Chapter 9; Flowers To Make It Believable

THE Next day, Danielle woke up not feeling well. Her head hurt and she's a little bit dizzy and nauseous.

"Rainier, hon, nanny Jane will take you to school today if that's okay with you?" Danielle lovingly smile to her son who just entered her room.

Rainier nodded and stare at her. "Mom are you sick?"

"No, no baby! Mommy is just a little bit tired." She smiled wider at him to assure her son that she's fine and there's nothing to worry about.

"Mom?" He come near her bed and cares her forehead.

"Yes baby?" Her smile widen. Rainier is really a sweet kid. Well, only to her. When it's came to other people his cold and distant. Never smile nor talk, and he likes reading books or study than to play with other kids.

That's her biggest worry.

"Don't be sick."

Danielle mouth parted. "Oh, sweetie." She pulled him and hug him tight. Her eyes watering. "I won't. I promise."

"Take a rest mom."

"Okay I will! Don't worry about me hon. Just study and be a good boy. Okay?"

Rainier was only five years old but sometimes he talk and speak like an old man. Far from his actual age. His very a smart kid at his young age. He actually surprised her most of the time. Specially now.

"Rainier, lets go, you'll be late," Jane said looking at them. She's standing out side her bedroom. "Ma'am we're leaving."

"All right. Be careful and take good care of my son." She kissed Rainier on his forehead before she let him go. "Behave okay?"

"Yes mom! I will!" The boy ran out of her room waving his hand.

She took a deep breath and forced herself to get up to prepare to go to the Boutique. Macky's not here to manage the Boutique like before. She's the only one who can do it.

An hour later, she's already in the Rain Boutique.

"Good morning ma'am." The four sales ladies who work at the Boutique greeted her with a genuine smile. Plus Bella, who's in charge on the cashier.

"Good morning." She replied with a smile and went straight to her office. She was stunned and surprised when she close the door and saw a bunch of flowers on her desk. "Bella?" Bella come in a rush.

"Ma'am?"

"Where did those come from?"

"The delivery man didn't say anything much. He just gave it to me and tell me that those flowers is specially send to you."

"All right, get back to work." When Bella left, she closed the door and approached the flowers. Her eyebrow wrinkled when she picked up the card that stuck on the bunch of flowers. "Your handsome boyfriend!" She read what was written. "Handsome boyfriend? Who the hell is he?" Her cellphone suddenly rang. At first, she was hesitant to answer it because it's from the unregister number but she answered it anyway. Thinking that it might be important. "Yes, hello?"

"Do you like the flowers?"

She feel nervous when she heard that familiar voice. For a moment she feel hopeful. Wishing and scared at the same time. And there's a lot of what's if running to her mind. Debiting of what to do if the man on the line was the last man she was expecting the most.

It's very impossible. It can't be him. But what if his actually him—

"Ms.Riccardi?"

It took her a few seconds before she get her senses back. "Who's this?" She asked even though she already have an idea who might be the man on the other line. And for the ninth time she was wrong, very very wrong. She don't know if she feel relieve or disappointed.

She should've be genuine of being disappointed. It's not the first time she wish she meet her son bastard of a father. Nor hallucinating hearing his voice to every man she meet. She always tell herself to stop waiting for him but the end of the day she always ended up waiting.

She wait and wait, until at this very moment. She shouldn't wait for miracle to happen. It just in the fairytale.

"It's me. Mikael Quinlin."

"Yeah." She took a deep breath to wash and take off the painful past that started to come back in her memory one after the other.

"Ms. Riccardi are you still there?" Mikael clear his throat to get her attention from the other line.

"Huh?" She asked dumbfounded. "Sorry, s-sorry. What were you saying again?"

"Crazy."

"What?" She feel like her ears become big, hearing him calling her crazy.

"I'm asking If you like the flowers. Tsk. Woman don't make me repeat myself again."

"Well, I'm not forcing you Mr. Quinlin. But what the hell were you thinking? Why did you send me flowers? What is this for?"

"To convince your friends and other people that we have a serious relationship."

"You don't have to make them believe your game. We only need to make your father believe about us. My friends and other people don't do anything about us, about you." She's very pissed and annoyed with this unbelievable man. He make her sick even more and make her hear ache. His very arrogant, bossy and dictating. So very demanding.

"It's more believable and real when a lot of people know about us. It's more effective and offeciant." He said coldly but very convincing. "Three pm sharp. I asked one of my people to pick you up."

"Why?"

"Don't ask. Just do what I said." He said and the last thing she heard was the ringtone. Indicating that he hang up the phone on her.

"Argh! That man has no manners at all." She harshly put her phone on the table. Not minding if it's get broken. She's very pissed to think or care about it.

"Where's the enemy"

She look at Cathy with a frowning face. "How long you've been there?" Did she heard her conversation over the phone? She didn't notice when she came in.

"No. Who are you talking to to make you so annoyed?" She raised her one eyebrow to her.

"Don't mind it. It just a dead man who woke up from his grave." She rolled her eyes irretatitedly. "By the way, what are you doing here? It's still your working time." She change the topic. If she didn't she might explode in annoyance.

"Yes, but I feel lazy and I'm not in the mood to work." Her jaw dropped but Cathy just smiled at her sweetly. "What's wrong with what I said?" She asked innocently while chuckling.

"If I were your boss you would be unemployed a long time ago. You lazy woman."

"It's not a bad idea." Cathy just strug her shoulder. "I came here because Macky my loves asked me to check on you."

She frowned. "I'm okay. As you can see."

"Are you sure? You're a bit pale. Why? Are you sick?"

She avoided her when she try to touch her forehead. "I am not. I haven't had breakfast yet. Maybe that's why I'm pale." She tried to smile not to make her worry. "How's Aunt Anna?" She asked referring to Macky's mother.

"She's still not getting any better." Cathy said sadly but she can't see the worry on her face. She actually look annoyed and irretetited. "If I can't stand it I'll go to Canada. I miss my Macky."

"You really are over heels in love with Macky."

"Who wouldn't fall in love with him? His very handsome, kind and very very sweet. I couldn't wish for more."

She shook her head. "If you only knew." She whispered to herself.

"What did you say?"

"Huh? Nothing."

"What can I do for you?"

"Like before, if you want you can be a sales lady like you usually do when you're here."

"Anything else?"

"Do whatever you please. You know what to do anyway."

Cathy grin at her like an idiot before she left her. She knew Cathy is thinking silly again. She's very sure her Boutique can be chaotic any moment from now.

At exactly three o'clock in the afternoon. A very sophisticated woman came and look for her. The woman was very beautiful as if she's a model.

"Who is this gorgeous woman?" Danielle silently ask to herself.