Black Roses
2069 Words
I sat my desk in the closet office, I was all organized for the luncheon on Sunday. I had the accessories for tomorrow's photoshoot laid out.
My phone pinged.
Tristan texted: you in the closet?
Yes I'm here just finishing up some emails.
Been thinking of you.
Oh really?
Yes really. I can't get you out of my head.
You left your tie at mine
Well after all the interruption and the possibility of your friend puking I kind of rushed out of there. Wish I was kissing you now.
Have you nothing better to do?
"Have you?" His voice asked from my office doorway. I jumped. He took in my relaxed appearance at my desk. I was bare foot sipping a coffee.
"Hey"I couldn't hide my happiness."not really I'm very organized." I laughed
"So I hear. I have another meeting at four but I said I'd pop by see if you wanted to grab lunch."
"You want to take me to lunch after the disaster of our previous lunch date?"
"Sure but who said it was a date?" He teased.
I put my finger up in a one moment motion as I dialed Jessica's office number.
"Jessica speaking"
"It's Freya"
"Hello, let me guess my sources tell me a certain Tristan Devon is in the building" she laughed.
"Yeah I'm all set here is it ok if I take a long lunch?" I turned away from Tristan to hide my blush.
"Sure we're all good here take a half day we've alot on next week so they're won't be much extra time. You have to take it when it's going."
"Thanks Jess see you in the morning."
I smiled at Tristan and gathered my bag, phone and put on my shoes.
"Okay Mr Devon" I linked his arm.
" I'm all yours"
Tristan seemed surprised by my touch but quickly settled into it welcoming it with a smile. I could feel all eyes on us as we left the office block. My skin crawled slightly being in the public eye wasn't for me but I shrugged it off.
We sat out in a beautiful decking area for lunch as I picked at my salad we chatted in a comfortable company. I found Tristan's cold business like demeanor vanished when we were alone.
All too quickly Tristan had to leave for his meeting.
"Dinner tonight?" He asked.
"I can't I'm taking Lydia out" I answered.
"Shame" he paid the bill " I'll call you later" he added. "There's a second car outside Archie will take you home." He added placing a lingering kiss on my mouth. I kissed back, pressing closer to his chest and wrapping my arms around his back.
"Freya stop or I won't be fit to go to this meeting" he whispered against my mouth before parting.
Archie dropped me home and I found Lydia on the phone in the kitchen area.
"What's up?" I asked.
"What's up look at this" she trust her phone into my hands on it was a gossip website. There was two photos of Tristan and I together with the title who is Tristan Devon's new love interest. They briefly outlined my name, my job and where I was from but little else more.
"And?" I asked her.
"Do you see the picture of me? Damien is going mental."
One of the pictures of Tristan was bundling a clearly worse for wear Lydia into his town car. I burst out laughing.
"It's not funny Freya I look a complete mess"
"If the shoe fits" I laughed making coffee.
"It's gone viral back home so it's only a matter of time before...." She stopped speaking as my phone rang.
"My mother finds out?" I asked holding up my phone where the display showed her number.
"Freya" she sounded panicked.
"Loud speaker" Lydia mouthed. I flipped it to loud speaker and placed it on the island between us.
"Freya?"
"Yes"
"Freya have you see the wifi?" She asked.
"The internet?" I stiffled a laugh.
"Do not get smart with me Freya. I was down the village and Mr O Leary showed it to me." She gasped.
"Okay" I signed.
"Freya what are you thinking?"
I was caught off guard by her annoyance.
"What? You were the one who wanted me to have fun" I exclaimed.
"Have fun yes. Splash it all over the news that your running wild with a billionaire no"
"I'm not running wild" I snapped.
"How could you"
"What is this really about?"
"How on god earth do you think Sean's family feel seeing this and his anniversary tomorrow"
I froze I had forgotten his anniversary. I knew it was near but with everything I hadn't notice it creep closer.
"I hadn't thought about it" I admitted.
"We sent Lydia over to keep an eye on you and she's splashed on the news falling out of nightclubs at all hours." She sounded exasperated.
"We're grown women" I snapped.
"How could you shame me and Sean's family. I told you move on yes Freya but not in this manner"
"So you wanted me to move on silently and far from home so no one would know?"
" No I just didn't want a public display. This is so unlike you Freya"
"Thank God" Lydia cheered.
"Is that Lydia? Am I on loud speaker?" She roared " Lydia what the hell are you up to over there your mother is beside herself" she added.
"Good Mrs Ash she could do with a bit of drama in her life. Freya has never been so alive as I've seen her now. Freya that Sean knew is gone she's changed and she deserves what she has" Lydia added firmly.
"Lydia" my mother began.
"Stop" I yelled. "Mother I have done nothing wrong. I will miss Sean everyday but I'm done mourning the what ifs in life. Sean is gone and in a way the Freya that loved him is gone too. We were kids in college who knows if we really would of survived in the real world. He was my best friend but being here has somehow begun to filled the hole he left in my life. I won't apologise for it."
"Freya" she trailled off.
