Beatrice stepped into the company building, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee rising from the steaming cup in her hand. The morning rush is in full swing; the hum of conversations and the rhythmic clatter of keyboards filled the air. Beatrice, dressed in her usual office work attire with her sling bag slung over one shoulder, made her way through the everyday busy IT office.

She stopped briefly at the attendance kiosk, the metallic clunk of the stamp marking the start of her day.

"Good morning, Beatrice," a fellow familiar coworker called out. The voice swallowed by the steady stream of conversations and ringing phones, but Beatrice greeted her back, barely breaking stride as she took a long sip of her coffee after.

As she neared her office door, its polished surface reflecting the harsh office lights, the sudden rush of footsteps behind her made her pause. Mark, one of her colleagues, hurried toward her, skidded to a halt beside her.

"Hey, I know you're pretty busy, but could you please work on this? It's pretty urgent," he blurted out handing out a flash drive, slightly breathless.

Beatrice raised an eyebrow, her hand resting on the cold metal handle of her office door. She took another sip of her coffee, savoring the moment. "You know my rules, Mark," she replied, her voice low but firm.

Mark exhaled, visibly relieved. "Thank you, Beatrice. Don't worry, as long as I keep my position ill pay whatever how much, I'll even get you that limited donut treat from the cafeteria later."

Beatrice smirked, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Really? Well, do it, or this might take a while~," she teased, her lips curving into a smile.

"I promise, just please work on it," Mark insisted, his voice carrying a hint of desperation as he shifted from foot to foot.

Beatrice smile softening slightly. "As long as you keep your promise, alright?" Her tone was light, but her gaze held steady on him.

Mark nodded eagerly giving Beatrice his flash drive before they parted ways, the noise of the office fading as Beatrice stepped inside her quiet room. The silence is immediate. She placed the flash drive on her desk with a soft click, setting her bag down beside her. Taking one last sip of her coffee, she exhaled deeply, mentally preparing for the task ahead.

The routine is familiar, almost mechanical, as Beatrice settled into her day. It was the same as it had been since she started working—fixing code, running virus scans on files sent by her less tech-savvy colleagues, and making just enough progress to keep everything running smoothly. Her work competent but measured, never more than what was necessary.

Hours passed in this steady rhythm until Mark returned, slightly out of breath, carrying a box of specially baked donuts from the company cafeteria bakery. His face flushed from the effort, but he managed a grin as he set the box on her desk.

Beatrice slid the flash drive back across the desk toward him, her eyes briefly meeting his before shifting to the box of donuts. She pulled it closer, lifting the lid to reveal the neatly arranged treats. "It's done. I'm pretty sure it’ll work based on the comments you made around the code."

"Thanks, Beatrice. I owe you a lot," Mark said, his gratitude evident as he gratefully accepted the flash drive.

"Just settle up after payday," Beatrice replied, her eyes focused on the box of donuts across her face.

'Cold as always,' Mark whispered with a chuckle, shaking his head. "Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you get it in full."

With a final nod, Mark left her office, the soft click of the door closing behind him. Beatrice’s gaze returned, fixed on the screen, her fingers typing at the keyboard as she worked through the next set of tasks she got.

*

As Beatrice finished her work, lunch arrived, and she took a moment to savor the donuts Mark had brought. Despite the slightly cold pastries, they are a delight, their flavor a proof to that Italian baker's craft. The sweetness of the donuts provided a welcome break from the routine, a small pleasure in the midst of the office grind.

She munched on the treats, each bite a blend of crispy edges and soft, rich dough. The bakery’s handiwork is evident; these were no ordinary donuts but expertly crafted confections. As she finished the last of them, she pulled out her phone to catch up on the latest trends in her interests.

Going through one of her social media apps her screen lit up with news of new anime and manga releases. The buzz is mostly about a new anime—a genre she had always enjoyed for its gimmicks and randomness. Excited by the new content, she made a mental note to check out the latest series when she gets time.

Shifting her focus, Beatrice scrolled through updates on the latest in computer technology. A new CPU chip had been announced, boasting impressive performance improvements over its predecessor. Alongside it, a new set of GPUs and other tech advancements had also made headlines.

*

Overall, things had remained uneventful and the same until Stacy’s energy burst into Beatrice’s afternoon.

"Heyyy, girl!" Stacy greeted enthusiastically as she approached, her voice filled with excitement and her hands gesturing animatedly.

"Oh, hey Stacy," Beatrice responded with a warm smile, looking up from her desk, her posture relaxed but attentive.

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"You won’t believe the news! Daisy just got engaged! Her boyfriend popped the question with this stunning ring, and everyone was going wild," Stacy said, her eyes bright as she leaned closer, clearly thrilled by the news.

"Oh, that’s fantastic! Please give them my congratulations," Beatrice said, genuinely pleased. She adjusted her chair to face Stacy fully.

Stacy’s excitement shifted to a more serious tone as she leaned on Beatrice’s desk, her hands planted firmly. "So, speaking of news, you know why I’m really here, right?"

Beatrice sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Yeah, I’m guessing this is about Brandon?"

"Exactly! Cmon Look, he’s successful, drives an expensive sports car and i also learned about him being single today until he approached you. When are you going to consider dating him?" Stacy said, her tone a mix of pleading and frustration.

"You’ve been bringing him up for a week now," Beatrice said, her voice tinged with annoyance trying to stay patient. "And honestly, I don’t see the point. He’s just not my type."

"But come on, he’s got it all! You’ve got to admit, he’s got a lot going for him," Stacy insisted, her expression earnest as she leaned in a little more. "When will you even have a love life?"

