“This isn’t just something I’m making up,” the man finally said. “From what I know, the boss at Sterling Properties is actually very keen on feng shui. In fact, pretty much every real estate boss takes it seriously.”
Emily looked thoughtful, then smiled and asked, “You know so much—were you a property designer before?”
The man burst out laughing. “Could you tell? Yeah, I was in the business for twenty years. I designed over a hundred developments, big and small. But I couldn’t even afford to buy my own place in J City. So I quit and went out on my own. These days, just a few easy projects earn me as much as ten years of sweating on the job—and now my son can afford to get married!”
Emily had no real experience designing developments, and she looked at him with genuine excitement. “So you’re an expert! Then please, tell me more.”
He nodded with a laid-back smile. “Absolutely. I’ve got free time today—let’s chat more.”
They talked for two whole hours, long enough that dusk was falling. Then, out of the blue, the man asked, “Young lady, what do you actually do?”
Emily’s eyes curved with her bright smile, her dimples appearing. “I’m a designer!”
...
Emily’s phone rang—it was Charlie, checking if she’d finished work so he could pick her up.
Only then did Emily realize it was almost the end of the workday, but she still hadn’t written the report for Adelaide.
“I need to work late tonight. You head home first, I’ll just take the subway back.”
Charlie paused, then chuckled warmly. “That works out—I just found out I’ve got a last-minute meeting. We can both work late. Let me know when you’re done.”
“Alright!” Emily answered brightly.
Charlie’s voice turned deep and teasing. “Say you miss me.”
With someone still sitting nearby, Emily flushed and pretended to be serious. “That’s enough for now—let’s talk more on WhatsApp.”
With that, she hurriedly ended the call.
The man next to her grinned. “That your boyfriend?”
Emily nodded, smiling. “I should get going.”
“Alright, take care!” Orval said with a smile.
Emily waved goodbye to Orval before heading off to catch the subway back to the office.
After Emily had left, a man in a suit approached and greeted respectfully, “Mr. Orval.”
Orval glanced one last time in Emily’s direction, gave him a nod, and headed for his own car.
*
When Emily returned to the office, the place was empty—everyone had already left for the day. On her desk was a box of cheesecake, with a sticky note beside it in Edwina’s handwriting:
“Bought this for you! Eat before you work late :) I’m off for the day.”
At the bottom was a little heart.
Looking at the cake, Emily couldn’t help but smile. She turned on her computer and began working on the report.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)
Thank you for the updates....
I love it, I love it! Thank you for the updates....
Dear author Lucy, may we please have updates. Thank you....
There's a song currently playing via YouTube and TikToc by LowDii "Touch Me Softly" that makes me think of Norah and Xavier (Gonzalez). Please, I'm looking forward to updates. Thank you for your writing....
May we please have updates. Thank you....
As the plot thicken. Adrian is done for and he can't try to control Norah, so he'd probably tattle to Janice who's gone for two weeks. Thank you soooo much for the updates....
These updates were too funny. Thank you so much for the updates....
I forgot to add Amy to the group of pregnant women,since she was the first. Emily and Sylvia better be careful since pregnancy is in the air....
Wow! This is great, both Estelle and Magdalen are pregnant at the same time and I hope that Xavier is Norah neighbor. Thank you for the updates....
Author Lucy you're a blessing. Thank you so my for the updates. I hope that Norah's neighbor is Xavier she gets her memory back....