Could he have bought them for me? she wondered. After their recent argument, Natalia couldn't deny that the idea of a romantic gesture from him made her chest tighten.
She began her search, her heels clicking softly against the polished marble floor.
"Where would he keep them? His office? Or our bedroom? She was mumbling to herself.
Her first stop was at Allesandro's consulting room. Laying her hands on the door, she realized the room was clean, the smell of his perfume still detectable. For a moment she gave the desk the third-degree, i.e., searched it for flowers, but there were none.
Secondly she went to the sun room. It has a lot of windows from the floor up to the ceiling, which is great for keeping fresh flowers. But once again, no roses. But mostly there was a satisfaction, slightly flavored with the touch of worry, or rather, with the anticipation of that worry.
Natalia: "Perhaps I thought it up; or, perhaps, they were not meant for me."
Something could be heard, and it made this woman turn her head at the very last possible second from the door: a hardly noticeable rustle. Following it, she stepped out onto the back terrace. There, near the edge of the garden, she froze. A beautiful bouquet of red roses sat on a small table, their petals glowing in the golden light of late afternoon.
Her lips parted in surprise; she couldn't believe Alessandro would be romantic.
Just then, the faint sound of Allesandro's voice carried through the garden. He was talking to someone on the phone, his tone warm and light. He was speaking in Italian.
Sì, non vedo l'ora... Certo, prenderemo un caffè e discuteremo ulteriormente. Sì, grazie (yes, I look forward to it; sure, we'll discuss it over a coffee; yes, thank you).
Natalia couldn't understand what he was saying, but she was excited to see the small kind gesture of her lover.
"Natalia, what are you doing here? he asked.
"Oh, your mom said I would find you here, and by the way, thanks for the flowers." "flowers? what flowers?" Didn't you buy me flowers, so your mother was lying to me, so I don't snap at you for playing happy family with Ever? She questioned, her voice raising.
"Whoa, Natalia, it was only pure business, and yes, the children are mine. I have a right to be happy around them, and you should also soften up; you're soon going to be their second mother."
"Don't wow me! she snapped. .Alessandro, you always belittle me. Did you see everyone supporting you and Ever? I'm just a third wheel around you. Why do you hurt me?"
Alessandro saw that people were now shifting their gaze to them, so he composed himself.
"Look, Natalia, it's just what I said on the phone: our future depends on the deal, so yes, those flowers I bought for you ,you're an amazing woman, but now I have something to do, so I will leave you." He said, turning away and making another phone call.
At Bella Luxe Boutique it was a busy day. Orders were in and out. As Ever was packing her last order, her phone rang.
Every answer after a moment.
"Hello, this is Ever Miller speaking. May I know who's calling?"
"Good afternoon, Ms. Miller. My name is… let's say, a potential ally to your boutique's future." "That's quite an introduction. I'm listening.
"I've been following your boutique's journey for a while now. Your designs have a certain flair that sets them apart. I believe there's untapped potential waiting to be explored, and I'd like to help you expand."
"I appreciate the compliment, but I'd like to know more. What exactly do you have in mind?"
"Let's just say I'm prepared to make a significant investment to take your brand global. But I'd prefer to discuss the details in person."
Ever was cautious but curious. "I see And why the sudden interest? Why now?"
"Timing is everything, Ms. Miller. Opportunities like these don't knock twice. Let's just say I have reasons that will become clear when we meet."
Ever paused weighing the proposal, "Alright, I'm intrigued. When and where would you like to meet?"
"I'll let you decide. I can clear my schedule for this.
Then tomorrow, at 3 PM, at La Petite Café on Main Street. It's quiet and perfect for discussions like these."
Perfect. I'll be there. You won't regret this, Ms. Miller. He chuckled.
"We'll see. Until tomorrow, then."
"Until tomorrow."
The call ends, leaving Ever with a mix of curiosity and suspicion about who this mystery investor could be.
Late at night in one of the Wales hotels, Allesandro and his coworkers were very busy. The large table was dispersed with papers, coffee mugs, and laptops.
"Matteo, status update. Where are we on the acquisition terms?" He asked very professionally.
"Mostly finalized, but they're pushing back on the timeline. They want more leeway." He briefed him.
"Leeway? After all this time? Tell them they'll get three weeks, no more. Elena, how's the integration plan?"
"It's ready. I'll polish the final details and have it ready by 6 AM."
"Good. David, what's the situation with their CEO?"
"He's posturing. I Want a larger equity share."
"Posturing won't get him anywhere. Matteo, draft a reminder of the market trends we discussed and make it clear this is non-negotiable." Alessandro smirked.
"Consider it done."
"There's one more thing. Discrepancies in their financials. Could be a red flag."Sofia said.
"Red flag or leverage?" Alessandro asked
"Possibly both."
"Follow up. I want answers by morning. If they're hiding something, the deal's off. Liam, PR angle?"
"Nothing goes out until you say so. We'll be ready if you need us."
Allesandro: "Good. I want this airtight. Anything else?"
"What if they stall tomorrow?"
"They won't. If they do, we walk. They'll cave, trust me."
"Meeting at 3 PM for updates?" Matteo asked
"Yes, 3 PM, at La Petite Café on Main Street.No excuses. Now go. We've got a long day ahead."
The team nods and files out, leaving Allesandro and Matteo alone.
Matteo: "You ever sleep, sir?"
"Not while there's work to do. Get some rest, Matteo. You'll need it."
"I'll try, but you know how it is."
"Exactly." He grinned faintly.