HIS FLOWER

CHAPTER FIVE

FLORIA

I caught a taxi, sobbing quietly as tears streamed down my face. I dialed Ivory's number, impatiently waiting for her to pick up.

"Where are you, Ivy?" I whimpered.

Her cheerful voice filtered through, a stark contrast to my distress.

"I'm coming to you," I replied.

I gave the taxi driver her address, and he dropped me right in front of her gate. I hurried inside to her apartment, falling into her arms once she opened the door.

"What's wrong, Lori? Did Jayden do this to you?" she inquired, scanning me for bruises.

"No."

"Then who?" she pressed, concern etched on her face.

"His P.A. doesn't like me," I sobbed, recounting the painful encounter. "She called me a slut, said I was just fronting as a delivery person. She humiliated me."

Ivory's expression darkened. "I'll kill that bitch."

Clearly I'm not the most likeable person, but it doesn't make it hurt less when openly it's expressed. I don't know why they keep trying to break when I'm already broken.

She rocked me back and forth as I cried on her chest.

"She had security ready to throw me out. She thinks I'm distracting Jayden."

"And how is it your fault if the man wants to be distracted?" Ivory asked, logic in her voice.

"What did Jayden say?" she pressed.

"He saved me from the scene," I whispered, feeling shy.

"Can you remember word for word what he said?" Ivory asked, curiosity in her eyes.

I nodded, warmth rushing to my face.

"I think I do."

Ivory smiled, wiping my eyes with the back of her hand. "Is that a blush I see on your face? Spill, girl."

I giggled, trying to hide my flushed cheeks.

"He said next time I come to his office, I should come straight to him. If anyone tries to stop me, I should report it to him."

Ivory's eyes sparkled. "Why do I feel like there's more to that?"

"He cautioned her and threatened to fire her," I admitted.

Ivory's face lit up. "He'll fire his P.A. because she was rude to you? He's won himself some major points already!"

I sulked, my mood taking a downturn.

"I don't want him to fire anyone, especially not because of me."

Ivory reassured me, "If the bitch could be rude to you, she can bear being kicked off her high horse."

Tears welled up in my eyes again.

"I just don't know, Ivy. I don't want anyone losing their job because of me."

Ivory pulled me into a hug. "At least we know he didn't actually fire her. He just threatened."

After a comforting dinner of seafood fried rice, we spent the rest of the day studying and eventually collapsed into bed, exhausted.

The next morning, I yawned and stretched my back. Ivory was still snoring beside me, her leg thrown over mine.

"Ivy, wake up! We have class in two hours," I urged.

She groaned, peering at me with half-closed eyes as I walked off to the bathroom to shower.

"Good morning, sleepyhead. We've got less than an hour to get ready or we'll be late," I informed.