Estelle

8 | Flowers and a Note

A harsh light shines over my eyes and I groan, rolling over in my suddenly hot bed.

When I open my eyes, my head pounds with the sudden light and I throw my arm over my face.

My bed is completely lit up with sunlight and the sheets are too warm.

I groan and sit up in bed, looking around my rooM. The vanilla walls now look a bit more golden with the sunlight shining through my window. I have to squint when looking around at my bright room.

My head pounds with the sudden bright light and I groan again.

How did I let myself get that drunk? I don't remember drinking a lot and I also have no idea how I got home.

Finding a full glass of water next to my bed, I drink it greedily before entering the kitchen for more.

To my surprise, a bouquet of deep red hellebore flowers sits in a white vase in the middle of my kitchen table.

I freeze as I stare at the flowers. All five pedals are a brilliantly deep red with the yellow center of the flower standing out. The flower's face points downward while the unopened buds point up.

There is no way I bought them last night. No shop should have been open.

Accelius flashes through my mind. He would be someone to send me flowers.

I feel disgusted that he would be in my apartment while I'm not myself. What if something bad happened? I clearly cannot remember anything.

Before I can throw them out, I feel a sudden and powerful headache take over my mind.

I rush to the kitchen and search in the cabinet for some pain killers. As I swallow two, something on the counter catches my eye.

A little pink note laying by the sink that reads "Drink and eat something."

I frown and feel a chill run down my spine. A note like that left by Accelius is not out of the good of his heart. He is doing it to sickeningly court me.

Suddenly, my home does not feel so safe. I rush to get ready and call Blue up.

"Blue, let's go out to get breakfast."

"It's 8am. Don't you want to sleep more?"

"Please?"

Blue is silent before letting out a sigh. "Okay. Let's go to the diner down your road."

At the diner, I order an omelet and orange juice while Blue orders two eggs and bacon.

"Blue, what happened last night?"

Blue puts down her fork. "You mean you don't remember?"

I rub my head. "No, I don't. Did I do something embarrassing?"

Or dangerous?

Blue chuckles and I am taken aback. "You didn't do anything wrong. If anything, the night went really well for you. Are you sure nothing is going on between you and your boss?"

"Mr. Irey?" I'm very confused.

"Mhm. Your drink was spiked last night so that's why you feel like crap. He took you back to your place. He seemed really concerned. More than a normal boss would."

I am dumbfounded. "He did what? Oh God, I probably embarrassed myself."

"Alec took me back to my place after Mr. Irey reassured me that you were going to be fine."

The flowers. The note. Was that from Mr. Irey?

Suddenly, I feel a combination of happiness and guilt. I am happy that he was so kind and caring. With someone who shows little emotion and rarely speaks, he can be very kind and caring when it counts.

The guilt is from thinking that he was Accelius instead. They are so different and should never be compared to each other.

I smile down at my half eaten omelet. Everything feels better. My only concern now is how I probably embarrassed myself.

My chest feels warm and I can't help but feel excited to get home and see the flowers again.

Then I remember what Blue said.

Alec took her home.

I give Blue a mischievous smile. "So Alec took you home?"

Blue stops eating her beacon and grins. "Uh, yeah."

"Did anything happen?"

"Well. Sort of. Jane, he makes me feel safe, you know? I don't think about my family back in England when I'm with him. Every kind gesture he does makes me happier than I have ever been."

I smile. "That's awesome. I'm happy for you."

Kind gestures. It does make me feel happier than I have ever been.

The day moves on as usual with me recovering from my hangover. The hellebore on the table catches my eye through the day and I can't help but smile.

The sun begins to set on Italy and the colors of the sky cast a bright light into my apartment before fading all together.

The lights in the city turn on and the night life of a Sunday begins.

I am about ready for bed when my phone begins to buzz in my pocket.

I pull it out and frown when I read the name on the phone.

Adonis Irey.

I answer, feeling nervous.

"Hello?"

"Jane, I need you to come to this address..." his voice sounds rushed as he gives me the address.

"Why? Is something wrong?"

I hear a loud bang in the background of the phone and my heart drops.

"Was that a gun shot? Mr. Irey, you need to call the..."

"Just come, Jane. Be careful."

The phone goes dead.