Page 37 of An Eye For Illusion

I laugh, which helps further break up the tightness in my chest. I smile at the reminder of our weekly dinner. “I’ll bring the sushi, and we most certainly won’t be discussing any such thing.”

“We shall see!” she sings. “I love you bunches. Now go kick some corporate butt.”

That brings a smile to my face. “Don’t I always?”

She chuckles. “You’re amazing!” She hangs up, and I relax a moment before rising and walking back to the office.

The fresh, chilled air on the way back helps to slow my breathing while the sun soothes my cooled skin. Talking to Bridge always helps, and I finally feel a bit more like myself again when I step off the elevator onto my floor.

I’m ready to tackle the day and my impending marriage.

I make my way toward Heather’s desk and notice a sprawling bouquet of flowers. They’re gorgeous and huge.

I wonder who sent her flowers? She isn’t married, but she might have a boyfriend. That’s sweet that he sent her flowers at work. From the looks of it, he didn’t go cheap.

“Those are so pretty, Heather. Who sent them?” I ask as I approach her desk.

I reach out and run my finger along the petal of a lily, careful not to displace it. Then I lean in to smell one of the pink roses. There must be a dozen of them shoved into the arrangement. The scent is a perfect blend of earthy and sweet.

My question is met by silence and then a small hiccup. The noise makes me stand up and away from the flowers as I look at Heather, who stands right behind them.

Her cheeks are flushed red. She tucks a small piece of sandy blonde hair behind her ear as she lowers her head slightly. She shuffles papers around and mumbles something I can’t quite make out.

I instantly feel bad that I asked the question. It’s private and not my place. I barely know anything about her, and I have no right to start digging now. “I’m sorry. You don’t need to answer that. They’re beautiful, and I’m sure whoever sent them is special.”

When the word special leaves my lips, Heather’s face scrunches as her cheeks turn even redder. “I… I… Ms. Foster, I don’t even know him. I have no idea why he would send me flowers.”

My eyes widen slightly at the outburst. Woah… What in the world?

“I’m confused. It’s quite alright if you don’t want to say. I shouldn’t have asked. It just kind of popped out. Or…” I pause. “You seem uncomfortable. Do you know who sent them?”

“I know who sent them. I just… thought he sent them for you…” She trails off after that without elaborating on who actually sent the flowers.

My eyebrows knit together. “I assumed they were from your boyfriend. Is that not the case? Is there something I should worry about here?” I ask dumbfounded.

Heather laughs, but it’s nervous and forced. She’s clearly worried. “He’s—He’s not…” She shakes her head. “I’m so sorry. I have no idea why Colin Brooks sent me flowers.”

She looks like she’s on the verge of tears, and that is the one thing keeping me calm.

I take a deep breath and try to reign in the sudden jealousy that rages through my body. I have no right or reason to feel like this. I don’t like the man. He makes me insanely frustrated, and he’s annoying as hell. So, I shouldn’t care that he sent my assistant a beautiful arrangement of extravagant flowers.

Flowers that I know for a fact were not fucking cheap. I’ve ordered something similar.

I force a patient smile, worried that my poor assistant will have a heart attack right here and now. Seeing how terrified of me she is, I vow then and there to do better. To treat her with more kindness and patience.

I’ve always seen myself as fair, but I must admit it seems I’ve been too harsh. The poor woman was terrified to tell me she received flowers from a man I shouldn’t care about.

It’s my problem that I do. Not hers.

“Heather, the flowers are beautiful, and you deserve them. Maybe Colin likes you?” I say, trying to sooth her. Maybe she made a lasting impression on Colin. Maybe she’s his type. That would explain his instant distaste for me. Heather and I are complete opposites.

She’s the girl next door, and I’m not.

She barks out a disbelieving laugh. “No, Ms. Foster I don’t think I’m the one he likes.”

Her answer baffles me even more, but I don’t get the chance to question her because the phone rings, and she doesn’t hesitate to answer. I have to assume she was glad for the distraction.

Unfortunately for me, I spent the rest of the day trying to figure out why Colin Brooks would send my assistant flowers. More than that, why said assistant received them thinking he meant them for me.

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