During their meal, Nanci noticed that Edward had been preoccupied with his phone, seemingly busy with something important. She didn’t think much of it, assuming he was handling work matters.
“Edward, is there something urgent at the company? If so, we can always go another time. You should take care of it first; we have plenty of time to play later,” she suggested.
Edward hesitated for a moment and replied, “There is a bit of a situation at the company, but I should be able to handle it tomorrow without it being a big issue. I finally have the chance to spend time with you, so I wouldn’t want to ruin the mood. Just relax and enjoy our time together!”
Nanci continued to persuade him, but Edward remained adamant about wanting to stay and have fun with her. Just then, a message popped up on Nanci’s phone. It was from Maggie. “Ms. Ross, there’s a bit of an emergency at the company. We really need Mr. Clarkson to handle it. We can’t handle it on our own.”
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Nanci looked across the table at Edward, her expression serious. “Let’s go to the company together. After all, work is important. We can always play later. If I go with you, I’ll still be spending time with you.”
“But I promised you we’d be out having fun! I feel guilty about dragging you into work when you look so beautiful and dressed up,” Edward protested.
Nanci moved to sit beside him, speaking gently, “I don’t think it’s a waste of time. We can go to an amusement park another day. Even if it means wasting two tickets, it’s not a big deal if we can take care of things at work first.”
After some contemplation, Edward finally agreed, “Okay, but you have to promise me one thing.”
“What is it?” Nanci asked.
“You have to promise me first. Otherwise, I won’t go back to the company,” he said teasingly.
Nanci sighed, “Alright, I’ll agree. What do you want?”
“I’ll handle things at work quickly, but I want you to go have some fun first. Play for a little while, and I’ll come find you as soon as I’m done. You won’t miss the fireworks. If I can’t make it back in time to watch the fireworks with you, you can send me videos to share with me, as if I were there with you. How does that sound?”
Nanci laughed, “That’s your only request?”
“And you can’t chat with other guys while I’m gone! You’re mine, even if I’m not there,” Edward added, a playful seriousness in his tone.
“Okay, okay, I promise! So you really don’t need me to accompany you?” she confirmed.
“No, I need you to have fun while I work. I’ll be busy, so just enjoy yourself without me. If I finish quickly, I’ll come back to see the fireworks with you.”
Nanci nodded. “Alright, just make sure to come back quickly and drive safe. You don’t need to rush. I’ll be waiting right here for you.” With that, she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
Edward handed her a ticket, then leaned down to place a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Alright, go on in and have some fun. Make sure to take plenty of pictures to share with me. If I find out you didn’t go, I’ll be upset! You promised me you’d do it.”
“Go on. Don’t worry about me,” Nanci replied.
After a bittersweet goodbye, Edward called Issac. “How’s everything on your end?”
“Everything’s going smoothly. The amusement park is practically empty, and the fireworks and scenery are all set up. The staff is ready. As soon as Madam enters, everything will proceed smoothly,” Issac reported.
“Have Nanci’s friends been arranged as well? They know what to do, right? Don’t let anything go wrong, or you’ll be in big trouble,” Edward warned.
Issac replied with confidence, “Rest assured, President. Everything is in order. Just focus on what you need to do. Don’t get too nervous and forget your lines.”
Edward scoffed, “How hard can this be? I’m not nervous at all. It should be quite simple. I don’t understand why everyone else seems so anxious. I’ll hang up now.”
As Issac ended the call, he muttered to himself, “Just keep acting tough. We’ll see how easy it is for you later.”
Meanwhile, Jacob and Maggie were inside the amusement park, eagerly waiting for Nanci and speculating about her reaction when they finally met.
“Jacob, can you believe that Mr. Clarkson, who usually seems so cold and indifferent, would actually go through all this trouble for someone he cares about? Has he ever done anything like this before?” Maggie asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
“Absolutely not. The president used to only focus on work or socializing with friends. He never even spoke to other women. If he’s doing all this for a woman, it shows just how much she means to him. Madam’s so lucky to have a man like Mr. Clarkson!” Jacob remarked.
Maggie added, slightly annoyed, “Nanci is such a great person. How come no one mentions that Mr. Clarkson is the lucky one?”
Jacob pulled Maggie into a hug, saying, “They’re both great. They’re lucky to have each other. I just can’t find the right words. Let’s not argue about it now. We’ll see Ms. Ross soon. We need to stay focused and not give anything away.”
“Yeah, they’re so lucky to have each other,” Maggie stated.
Jacob teased, “What? Am I not good enough? Why is my girl envying someone else’s love story? I’m going to propose to you in an amazing way one day, so don’t worry. My heart is yours.”
