Pamela stood outside the building, feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves.

She’d only started this new job a few weeks ago, but it was already going well. Still, there was one part of her life she kept to herself: her engagement.

She slipped the ring off her finger, tucked it into her bag, and took a deep breath before stepping inside.

“Good morning, Miss Rogers!” called out Peter, the friendly security guard.

“Good morning, Peter. You’ve remembered my last name?” she asked, smiling.

“How could I forget someone like you?” Peter replied with a wink.

Pamela chuckled, her spirits lifted a bit as she made her way to the elevator.

When she reached her office floor, she stepped out and walked to her desk, noticing the familiar layout, the low hum of computers, and the rustle of papers.

It all felt comforting, and she settled in quickly.

As she began her work, she noticed Josh waving at her from across the room. She waved back, enjoying the friendly gesture.

Later, as she was focused on her screen, Josh scooted over in his chair. “Hey, Pam, how’s it going?”

“Fine, thanks. Do you need something work-related, Josh?” she asked, arching an eyebrow, half-expecting another one of his jokes.

“Of course,” he said with a playful grin.

“We have an important ‘meeting’ to schedule for your deeper onboarding into the team.”

Pamela decided to play along.

“Oh, really? And who organized this meeting for me?”

“I did. Expect a calendar invite any minute now,” he replied, barely holding back a grin.

“I was thinking we could conduct it over dinner at Simon’s, you know, the restaurant just down the street?”

Pamela laughed, covering her mouth.

“Alright, we’ll see after work,” she said, feeling a spark of excitement.

Josh grinned.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” he replied, rolling back to his desk, clearly pleased.

As Pamela stood outside the office, the cool evening breeze brushing against her face, she glanced down at her phone, wondering if she should just head home.

Her finger hovered over the screen, about to confirm her taxi, but her mind was racing. Chandler, her fiancé, would be home by now, expecting her to be there soon.

And yet, Josh’s cheerful face and easygoing charm had made her feel lighter all day.

Maybe it was harmless—just dinner with a friend, she thought, but doubt lingered.

“Pam!” Josh’s voice cut through her thoughts. She turned to see him, smiling and waiting with that same casual confidence she had seen at the office.

“So, are we going to that restaurant?”

Pamela tucked her phone into her bag, still unsure.

“Uh… it’s getting late; I should probably head home…” she started, glancing away.

Josh leaned in slightly, his grin widening.

“Come on, Pam. It won’t take long, and it’s on me. Just a quick bite,” he said warmly, holding out his arm.

“Well, okay. But not for too long,” she replied with a slight smile, feeling herself relax.

Josh’s face lit up as he gently took her arm, leading her down the street.

Pamela’s mind buzzed with a mix of excitement and guilt, but for now, she let herself enjoy the moment.

Pamela and Josh sat across from each other in the cozy restaurant, their table nestled near a window where dim lights softened the atmosphere.

The scent of warm bread and savory dishes filled the air as they laughed over a story Josh was telling.

His animated voice and exaggerated expressions had Pamela chuckling nonstop.

“So then, he turns to me and goes, ‘Next time you pull that stunt, you’ll be out of here faster than a cork from a bottle!’”

Josh’s impression of his former manager was spot-on, with just the right amount of bravado to make it hilarious.

Pamela nearly doubled over, clutching her stomach. “He really said that? Why haven’t I ever seen this guy around the office?”

Josh rolled his eyes, grinning. “Because he got fired six months after that incident. Guess it’s karma for trying to play the tough boss when no one really respected him.”

They laughed together, and as the laughter faded, Pamela found herself relaxing in a way she hadn’t in a long time.

Sitting across from Josh, she felt seen, heard, and appreciated. Chandler had barely noticed her lately, and here was Josh, genuinely interested in everything she had to say.

There was a warmth in his gaze, something that made her heart skip a beat.

She looked into his bright blue eyes, almost lost in them, until she caught herself and quickly looked down, a bit flustered.

“Something wrong, Pam? Did I say something weird?” Josh’s tone softened as he noticed her change in demeanor.

“No, no, it’s not you… everything’s fine,” she replied, but her voice held hesitation.

There was a pause, a moment where she wanted to share everything, to tell him the truth about her engagement. She took a deep breath, gathering her words.

“Listen, Josh, there’s something I need to tell you…”

But just as she was about to continue, a familiar voice cut through the warm buzz of the restaurant, jolting her back to reality.

