Pamela had only started her new job a few weeks ago, but already, there was one part of her life she kept secret: her engagement. Every morning, before heading to work, she took off her ring and tucked it away in her bag. It was her quiet way of leaving her personal life at home.

“Good morning, Miss Rogers!” called Peter, the friendly security guard.
“Good morning, Peter,” she smiled, noticing how easily he remembered her name.

As she walked to her desk, she spotted Josh, a colleague who often waved at her across the room. Later, Josh scooted his chair over to her. “Hey, Pam, how’s it going?”
“Good, thanks. Anything work-related, Josh?” she asked with a raised brow.
“Actually, yes,” he said, grinning. “How about a dinner meeting? Simon’s, just down the street?”
Pamela laughed. “Alright, we’ll see after work,” she said, feeling a bit of excitement.

After work, standing outside, Pamela hesitated. Chandler, her fiancé, would be expecting her. But Josh’s easygoing charm had lifted her spirits.
“Pam!” Josh called, stepping toward her.
“Uh… maybe I should head home,” she said, glancing at her phone.
“Just a quick bite?” Josh offered with a smile.
“Alright, but not for too long,” she agreed, feeling herself relax.

At the cozy restaurant, they shared laughs over Josh’s funny stories. His animated voice had Pamela chuckling nonstop, and for a moment, she felt more at ease than she had in a long time. Sitting across from Josh, she realized how much she’d missed feeling seen and appreciated. Chandler had barely noticed her lately.

As the evening went on, she almost felt a connection with Josh, but just as she was about to tell him the truth about her engagement, a voice interrupted her.

“Pamela! What’s going on here?” Chandler’s sharp tone broke through the warmth of the moment.
Josh stood up immediately, a protective instinct taking over. “Who are you, and what are you doing with my fiancée?”
“I’m her fiancé, Chandler,” he replied, anger evident in his voice.
Pamela felt her face go pale. Josh turned to her, hurt in his eyes.
“Is this what you wanted to tell me?” he asked quietly.
“I—” she began, but Chandler cut her off.
“There’s nothing to explain. Let’s go, Pamela.”

Josh looked down, disappointment clouding his expression, before he grabbed his coat and left without another word.

Pamela watched him go, feeling something precious slip away. Chandler pulled her out into the cold night, demanding answers.
“What were you thinking, Pamela?” he snapped.
“You know why, Chandler,” she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.

The next morning, Pamela approached Josh’s desk. He looked up for a brief moment before turning away. She dropped a small envelope onto his desk.
“What’s this?” Josh asked, his tone cooler than before.
“It’s my choice,” Pamela said softly, before continuing. “I needed to tell you something. I’ve been engaged for two years, but things have changed.”
Josh raised an eyebrow.
“He doesn’t talk to me anymore, refuses to work, and spends his nights drinking. We’ve become strangers.”
Josh was silent.
“So why are you still with him?” he asked, his voice filled with confusion.
“I’m not anymore,” Pamela whispered, feeling a rush of relief. She opened the envelope, revealing her engagement ring.
“I’m sending this back to him,” she said quietly. “I’ve been afraid to let go, but I’m done hiding.”

Josh’s expression softened, and he gently took her hand. “I’m sorry, too. I didn’t understand,” he said.
Pamela felt a weight lift off her shoulders. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“After work, let’s talk more. And this time, it’s my treat,” Josh smiled.

For the first time in a long while, Pamela felt hopeful. She was ready to embrace the happiness she’d been afraid to pursue.