Office Dinner: My Secret Love Chooses Him

At a company dinner, only two seats remain: one in the corner, and one beside Lana Sheffield, Declan's secret girlfriend of three years. Before he can move, she calls out his friend Jasper's name instead, and the room erupts. All evening she avoids Declan's eyes, tending to Jasper while a server burns Declan's hand unnoticed. He begins to wonder why he keeps hiding a love no one can know about.

Three years at the company, and the seat beside Lana is never his. Jasper, who transferred in to stand by him, becomes everyone's favorite, and Lana only tells Declan to stop overthinking. When a hurricane strands the group, she drives Jasper home, leaving Declan to wait fifty-three minutes for a ride. At home, Jasper appears wearing the other half of a couple's pajama set Lana had refused to wear for Declan, and she gives it away.

Declan has already submitted his resignation. As Jasper settles in to stay, Declan quietly counts the days until he can walk away for good.