The Mafia who loved me

Episode4

It was a Monday evening on the south of the City and Mariah was at home. She had left the florist shop she ran early and chosen to spend the evening indoors. Her friend and colleague had invested her out to have drinks with some friends but she declined. She was in no mood to celebrate. Not only had she not paid her rent, she was owing bills.

The florist shop was all's he had as an inheritance from.her parents. Her mum and dad had gifted it to her in their will as she was the only on of her siblings who had any interest in it..she loved flowered. Not just for their beauty and scent but their calming abilities. She felt soothed in her soul when she walked into a well tended garden full of peonies and lillies. She adores the freshness they gave off and she felt at home in their presence.

She also studied for her exams. She went st night to community college and weekends as well and she wanted to graduate as soona s possible. It wasn't easy running a business and studying but she'd have it no other way. Her professor called her a little misses do it all. But she didn't mind. She wasn't lazy and she knew she couldnt afford to not work as hard as she did. She had a dream of one day fully equiping the shop, extending it to include a small greenhouse and growing her on seeds like a real horticulturist. That's what she was studying. NAT would require some money for the space, licences and seeds.

Right now all she could afford were the flowers she bought and resold but at least she was profitable.

The issue was the location. Real estate was expensive in that part of town and she didn't want to love far from the shop. So she hoped and prayed for a miracle.

If only that arrogant man would come through for her. She knew he was toying with her. He was very much around and could easily see bmher but chose to make her visit the office over and over again

It was even a surprise she was allowed inside at all. She had already gone there 5 times and only seen him once.

But he underestimated her resilience and persistence. She didn't have much choice.

The phone rang and she glanced at it. Probably Larry or Christie from the shop. She wants going to change her mind about the outing. She didn't feel like celebrating.She let it ring for a while before finally picking up.

"Yes?" She answered half-interested .

A male voice replied "Is this Mariah Preston?"

"Yes please,who am I speaking with?" She wants sure who it was but the baritone voice which was smooth as silk make her change her time and caught her interest.

There was a pause on the phone.

"This is Simon, we met briefly the other day"

"Simon who?" She asked bewildered..she didn't know any Simon. Not anyone who would call her at least.

"Hie many Simons do you know?" The voice released a slow laugh. Then it got her.

"Oh my God. I'm so sorry. I didn't know it was you." She was flustered and nearly dropped the glass of orange juice she was holding.

She quickly gathered herself and squared her shoulders.

"Err...mm..nice if you to call Mr. Bantè. I wasn't expecting to hear directly from you." She hid her nervousness well and tried to calm her thumping heart.

"We'll, youcsme to my office many times and insisted tnwas important so I thought to call and hear you out. What are you doing right now?"

"Eerrrmm....well, nothing really. I was just finishing some things but I'm practically done. Would you like me to come to your office....sir?" In spite of herself my,she found herself trembling a little. There was something so authoritative about him that emanated even from his voice. He commanded respect and she couldn't stop herself from adding the 'sir' at the end.

"I have a better idea. Why don't I pick you up in an hour and we talk about it over dinner. I haven't had any and you should hungry."

She blushed. Who did he think he was? Her reservation went out the window, replaced by the fire she had shown the first time they met.

"What makes you think I'm hungry? Do you think I cannot afford a meal? I'm no charity case and I do not need your pity." She cried indignantly. She landed the receiver down and with blood booking and breath shortened, she turned and marched into her bedroom.

That'll show him who was he to make such an assumption about her?? Hungry? How could he tell?

She took her time to calm down and began to feel a little silly for her outburst. He had only meant it as a joke, now that she really thought about it. Bit she had been tense all day and had unleashed on him without thought. Sigh. Now she had annoyed the one person whose help she needed. Well, there goes dinner and probably her rent.

Sigh. She needed to calm down more.

Simon was taken aback by her outburst. It came out of nowhere and he hadn't meant no insult to his words. He just said it as a light-hearted banter and she had exploded. He could be irritated by her reaction but he found himself more amused. She must have had a rough day to be so high strung like that. He laughed to himself. He knew just what to do.