“Then let me take you out to celebrate,” he says. “It’s Saturday tomorrow, let me take you for lunch.”
Going out for lunch with him seems better than stressing over things that haven’t and may never happen. The busier I am, the less time I have to focus on the warnings he gave me last night. Yes, I need to take it seriously, but there is no point in obsessing over it.
I clench my jaw, anxious at the idea of spending an entire afternoon alone with him, but how can I say no after what he just did for me?
Nodding, I smile nervously. “I’d like that. I’ll celebrate with you tomorrow."
“Excellent. Now get back to work before I am forced to report you to the boss for slacking,” he winks at me, and it sends a delightful shiver through my body.
“Funny,” I smirk, shaking my head. “But my boss is a pretty intense guy. So, I'd better get back to it.”
“Intense? Don’t you mean devilishly handsome and powerful?” he calls after me.
I ignore him, still grinning when I sit down at my desk and pull my laptop closer.
I haven’t been this happy in a long time. It won’t be that bad, celebrating with him tomorrow. I’ll just be careful and keep it professional.
***
On Saturday at eleven in the morning, I am dressed in a pretty black dress that flows about me elegantly. I have my hair pinned up in a high bun and a soft touch of makeup on. Josiah wouldn’t tell me where we were going, but he said it wasluxurious casual. Which made no sense to me. So, I tried to put together an outfit that could be luxuriousorcasual, depending on where we ended up.
Stella is out with the twins today. I feel bad that I am not spending time with them on a Saturday like I always do, but I hope they are having fun anyway.
Izabel is out shopping. I feel bad that I haven’t had much time to spend with her, either between work and all the chaos happening in my life at the moment.
I head downstairs, and at the bottom of the stairway is a note pinned to the balustrade with my name on it. I unfold the note.
The driver is waiting outside. See you soon.
Grinning, I tuck the note into my purse and giggle at the dramatic flair he likes to add to everything.
Outside, the limo is waiting as promised.
The driver opens the door for me, and I climb into the back of the car.
Driving through the city, I try to work out where we're going, but I can’t.
And when he brings the car to a stop outside the Art Hause Greenery, I climb out in confusion. This place is a greenhouse of luxury and rare plants. It’s a beautiful space. Breathtaking, actually. But that’s all it is.A greenhouse.There is no restaurant, bar, or anything like that, and they are incredibly strict about the entire building. They have rules about how many people are allowed inside. The temperate control, the atmosphere—absolutely everything. It’s all set up to keep the plants in the most pristine environment.
The last time I was in here was…oh. It was with Josiah. It was the second date we ever went on.
There is a man in a tuxedo waiting to lead me into the building.
“Good morning and welcome,” he says with a polite bow. “If you will please follow me.”
“Sure,” I mumble, looking up at the massive glass walls of the triple-story structure.
He leads me through a forest of tropical monstera and gorgeous orchids. He leads me around a colorful wall of rare red and blue bromeliads.
He takes me up a circular iron staircase that spirals in the center of the dome.
We walk all the way to the top floor, where he pauses, gesturing for me to go ahead through the last doorway.
“Thanks,” I say, walking through it.
My mouth drops open.
In the center of this fairy land of plants and vines and flowers and green foliage is a picnic blanket. There are so many different foods spread around it, along with champagne and desserts, but that isn’t what captures my heart so intensely.
