December had always been a month of change for Evan.
A year ago, he stood at the peak of victory after bringing down Hendra's company. This year, things were different. He was no longer at the top, but climbing his way back up—rebuilding his path in his own way.
His success in several recent projects hadn't gone unnoticed. Johan, who once underestimated him, began to see his true value. His team increasingly sought his opinions, and slowly, Evan was regaining his reputation as a respected figure.
One of the projects he'd led had just been completed with impressive results. He didn't just get the job done—he brought innovation that caught the attention of his superiors. That earned him a seat in the management meeting, where his name began to be considered for greater responsibilities.
That evening, as he left the office, he called Nadira. Over the past few months, their relationship had evolved beyond mere professionalism. At first, Nadira kept her distance—remaining strictly professional, despite the clear mutual attraction. But slowly, the push and pull between them was turning into something more real.
They met at a small, quiet café. When Evan arrived, Nadira was already seated in a corner, wearing a grey sweater and slacks, with a cup of hot tea in front of her.
"You look tired," Nadira said, raising an eyebrow.
Evan sat down and exhaled. "Not tired. Just a lot on my mind. I just got out of an important meeting. There's a chance I'll be assigned to a bigger strategic project."
Nadira smiled, but her eyes held something more than mere happiness. "I knew you'd keep rising. You're not the type to stay still."
Evan studied her. He used to believe Nadira liked him simply for who he was—not as the heir of a major company. But lately, he started to wonder: did she really not know who he was? Or was she just good at pretending?
"What?" Nadira asked, noticing his lingering gaze.
"Nothing," he said. "Just wondering… you really don't know who owns the company I work for?"
Nadira gave a faint smile and took a sip of her tea before replying, "I'm a landscaper, not a business analyst. I don't really care who owns it—as long as the project runs well and I get paid on time."
A reasonable answer. Maybe too reasonable.
Evan only nodded and shifted the topic. They talked about many things—how Nadira got into landscape design, the projects she was currently working on, plans for the year-end holidays. Evan felt a comfort in their conversation—something genuine, though a small part of him still wondered whether Nadira truly didn't see him as the heir of a powerful company.
The night wore on, but they stayed, unwilling to end the moment.
---
Evan had prepared everything. No one knew about his grand plan—not even Reza. To everyone else, New Year's Eve was just a celebration—a casual gathering, counting down to midnight, followed by birthday wishes for Evan.
But for Evan, this was more than just New Year's Eve. It was the night he would take a big step in his life.
He invited Nadira, Reza, and a few coworkers to celebrate on a rooftop restaurant with a stunning view of the city skyline. He had picked the spot intentionally—not only for the romantic ambiance, but because from there, the fireworks would be perfectly visible when the clock struck midnight. The perfect moment to make his move.
By the time they arrived, the place was already lively. Music played in the background, twinkling lights gave a warm glow, and each table was adorned with softly flickering candles. Nadira looked relaxed in a simple black dress and a light blazer. She had no idea what Evan had planned.
"Tonight we're celebrating two things, huh? New Year and Evan's birthday," Reza said, clapping Evan on the back. "So we better drink a lot!"
Evan just laughed at his friend's teasing.
They talked, ate, joked, and enjoyed the evening. Nadira seemed to be having a great time, though she occasionally raised an eyebrow at how unusually calm Evan looked—like he was holding something back.
At 11:55 PM, the countdown began. The rooftop buzzed with excitement as everyone prepared to welcome the new year.
Evan held a small box in his pocket. He glanced at Nadira, who was smiling as she soaked in the atmosphere.
"Five more minutes," Evan whispered to himself.
"What?" Nadira turned to him.
Evan smiled and shook his head. "Nothing, just excited to see the fireworks."
Moments later, the crowd began to chant,
"Ten! Nine! Eight!"
Evan stood up, steadying his breath. His heart pounded faster than usual.
"Seven! Six! Five!"
He glanced at Nadira, still radiant and unaware of what was about to unfold.
"Four! Three! Two! One!"
The first firework burst in the sky. Cheers erupted, glasses clinked, and everyone shouted Happy New Year.
With slightly trembling hands, Evan took a deep breath, then knelt down in front of Nadira.
Everyone at their table fell silent. Nadira stared at Evan, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Evan?"
Evan looked into her eyes, full of determination.
"Happy New Year, Nadira. And…" He opened the small box, revealing a sparkling diamond ring that caught the light.
"…happy birthday. I want to spend every new year with you. Will you marry me?"
All other sounds faded. All eyes were on them.
Nadira looked at the ring, then at Evan. Her expression, stunned at first, slowly softened into a smile.
She held out her hand, letting Evan slide the ring onto her finger.
"Yes," she finally said.
Cheers erupted all around them. Reza let out a loud whistle, their coworkers clapped, and even strangers nearby joined in the celebration.
Evan stood, overwhelmed with relief and joy, pulling Nadira into an embrace as fireworks lit up the sky above them.
That night wasn't just the start of a new year—but a brand new chapter in Evan and Nadira's lives.
Amid the cheers and laughter, a medium-sized birthday cake sat waiting on the table, lit with candles shaped into the number "26." The flames flickered gently, as if dancing in the warm night breeze. Evan stood beside Nadira, his arm around her waist—casual, yet clearly showing he wanted her close.
He glanced briefly at the cake. It was all part of the plan. After blowing out the candles, he would take the knife, cut the cake with a smile, and hand the first slice to Nadira—a simple gesture, but one filled with meaning. And right after that, he would kneel.
In the midst of celebration, under the last bursts of fireworks, he would ask the most important question of his life.
Evan took a deep breath, trying to calm his pounding heart.
He had planned everything carefully.
Now all that remained was the right moment.
—