A bouquet of white roses landed on my desk, accompanied by a chilling note that made my heart race. I broke into a cold sweat and tossed the flowers in the trash. Someone knew my secret. Who? What did they want from me?

The day started like any other Tuesday at the office. I had my usual grande latte and was scrolling through emails when a delivery guy walked in, carrying the most stunning bouquet of white roses I’d ever seen.

“Delivery for Rebecca,” he announced, placing the bouquet next to my keyboard.

I felt the eyes of my coworkers on me as I signed for the flowers. Jenny from accounting leaned over her cubicle, eyebrows raised.

“Secret admirer, Becca?” she teased.

I laughed it off, but inside, my mind was racing. Who could have sent these flowers? And why today?

“No idea,” I replied. “Maybe it’s a mistake?”

Jenny snorted. “A mistake? Someone’s obviously got the hots for you.”

As soon as the delivery guy left, I inspected the bouquet. The roses were perfect—pristine petals and aromatic smells. Their scent was intoxicating.

That’s when I noticed a small, cream-colored note nestled between the blooms. My fingers trembled slightly as I plucked it out.

“What does it say?” Jenny called out.

“Give me a sec.”

I unfolded the note and froze at the words:

“You always wanted the spotlight. Let’s see how you handle it now.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. Someone knew. About me. My mind started spinning. Who could it be?

“Everything okay?” Jenny’s voice snapped me back.

“Yeah, just unexpected.”

“What does it say?” she pressed.

I quickly folded the note and shoved it into my drawer. “Just a cheesy line. Nothing much.”

For the rest of the morning, I couldn’t focus. The flowers sat there, a reminder that my secret could be exposed. Every time someone walked by, I flinched.

During the team meeting, I barely heard a word from my boss, Karen. My mind kept drifting to the note, to the past I’d tried to leave behind.

“Rebecca? Your thoughts on this?” Karen’s voice cut through my haze. I blinked, realizing everyone was staring.

“Just a little under the weather,” I lied.

By lunchtime, I couldn’t take it anymore. I marched over to the break room and dumped the flowers and note in the trash. As I turned to leave, I almost ran into Emily from HR.

“Whoa! What happened to those gorgeous roses?”

“Not really my style.”

“But they are so beautiful. Are you sure—”

“I’m sure,” I cut her off.

The afternoon dragged on. I stared at my screen, lost in thoughts from three years ago, wondering where I’d slipped up.

A chat notification popped up from Tom in IT.

“Hey Rebecca, need any help?”

“Thanks, Tom. I’m good for now.”

“Really? I could swing by.”

I was so lost that I almost missed a conversation at the coffee machine.

“Did you see those white roses on Rebecca’s desk?” It was Lisa from sales.

“Oh yeah,” Sarah from marketing replied. “I got the same bouquet last year after landing the Johnson account.”

My head snapped up. What?

Sarah continued, “The note was weird too. Something about the spotlight.”

I spun around. “Wait, you got a similar note?”

“Yeah, it freaked me out at first, but it was just Alison being… Alison.”

The relief washed over me. It wasn’t about my past. Just office politics.

“So, it’s not a threat?” I asked.

“Nah, just Alison being petty. Why?”

I hesitated. “I guess I overreacted.”

Once they were out of sight, I felt lighter.

Just then, my phone buzzed. A text from my best friend, Mia: “Drinks tonight? You look like you could use one.”

“Yes! Murphy’s at 7?”

That night at Murphy’s, I couldn’t stop thinking about my reaction to the flowers.

“Spill it, Becca,” Mia said.

I took a long sip. “The note brought up some memories.”

“Ah, Mark?”

I nodded. “I thought someone had found out.”

“Becca, that was three years ago. You’ve moved on, haven’t you?”

“I thought I had, but today… it rushed back.”

“Talk to me. What happened?”

“I got involved with Mark. He was married. His wife found out and posted pictures of me online.”

She squeezed my hand. “You’ve built a great life for yourself.”

“You’re right. It’s time to let it go.”

“Damn straight. To moving forward.”

The next morning, as I rounded the corner to my desk, I nearly collided with Alison.

“Oh! Rebecca,” she said, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. “Congratulations on the promotion.”

“Thanks, Alison.”

As I watched her go, I realized something. The spotlight might come with challenges, but I was stronger than the shadows of my past. I opened my laptop, ready for whatever came next.