"I get it, but you’ve been pushing this guy for a week since he asked me out to the mall," Beatrice said, her frustration growing, but trying to stay calm.

"You’ve turned down guys since we are still high school students, and your idea of a perfect match is someone with military figurines. I asked Colleen about that, and she said most of those guys are either still living with their moms or have some weird online views. I’m worried about you," Stacy said, her voice softening with genuine concern. She straightened up, her gaze steady.

Beatrice shook her head, a slight smile on her lips. "I appreciate that you care, but didn’t you date Anthony back in the day? He wasn’t exactly Mr. Perfect either despite his status"

"Yeah, okay, you’ve got me there again," Stacy said, laughing a little and throwing up her hands in mock defeat. "I guess there’s no convincing you."

Beatrice’s smile softened further. "Again, I’m happy with my hobbies. If a guy shares those interests, great. If not, I’m perfectly fine on my own." Her tone was reassuring and relaxed.

Stacy chuckled and gave Beatrice a friendly pat on the back. "Alright, alright, I’ll drop it. But hear me out—I know someone who might be perfect for you. His name is Daniel, he’s 25, just like you. He’s a website developer in another department."

Beatrice raised an eyebrow. "And?"

Stacy leaned in, her enthusiasm evident. "His dad is a war veteran, so he’s got that connection to your interests. Plus, he’s 6'1" and has an impressive track record in academics and other fields. Good looks, solid career, and he’s single. You can’t get a better match than that!"

Beatrice sighed, her expression one of mild frustration. "Please stop using your HR position to set me up."

"But you’re the only one left out! Remember last our beach vacation? You were the only one without a date," Stacy said, her tone a mix of concern and playful teasing. She tapped Beatrice pen on the desk, clearly eager to get her point across.

"What if Daniel doesn’t like me, though?" Beatrice asked, as she puts her hand at the keyboard,

"Oh, come on with the negativity. I’ve done my homework on this one. Trust me, I’ll handle it," Stacy said, her voice filled with encouragement. She placed her hands on her hips, standing tall with confidence.

Beatrice stared off into the distance, contemplating how to avoid this setup.

"Fine, fine, I’ll fold. You organize it," Beatrice said, her tone resigned but accepting.

"Omg, the ice queen of our group is finally melting again!" Stacy exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with triumph.

"Really, Ice Queen again?" Beatrice said, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Stacy grinned and gave Beatrice a playful wave. "Absolutely. I’ll set it up and get you two in touch. You’ll thank me later!"

As Stacy bounced out of her office. Beatrice shook her head with a small smile, turning back to her computer and bracing herself for whatever was to come.

*

Beatrice finished up her work and gave her workplace a final check to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything. With everything in order and called her shift a day, she headed to the elevator, which, thankfully, wasn’t crowded. She enjoyed the rare quiet ride down to the ground floor lobby. Once there, she found a spot in the waiting area and relaxed.

A few minutes later, Stacy appeared, walking slowly towards her with a downcast look.

Beatrice stood and went to meet her friend. "Hey, what’s up?"

Stacy’s frown deepened. "I’m so sorry, Beatrice. I couldn’t reach Daniel. He said he wants to stay single for now. I can’t believe he rejected you."

Beatrice felt a wave of relief wash over her. She smiled, masking her contentment. "Well, that’s actually a bit of a relief for me. I’m not sure I was ready to jump into something new anyway."

Stacy’s face brightened a bit but still carried a trace of sadness. "Really? You seemed so interested."

Beatrice shrugged. "Sometimes things work out better than expected. Anyway, how about we grab some French fries? I could use a little comfort food."

Stacy’s expression shifted instantly from concern to joy. Her eyes lit up, and she grinned. "Yes, let’s do that! French fries sound perfect right now. Forget about Daniel—he’s not worth it."

Beatrice chuckled, feeling lighter. "Sounds good. Let’s go."

As they walked out together, Beatrice felt a quiet satisfaction. With Stacy’s mood lifted with the promise of french fries.

*

The day had been full of energy and chatter as Stacy flooded Beatrice with office gossip, news, and all sorts of workplace drama. As an HR person, Stacy had an endless stream of updates and rumors, and Beatrice found herself fully involved in the conversation, laughing and speculating about various colleagues over their french fries. It was a long but enjoyable day, and by the time the sun began to set, their laughter and gossip had drawn to a close. They parted ways, and Beatrice drove home, parking her car in the driveway and setting the alarm.

As she stepped out of her car and surveyed the quiet, suburban street, while whistling and spinning her keys around her finger.

She reached Infront of her door opened it with a key and got inside.

She slipped off her shoes and placed them on the rack, then changed into comfortable indoor slippers. With a satisfying click, she locked the entrance door and sighed contentedly. Yawning and stretching, she made her way upstairs, where she arrive at her room, quickly changed out of her office attire into casual clothes.

Heading back downstairs, she prepared herself a simple but delicious Asian dish with rice. The comforting meal is just what she needed after a busy day.

Once finished with dinner and tidying things up and with nothing else pressing on her mind, Beatrice made her way to her bedroom and settled at her computer. After booting it up, she opened her browser and checked her YouTube channel. Her latest video, a commentary on the pre-dreadnought battleship Prussen, had gained significant traction—142k views in a week.

Feeling nice, she decided to unwind by playing her warship naval game, enjoying a few hours of leisure before her set bedtime. While playing she couldn't help but hope that something bizarre or exciting would break the monotony of her routine the next day.

And after playing up until a few hours late behind her set bedtime, she finally got on bed with only a shirt white shirt on, its comfortable and cozy, eventually falling asleep,

*

Some say careful what you wish for as it may just be happening right before your eyes can tell.