Rice, Rice, baby

Chapter 10

"Liv, this just arrived for you."

"For me?"

"Yep" my coworker says, giving me a big bouquet of roses.

"Oh, thank you."

"You're welcome" he smiles before walking away.

Told you the flowers in Paris were the first of many ;) -DR

"DR" I chuckle.

"Now you are allowed to receive flowers at work?"

"Bloody hell, Sonny!" I scream, the bouquet almost falling from my hands. "You scared me!"

"Sorry" he apologizes. "But it's not my fault that you were too focused on reading your love letter."

"I wasn't reading a love letter" I say, hiding the note in my pocket.

"Of course not, Liv. Of course not" he laughs. "Who is the lucky guy?"

"No one."

"Oh, c'mon. I saw the way you were smiling, those flowers are from a suitor. Who is he? Do I know him?"

"They aren't from a suitor."

"Liv..."

"They aren't" I insist. "They are a late birthday gift from a family member."

"A family member?" he asks.

"Yes."

"And why are they sending them here and not to your house?"

"Because..."

"Liv!" Olga says, running towards us. "Liv, the meeting! We are gonna be late!"

"Oh, yes, sorry. I almost forgot."

"Yeah, you were busy with your flowers that are from a family member and not a suitor" Son smirks.

"Exactly" I reply, sticking out my tongue. "Let's go, Olga."

"Wait, your what?" she says with a confused look.

"Nothing. C'mon" I say, grabbing her arm and walking away.

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"That was the longest meeting ever" Olga sighs.

"It was" I say, stretching as I get up. "Oh, sorry. I didn't see you...there."

"It's ok. It isn't the first time you hit me while stretching" Alex says. Alex. I hadn't seen him since my birthday. I didn't even know he was sitting behind us.

"How are you?"

"Good."

And then, silence. The most awkward silence ever.

"Olivia?" our boss calls. "Olivia, could you come over here? There is something I need to discuss with you."

"Yes, of course" I say, looking at her and then at Alex again. "See you around?"

"Maybe" he shrugs. "Nice flowers, by the way."

"I... umm... thank you."

"Are you coming, Olga?" he asks her.

"Yes, sure. Good luck, Liv" she says before walking away, Alex completely changing his mood and smiling and talking with her as he used to do with me.

"Olivia?" my boss calls again.

"Yes, sorry" I say, joining her.

"Thank you for staying for a bit longer, Olivia" she smiles.

"Of course. Did something happen?"