2X The Hear

by Nicole Elliot

  I read the email over. He really did seem desperate, and I think it was sweet that he wants to please his fiancé so much. I had a few days of break from the last event, so there was no reason to say no. it’s just that weddings are so different, and I was afraid the short notice would make it hard to get things ordered on time. We would have to start right away.

  I replied saying I would meet him, it was passed appropriate business hours so I didn’t expect a reply. My dinner tasted even better knowing I had another client. I wasn’t sure if I would charge him double though, but of course there is nothing I can do if he insists.

  Chapter Twelve: Tristan

  I had nothing to do the next day except dread the coming ones. Mom always seemed to know when I was down in the dumps. It was the middle of the day and I was laid out on my couch, watching Tech Specs.

  “Hey, mom.”

  “Hi honey, what are you doing? Probably nothing.”

  “Spot on. I was actually trying to find a florist for Levi. He’s getting married and he asked me to be his best man.”

  “Oh, that’s sweet. You two have always been so close. But why are you trying to find a florist?” She asked me.

  “Theirs quit and he asked me to help him out with all of the planning. He has this case keeping him busy; wants everything to be perfect for Gabrielle.” I explained, my voice even.

  “Oh, that’s sweet honey. Why do you pretend to be mean? Anyway, won’t it be hard for you?” She asked me.

  “Not really. Vivian hired a planner.” I murmured. I suspected she would ask me that. And I especially didn’t want to tell Natalie because she would definitely give me hell for it.

  “I see. Well if you need a florist I know a really good one. She actually did the charity ball for Sasha, she hired her.”

  My breath stilled. The thought of that ball brought me back to the woman in the maze. And the flowers I fucked her up against.

  “Really?” I cleared my throat.

  “Yeah. I’ll send you her info.” Seconds later, my phone went off with her message.

  “Thanks. How are you and dad?” I should probably call my dad more, but I never needed to most of the time. He usually bothers me about twice every month.

  “Good, we are working on another development. I actually think it will be our last one.” She sighed.

  “Really? Retiring already?” I smirked. Mom and dad weren’t that old.

  “Maybe. We haven’t really thought about it. Just a thought right now. I have to go into this meeting but I’ll talk to you later on.”

  “Okay, bye mom.”

  “I love you.”

  I checked the contact information and sent it to Levi. Hopefully he wasn’t too busy that he couldn’t coordinate with the florist himself. Emilia Michelle was her name, it almost sounded like a pen name. Suitable enough for a florist.

  He said his thanks and I continued watching television in peace. I was too young to not be working. Maybe I should start another company, I kind of missed the work. The technology part of it, not the business side. This time I would bring someone in for all of that.

  I dismissed the thought for a moment, but I was always intent on doing something with mobile apps and wired connectivity. I could partner with a bigger company, or do it on my own. But like my mom and dad retiring, it was just a thought.

  I spent the rest of the night with a few beers and a movie, and I ended up falling asleep on the couch. I woke back up with the sun trickling in my eyes and I groaned. Realizing I was still on the couch I got up slowly and made my way back to my bed and shut my blinds. I was just falling back asleep when I heard my phone ring.

  “Hello?” I asked groggily

  “Dude, it’s eleven in the morning,” Levi said.

  Fair enough.

  “What’s up?” I rolled out on my bed, putting my phone on speaker. I yawned as I rubbed the water from my eyes. I’m getting old, that has to be why I wake up so sore.

  “I can’t make it to meet the florist at noon. Help me out, please?”

  He sounded like he was driving, speeding too. I didn’t want him getting into an accident or something.

  “Sure man, don’t sweat it.”

  “Thanks, I’ll send you the address.” He hung up.

  I groaned and tried to get a few more minutes of sleep, but then I read his message and found out the meeting was across town at noon, I had to get up.

  “Fuck, me.”

  Chapter Thirteen: Emilia

  I decided to call Ivy and tell her the good news.

  “Hey, are you busy?” I asked her.

  “Nope, just sorting the boss’s emails.” She groaned. That is arguably her least favorite part of the job, the clerical stuff.

  “I just got another client. A wedding.”

  “Oh yay, I love weddings!” She squealed. It made me laugh because I know she only likes them because I bring her. She finally got to break her dry spell at the last one.

  “I know you do. Anyway, I’m meeting him tomorrow at the shop. I just wanted to tell you so I could make it official.” I laughed.

  “Aw, well I’m happy for you. See, something good did come out of that ball.” Yeah, and into me too.

  “Yeah, that’s true.”

  We talked for a little bit before we both had to turn in.

  The next morning, I went for my run and then showered after my coffee for breakfast. My stomach still got knots when I meet 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 rounded 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 wants 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 just 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 is 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 is a possibility he does.

  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 drive.

  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 am sure they will 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’m 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, I left in anger.

  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 don’t show up to meeting that they confirm. 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’m not blind. But she has always been Levi’s.

  We used to double date a lot when I met Vivian. But they never got along, good thing I guess.

  “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 can be nice.

  “Yeah. I’ll call you later.”

  I hung up. I stopped at the Starbucks around the corner for some iced coffee. I needed serious caffeine and something to really cool me off. Then I called the florist and it went to voicemail after two rings. Seriously?

  So, I just took the opportunity to leave an angry voicemail, asshole move. But I was mad.

