Page 52 of Greed

Yeah, that’s gonna work cause an archangel can’t reach you in a girl’s bathroom.

“What’s going on?” she said, nearing the group.

“Look, it’s crazy!” One of the other girls said, smiling.

Minetta looked in her cubicle, and her mouth fell open. The entire space was full of flowers. There wasn’t even space for her to sit because there was a huge bouquet on her chair. Flowers of every shape, size, and color, each arrangement was unique and beautiful. As the initial surprise began to wear off, the realization that this could only have come from three possible suspects. This wouldn’t be James. He didn’t have the money to pull off a gesture like this and wouldn’t even if he had the money. It could be Michael, but this didn’t seem like his style so that only left one person.

The arrangement of lotus flowers on the chair had a small card tucked in between a couple of the flowers. She leaned over the ones on the floor to reach it. Flicking it open, her heart pounded hard in her ears.

Minetta,

I’m sorry for Skye’s behavior and if I made you uncomfortable. I’d like the opportunity to make it up to you. I promise you will enjoy what I have in mind. Call my personal cell 555-666-6969

Ri

“Well, looks like someone has an admirer. You must have been a really good fuck to get all those.” Minetta turned and swung before she realized what she was doing. Her fist collided with Jared’s smug face, and he stumbled backward before landing on his ass.

“Don’t ever talk to me like that again.” Minetta fumed as she stared down at Jared’s shocked expression. “I mean it. I’m through with your attitude.”

“I’ll have you arrested for assault!”

“Go ahead and try. You’ve bullied me for the last time, Jared,” she yelled.

Jared got up and took off with his tail between his legs, like the rat that he was. Her co-workers cheered, and their claps became deafening. Once he was out of sight, she shook her hand and rubbed at her knuckles. She was going to need ice and hoped she hadn’t broken anything. That hurt more than it seemed to in the movies.

“It is about time someone laid him out for all the rude shit, he says. Good for you, girl,” one of the older women said, giving her a smile.

The phones were starting to light up, and everyone quickly rushed off to get back to work. The small break from calls was a rare and coveted thing.

Turning back to the florist’s store in her cubicle, she felt a smirk lift the corner of her mouth. She knew exactly what she was going to do with these because taking them home was not an option.

* * *

“Do you think I should call?” I asked Shilo as I paced the length of the Olympic-sized office. “Then again, she may not have seen them yet,” I said before Shilo could respond. “I mean, she should be at work by now. She should have seen them, right? How could she not see them? Maybe I didn’t send enough, or maybe I should have her house filled with flowers when she gets home from work. Oh, I like that.”

I unlocked the phone to call the florist. I’d already spent more than I ever had on anyone I was trying to impress, yet I was completely ready to triple it if needed. I paused for a moment. I’d never tried to impress anyone before—she was the first. Shaking off the thought, I thumbed through my recent calls to get the number.

“I think you sent enough, Sir,” Shilo said calmly from where he stood by the door.

I looked over at Shilo and tapped the phone in my palm. “If that’s the case, then why hasn’t she called?”

Shilo watched me resume my pacing around the room. His eyes following me were unnerving, like one of those creepy paintings where the eyes followed you while you walked past it. I didn’t like them. It always felt like the painting was holding onto secrets that I should know. I wanted to yell at him to stop staring, but that would only terrify the old angel. I’d made that mistake once in the early part of our working relationship, and it took over a month to get Shilo to feel comfortable being alone in the same room with me again.

“Sir, I think you should just let her be. If she is interested, then she will call.”

“What, and let Michael win? Never. I need to make her mine. I need to get her away from that white-winged abydocomist.” I made my way to the far end of the office and stared at the portrait of myself. I glanced at my Rolex. She should’ve called by now.

“Sorry Sir I didn’t catch that last word.”

“Abydocomist,” I repeated, noticing that the new arrangement was uneven. “You know, he’s a liar and a fake.” Reaching up, I fixed the black and cream arrangement that I’d had delivered at the same time as Minetta’s flowers. They were stunning but looked way too messy. I’d have to remember not to use that designer again.

“Sir, Minetta is at work. Maybe she is simply busy. Unlike yourself, she does not have the freedom to make her own hours or rules. She is much like the employees that work on the lower floors of this building.”

I checked my phone again and then tapped my chin with it as I mulled over the best course of action. “Maybe, but she could’ve sent a text. I don’t understand it. How could she resist my apology? I just don’t understand how she can resist me? I saw interest in her eyes, Shilo, I swear to you I did, and yet she keeps her distance.”

“Sir, she is not like the other girls that come here simply for pleasure. I feel you will need a different approach.”

“I don’t get it. I just don’t get it and need to know. No, I can’t wait. I have to know if she got them. Don’t you think?”