Perry Mason awoke the next morning nearly paralyzed with the staggering realization that he'd actually carried his plan to let his confidential secretary know how he felt about her. The sensation disoriented him. He wasn't accustomed to being surprised by anything he did, but he couldn't deny the fact that he was in this rare instance. It was surreal to know that when he walked into his own office in just a few hours his life would be forever changed. A declaration such as his would shift the dynamic of his relationship with Della Street in some way; that was unavoidable. Only the near future held the answer to whether Della felt the same way or if the office atmosphere would now be suffocatingly uncomfortable for a while until Della finally decided to look for work elsewhere.

The normally stoic defense attorney's heart squeezed with hope and fear as he sat up in bed. The covers were jerked back in an impatient motion and Perry padded into the bathroom to shower and ready himself for the day ahead.

In at least one way though, the day ahead would be like any other; there was a mystery in the offing. It was just on the personal front today.

Della was a morning person and most days she beat both Perry and Gertie to the office by a good half hour if not more. She left the light off in the front desk area not wanting to attract any early birds to Perry's office with the mistaken impression that the office was open already. She locked the door behind her and made her way to her own office. A confused frown creased her brow as she noted the light was still on.

"That's odd…," she mumbled to herself quietly. "I could have sworn I turned the light off before I left last night…"

Mentally she shrugged it off. It was a habit for her to make sure the lights were off and the office was secure before she left, but yesterday had been hectic so she supposed it was possible that she'd forgotten to turn off her own light. Or maybe Perry had come in early and needed her notes or something. Still, she was cautious as she opened the door. One couldn't be too careful in this day and age.

A soft gasp escaped her as her hazel eyes caught sight of her desk. A large and breathtaking arrangement of very red roses sat in the center of her desk. A card peeked out of the bouquet along with another envelope pinned under the vase by a corner.

"Who could these be from?" Della murmured as a delighted smile lit up her face. "And red roses at that!"

She plucked the small card from the arrangement first and gasped again as she read the short note.

With all my love, Perry

It was in his handwriting so there was no chance of her being pranked and she flushed with shame at the realization that she'd even assumed the possibility of such a thing in the first place. When had she become so cynical?

Probably about the time we started stumbling onto dead bodies and uncovering people's motives for just about anything…

Rounding her desk she slowly lowered herself into her chair, her heart pounding and her breathing shallow as she tried to digest the revelation that Perry Mason was in love with her. How had she missed it? After years of working closely with him, how had he managed to keep that so much to himself that she hadn't noticed even a hint or a clue? She'd never read anything into the dinners out or the occasional late nights out dancing. She'd just figured they'd been so busy with work so often that he hadn't really anyone else to go out with. How long had it been that he'd hoped for something else?

Her shaking fingertips stole out to brush the second envelope gently. She wondered at the contents, but her emotions threatened to overcome her. Perry was a very handsome, very kind and gentle man, and she found herself fully ready to reciprocate his feelings now that the door had been opened. But they worked together? It couldn't possibly be appropriate and ethical, though she was certain they were both professional enough to work together without letting their feelings impair their judgment. But then many others had before them, she supposed. But Perry had managed to for years already, keeping it so secret that even she hadn't detected it. Perhaps an office romance wouldn't be so harmful. They spent enough time together for it to practically built in, she mused.

Determined, the young secretary gently tugged the envelope from under the vase and plucked her letter opener from her drawer. Opening the letter quickly before she lost her nerve, Della unfolded it to find more of Perry's instantly recognizable and neat handwriting.

My darling Della,

I fear I haven't had as much practice penning love letters as I've had drawing up legal documents. We've worked closely together for several years now and in that time, I've come to develop very strong feelings for you. I've done my level best to keep those feelings private in order to preserve the strong working relationship and friendship we have. You're the best confidential secretary a man like me could ever hope to have and my practice has been so much the better for it.

But I've also come to realize that man can't live by work alone. My career will always be extremely important to me, but I wish to make time for other things. I wish to make time for a relationship with you and possibly more in the event you share my feelings. If you don't, I hope we can remain good friends and colleagues just as we have been all these years.

Hopelessly in love,

Perry

Della sat there staring at the letter as if unable to believe what she'd read. She reread it about five more times before the contents really sunk in for her. Glancing up at her clock, she realized Perry would likely arrive in about ten minutes so she ducked into the bathroom, hoping to get a grip on her emotions. Her mind was a maelstrom of thoughts and feelings and she needed to make a decision quickly. Lovesick and tormented by it, Perry would obviously be hoping to be put out of his misery with an answer one way or another. They were both consummate professionals, but their attraction was so strong that she wasn't sure acting on it could be avoided now that Perry finally put a voice to it. Now it all seemed so very real.

Exiting the restroom, she very nearly barreled into him.

"Oh, Perry!"