Tiptoe Kisses

Chapter 23

Chapter 23-The Exotic Bouquet  

Taylor is greeted with allot of curious looks as she walks through the lobby to the elevator that will take her to her new office space on the thirty-second floor.  She’s sure she’s getting some of the stares because of her escapades in the last two weeks.  She doesn’t know how much of what has happened to her has been leaked out or seen by some of the people she works with.

She is glad that Carlton, the security guard knows what’s going on just in case something untoward happens if she has to work late.

There are not many people on the elevator with her and by the time it hits the twenty-ninth floor she is alone and filled with trepidation as it slowly creeps up to the thirty-second floor that she will share with the company’s CEO.  She has worked with and been around Santo for over five months and it’s the first time he hasn’t had much to say to her.   He seemed different toward her after he returned from talking with Det. Hernandez and he insisted Wilton take her home.  She practically called him a coward Friday instead of being thankful to him for rescuing her from that cringe worthy beast but she can't believe he would stop talking to her because of that.

Taylor called Serena and she told her that he had bruised ribs and refused to come to Sunday dinner with them trying to stay away from their parents not wanting his mother to see his face or know he’s been injured.  Taylor tried calling and texting Santo but got no response.  She considered going by his apartment but she is sure he won’t let her in.  She’s bound to see him sometime today.  He’s made sure of that by putting her on the same floor with him.   

Santo looks at his face in his office bathroom mirror.  The bruise on his forehead is bigger than he thought it would be and the three day stubble he’s grown is hiding the bruise on his chin.  He received a couple of long looks from several women as he got on the elevator this morning.  It’s been years since he’s had a beard and whenever he grows one the female attention he gets seems to increase.  His ribs are still sore.  But he had to come in refusing to miss Taylor’s first day back.  He’s had her office ready for her and Sienna for a week now and he hopes both women like their new work home.

He doesn’t know how she’s going to feel being the only other occupant on the thirty-second floor.  When he made that decision he wasn’t exactly thinking with the right head. 

Taylor has never mentioned finding a phone or told him that there was one dropped in the backyard.  His security team did a sweep of the yard and the house and didn’t find anything.  Now that she's back to work in a different environment, he hopes she decides to tell him about the cell phone except there's one problem.  She's not talking to him.

Taylor gets off the elevator on the thirty-second floor and stands in the hallway staring at the directional name plates of the CEO and Creative Director.  She wishes she had come in before today to see the finished product of her office. 

She opens the door and peeks inside.  The reception area is huge and she hasn’t even gotten to Sienna’s desk yet.  Sienna sees her and she squeals and runs to hug her.

“Oh Taylor.  Can you believe this?  There’s so much room and would you look at this view.  I think we got the better side.”  She swings around holding her hands out toward the windows to take in the skyline view.

A huge bouquet of flowers sets on the desk.  Taylor touches one of the calla lilies in the bouquet and pulls the card out that’s attached.    

Welcome back, if you need anything. It’s yours.  Santo.

When she looks up Sienna is watching her.  “Sweet, isn’t he.  This bouquet is so exotic and beautiful.  Not just red roses, is it Taylor.”  Sienna winks.