Stars of My Heart

After sunset, Matthew took Emily to the entrance of his apartment. Before leaving, he held her hands, looking directly into her eyes.

"I have an early meeting tomorrow, but if you're free tonight, I want to take you somewhere special."

Emily raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Special how? You're not going to give me any hints?"

"You'll have to trust me," he said with a mischievous smile. "Just be ready by 7 p.m."

"Okay, Mr. Mystery," she replied, laughing. "I'll be waiting."

Matthew kissed her goodbye and left. Emily entered the apartment with a smile on her face, still feeling the warmth of that moment. After putting the pendant in the box on her dresser, she decided to relax a little before going to sleep.

As she sat on the couch with a glass of wine, Emily began to think about what Matthew could be planning. He was always full of surprises, but she had a feeling this time would be something really special.

Matthew's sister Lara called right after, interrupting her thoughts.

"Hey, Emily! How was your day with my brother?" Lara asked, with the curiosity typical of a younger sister.

"It was wonderful. He got me an amazing gift," Emily said, smiling as she showed the pendant to the camera.

Lara was delighted.

"Wow, he really is in love, huh? Matthew isn't usually so... detailed with gifts. I think my brother is more serious about you than he realizes."

Emily blushed, but smiled.

"I feel like he is. He's unlike anyone I've ever met, Lara."

"I just hope he doesn't take you to work tomorrow and ruin the mood," Lara joked, laughing. "But seriously, I'm rooting for you both. You deserve the best, Emily."

"Thank you, Lara. And rest assured that I will take good care of your brother."

After ending the call, Emily prepared a relaxing bath and began planning what to wear for the mysterious meeting the next day. Something told her that this meeting would be an important milestone in their relationship.

When she finally lay down, she looked at the pendant again and sighed. Her days were full of surprises and happiness. She couldn't wait to find out what the future held for her with Matthew.

The next morning, Emily woke up to the soft sound of her favorite song playing on her alarm clock. The day looked promising, and she was already excited for the meeting planned by Matthew. After a quiet morning routine, she decided to take advantage of the hours before the big moment to organize some pending things.

While sorting clothes to donate and reviewing an itinerary she had recently received, her cell phone vibrated. A message from Matthew appeared on the screen:

Matthew: "I hope you're ready for the best night of your life. Remember, at 7pm. ;)"

Emily smiled, feeling her heart race. He knew how to intrigue her. Determined to impress him, she began to choose her look for the evening.

After trying on a few combinations, she opted for a long blue satin dress that highlighted her eyes, and discreet accessories. Her makeup was light, but highlighted her natural beauty, and her hair was left loose in soft waves.

As the night drew near, Emily began to feel a mix of excitement and curiosity. At 6:55pm, her intercom rang. It was Matthew, who, punctual as always, was waiting for her on the ground floor.

Going down in the elevator, she straightened her dress and took a deep breath. When she stepped out, she found Matthew standing next to an elegant car, wearing a black suit that made him look even more charming. He greeted her with a warm smile and held out his hand to her.

"You look stunning, Emily," he said, taking her hand and kissing it gently.

"And you look... simply perfect," she replied, admiring him.

Matthew opened the car door for her, and once they were both settled in, the driver started the car. During the drive, Matthew kept the mystery, dodging all of Emily's questions about their destination.

After a few minutes, they arrived at a lantern-lit venue with a romantic and exclusive atmosphere. It was a high-end restaurant known for its low-key nature and perfect for special occasions. Emily was charmed by the elegant and welcoming ambiance.

Matthew led her to a reserved table on a terrace overlooking the city. The view was breathtaking, with the city lights twinkling like stars.

"I thought this would be the perfect place for our date," Matthew said, gently pulling out the chair for her.

Emily looked around in amazement.

"It's more than perfect, Matthew. I don't even know what to say."

"Just enjoy it," he said, smiling. "Tonight is about you."

As they enjoyed an impeccable meal and talked about everything from childhood to future dreams, Emily realized how much she was in love with Matthew. Every detail, every gesture of his was designed to make her feel special.

"You know, Matthew, if you keep this up, I'm going to end up falling even more in love with you," she said jokingly, but with a sincere sparkle in her eyes.

"That's exactly my goal, Emily," he replied, holding her hand.

The evening continued with laughter, deep conversations and a toast to the future. Emily knew that this night would forever be etched in her memory as one of the most special of her life.