Please Don't Dream

Sue sat stiffly on the modern leather bench in the hallway of Fabian Investment Company, her fingers curled tightly around the edges of her resume.

The soft hum of the office air conditioning seemed louder in her ears than it should have been, a background noise that amplified the nervous fluttering in her chest.

Her palms were slightly damp, and despite the light layer of powder she’d applied that morning, she could feel the telltale sheen of nervous sweat at her temples.

Her dress was neat—sky blue, modest, cinched at the waist—and matched her gentle temperament.

She had chosen the outfit carefully: professional, not flashy. Her long black hair was tied into a low ponytail, strands tucked behind her ears to reveal the pearl studs she’d borrowed from her mother.

The hallway exuded the calm elegance of a company that had seen success. Tastefully minimalist paintings hung on pale beige walls, and a small bamboo plant in the corner added a whisper of green to the otherwise clean-lined, modern interior.

The glass wall across from her reflected her image—her upright posture, her anxious eyes, the way her knees remained tightly pressed together.

“Miss Sue?” A young assistant with a ponytail poked her head out from the frosted glass door.

“Mr. Fabian will see you now.”

Sue stood, quickly smoothing the front of her skirt.

“Thank you,” she murmured.As she walked toward the office, her heart pounded loudly enough she thought the assistant might hear it. Just before entering, she caught her reflection in the mirror wall. Her lips were dry. She took a breath, pressed her shoulders back, and knocked lightly.

“Come in,” said a deep voice.The office was flooded with natural light, pouring in from wide windows behind a large polished desk.

The brightness cast long shadows on the floor, dancing against the gleaming parquet. Behind the desk stood a man in his thirties, impeccably dressed in a tailored dark navy suit, his crisp white shirt open at the collar in a gesture of relaxed authority.

His hair was neatly styled, and his posture radiated effortless confidence.He extended his hand as she entered.

“Sue, is it? Fabian Lin. Welcome.”

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Fabian,” Sue said, her voice a little high, betraying her nerves.

His handshake was firm but not overpowering. Warm, even.

She caught a faint whiff of cedarwood cologne.“Please, have a seat.” He gestured to the leather chair opposite his desk.

Sue sat carefully, crossing her ankles, trying to keep her breathing steady. She handed over her resume with both hands, her fingers brushing his lightly. She flushed slightly.Fabian scanned the document, then looked up with a smile.

“You studied economics. And you just finished your thesis, yes?”

“Yes. I... I focused on small-business growth models post-recession.“He nodded, impressed.

“That’s more advanced than most undergrad topics I’ve seen.“Sue’s lips curled into a soft smile. Encouraged, she leaned in slightly, speaking more freely. She told him about her courses, her interest in investment strategies for young entrepreneurs. As she spoke, her words grew more fluid, her shoulders relaxed, and the color returned to her cheeks.

Fabian listened carefully, occasionally jotting down notes in a sleek black leather notebook.

At one point, their eyes met, and she looked away quickly, biting her lower lip. There was something about the way he looked at her—steady, attentive, not just as an interviewer, but as a man intrigued.

By the time the conversation wound down, Sue felt almost light-headed. Her nerves had vanished, replaced by something else. Hope. Excitement.

“I appreciate your time,” Fabian said, standing. “We’ll be in touch very soon.”

“Thank you, Mr. Fabian,” she said, rising as well.

As they shook hands again, he smiled, holding her gaze for a beat longer than necessary.

“I’m confident we’ll find a place for you here.“Outside the office, Sue exhaled deeply, finally letting her body relax.

Her heart fluttered, but this time, it wasn’t just from nerves.

A month later, on a warm spring evening, Sue stood outside her apartment building under the yellow glow of the streetlamps.

The city hummed gently around them—distant car horns, the faint laughter of pedestrians, the rhythmic buzz of night cicadas.Fabian stood beside her, his tailored coat draped over her shoulders.

“You should’ve brought a jacket,” he said softly.

“I didn’t think it’d get so cold,” Sue replied, her voice playful.They had just left a company celebration at a rooftop bar, where Fabian had offered to walk her home.

The walk had been filled with casual conversation and easy laughter, a gentle rhythm building between them.

“You’re always so responsible,” she teased.

“I like taking care of people,” he said, his voice low.

Sue looked up at him. Under the soft city lights, his features seemed even more handsome, his smile more sincere. She felt her cheeks flush, and she looked away quickly.As they reached her apartment gate, their steps slowed.

“Thanks for walking me” .

“Of course.” He hesitated, his gaze intent.

“Sue...“She turned. “Yes?”

He leaned in slowly, deliberately. His lips didn’t meet hers—only a gentle kiss on the forehead. It was sweet, old-fashioned, and yet full of intent.Her breath caught.

“Goodnight,” she whispered.He nodded. “Goodnight.”

As she entered the building, her heart was racing. Fabian watched her go, hands in his pockets. His face shifted slightly in the dim light—less warmth, more calculation. But only for a moment.In the conference room the next morning, Sue sat with a notepad in her lap, eyes focused on the man at the head of the room.

Fabian stood by the projector, delivering a pitch on market diversification with the ease of a seasoned speaker.She wore a navy-blue pantsuit, hair pulled back, a silver pen dancing across the lines of her notebook. She hung on every word—partly because it was her job, partly because it was him.

From time to time, his gaze flickered toward her, and each time, she looked down quickly, pretending to write. Around her, colleagues exchanged curious glances.After the meeting, as people filtered out, Fabian approached her.

“Well done today,” he said quietly.

“Thank you. Your presentation was really inspiring.“He smiled, brushing an invisible thread from her shoulder.

“I’m glad you think so.“Their eyes locked again—closer now. A promise lingered in the air between them.Two weeks later, the park was quiet, the air filled with the faint scent of night blossoms. The soft rustle of leaves and the occasional bark of a distant dog were the only sounds.

Sue walked beside Fabian, her dress fluttering slightly in the breeze. Her arm occasionally brushed his, but neither of them moved away.They laughed about something trivial—something about office politics and coffee preferences—and then fell into a quiet, companionable silence.

Suddenly, Fabian stopped.Sue turned.

“What’s wrong?“But he wasn’t looking at her with concern.

He was gazing at her like he had memorized every detail of her face.

“I’ve been thinking about this for a long time,”

She tilted her head. “About what?“Fabian slowly knelt on one knee.

Sue gasped.From his coat pocket, he pulled out a small velvet box and opened it. Inside was a delicate ring with a glistening stone that caught every nearby light.

“Sue... will you marry me?”

She covered her mouth. “Oh my god... Fabian...”

Tears welled in her eyes. She nodded vigorously, barely able to speak.

“Yes... yes!“He slipped the ring onto her finger. Passers-by clapped. Someone whistled. She threw her arms around him, burying her face into his shoulder, laughing and crying at once.She had never felt so happy in her life.

The wedding planning studio smelled faintly of roses and fabric samples. Ornate dresses lined the walls. Sue sat with a notepad, trying to keep track of everything.

Fabian leaned back in his chair, legs crossed, flipping through catalogs like he was reviewing a business contract.

“She’ll handle everything,” he told the manager. “Just send me the invoice.”

The manager chuckled. “That’s the kind of groom every bride dreams of.”

Sue smiled politely. “I’m... still figuring out some of the steps. My mom’s not in the city right now, and we’re doing everything so fast.”

Fabian waved it off. “We don’t need anyone else. You have me.”

He placed his hand over hers—firm, steady.And something fluttered in Sue’s chest again—but not in the way it usually did.Just for a second, it felt more like... a warning.