FLAVIA'S POV
"It's a good thing we are meeting at your office today because I was beginning to think you wanted to scam me." Louis my new client said as soon as he entered the office. I am excited about the prospect of having a new client and I am glad that he finally made it for our appointment but it's so upsetting that he showed up late. I hired this office for just an hour and he already wasted forty five minutes. "You are late." I pointed out. "That's funny, I am the one paying you, so I can decide to show up anytime I like. Anyways, show me what you have put together." He sat across from me and if not because I need the money so much, I wouldn't have worked for him because he is so obnoxious and randy, just like I remembered and I am even more upset that he can't remember me or maybe he is just pretending not to. "Well, this are the designs I was able to come up with, have a look." I turned my laptop to his direction, so that he can see the samples I came up with. "This is a joke right?" I stared at him flustered about what he is talking about. "Of course it has to be a joke, you don't expect me to like any of these nonsense right?" He asked and my blood boiled, why will he refer to my work as nonsense. "I beg your pardon, are you suggesting that you don't like any of them?" "No, I am not suggesting. I am telling you that I fucking hate them, everything here looks cheap and below my standard, do I need to remind you that I am a billionaire and my wedding needs to be massive and the talk of the town for months?" Oh gosh, I hate the fact that I am in desperate need of money. "Well, maybe if you have given me a budget, I would have known how big I should go." I pointed out because at this point, I am honestly confused. I hate that he is making me feel incompetent, I mean I know I haven't planned a big wedding before but I can do it, I am really good at my job, so he has no right to bullshit my efforts. "I said there is no limit, go fucking wild." "Look Mr Frederick, you have to be specific because my wild might be small compared to you and saying unlimited budget is not helping me and don't forget that the wedding is in two weeks, so the earlier the better." I explained because the unlimited budget is driving me crazy and I really don't know how large I should go with the planning. "Fine, what about fifty." Is he pulling my legs because what the hell does he mean by fifty? "You mean fifty thousand dollars?" "Don't be ridiculous Miss, I mean fifty million dollars. Let's start with that and see how far it can go." I have never seen that amount of money before, by the time I am done with this wedding, I will be made for life. I will probably be a millionaire, I will finally be able to pay my house rent and I can also set up a proper office space for my business. Oh my goodness, I am so happy. Now I have more reasons to tolerate his bullshit till after the wedding, I am finally going to have financial freedom. "Okay that's fine, I will work on the designs again to fit your budget and I will get..." "Excuse me." He interrupted just as his phone started ringing. I watched as he struggled to get his fat body out of the chair and I couldn't help but wonder how he got into the chair in the first place. "Hey honey, I have been trying to reach you for days?" He said as he started pacing around the office. "Well I am glad you are okay, how have you been?" It's hard to believe that the same guy that has been so rude and arrogant to me is the same guy talking sweetly over the phone, well I guess he just doesn't like me just like I don't like him. "When are you coming back because I am with the wedding planner and she's driving me crazy with her bullshit, you should be the one handling this." I guess he is right about that, I will prefer to deal with her than with him. He is too annoying for my liking. "What, what do you mean by you are not coming?" "That's a joke right? The wedding is in a few weeks, you can't do this?" I know it's wrong but I am getting anxious and I really wish I could hear what she's saying to him. "You can't do this to me Emily, please. The wedding can't be off." Off? Did he say off? Hell no, I am just about to be a millionaire, there is no way I will lose this opportunity, oh God I really need this money. "Please, you can't leave me Emily, the wedding has to go on. Emily, Emily Emily. Fuck." He cursed as soon as the call ended and that's when it became clear that I just lost my opportunity but at least, he is a billionaire, so he should be able to compensate me for all the wasted effort. "Ummm, sorry. I have to go now." "Oh no Mr Frederick, you can't just leave like that. We just finalized on the fifty million dollars, so you have to make some deposit." I mean he can't just leave without paying me anything, I rented this office space because he insisted on knowing my office and I have spoken to a few vendors already, what am I going to tell them now? "Are you blind, deaf or plain stupid? I know you listened to my conversation but just in case it wasn't clear enough,my fiancee just broke up with me. So what deposit are you asking for, am I going to get married to myself?" I was about to reply when the door flew open and the security guard stepped in. "Miss Flavia, you guys have to leave now. The owner of the office is back." Shit, he should have just called me aside instead of saying it in front of Louis. "This is not even your office, I guess I was right after all. You wanted to scam me, well your gig is up, the wedding is off."FLAVIA'S POV I smooth the soft fabric of my dress over my hips, checking myself one last time in the mirror. The soft pink satin glows under the warm lights of my vanity, and for once, I feel... good.My hair is curled just the way I like it, lips glossed in a subtle peach, and my favorite pair of nude heels sit ready by the foot of the bed. I glance at the clock, it's thirty minutes until I meet Carter at the restaurant... He sent the address a while ago and the restaurant is just fifteen minutes away, so I still have enough time.But the weird thing is, my heart isn't racing like it should be. In fact, I’m oddly calm. Maybe even too calm.I glance down at my phone again, wondering if I’m making the right decision. Dinner with Carter is harmless, a way to distract myself, a way to feel something other than this mess of confusion over Louis.Just as I reach for my perfume, my bedroom door burst opened... I spun around, shocked.Louis.He didn’t knock, didn't say a word. He just opene
