After a short while

Driver: Mr. Koo. We have arrived.

The driver’s deep voice startled Louis, and he slowly woke up.

Louis (lightly tapping his forehead in a sign of headache): Oh, sorry. Can’t believe I fell asleep.

The driver then got off the car and opened Louis’ door for him.

Louis: Thank you.

Dressed in a black long coat, and a navy blue Prada suit underneath, Louis got off the car with a suitcase in hand. He looked up and gazed at the tall skyscraper standing solidly before him. The logo read Hung Sam (Holdings) Limited.

Louis walked toward the entrance of the company self-consciously knowing that people were staring at him. Women were attracted by his handsome good looks and refined manners while men couldn’t help but be fascinated by his wealthy background. Louis Koo was a man that was either loved or hated. Loved and admired for his important stance in society, hated out of jealousy and envy.

As Louis neared the entrance, a man opened the door for him.

Man: Good Morning Mr. Koo.

Louis smiled back in reply. And so it went. Until he reached the 20th and last floor, people would always stop what they were doing to politely greet good morning to him, the president of the company and their boss. Everyday, it’d be the same thing. Before reaching his spacious office, Louis would hear more than a thousand hi(s) and good mornings.

As Louis neared his office, the secretary addressed him:

Secretary: Mr. Koo, a letter had arrived this morning with specific instructions that it is for you, personally.

Louis took the letter, his eyebrows arching in surprise, and thanked the secretary. He rarely received personal letters at work.

As he entered his office, Louis took out his cell phone.

Woman: Angelica Florist, may I help you, Sir?

Louis: Hello, I’d like to order a bouquet of 100 peach roses and a bouquet of 100 forget-me-nots.

Woman: May I know your name and the addresses to which the flowers should be delivered.

After having given her his name and the addresses, he thanked her and hung up. That was when he turned his attention to the letter placed right before him on his desk. He opened the letter. It read:


“Louis, Today is a really special day for me. Hope to see you tonight at our place before midnight.”


The letter wasn’t signed. But she had mingled it with her familiar scent. And he recognized it.

Louis then gently folded the letter and placed it in a locked drawer.

Louis’ office phone rang.

Secretary: Mr. Koo, it’s time for the meeting with the executive board. After the meeting, Mr. Lau from Dominion bank will be waiting for you right here…and the reservations for your wedding anniversary at “Le Sans Souci Restaurant” are made.

Louis thanked the receptionist and as he hung up, he sighed. That was a long day ahead.

After all the meetings, by 7 o’ clock p.m.

Louis was finally on his way home.

At home

As Louis opened the door, a joyful voice from upstairs called out to him:

“Louis? Home so early?”

Louis: Why not? You’re waiting for another man, aren’t you?

Jessica then ran down the stairs, a big smile on her face as she was so immensely happy to see Louis back so early.

She was wearing a beautiful strapless white dress that ended at her knees. It was very simple but yet very elegant on her. To emphasize the elegance, her hair was tied in a small bun. She wore no jewelry except for the pair of diamond earrings he gave her on their last year’s wedding anniversary.

Jessica (playfully hits Louis on the shoulder): “Why are you always talking nonsense? (helping him take out his coat)

Louis: Where is GiGi?

Jessica: I asked Stephen to look after her.

Louis: So, ready?

Jessica: Ready for what?

Louis: Aren’t we going out tonight?

Jessica: No, I rather have a candlelight home dinner with you. You’re lucky today, I just learned from Joyce how to make “Les Tresors de la Mer”.

Louis: « Les » what?

Jessica : French meal lah. Shrimp, lobster, scallops with sherry sauce. That’s for the “entrée” and we are going to have “Poulet sauté au Champagne” for the principal meal, what do you think? These are going to be so delicious if accompanied with a bottle of “Sauvignon Blanc”. (all excited)

Louis: You sure you’re going to eat all that?

Jessica: Why do you have to always spoil my excitement? In punishment, you have to eat all this with me, whether it’s good or not!

Jessica then brought out the meals and they happily ate a romantic candlelight dinner together, Louis teasing Jessica as always, inhibited laughter echoing in the room.

After the candlelight dinner

As Jessica brought the dishes in the kitchen, Louis quickly checked on the clock, it is not the first time in the evening that he had been taking a glimpse at the time.

Inside the kitchen, Jessica turned the water on, ready to wash the dishes when Louis came in and held her waist.

Jessica blushed, her cheeks turning red.

Louis (incredulously grinning the whole time): You’re not going to wash dishes on our wedding anniversary, right?

Jessica (turning around): You’re right, not tonight.

Louis: Why do you always bother with home chores? We can certainly afford to hire a housemaid.

Jessica: I just like to do everything myself, for you. (she looks up to him, her eyes filled with so much love)

Their eyes met and for a moment, Louis stopped smiling, his eyes turning serious.

Louis (gazing at her): Did I tell you that you look very beautiful today? I love the color white on you. It fits your personality very well.

Jessica did not reply nor smiled back, she just stood there looking straight into his eyes. Louis’ look shifted from her face to her lips. He leaned forward and they kissed, slowly and passionately for a full minute.

After the kiss, Louis smiled and took Jessica hands in his and together they walked back to the living room.

Louis then put on their favorite song: “Amazed” by Lonestar

Louis (taking Jessica’s hand once again): May I?

Jessica: How can I resist? (her eyes turning dreamy) They smiled.

Suddenly, the music stopped short and all the lights went off

Louis: Great! An electrical outage on our wedding anniversary!

Jessica (laughing at the sarcasm in Louis’ voice): It’s alright Louis. I’m going upstairs to take out some candles. Look on the positive side, wouldn’t it be even more romantic? Just the two of us and a candle? Now, that’s a real candlelight evening!

Louis (smiling at his wife’s forever optimistic attitude): No, you stay here, I go upstairs. I truly wouldn’t want you to trip down the stairs or something.

As Louis was about to go upstairs, a loud cracking noise was suddenly heard. Coming from upstairs.

Conversation in whisper:

Jessica: Did you hear that noise?

Louis : Yes.

Jessica: I think it’s going to be better if we go up together.

Louis nodded as he opened a closet that was near the stairs to take out a baseball bat.

Hand in hand, they went up the stairs slowly, careful as to not make any sound. When they were upstairs, they could hear noises coming from Louis’ study.

With a simple gesture, Louis urged Jessica to wait for him in the hallway as he calmly opened the door to his study.

Inside the study

There was nobody. However, the large window overlooking the city beside Louis’ desk was opened. The wind blew against the white curtains, sending in the cold air as loud thunders hollered outside. The rain poured inside the room through the opened window. Louis shivered in cold. He rushed to close the large window, thinking that he might have forgotten to close it last night. But as he neared his desk, he noticed that an important business file was missing. He had placed it there yesterday, without a doubt.

Louis closed the large window, thoughts running through his mind.

When Louis went out of the study

Jessica (whispered): Anything wrong?

Louis: Nothing, I just forgot to close the large window yesterday. The cracking noise was that of the wind slamming against the curtains and sending my papers everywhere.

Jessica (sighs in relief and playfully hits Louis on the head): Forgetful head!

Louis forces a smile and as Jessica went back downstairs in high spirit, the smile was immediately wiped off his face.

Louis: Jessica, wait for me downstairs. I have to pick up the papers in my room, they are scattered everywhere.

Jessica: OK!

Louis went back inside his study and carefully closed the door. He went up to his desk and picked up the phone.

Joyce: Hello?

Louis: I need you to do something for me.

After the brief conversation, Louis was about to go downstairs when he noticed that all the neighboring houses still had their lights on…