I gave a rose and with that my heart

"Who is this?" I was trying to sound as unfazed as possible but my heart was betraying me. How could it not? After all, I thought I would never hear this voice again. There is no way he should be talking to me unless his ghost somehow found a way to contact me after so many years. If Vampires existed, it shouldn't be a stretch to think that maybe ghosts do too. So many scenarios clouded my mind in seconds. My mind was trying so hard to deny the truth. The one I thought to be eternally lost is still alive and very possible a vampire.

The voice finally pulled me out of my head, "How I missed your voice. Tell me do you still bite your inner lip when you get nervous? Are you biting it now?"

I instantly unraveled my lip from between my teeth. Only he would remember such small things about me. He used to love it when I bit my lip. He used to say that he could spend hours watching me bite my lip. I only did that when I was feeling nervous or anxious. He was a master at making me feel those emotions. From the butterflies in my stomach when he spoke, to the hazy feeling I would get when I smelt his scent. Everything about that man made me nervous in the best ways possible.

In this situation, the nerves I am feeling are that of discomfort, confusion, and fear. The anxiety I currently feel is overtaking my senses making it hard for me to hear anything other than his voice. I am so stunned I don't hear the knock at the door of my office.

After a couple more knocks I finally snap out of my daze to hear the voice on the phone say, "Hope you like my present. See you soon my beautiful Halle." Then the line cuts off.

I slowly drop my office phone. To calm my raging nerves I take a few breaths. It feels like I held my breath through the whole call. I finally respond to the person knocking at the door, "Come in."

The door opened up revealing one of the waiters holding a red box. I tried my best to smile as invitingly as possible. I don't want my employees to see me breaking down. He walked with the box in hand and said, "This was dropped off for you."

He placed it on my desk and left. I moved the box closer to me.

It felt like it was made of velvet, it had an interesting design running along the side leading to the golden lock in the middle. The lock was a combination lock and on top of the box, there was a letter.

I opened up the letter to see what it said but all I saw were a few words, "I gave a rose and with that, my heart. Do you recount the years we spent apart?"

'He always loved playing games.'

I know the answer, how could I ever forget.

'Who does this as***le think he is? He comes back into my life after 425 years and starts playing games?'

I stare a the box for a while debating whether or not to give a s**t.

'He doesn't get to come into my life, throw my mind into a loop then give me a gift like nothing has happened between us. And on top of that a fr**king riddle? F**k his gift.'

I scoffed at my inner thought then get up from my desk. My decision was resolute. I won't let this man get to me.

Picking up the gift I placed it in the trash and walked out of my office.

As I leave my office I run into the floor manager. He saw me and smiled, "Did the waiter give you the package?"

I looked at him with slight suspicion, so I decidedly test my theory saying, "Yes I got it but I wasn't expecting to get a package today. It wasn't even signed so I think someone may have been playing a prank. I threw it away."

He looked slightly stunned by my answer. That made me even more suspicious.

There is no way that man would have known I was in my office and called me if he didn't have someone watching me. And knowing him, getting someone random isn't his style. At least it wasn't his style. He is too smart for that. He had to have gotten someone from my team to spy on me.

"I should get back to our patrons, I just went for a bathroom break," he said rushing off.

Maybe I have been too comfortable these past years. I didn't even notice a traitor. My peace is about to be disturbed. I have no plans of letting that happen so I have to end this before it starts. 'He will not take away my peace. I won't let him'

With that thought, I went back to work. I can't let this affect my work either.