"I'm going now Mom I'll talk to you later"I hung up.
"What is their problem?" Lydia asked.
"Am I wrong Lydia should I be thinking more about Sean?" I asked
"It's not that. We all begged you to move on. I think no one expected you to move on. We all thought you would spend your twenties like the dutiful widow but you haven't." She missed.
"Should I be though?"
"No Freya. Who knows. Look Sean passed away and it was terrible and for three months you didn't get out of bed, then you did and wandered through the next six months like a zombie. "
"Yes'
"My point is that the Freya I've seen over the past week seems happy and strong and possibly even a better version of herself then even the Freya I knew that was with Sean."
"Maybe" I sighed.
"Freya screw them all" she added.
The next morning I woke knowing it was Sean's anniversary. It played heavy on my heart as I showered and dressed for work. Blake was waiting and we drove in, in silence.
I worked the accessories shoot spending my morning taking on and off models belts, bags, shoes, scarves and jewellery and repacking them as needed. It was busy work and I enjoyed it.
"Freya girl. You are my star." The photographer gushed as the shoot ended. She air kissed me and left. I re categorized all the items back into the shelves on the closet. I started pulling the winter coats for tomorrow's shoot and placing them on the rack for final fittings.
My computer beeped an instant message flashed on the screen.
"Coffee?" Tristan's message read.
"Can't super busy"
"Come on I'll buy you a cake too."
"Raincheck?"
"It's not raining" he answered. I nearly fell into the clothes rack.
"Funny" I added, continuing to fill the rack as I spoke.
"Something wrong?" He asked.
"No it's ok" I forced a smile.
"It's not" he moved closer to me pulling me into his chest.
Tears stung my eyes. "It's Sean's first anniversary" I admitted.
"I'm sorry" he stroked my hair. I allowed myself a few moments of tears in the safety of Tristan's arms.
"Freya" Jessica called entering my office space. Tristan and I sprung apart as I dried my eyes.
"This happens way too much" he smirked.
"Oh sorry. I didn't realize you had company" she looked embarrassed.
"No miss Quinn my apologies I shouldn't be visiting Freya whilst she's working but I was in the building at a meeting and couldn't help myself" Tristan replied.
"That's okay really." Jessica looked taken aback.
"You wanted me to do something?" I interjected.
"Yeah I needed the winter coat rack for the fittings and could you confirm with Vera Wang's office we're still co hosting their Fashion show event. "
"No problem" I nodded pushing the winter coat rack towards the door.
"I'll take this" she smiled "thanks" she signaled towards Tristan with a smirk. "You take a break grab a coffee, then join me at the fittings but you have everything ready to go so we'll be fine"
I walked with Tristan to the Starbucks on the corner. Sitting in a corner table booth next to him I felt a little better just being close.
"How are you holding up?"
"I'm better then I thought or even imagined I'd be and I think that's the problem."
He raised an eyebrow indicating he didn't fully get it.
" I feel like I'm betraying Sean because I'm not like I was when it happened. I imagined this day as being a full reminder of the day it happened. I thought I have all the same grief and hurt. I feel the same sadness I've felt in the past few months. I feared this day because I assumed it would drag me back to rock bottom." I paused
"And you want to be rock bottom?"
"No it's just weird." I sighed.
"I imagine it is"
We sat in comfortable silence before he walked me back to the office.
"I wanted to ask you to dinner but I assume tonight is not the best night so can we do it tomorrow night?" He asked a flash of vunerable emotion crossed his face.
"Yes that would be nice" I smiled searching his emerald green eyes.
He placed a lingering kiss on my lips before vanishing from my office door.
"Freya" my intercom buzzed. It was Brenda on the front desk.
"Yes" I answered.
"You've got a delivery here I didn't put it in your office because it was a little strange"
"Strange? I'll be up in a minute I've to head up to the photo shoot anyway" I was baffled about what could be. When I walked up to the desk Brenda handed me a bunch of black roses.
"Thanks" I muttered fishing for the card. It was a deepest sympathy card which shook me inside it read
Forget me not.....
S
I shook off the bad feeling and smiled at Brenda
"Someone's taste level missed the mark" I laughed striding back to my office to toss them on my desk out of sight before heading up to the photo shoot.
I brought the strange flowers home and showed them to Lydia and Pam. We all sat around the coffee table eyeing the weird bouquet as we sipped wine.
"Whose S?" Lydia asked.
I shrugged as I took another sip of wine
"Hardly connected to Sean is it?" Pam finally asked the question we had all been dancing around.
"To be honest it did cross my mind." I admitted. " It was my first instinct"
" It's weird. Someone's sent them" Lydia re-read the card.
" Maybe it's a once off. It's just weird the intention behind it's not clear." I sighed.
"Tristan Devon has a habit of sending you flowers." Pam piped up.
"No it wasn't him I don't think. We were out at coffee when they were delivered."
Lydia raised an eyebrow but said nothing
"I'm going to bed." I stood up throwing back the last mouthful of wine.
"Yeah it's been a long and weird day." Lydia agreed.
- Writer
