"What are your plans for tonight, Lovina?"

The small auburn-haired woman didn't look up from the paperwork she was working on. "Nothing. Why? Am I supposed to have plans?"

Elizaveta sighed, rolling her eyes. "Yes! It's Valentine's Day, duh!"

"So? Buon San Valentino, if that's what you'd like to hear from me. What does it matter?"

"Oh, come on! You're no fun at all. Don't tell me you're going to sit at home and mope again! You haven't done that in, what, the five hours we've been at work? Liven up."

"Hey, I don't mope. I contemplate the universe." Elizaveta snorted and Lovina shot her a glare before continuing. "But I am going to sit at home. It's quiet, it's comfortable, it's familiar, and I can get some work done. Also, I don't have to worry about some fucktard ruining my life."

Her co-worker sighed again and leaned on the partition wall between their desks. "I get it. You're not moping, but you're not contemplating the universe. Can't fool me, babygirl. You're thinking about Antonio again."

Lovina's grip on her ballpoint pen tightened. Her knuckles turned white. "No." Elizaveta raised an eyebrow. "Possibly. Okay, fine, yes. But you know what? Fuck him!"

Elizaveta giggled and bit back a snarky response of, 'I bet you would'. She brushed hair away from her face, pinning it back by readjusting her flower clip. "Alright, I get it. Something happened. I know it did. What was it? Did you sleep with him?"

"No."

"Almost sleep with him?"

"No."

"Give him a-"

"NO! God! Go back to work already!"

"I won't stay out of the loop forever, you know. You're going to have to tell me sometime. Now is as good as ever. So, out with it! I want-" She was cut off as the phone at her desk rang. She jerked away from the partition wall, snatching the receiver in mid-ring. "Hello, this is Elizaveta, how can I help you?" She paused a moment, listening. "Vargas? Well, yes, as a matter of fact. Are you looking for Lovina or Felicia?" In the next desk over, Lovina raised her head with an expression of bewilderment. Felicia didn't work here, if that's who the caller was asking for. "I see… I see. Yes, you too sir. Have a nice day." Setting the receiver back down, she turned to Lovina, looking confused. "Huh. That was weird."

"What do you mean?"

Elizaveta leaned on the wall again. "Caller asked if a Vargas still worked here. Said Lovina, didn't want to talk to you, but was wondering, then wished me a happy Valentine's and hung up."

Lovina huffed, rolling her eyes. "Creep. Hey, listen, I've got a lot of work to do. I think I'm going to stay here for lunch."

"Seriously? You're bailing on the whole office? It's Valentine's Day, we were all gonna go together!"

"Sorry. I just think that with a little quiet time, I might get more done."

Elizaveta rolled her eyes, kissing the top of Lovina's head as she passed. "You work too hard, darling. Don't forget to eat." She waved, then ran to catch up with the rest of the group by the elevators. Lovina chuckled, shaking her head as silence washed over the office. Accessing her computer, she opened a word document, recording data off a sheet of paper. A moment later, her cell phone pinged an alert.

"God," she said, half-sighing, "Can't they just let me work? I don't fucking want to spend time with friends right now…"

However, she found that the text was from a number she didn't recognize.

Please don't forget to eat. I cooked for you. Lunch is in the office kitchen.

Lovina stared at the message, contemplating. After a moment, she set down her pen and walked over to the elevators across the room, punching the button for the first floor. The doors dinged and opened after the elevator had stopped. As she pushed open the door to the kitchen, Lovina paused and sniffed.

"I know that smell…"

She pushed the rest of the way into the room, seeing a place set out for her at the main counter, a stool to sit on beside it. Biting her lip, she walked over to the counter, murmuring to herself.

"Bacalao con Tomate without potatoes on the side… Pinot Gris to drink…" A small smile ghosted along her lips, though it was laced with pain. "Spanish dish, Italian wine. Just like… like dinner with Toni…"

She slid up onto the stool, carefully picking up the wine glass to take a sip. Then, with more hesitation, took a small bite of the tomato-covered fish on the plate. The Italian's shoulders relaxed. She closed her eyes, allowing herself a moment to remember her ex-boyfriend. The reverie was interrupted as her cell phone pinged again. The text was from the same mystery number as before.

Champagne and flan in refrigerator after the meal.

Once again, Lovina subconsciously let a smile twitch at her lips. She considered thanking the mystery texter who had provided her with one of her favorite meals, but decided against it. It probably wasn't a good idea anyway.

Taking her empty plate over to the sink, she rinsed it off and swished water through the wine glass, then opened the refrigerator and pulled out a small dessert plate. The champagne sparkled, a single glass sitting on a shelf, as if waiting to be paired with the sweet Spanish dessert.

Once she'd finished the flan, a creamy custard doused in caramel sauce, she held in a sigh. Two months ago, she might have been eating that meal with Antonio. And, knowing her ex-boyfriend, it would have been that exact meal.

Leave the dishes. I'll get them. Go ahead and get back to work.

Shaking her head, she made her way back up two stories to her floor of the office building. At her desk, she found a small piece of hard candy sitting atop her paperwork. As she unwrapped it and popped it into her mouth, her phone pinged again.

Don't work too hard. Everyone needs relaxation time, even you.

For the third time that hour, Lovina struggled against a smile. Whoever this mystery texter was, they were winner her over- quickly.