  “Miss Michelle, this is Tristan Cox. We were scheduled to meet today and I was waiting outside your shop for you to show up, but you didn’t. Obviously. The bride and I are on a tight schedule, so we need to meet today. Call me back.”

  I pressed end, almost cracking the phone in the process. Maybe that’s an exaggeration but I was close enough. Once I finished my coffee, I still hadn’t gotten a reply. So, I called her again, and there was still no answer. I had half a mind to find another one, but apparently, a two-week deadline isn’t something florists are very fond of. If we wanted to stay on track, we’re sort of stuck with the no show girl. I was already invested in this, I take things very seriously. It may seem like only a favor but I go for things head on. And it pisses me off when other people block me.

  I hate to think ill of the girl, but she needs to answer her damn phone. Maybe she got in a wreck or something. That would be the only acceptable excuse right now.

  I got ready to leave and was in my car when Levi called me.

  “Hey, how did it go?” It was after one, he probably thought I had already met with her.

  “She didn’t show up, man. Gabriella even called me earlier and she sounded pretty bummed about it. I told her I would try and meet with her today again. But she isn’t answering her phone.”

  “Shit. I don’t think any other florist would agree to this deadline.”

  “I know. I’ll try my best, just worry about your case. I’ll let you know if something is dire.”

  “Thanks man, you are really helping me out. I gotta run.” He hung up.

  I made a U-turn and headed back to the shop. Surely, she would be there by now, and if I cornered her in her work place, she definitely couldn’t run. If she did, she didn’t have any business running a shop. If I avoided every situation I didn’t want to be in back before I sold my company, it would never be worth millions of dollars.

  I pulled up to the street and found a parking spot right out front. I strode into the shop; the door was open now as I expected. I heard something in the back, so I followed the noise. I didn’t want to be an intruding guest or anything, so I stayed by the counter. Moments later someone rounded the corner.

  I heard a gasp, and turned in its direction. I almost gasped too, but instead I just looked on in confusion. In a matter of moments, she rounded the corner, and stopped in her tracks. It was the woman from the ball. My baby doll, the women I have literally been dreaming about for weeks. The woman I have been going on and on about, wishing I could see her again.

  And it was the florist that can’t answer her phone either. Her eyes met mine, and then the vase she was holding fell and shattered on the ground.

  Chapter Fifteen: Emilia

  The bride and I are on a tight schedule, so we need to meet today.

  The word washed over me like an acid. Or the worst poison. It went right to my core, like it was piercing my heart. I almost wanted to cry and then I felt so pathetic for it.

  We were not dating, and he surely did not owe me anything. But it still hurt. I had escaped to a small café around the corner. I needed something to calm me down, so I ordered some tea. That’s when I saw the call. I didn’t have to see into the future to know it was him calling me, following up on why I didn’t show up.

  What I hated the most was that he made me so unprofessional. I don’t skip meetings, I don’t blow people off or stand potential clients up. But here I was. Being an unprofessional florist. I knew I had to get my head out of my ass, but I needed a minute.

  I spent a month literally dreaming about this guy. Waking up thinking about him, going to bed thinking about him, even pleasuring myself to him! He wiggled his way into my life at the oddest of times and then I had to run from him.

  I suppose it is a good thing since he was fucking engaged. The man was about to get married and I am over here fuming over tea about him. I wanted to google ‘what to do if your crush is engaged,’ but I was not in high school anymore.

  He called me again while I sat there, but I wasn’t ready to answer the phone yet. I had to get over this before I met him. It would be even worse if I was yelling at a client about being engaged when he was fucking me up against a wall. Or even worse, not being able to hold it together in front of his fiancée and then ruining two people’s lives. I couldn’t do that to t
hem or myself.

  So, I needed to fume. Gather my thoughts. Make up a story, and then get about the work. Being around my flowers would help. They were almost the same as being around my mother. He couldn’t be there anymore, so I finished my hot tea and then walked back to the shop. I nervously cleared the corners before I kept going and entered the shop.

  The smell hit me; lilacs and roses together are something out of a dream. I had put the lilacs in the front after the ball, remembering that it was his favorite flower. But now I just wanted them out of the way. I replaced them with purple daffodils, filling the vases with something new. I changed out the water and clipped the beads.

  All the flowers needed to be clipped, it would take a while. But I was glad to do it. It was a welcome distraction. A few people walked in, I sold about two hundred dollars’ worth of flowers. Graduation season was the best for me, second to Christmas. I put on a friendly smile and served my customers. Why could I do that with the man from the ball? Because he was buried so deep inside you, you forgot your own name.

  That’s true.

  It wasn’t until two that things slowed down, and I could finish up in the back. The bell of the door swung open with another customer. I smiled softly and grabbed the vase of lilacs to put next to the peonies.

  But when I rounded the corner, it wasn’t just any customer. He stood by the counter, unseeingly tall amidst the flowers. The sunshine from the skylight fell right onto him, setting his hair aflame under the light, showing me the rigid lines of his muscles visible under the thin linen shirt. His thighs were thick and strong, his ass was a perfect round apple in those pants. My stomach clenched at the memory of him spreading my legs apart with those thighs. He had his hands in his pockets, the veins of his forearm leading right down to the seam of his pants. Why does he have to be so perfect? If he wasn’t so god damned gorgeous, I don’t think I would be in this much of cahoots.