Theodore leaned back in his chair, his eyes drifting over the leather folder sitting on the edge of his desk. It was Amaira’s. She had been in such a hurry to leave that she hadn’t even noticed she’d forgotten it. His fingers drummed lightly on the desk as he debated whether to open it, curiosity tugging at him.

After a moment’s hesitation, he reached over and flipped it open. Inside were neatly arranged papers—certificates, recommendations, and other documents she had likely been using in her job search. He scanned the stack, noting her qualifications, her past experiences, and the countless attempts she had made to find work. Despite her confident exterior, it was clear she had been struggling to find her footing.

He closed the folder gently, his brow furrowing. She’ll come back for it—he was sure of that. How could she not? It contained her entire professional life. But as the hours ticked by, it became clear that she wasn’t going to return, at least not today.

Theodore let out a small sigh of disappointment. Somewhere, deep inside, he’d hoped she might come back—not just for the folder, but to confront him, to demand answers. Maybe even to argue with him about the promise she had made years ago. Anything to bring her back into his office, where he could watch her squirm under the weight of their past.

His gaze landed on her résumé, which had slipped from the folder. He picked it up, scanning her information. He noted her address, her work history, and finally, her phone number. Without thinking, he pulled out his phone and added her contact to his list. Amaira—Job Applicant, he typed, though he knew she was far more than that.

Just as he finished, his phone buzzed in his hand. He glanced at the screen and felt his shoulders slump immediately. His mother’s name flashed on the display.

Theodore sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose before answering. He knew exactly where this conversation was headed.

“Hi, Mom,” he said, his voice resigned but respectful.

“Theo, darling!” His mother’s voice came through the phone with her usual upbeat tone, though Theodore could hear the underlying intent. His mother never called without a reason, and that reason usually involved some kind of matchmaking scheme. “How have you been? You sound tired.”

He rubbed his temple, leaning back in his chair. “I’m fine. Just a long day at work.”

There was a pause on the other end, and Theodore could almost hear his mother weighing her next words carefully, trying to figure out how to ease into her agenda. He didn’t give her the chance.

“Who is it this time?” he asked flatly.

A soft chuckle escaped from the other side of the line, but it was a nervous one. “What do you mean, darling? Can’t a mother just check in on her son?”

“Mom, I know you,” he said with a sigh. “There’s always a ‘but’ when you ask about my wellbeing. So let’s skip the small talk. Who are you trying to set me up with now?”

His mother was silent for a moment, and Theodore imagined her sitting in her perfectly decorated living room, clutching her phone, deciding how best to approach her latest plan.

“Well…” she began slowly, “there’s a lovely girl I’d like you to meet. Her name is Camilla, and I’ve heard nothing but good things about her. I thought it might be nice if the two of you met for a coffee tomorrow afternoon.”

Theodore closed his eyes, letting the silence hang between them. He could feel the tension building, not just from this conversation but from the day in general. He had been hoping for a quiet evening after the strange encounter with Amaira, but it seemed fate—or rather, his mother—had other plans.

“Mom,” he said, keeping his voice calm, “you know how I feel about these blind dates.”

“And you know how I feel about you being single,” she countered, a hint of stubbornness creeping into her tone. “You’re not getting any younger, Theo. You can’t keep avoiding this forever.”

“I’m not avoiding anything,” he replied, though they both knew that wasn’t entirely true. “I just don’t have time for it right now.”

“You never have time,” she said, her voice softening, though Theodore knew it was a tactic. “I only want what’s best for you. I want to see you happy, Theo. And settling down, finding someone who cares about you—that’s part of it.”

He sighed again, rubbing his eyes. This was an argument they’d had a thousand times, and his mother never backed down. He respected her for that, but it didn’t make it any less exhausting.

“Camilla is perfect for you,” his mother continued, pressing on. “She’s smart, kind, comes from a good family—”

Theodore cut her off. “Mom, I’m sure she’s wonderful. But I’m not interested in going on another one of these dates.”

There was a long pause on the other end. His mother, never one to admit defeat, was likely trying to find a way to push him without pushing too far.

“You don’t have to marry her tomorrow,” she said softly, her voice taking on a gentler tone. “Just meet her. Give it a chance. One coffee, that’s all I’m asking.”

Theodore groaned internally. His mother was nothing if not persistent, and he knew this wasn’t a battle he could win. If he refused outright, she’d only find another way to corner him—another girl, another arrangement. It was endless.

“All right,” he finally relented, though his voice lacked any enthusiasm. “I’ll meet her. But this is the last time, Mom.”

His mother let out a delighted sound, clearly pleased with herself. “Wonderful! I’ve already arranged everything. It’s at that little café you like, around 2 p.m. tomorrow.”

Of course, she’d already made the plans. Theodore shook his head, but there was a small smile on his face despite himself. His mother could be frustrating, but he couldn’t deny her love for him. She only wanted to see him happy, even if her methods drove him up the wall.

“Fine,” he said, resigned. “I’ll be there.”

“Thank you, darling,” she said warmly. “I know you’ll like her. And who knows, maybe this time will be different.”

Theodore doubted that, but he didn’t say it out loud. After a few more minutes of pleasantries, he hung up the phone and tossed it onto his desk with a sigh.

As if his day hadn’t been complicated enough, now he had a blind date to look forward to. Perfect, he thought sarcastically.

His gaze drifted back to Amaira’s folder, sitting quietly on his desk, a reminder of the strange encounter earlier. Tomorrow was bound to be another interesting day, whether he liked it or not.