incredible."
"Yeah," Steven said, grinning. "Our CEO really knows her stuff when it comes to the finer things."
Jenny laughed. "Or maybe she just has a thing for fancy, beautiful, top-quality stuff—and people."
Zoe bit the inside of her cheek, hiding a small, proud smile. The thought of Stacy choosing her—considering her part of that "beautiful and expensive" world—made her chest tighten in the best way.
"Speaking of the CEO," Jenny said, glancing around, "didn't she say she was coming to the team building?"
"Yeah," Noah nodded. "She mentioned during the lunch break—when she joined us—that she'd be here.
Zoe looked down at her phone, trying to appear casual as she checked for any new messages. Still nothing. She had called Stacy earlier to thank her for the flowers sent to her room, but it had gone straight to voicemail.
"Maybe she got caught up with work," Zoe offered, keeping her tone light. "Or something urgent came up. You know how things are with her schedule."
"She might just be arriving tomorrow," Steven said, sipping his drink. "Knowing Ms. Holloway, if she said she'd be here—she'll be here."
Another teammate chimed in with a confident nod. "Yeah. She's not the type to make empty promises."
Zoe forced a small smile, but the knot in her chest didn't loosen. She hadn't wanted Stacy to come at first—afraid of how complicated it might get, blending their personal relationship with a company event. But now that she was supposed to be here, Zoe couldn't shake the longing to see her. Even just a glance. A brief conversation. Something.
She told herself not to overthink it.
"Alright!" Jenny stood up, clapping her hands. "Enough waiting around—let's go explore the whole resort! I heard there's a mini spa, a game room, and a killer infinity pool."
The group cheered and began gathering their things.
Zoe followed along with a smile, but her mind was elsewhere.
The day slipped by in laughter, sightseeing, and group selfies—but Stacy never appeared.
And no message ever came.