AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The next morning, I went for my run and then showered after my coffee for breakfast. My stomach still got knots when I met with new clients. I dressed in slacks and a silk, purple blouse. I pinned my hair up and put on some lipstick, I wanted to look presentable for the first meeting. Usually, they see me in my flower clothes which are just jeans and a ratty old tee.
I headed to the shop and got there around noon. I usually opened up about one anyway. When I ro
unded the corner, I nearly tripled in my heels.
I did a double take, even rubbed my eyes and checked to see if I had five fingers and not six before I accepted it. The man from the party was standing outside the shop. He was very concentrated on what was on his phone screen, but it was him. Dashing as ever in his jeans, crisp, linen white shirt, and a messy array of dark blonde hair falling over his forehead.
I felt my heart in my throat, and my chest in my stomach. Or the other way around. I didn’t know what was even going on at all. I couldn’t believe it. The feelings of that night came flooding back to me, and he was so attractive I felt it all over again. The heat creeping up my neck, the clench of my thighs and belly. My fingers were clammy, but it all went away when I put the pieces together.
It was him. He was the groom. He was getting married. Why else would he be at my shop? I never imagined his name being Levi, but I knew it was him who emailed me. Him who was getting married and wanted to make his fiancé happy. One month wasn’t long enough to fall in love and get married, he must have been engaged that night. Bile rose in my throat in disgust.
Everything I thought of him, the fantasy I built up came crashing down. I stepped back around the corner, leaning on the wall as I tried to catch my breath. I almost felt sick. Perhaps because I was both devastated and confused, mostly hurt at the truth. When I felt the wetness in my eyes I mentally cursed him for even making me feel this way.
But it was disappointing to think that everything I thought is a lie. Maybe I built him up in my head, but that night wasn’t a lie. He seemed very kind, more down to earth than anyone in that room. He felt good, too. I realized I was mostly disappointed he was taken but was fine with it if he was the type to cheat on his fiancé.
Before I knew it, I was walking away. I should not be unprofessional, but I just couldn’t do it. My emotions would overcome me and then I would have a bad reputation if I treated him badly or didn’t do a good job. I almost wished I hadn’t replied to the email because then it would seem I just never got it. But I did.
He would know I ignored him. And didn’t come. He couldn’t know it was me from the party, could he? I know I never told him, but there was a possibility he knew.
Either way, I was definitely never seeing him again.
Chapter Fourteen
Tristan
I grumbled, heading straight to the bathroom. I thought the hustle of the morning would make me forget about my ritualistic day dream of that woman, but it didn’t. When I was out of the shower, her face ran through my head. I imagined her in my bathroom, washing her face in the vanity, or brushing her teeth as I watched her tits bounce in the mirror.
I need to stop before I make myself late. The weather was hot, so I wore linen instead of cotton. The shop was farther in the city, so I took out my Tesla for the first time in a while. I realized I was paying an arm and leg for storing cars that I never drove.
I followed the directions and got to the floral shop a bit early. They weren’t open yet. Emilia’s was the name, and it fit. I peeked in the window, the flowers were beautiful, of course. Whoever it was did a good job with the gala, so I was sure they would do great with the wedding. I smiled softly when I saw the lilacs in the front, it was like my mother was reminding me to be nice and charitable. Help a friend in need and all that.
I leaned against the wall and waited, I was sure she would be here eventually. I busied myself with old emails, just checking on my stocks and the day trades. But it was taking too long. I waited and waited. Then noon came around and still nothing. I double checked the address, and I was in the right place.
I couldn’t believe she was a no show. Mom made her sound so professional, and she obviously was judging from her past work. So why the hell did she waste my time? I waited until ten after, maybe something happened. But by half after I was done waiting and stormed off.
I sped off back to the city and stopped at the red light almost too late. Maybe I got pissed easily, but I just didn’t like being stood up, or when people didn’t show up to meetings that they confirmed. She replied Levi’s email, so I know she knew about it.
As if I didn’t have enough to deal with, the car started ringing from a Bluetooth phone call. I pressed the answer button without checking who it was.
“Hello?” I barked.
“Someone is pissy.” I recognized that sultry, Latin voice. Gabriella had always been hot, I mean I wasn’t blind. But she had always been Levi’s.
“Hi, Gabriella.” I sighed, trying to calm down. Maybe something just came up and she contacted Levi instead of me. But I never like tardiness or anything like that. My employees knew meeting days were nothing to play with. My time was precious. I could have been sleeping.
“I just wanted to call and thank you for helping us out. Levi is working so hard on this case.”
“Yeah, he is. It’s no problem.”
“Did you already meet with the florist? I was hoping I could see some pictures. I have rounds for the next twelve hours.” I gritted my jaw in annoyance again.
“I didn’t. She didn’t show up.”
“Aw, well I was hoping I could get that done today. I was trying to stay on track as much as I could since the other florist quit. I guess I just have bad luck with florists.” She trailed off. Fuck, she sounded pretty sad.
“I’ll call her and tell her to get her shit together. Don’t worry about it.”
She gasped, “Really?” I smiled a bit. See, I could be nice.
