I feel amazing actually, but I’m not admitting that to Via. Over my dead body.
She was right about the after workout high, and I knew that all along. It’s like a runner’s high. That sweat session followed by a lavender shower and a healthy smoothie has me feeling like a whole new person as we stride into Blooms.
“What’s going on?” Via says, puzzled.
Looking around, I notice most people aren’t at their desks, and there seems to be some sort of commotion coming from the back of the office.
I see the sea of purple and black as soon as we round the corner. My jaw hits the floor as I take in black and purple roses scattered everywhere.
“What the actual fuck.”
Yeah, what she said.
When I say everywhere, I mean absolutely everywhere. Glass vases overflowing with roses sit on every surface. Black and purple petals cover the floor, office chairs, keyboards, desk phones.
It seems like a troll’s vomit has completely covered the inside of Tracy’s pristine office.
“Tell me I’m imagining this,” I whisper.
“Nope. Thousands and thousands of roses. This is so sweet, but so overwhelming.”
“Zoe! I’m going to need you to speak now!” Tracy’s stern voice comes from right behind me, forcing me to jump out of my skin. I nearly drop my smoothie on the floor as I turn, seeing the furious, blue vein popping out of her forehead.
She shoves a small card against my chest. When I look down at the words, all the good energy I was feeling from that workout drains out of me.
A rose for everyday we’ve been apart. I counted from the very beginning.
Yours,
Dom
He’s trying to get me fired. I’m filled with such anger that I don’t even know where to begin untangling this mess. There are roses on every surface and every inch of this floor. When did he even do this? Did someone help him?
Jesus fuck.
Looks like I won’t be the one dying from a slow, painful death today, after all.
“Holy shit, Zoe. He’s so in love. And I hate you so much, but love this for you. You must be a total vixen in bed,” Via whispers, grabbing my elbow and dragging me to our desks while we walk over crisp rose petals.
The significance of the purple roses does not evade me, and I think that makes me more angry. That he knows so much about me and the inner workings of my brain.
The entire place smells like a flower garden. The floor and the white desks are barely visible amidst the sea of vibrant colors. Everyone is staring at me, and I desperately wish to disappear. Whispers circulate and fuel the perpetual rumor mill.
I hate attention, and Dominik has given me all of it right now.
“Who is all this for?”
“Zoe. The new girl Greg got rid of in Boston.”
“I heard she’s dating Dominik Lewis.”
“The Slashers captain?”
“Yes.”
“No way. I don’t believe that for a second.”
Assholes. The entire lot of them are complete assholes.
