Tulips and Roses

Chapter 4, the meeting

Twelve forty nine, Jisoo sat in her office reading over a report. Her assistant, Jennie, typed away at her desk set to one side of the room. Jisoo was never grateful for the size of her office until she got an assistant, they both appreciated the distance.

"Jennie, did HR ever get back to you?" Jisoo doesn't look up from her sheet.

"Yeah, they said they would forward the document next week," She responded.

"Tell them the meeting is three days away."

"They said next week-"

"And I said Friday," Jisoo looked up, "If they don't comply, you have to sort them."

Jennie groaned, "Fine I'll send them an email."

"Thank you," Jisoo looks back at her document.

The phone rang. Quickly, Jennie picked it up. Covering the speaker, she turned to her boss, "The new designs for flower spread just arrived."

Jisoo nods, "Tell them to bring her up."

With faint muttering in the distance, Jisoo glanced at her computer to see it was in fact eleven o' clock. For some reason, she felt nervous. Making sure her assistant was busy, she smoothed down her blouse and skirt, suddenly feeling out of place in the large office. The business woman threw on her blazer in an attempt to look intimidating.

A few seconds later, the doors opened, the receptionist ushered the florist inside then left. The girl stood barely through the door, hesitantly taking a step forward. Jisoo raised a hand and beckoned her over.

It was at this moment, Jisoo realised that Rosie was not in her uniform. A simple white t-shirt with a green flannel shirt and black jeans. Her converse squeaked on the the glass floor.

She looks good, thought Jisoo.

As Rosie took her seat, she placed a folder on the table. Setting her hands on top, she whispered, "Who is the girl."

Jisoo glanced over to see her assistant practically drooling. Jisoo sighs, "Jennie, I don't need your saliva right now. Can you go to the other office and check on some files that haven't come through yet."

Snapping out of her daze, Jennie stumbles out of her chair and makes her way out of the office, waving good bye to Jisoo as she leaves, a weak apology. Once the door is closed, Jisoo looks back at the florist, who is now thoroughly embarrassed.

"Does she always do that?" She muttered.

"Only if their pretty," Jisoo paused, remembering herself, "She's my assistant, a family arrangement. Jennie is just a bit expressive, you'll have to get used to her."

Flustered, Rosie nodded her head. In an attempt of professionalism, she turned her attention to her folder, "I didn't have time to make any detailed drawings, so they're basically tasters." She opens the folder and begins to flick through, "You gave me no real specifics, so I decided to stick with purple and pink."

Jisoo nodded her head, "That'll look good."

After about half an hour, the two women had narrowed the tasters to three separate designs. Jisoo looked over the three again, wondering which one Lisa would pick. She returned her gaze to the girl opposite her, who was patiently waiting. Jisoo placed the designs back onto the table, "I need to take photo copies of the designs."

Rosie nods, "Okay."

Jisoo remained blank, "The machine is over there." She pointed to a grey block to the right side of her desk.

With sudden realisation, Rosie hopped up and squeaked over to the machine. With an interns speed, slowly, she photo copied the sheets. Her hands rested on the machine as she waited, patient, with a small smile on her face. Much to her own dismay, Jisoo could not take her eyes off the florist.

When the sheets were done, Rosie handed the copies to Jisoo, who quickly stored them in a drawer. When she looked up, Rosie was watching her, with a curious look in her eyes, "When will we meet again?"

Jisoo shrugged, "After I see Lisa."

"When will that be?"

Jisoo leaned back into her leather chair, "Soon."

Rosie looked away, "I have a month to do this."

"I know," Jisoo watched her as she sat down, "Lisa is incredibly busy, it can be hard to reach her at times."

The florist shifted in her seat, "I need you to set a time and date here tell me as soon as possible."

"There will be no point in arranging a meeting, I'll just call you."

"No." Rosie shot, darting back to Jisoo's gaze, "I need to see you."

"Why?" Jisoo pressed.

"I-" Rosie paused, "I need to see your face for your response, to know it's right."

"Really," Jisoo tilted her head, "Well, you're the expert, come back at the same time in two days."

"Excellent," Rosie smiled, not getting up from her seat to leave.

Jisoo did not move, her eyes were fixed on the florist. The business woman held her breathe as Rosie stood up.

"Jisoo," Said Rosie, "What did you mean by 'only if they're pretty'?"

The business woman tensed, "Well, I-"

"Do you think I'm pretty?" Rosie's eyes bore into her.

Jisoo gulped, "Yes."

Rosie softly said, "See you in two days."

Jisoo watched a thin layer of red settle in Rosie's cheeks. As she left, Jisoo could not help but think, is two days long enough?