The breath of the city lingered with dew. Ngọc Lam stopped in front of the director's office, her fingers tightening around the file folder against her chest.

"He's working overnight again...", she whispered, her heart aching with pain and worry. Just as she was about to turn away, the office door opened. The man saw her, momentarily surprised, but then gently smiled and said:

"You're here early?"

His voice was hoarse from fatigue, but his shirt was still crisp and fragrant, the clean scent of perfume faintly lingering. Ngọc Lam struggled to hide her embarrassment, awkwardly replying:

"Yes... I want to prepare the materials for the meeting this afternoon. And this is the salary statement that Ms. Thảo told me to print out for you this morning. I saw your office light on, so I brought it over."

The man stepped closer to her, the young woman's heart racing, the rich smell of coffee mingling with the scent of sandalwood perfume. He took the file folder from her hand, accidentally brushing against her fingertip, and he laughed jokingly:

"Be careful not to let the paper cut your hand. Last time you left a bloodstain on the contract, I almost had to call for an ambulance."

Ngọc Lam blushed, her cheeks reddening, the distance between them just a hand's breadth, she felt like she stopped breathing, her mind empty as if unable to hear anything, only the whisper of the person in front of her.

"Can you go meet a client with me tonight?"

Suddenly, the phone rang loudly. It was the man's, and it jolted Ngọc Lam awake from her daze. She looked up to see him frowning, his voice gentler than usual:

"I'm at the company... Okay, I'll come home early tonight."

The wedding ring shimmering on the hand holding the phone felt like a knife cutting through her delusions. The man turned to face the elevator, continuing the phone call as if forgetting her presence. Ngọc Lam bit her lip and turned back to her accounting room. The accounting room was set apart, a quiet place, filled with papers and charts plastered all over the walls. Since she arrived early, she was the only one there, staring blankly out the window, the pen in her hand unconsciously pressed down until the ink splattered into a long black streak on the paper.

Suddenly, in front of her, there was a small box of cake, topped with a cute little strawberry.

"I went downstairs to buy coffee and saw this... thought of you."

Seeing the naive look on the girl's face, the man cleared his throat, slightly amused, and explained the question in her heart: "This is to encourage hard-working interns, deserving of being the model employee of the company."

Ngọc Lam looked up and met his gaze, filled with a hazy kind of emotion. She was taken aback, stammering:

"How did you know I liked strawberries?"

The man chuckled softly: "I didn't know. But this cake is very cute, just like you."

The director reached out to take a piece of paper stuck in Ngọc Lam's hair, probably from when she cut the paper earlier. His slender fingers brushed through her silky hair. The ticking of the clock felt as if her heart was about to burst.

As the noise of other employees entering the company grew, all ambiguity seemed to evaporate. That gentle man returned to his serious demeanor, the look of a cold and decisive boss. She knew this love was hopeless. But little did she know that just after one night, everything would change.

The company anniversary celebration was held at a luxurious hotel, where dazzling lights mingled with soothing music, creating a romantic yet lively atmosphere. Ngọc Lam appeared in an off-the-shoulder evening dress, her softly curled hair cascading down to her collarbone, standing out against her snow-white skin. She looked like a radiant flower among the crowd, attracting all eyes. However, her eyes continually sneaked towards the director - the man who always exuded an irresistible charm. Today, he donned a premium suit, his hair neatly styled, looking more elegant and attractive than ever. Ngọc Lam's gaze couldn't hide her admiration, and the man also did not conceal his appreciative look at her splendid beauty tonight.

As the party gradually came to a close, the elegant director gently approached Ngọc Lam,In his hands were two glasses of deep red wine. He smiled, his warm voice softly resonating in her ear:

"Would you like to take a stroll with me for a bit?"

Ngọc Lam knew she shouldn't agree, but her heart couldn't refuse. She gently nodded and walked out with him from the noisy atmosphere of the party, immersing herself in the quiet night outside.

They walked down the long hallway, the soft yellow lights casting ethereal shadows. Their conversation flowed harmoniously; the usually stern director was quite humorous when talking to her, making her feel happy and at ease. Then, before she realized it, she found herself stopping in front of the VIP room at the highest point of the hotel, where the light from the windows bathed the city in a shimmering, magical glow. In that space, everything seemed to slow down, leaving only the sound of their heartbeats and the gentle breaths mingled with the aroma of wine.

That night, Ngọc Lam experienced an unforgettable evening with the man she loved deeply. Everything unfolded like a dream, where time stood still and the outside world seemed to fade away. As dawn broke, she thought that the previous night would forever be a beautiful memory, etched deep in her heart. But the man, upon waking up, gently told her that he loved her too. Those words felt like a verdict, a chain binding her life.

Perhaps Ngọc Lam also knew she was stepping into a dangerous and wrongful love, yet she couldn't stop. She had already fallen in love, and in the future, she would have to face the consequences of her choices.