Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Athena
“Oh, no.” Audrey, the woman sitting behind the reception desk at Dehaven Center, shakes her head. “Are you saying that you tried to give these to his girlfriend, and she refused them?”
I nod. I explained the situation to her twice. The first time I could tell she wasn’t paying attention. Her focus was on the screen of the phone in her hands.
When I plopped the enormous bouquet on her desk, she took notice, so I repeated my story word-for-word a second time.
“I thought Wren was the woman of his dreams,” she mutters under her breath. “Why would she do this?”
I shrug as if the question was directed at me even though I know she’s lost in thought.
I shove a hand into the front pocket of my jeans and tug out Liam’s credit card. “He forgot this at my shop. Can you see to it that he gets this too?”
Her gaze floats over the card before it lands back on the envelope. “You said that she wrote him a note?”
I watch as she flips the envelope over. Her fingernail skims over the small piece of blue tape.
I lean forward. “Her note is in there. It’s for his eyes only.”
It’s not my place to say that, but I swear that this woman is about ready to pull back the tape and read the message.
“Of course.” She pushes the envelope to the side. “Did she say anything about what she was feeling?”
The compassion in her tone is unmistakable. Blonde curls bounce around her heart-shaped face. She’s dressed in a cream suit with a pink blouse underneath. Her entire look gives off an air of calmness and serenity.
It makes sense since she’s the first person to greet anyone who walks through the double glass doors of the Dehaven Center.
The reception area that I’m standing in is decorated in muted tones. There’s soft music playing and the gray chairs that line the wall face a coffee table that is covered in magazines and pamphlets.
To the left is a corridor that’s home to a series of doors. All of them are open except one.
I’m not about to offer her a replay of Wren’s words, so I go with the easy answer. “She asked me to give the note and the flowers to him.”
Audrey trails a fingertip over one of the petals of a yellow daylily. “These are breathtaking. Mr. Wolf has great taste, doesn’t he?”
I glance over my shoulder at the bank of elevators beyond the glass doors before I level my gaze back on her face. “I need to go.”
“I introduced them,” she says, shoving to her feet. “Wren did my engagement photos and I’ve booked her for the wedding too.”
She wiggles her left hand in the air, showing off a diamond and emerald ring.
“This isn’t my first marriage, but who says you can’t have it all the second time around?”
I’m not one to judge. If circumstances were different, I’d pitch my case to do the flowers for her wedding, but I’m only here to deliver bad news.
As if she’s read my mind, she sighs. “Which florist do you work for? I’m looking for just the right person to handle the flowers for my special day.”
My hand dives back into my tote. I yank out another business card. I haven’t given out two in one day before.
“I own Wild Lilac.” I drop the card in front of her. “I’d be honored to work with you on creating the perfect floral designs for your wedding.”
It’s a line I rehearsed over and over before I opened the shop. I don’t have the best track record at appearing casual when I’m jumping up and down with joy internally.
Audrey gazes at my card before she slides it into one of the pockets of her suit jacket. “I’ll call you this week and we’ll set something up.”
I’ve scored two new potential clients tonight. It’s a big win I didn’t see coming when I set out to deliver the bouquet to Wren.
“I look forward to that.” I tap my fingers on her desk, knowing that I’ll call her in a week if see hasn’t reached out. “Thank you for taking care of the situation with Liam.”
“Athena? What are you doing here?”
The sound of Liam’s voice lures Audrey’s gaze to the left. Mine follows.
Liam is standing next to an older man. It’s obvious by the tissue in the man’s hand and the redness of his eyes that he’s been crying.
I look down not wanting to infringe on the man’s privacy.
“I’ll see you next week?” The man’s voice is gentle and soft. “Same time?”
“Absolutely,” Liam answers. “If you need to talk before then, call anytime.”
Audrey lowers herself back into her chair as the man passes us both on his way out of the office and toward the elevators.
I’d follow his lead, but I doubt he’d appreciate the company on the ride down to the lobby.
“What’s all this?” Liam’s hand hovers over the flowers and his credit card. “You said you’d take care of the delivery tonight, Athena.”
“She tried,” Audrey interjects before I can say anything.
Liam’s gaze finds mine. His brows pinch together. “Was there a problem?”
I motion toward the envelope near Audrey’s hand. “Wren wrote you a note and asked me to get it to you along with the flowers. You forgot your credit card at my shop, so I thought I’d stop by here and drop everything off.”
“That was my idea,” Audrey pipes up. “I told Athena to come by when she called asking to speak with you. I knew you’d want to deal with this tonight.”
I have no problem letting her take credit for this hot mess.
After sliding the credit card into his pocket, Liam scoops up the envelope. Ripping it open, he flips the paper over twice before he scans what’s written in red ink.
“What the hell?” he bites out under his breath.
Audrey cranes her neck to try and read anything that’s in her view.
I drop my gaze because looking at the floor seems like the safest bet at the moment. That note is personal. I’m already too involved in this.
My timing may be off, but I need to get the hell out of here. I consider my next move. Do I offer my condolences? Is it better to leave without a word?
I don’t know the protocol for walking out on a customer who just got dumped.
Audrey unwittingly jumps into the role of my savior. “I assume you’d like some time alone, so Athena and I will leave you be. You’ll lock up?”
I toss her a look of gratefulness, but her gaze is pinned on Liam’s face.
“Yes,” he says curtly. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Audrey.”
I’m not offered anything but a quick glance from him.
I’ll take it.
Anything is better than having to answer questions about Wren’s demeanor or what she said before she sent me packing.
Audrey shoulders a dark blue purse and rounds her desk headed toward the double glass doors that lead to the bank of elevators. Silently following her, I steal one last look at Liam.
Our eyes lock for the briefest of moments before he turns and starts back down the corridor, leaving the note and the flowers behind.