Copyright © February 2022 by CiaoSteve
CiaoSteve reserves the right to be identified as the author of this work. This story cannot be published, as a whole or in part, without the express agreement of the author other than the use of brief extracts as part of a story review.
This is a work of fiction. The events described here are imaginary; the settings and characters are fictitious and are not intended to represent specific places or living persons.
Author's Notes
This is an entry for the
Literotica 2022 Valentine's Day Story Contest
(if it makes it up on time). I do hope you enjoy, and would welcome any comments, votes you would be kind enough to leave.
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The sun had barely woken from its slumber when David drew up outside his place of work. He parked his car and headed inside. David loved these early mornings. It was the only peace and quiet he had, an hour or so to himself before the chaos of the day started. This day was to be no different, or so he had thought.
That thought had lasted a whole ten minutes. It was just enough time for him to take the lift to the seventh floor, walk the short distance to his desk, and peer down at the envelope sitting upon it. David glanced around, expecting to see somebody hiding behind a corner, watching for the very moment he arrived at work. All was quiet in the office, as it always was at this unearthly hour.
David didn't know what to do, nor what to make of the whole situation. This was unfamiliar territory for him. God, how sad was that. Thirty-five and receiving his first Valentine's.
Okay, so there was one time many years ago, but that turned out just to be a tease, a chance to play with his youthful emotions. Now though... well... David wasn't going to make the same mistake twice. There again, what if it was for real? Would his scepticism put pay to the opportunity he longed for? Would self-doubt lead David to miss the chance to find his Miss Right?
Mentally, David found himself running his eyes over his body. Yes, his hairline was receding a fraction, but there was not a tinge of grey anywhere within his short-cropped dark hair. He could admit that the odd trip to the gym wouldn't go amiss, but it was only the odd pound or two rather than anything more extreme. He was... David racked his brain thinking of the word he wanted to use but, in the end, he had to settle for the one which came to mind... he was like that favourite pullover, comfortable. Nothing more, nothing less, only plain old comfortable David.
David was awash with questions. Okay, so awash was an overstatement, but two did churn over and over in his mind; how had it gotten there, and who had been behind it?
That was the thing. It was just there, sitting on his desk by the time he got into work. That narrowed it down, didn't it? All David had to do was go around asking the two and a half thousand employees who called this place home, and he'd have his answer. Or... well... he could just second guess.
David glanced down at the envelope on his desk. It was a simple, plain red affair, a hand drawn heart being the only decoration on the outside. Slowly, careful not to make any noise which may bring attention to himself, David tore the envelope open and took out the card. Once more it was plain, a single red heart on a white background.
David smiled. Whoever had sent it was stylish. There was none of the gaudiness of some cards. He liked it. If David was going to send a card, he would have picked one just like this, albeit he wouldn't have gone as far as to add the touch of fragrance which now filled the air.
David picked the card up and held it to his nose. He took one deep breath, inhaled, then held that moment. There was something familiar about the floral scent. He recognised it but couldn't quite put his finger on where from. David took another deep breath, then turned his attention to the words inside.
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
All I can think of,
Is being with you.
Saturday night,
It's gonna be heaven,
Meet me for dinner,
In the bar, say seven.
It wasn't the words which grabbed David's attention, nor was it the business card for a swanky hotel restaurant. What David stared at was a single hand-written word beneath the short verses. One single word, six elegantly scribed block capitals.
SARROW
By now, David was both intrigued and confused? What did it mean? Was it some social media acronym, one which he hadn't the foggiest of? Was it a name? Who though signed a Valentine's card with their name, and who did he know called Sarrow?
For a moment or two, David sat there and thought. It was no good. The closest he could get was Sarah. Yes, he knew a Sarah. He knew her very well. Was that from where he had recollected this floral scent? Was it Sarah's favourite perfume? It couldn't have been Sarah though, could it? The Sarah he knew was happily in a relationship and, what's more, the love of Sarah's life was another woman. Why then would Sarah be dishing out cards if it was from her?
David shook his head. Nope, it had to be somebody else. Whoever it was though, had gone to some trouble; a card, an elegant verse, and an invitation to dinner at one of the best places in town.
He was still doubting himself. His mind told him; this could just be the most elaborate hoax he had ever seen. His heart argued its case that it could just be a most interesting opportunity.
Either way, whoever had left the card now had David's attention.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
On the other side of town, Lauren reached down and picked the envelope up from the door mat. She'd never heard the letterbox go, so finding a letter waiting for her came as a massive surprise. It was even more of a surprise when she realised the time. The postie wouldn't normally come for another couple of hours.
She glanced at the envelope but didn't open it. Her attention turned to the front door. She wasn't sure why she felt the urge to look outside, nor what she expected to find. Still though, Lauren couldn't resist looking.
