Hale's

Chapter 9

"Hale's floral arrangements, this is Hale speaking. How may I help you?"

"Hello," Rafael stuttered into the phone, unsure why he was nervous all of a sudden. "My name is Rafael Raine. On the past three Mondays I've received bouquets from your shop, but I don't know who they are from, and I was wondering if you could tell me who's placing these orders?"

"I'm terribly sorry, Mister Raine, but our clients' privacy is very important to us and I'm afraid I can't give out that kind of information," the cheerful female voice said over the phone.

"What?" Rafael asked outraged. "You're a flower shop not a bank!"

"I'm very sorry, sir," the woman said politely.

"Okay, okay... Hale, right?"

"Yes, sir?"

"I have a bit of a situation here... Like I said, for three weeks I've been getting flowers from your shop, but I don't know who the sender is and it's freaking me out. Could you please help me out here?" He asked as nicely as possible.

"I'm afraid there's nothing I can do for you, sir. I wish you a pleasant day!" She said cheerfully, hanging up before Rafael could yell at her.

"Argh!" he growled frustrated, staring at the shop's website. The shop was in Tonbridge. Why was a random shop in Tonbridge sending him flowers? Who did he know in Tonbridge? He hadn't been there since high school...

The only person he could think of who had ever lived in Tonbridge had been Wendy, but... There was no way. They hadn't had contact since... Since back then...
Besides, she hadn't been the one with the love for flower...

"Mister Raine?" Carmen interrupted his nervous thoughts. "The sales meeting started 10 minutes ago, sir."

"Right," Rafael said absently, following her down to the meeting that he was unable to focus on.

Could it be that the flowers were from Jonathan? No way, he would never do that. It was more of a Wendy gesture... Were they living in Tonbridge together? Happy without him? The mere thought made his stomach twist painfully with anger and sorrow. There was no way either of them would be sending him flowers; not after what had happened between them.

"Mister Raine?" Wesley, his sales manager and friend said loudly, pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Huh?" Rafael asked stupidly, looking around the table at the worried looking occupants.

"Shall we proceed with stock splitting then?" Wesley asked hesitantly.

"Oh, yes. Of course, go ahead." Rafael nodded, having been paying zero attention, but he trusted Wesley so whatever the man thought was best, was most likely best so it was fine.

Wesley nodded a bit concerned before dismissing the meeting, after which Rafael immediately wanted to head back to his office but was held up by Wesley.

"Hey Raf, wait up," Wesley ran after him from the meeting. "Are you alright?"

Rafael sighed. "Yeah, fine." He nodded, continuing to walk as soon as Wesley had caught up with him.

"Does this have anything to do with those flowers?" the man asked a bit amused.

"Do you know anything about that?" Rafael asked with a frown.

"No," Wesley shook his head. "You haven't even told me whom they're from."

"I don't know who they're from... I think maybe Wendy or something... Though that's crazy..." He muttered, more to himself than Wesley.