FLAVIA'S POV "Oh yes, I am. You are in the office right?" I asked curiously."Yes I am.""Okay, come to the parking lot, I need to show you something." I said eagerly."Really, I am on my way." She said as I heard a few shuffling in the background."Hurry." I said before ending the call. Her mind is going to be blown, I still find it difficult to believe that I am the proud owner of a car and not just an ordinary car, but a Mercedes.I barely had time to adjust my lipstick in the rearview mirror before I saw her coming, strutting across the parking lot, hips swaying, heels clicking with authority like she owns the asphalt. Her eyes lock onto the car, then narrow as she approaches with caution.She stops right at my door, hands on her hips. "Who the hell did you rob?"I burst into laughter and push the door open, stepping out. "Do you like it?" I asked curiously but from the look in her eyes, I can already tell that she loves it.She circles the car slowly, inspecting it like a suspi
FLAVIA'S POV Three days, that’s how long I have managed to evade Louis Frederick under the same roof. It was a delicate dance, listening for the echo of his shoes in the hallway, the low murmur of his voice on a call, the sound of the engine pulling out of the driveway. Only then would I emerge from my room, moving like a shadow from the top floor to the kitchen, careful not to leave a trace. I timed my mornings like a military operation, only when I am certain he has left for work did I come down, grab breakfast in a rush, and disappear to my new office. The office, the fight over the flowers and everything in between all swirled in my head like a storm I couldn’t escape. I don't hate him, I am not sure I have ever hated him but I don't want to feel whatever it is I am starting to feel, not for him. Not for a man who has made it abundantly clear that I am temporary, an accessory to be worn to galas and meetings. A placeholder bride with a contract and an expiration date.And yet…
LOUIS'S POV I hate when the house is quiet like this.There is something unsettling about silence after a fight, like the tension is still clinging to the walls, replaying every word with sharper edges. I could still hear her voice, thick with anger. Her eyes... God, those eyes had looked at me like I am a monster in a tailored suit.I shouldn’t have snapped at her like I did.I ran a hand down my face, bracing myself on the kitchen island, glaring at the orchids like it was their fault. It wasn’t about the damn flowers, not really. It was about everything else. About how she started leaving her scent in the rooms, her softness in the air, her damn laugh in places where silence used to live and I didn’t know how to deal with that.Flavia wasn’t supposed to… matter. I told myself that the contract was business, that she was just a solution. A temporary fixture to cover up the mess left behind by Emily and the looming eyes of people, media and my workers.And yet, here I am, angry over
FLAVIA'S POV I never knew flowers could feel like landmines. The orchids on the marble kitchen island were a soft shade of lilac, delicate and perfectly arranged. I reached out instinctively to adjust one of the petals, only slightly because it looked like it was leaning the wrong way."Don’t touch that." Came a voice from behind me and without turning around, I knew it was Louis.I froze. "It’s just a flower, Louis."His footsteps were clipped against the marble floors as he entered the kitchen. "That’s not the point."I turned around slowly, watching him stand there in a blue jeans and a black polo shirt buttoned by the neck and he looks so cute as usual, I love seeing him in casual outfits as well as cooperates, he looks good either ways. It's Sunday and he is not going to work."What is the point, then?" I asked curiously.He narrowed his eyes at the vase. "I had it arranged a certain way."I blinked. "So? I just nudged a petal.""You moved it. The alignment is off." God. Is he
LOUIS'S POV The corner office buzzed with the low hum of city life, even from the twentieth floor. I sat behind my desk, scrolling through figures on my screen, but not really seeing any of them as something lingered in my mind."She hugged me." It was brief, warm. Sudden and then she pulled back like she touched fire.I should have forgotten it by now but I can't get it off my mind.The soft knock on the door didn’t startle me, it was sudden and unexpected but only one person knocked like he owned the place."Come in." I said, without looking up.Tommy strolled in with a cup of coffee in each hand, he placed one on my desk before slumping into the chair opposite me. His suit jacket was unbuttoned, tie loosened like always. "I heard from Lidia that Flavia came in this morning," He said casually, before sipping his coffee. "You showed her the vacant floors?"I didn’t reply reply because I can already tell where this is going."You did, didn’t you?" He grinned. "You gave her a space,