“Pamela! What’s going on here?”

Chandler’s voice was sharp, and she looked up to see him storming toward their table, his face twisted with anger.

Josh immediately stood, stepping between Pamela and Chandler with a protective instinct she hadn’t expected.

“Who are you, and what do you think you’re doing?” Josh asked, his voice steady but tense.

Chandler didn’t hold back.

“I’m her fiancé, Chandler. And who are you to be sitting here with my fiancée?”

His eyes darted between them, his voice thick with accusation.

Pamela felt her cheeks go pale as she looked at Josh, who appeared stunned, almost like the ground had shifted under his feet.

He turned to her, searching her face for answers.

“Is this what you wanted to tell me?” he asked quietly, his voice laced with hurt.

Pamela opened her mouth, her mind racing.

“Yes… but you don’t know the whole story, Josh. I wanted to explain—”

But Chandler interrupted.

“There’s nothing to explain, Pamela. Let’s go.” His tone was final.

Josh looked down, his face clouded with disappointment.

“There’s nothing to explain. You made your choice,” he whispered, more to himself than her.

He grabbed his coat, barely sparing her a glance as he turned and walked out of the restaurant, leaving her standing there, speechless.

Pamela watched him go, feeling as if she’d lost something precious. She wanted to call after him, to make him understand.

But Chandler’s grip on her arm tightened, pulling her out of the restaurant and into the cold night air.

“What were you thinking, Pamela?” Chandler demanded as they walked down the street. “Why would you do this?”

“You know why Chandler! Don’t act like it’s a surprise for you…” she replied, her voice breaking.

But Chandler’s expression remained hard.

When they reached the sidewalk, Pamela pulled away, refusing to continue the argument.

She hailed a cab, leaving Chandler staring after her as she shut the door and rode home alone, her mind swirling with regret and uncertainty.

Pamela walked into the office the next morning, feeling a mixture of determination and nervousness.

Her eyes scanned the room until she spotted Josh sitting at his desk, intently focused on his computer screen.

As she walked closer, he looked up, catching her gaze for a brief second before quickly looking away.

She could see the hurt in his eyes, and it only fueled her resolve to finally tell him the truth.

Without a word, she approached his desk and tossed a small envelope onto it. Josh looked at it, then up at her, his brow furrowing with confusion.

“What’s this?” he asked, his voice colder than usual.

“It’s my choice,” Pamela said firmly, though her voice softened as she continued. “I told you I’d explain, and I will.”

Josh sighed, pushing the envelope back slightly, almost as if he didn’t want to deal with what was inside. “You have a fiancé, Pamela. What’s left to explain?”

“That he proposed to me over two years ago. Things changed since then,” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

“We barely talk anymore. He refuses to get a job, won’t help pay for the wedding, and he spends his nights drinking.”

Josh crossed his arms, looking more confused than ever. “Then why are you still with him?”

“I’m not anymore!” Pamela exclaimed, the weight of those words bringing a sense of freedom she hadn’t felt in years.

Slowly, she opened the envelope, tilting it so the engagement ring slipped out into her hand.

“I’m sending this back to him today,” she said softly, almost to herself. “I’ve wanted to do this for a long time, but I was scared.

I kept hoping things would get better, that we’d go back to what we used to be. But that’s not going to happen.

We’ve been more like strangers than partners for over a year now. I should have ended it sooner, but I didn’t know how.”

She felt a lump form in her throat, but she continued, meeting Josh’s gaze.

“I know I was wrong for not telling you sooner, for keeping all this from you. But I’ve finally made my choice. I want to be with you, Josh. I’m done hiding from what I want.”

Josh’s expression softened as he listened, a mix of empathy and relief in his eyes. He reached across the desk, taking her hand gently in his.

“I’m sorry, too,” he said quietly.

“I didn’t mean to judge you without understanding the full story. I just… I didn’t expect all this. But I’m glad you told me the truth.”

Pamela let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. She felt lighter as if a huge weight had finally lifted off her shoulders.

“Thank you,” she whispered, squeezing his hand. She wiped away a stray tear that had escaped.

“After work, let’s go somewhere, talk about everything… and this time, it’s my treat.”

Josh smiled, a real, warm smile, and nodded.

For the first time in a long time, Pamela felt truly hopeful about what was next, ready to start fresh and finally embrace the happiness she’d been holding back from.