Maggie playfully hit his chest. “Men always say that at the beginning, but some end up disappointing us.”
“Obviously, I’m not one of them!” Jacob said firmly.
Jacob tightened his embrace as he added, “I’m yours, and you’re mine. I’ll protect you for a lifetime. As long as you don’t leave me, we’ll be together until the end.”
“Alright, enough of the cheesy stuff. Let’s keep an eye on the surveillance. Nanci is at the entrance now. She’ll be coming in any moment. Once she greets everyone, we can step out. Remember to act natural!”
“Don’t worry! If I don’t win an Oscar with my acting skills, I’ll feel like I’ve failed,” he replied confidently.
After Edward left, Nanci lingered at the restaurant for a while. Initially, she hadn’t planned on going to the amusement park alone, but then Edward sent her a message, asking her to take photos and keep him updated. She smiled sweetly, feeling a rush of excitement, and decided to head towards the amusement park.
Upon arriving, she showed her ticket to the staff and walked in. The night lights transformed the entire area into a dreamy landscape. She spotted a carousel that reminded her of her childhood and felt an urge to relive that moment.
As she rode the carousel, the gentle music enveloped her, providing a sense of relaxation. She thought about how nice it would be to have someone with her, but she quickly noticed that the amusement park was unusually empty, unlike the typical crowds. Curiously, she wondered why there weren’t many people, especially with the fireworks show expected later.
Just as the carousel came to a stop, a familiar voice called out, “Nanci!”
Turning around, Nanci was pleasantly surprised to see Amelia standing nearby with Adam. Amelia ran over and exclaimed, “What a coincidence, Nanci! We meet here, and it must be fate!”
“It’s quite a surprise to see you here,” Nanci replied, smiling.
“I dragged Adam here because I heard there would be fireworks. If I had known you were coming, I wouldn’t have bothered asking him! So, why are you here alone? Isn’t Mr. Clarkson with you?” Amelia asked.
Nanci’s smile faded slightly as she responded, “He had to deal with an unexpected issue at the company. I told him to go ahead and take care of it. He’ll join me later. I thought I’d explore a bit on my own first. You two go ahead and enjoy yourselves. I don’t want to be a third wheel.”
“Don’t say that, Nanci! Since we’ve run into each other, let’s have fun together. Friends are what matter most, Even a boyfriend is not more important than my best friend!” Amelia insisted.
Seeing Adam’s expression, Nanci quickly waved her hands. “No, really. Edward should be here soon, so there’s no need to worry about me.”
Amelia feigned disappointment. “Well, alright, but let’s plan a girls’ day out next time! We could take some beautiful photos together.”
“Definitely! I’ll catch up with you later,” Nanci replied, moving away.
As Nanci walked off, Amelia turned to Adam with a triumphant grin. “What do you think? My acting skills were on point, right? No one suspected a thing!”
Adam chuckled and said, “Don’t talk to me. Go find your best friend. Compared to your best friend, I guess I’m not that important to you. I wouldn’t dare critique you. You might dump me if I upset you!”
“Come on, we’re just playing a part here. Don’t be upset. We need to keep up appearances. When we get home, you can punish me, okay?” she teased.
“Just wait until you get home,” he replied with a smirk.
As Nanci continued to walk, she spotted the pirate ship ride. However, it was empty, and feeling a bit timid about going on alone, she decided to send Edward a message with a photo. “Pirate ship-too scared to ride alone!”
Edward replied instantly, “Wait for me. I’ll come and join you.”
Nanci tucked her phone away and noticed the Ferris wheel in the distance. It was said couples who rode the Ferris wheel together and kissed at the top would be together forever. She wondered when Edward would return, feeling a pang of longing for him.
As she wandered further, she spotted a couple sitting on a bench. Their silhouettes seemed oddly familiar. Curious, she approached for a closer look and gasped, “Maggie? Jacob?”
Maggie turned, equally surprised. “Nanci! What a coincidence! We’re here to see the fireworks too. Mr. Clarkson went back to handle some work, and you came alone?”
“We were originally together, but he had to leave unexpectedly,” Nanci explained.
Jacob spoke up apologetically, “I’m sorry, Madam. There was an issue at the company we couldn’t resolve, so the president had to handle it himself and told us to leave. Today is actually my one-month anniversary with Maggie.”
“No worries! He’ll be back to keep me company. Happy anniversary to you two! Have a nice day!” Nanci replied cheerfully.
“Thank you!” Jacob said, a smile spreading across his face.