Three: Flowers Picked

The rest of Red's weekend is uneventful. On Sunday, like every Sunday since Nana moved to Long Island to be closer to Red, she spends most of the morning with Nana, starting with brunch and ending with a couple rounds of bridge. Then they end up browsing the small shops around Nana's condo complex. Once Nana has her fill of Red, she sends her granddaughter back to her own life in the city. 

Red goes straight to work, keeping her hands and her mind busy. She can't let thoughts of Wolfe enter her mind. He isn't the romantic type.  He isn't her type. Period.  This is solidly proven by the talk she has with Mel on Sunday night.

"I'm so sorry, Red. I thought his offer was good. Granted it sounds stupid now since I didn't even know his name. But I remembered he looked familiar to me at the club. I've read about him on one of those business magazines. He's like some billionaire guy or something. And I've seen him at other clubs before, I guess, picking up women and shit. I mean his shoes alone are probably worth more than what I make in a month," Mel explains as she slumps on one of Red's club chairs.

"I understand, Mel, but if you were short on money, why didn't you come to me?" Red stares at her with seriousness. Sometimes she feels her employees are her children, with the exception of Peter.  Red can always depend him.  She has since the beginning of their friendship.

Mel shrugs. "I was too embarrassed. I still owe you from the last time."

There is something more important than her owning Red money. It's what she's doing with it that concerns Red. "Mel, I want to ask you this because it is concerning." Mel furrows her brows, gaping at her. "Are you on it again?"

Mel doesn't answer but when she averts her eyes, Red knows the truth. "Damn it, Mel. You know what's going to happen now. I've warned you before. I won't tolerate it." Mel nods. They have had numerous talks about Mel's previous drug problems and what Red would do if she starts again. "I'll help you. I know a few people who can help you get clean, but you have to be willing to do it.  You have to commit to this."

"Will I lose my job?" Mel slumps deeper into the chair, her arms wrap around her body as a form of protection from an unknown future.

"I can hire an apprentice while you're away and come back when you're done. Mel, it will be up to you how long this will take. Rehab can only do so much. You have to do the rest of the grunt work. But I assure you, once you're clean and can promise me that you'll never touch the stuff again, you will have a permanent place here."

Mel starts to cry upon hearing Red's words. Having no family in the city, she feels her only salvation and the only supports she can get is from Red and the rest of her co-workers in the studio. Red walks to her, wrapping her arms around her distressed friend.

Later on, Red makes a few phone calls to start Mel's rehabilitation process. She helps her sort the rest of Mel's stuff and packs a bag before driving to the nearest rehab centre, with Peter in tow.

"You're a good person, Red. No one else would do that for their employee," Peter tells her on their drive back.

"If I don't, I wouldn't be able to live with myself," Red admits.

The rest of the drive is spent in comfortable silence.

****

When Monday morning comes, an overly cheerful Daisy, who changes her hair colour as often as she changes her partners, greets Red. Daisy has a bright smile on her face. She presents Red with a large bouquet of dark red calla lilies, Red's favourite flowers.

"What are these?" Red asks her beaming receptionist.

"They're flowers. For you." Daisy waggles her eyebrows.

"Why?"

Daisy hands her a small envelope. "I think somebody likes you." She winks.

Red pulls out a small, cream heavy-stock card.

We must end what we started – W, it reads, making Red's jaw drop. She hastily, stuffs the card back into the envelope and slides it into her back pocket.

"What does it say?" Daisy asks, trembling in anticipation.

"What does what say?" Peter walks in to the reception. "Holy hell, where did those come from?" His eyes bulge at the bouquet.

"Red has an admirer," Daisy quips.

Peter groans inwardly. Before anyone can say anything else, the phone rings. Daisy hands the flowers to Red, to answer the phone.

"Who are you working on?" Red asks Peter to dissuade any awkward questions.

"Sebastian. We're finishing his back," Peter answers.

"Red, for you." Daisy smiles brightly at her.

For that very reason, Red can tell who is on the other line. "I'll take it in my office," she tells Daisy.

When she reaches her office, her heart beats like a wild animal caged. She isn't sure if she's ready to talk to Wolfe again. She is almost thankful for the distraction Mel created for her yesterday. When she's certain her voice will not give her away, she picks up the receiver. "This is Red."

"You sound sexier than I remember." Wolfe's voice should not be too familiar to her, but much to her dismay, it is. "You received the flowers?"

"I did. Thank you but it was unnecessary." Red grips the receiver as if it was her lifeline.

Wolfe's quiet laugh sounds sinful on the phone, filling her insides with liquid fire. "I tried to get the same red that you have on your arm."

"You noticed that?" It was ridiculous to think that the man had time to commit the two small red calla lilies on her left arm to memory.

"You'd be surprise what I learn when something or someone catches my attention," he says coyly. "What say you? You. Me. A couple bottles of wine, though you might not need it... before you know it, we'll both be naked and fucking like--"

She slams the phone down so hard that she thinks the force of it breaks the base. The immediate ringing startles her. Without thinking, she picks it up then slams it back down again. Before it infuriates her more, she unplugs the phone, runs to the front of the studio and orders Daisy never to take any phone calls from the man again. Before Daisy questions her, she stomps back to her office, thinking nothing else but why a man like Wolfe would ever be interested in her. Thankfully, her next appointment shows up fifteen minutes early, taking her far away from her thoughts and fears.