Chapter 323: Excuse me, are you Miss Fairchild?
The elevator stopped, and Aidan led Alison out, holding her hand.
It seemed that they were lovers.
When they stepped out of the elevator and looked toward the office entrance, they both froze — a dozen flower girls stood there, each holding a trimmed basket overflowing with red roses.
“Excuse me, are you Miss Fairchild?” one of the flower girls approached them.
“Yes, you…”
Alison expected this was Aidan’s doing.
But Aidan said coolly, “Who told you to come up?”
“Sir, we’re just here to deliver flowers to Miss Fairchild.”
The florist beamed, unfazed by Aidan’s coldness.
“Who sent them?” Alison asked, confused.
Could it be Gabriel?
“You’ll know once you sign for the roses.”
“Take them into the office,” Alison said.
“Alison…” Aidan protested.
She pulled away from his hand, took the card, and glanced at the florist’s name — Petal Paradise — Alison’s own flower shop.
She took the bouquet and walked into the office.
The flower girls followed her in single file.
Before long, the office was filled with roses, and the fragrance filled the air.
Aidan stared at the flowers, finding them irritating.
He’d expected Alison to dislike them, yet she accepted them so readily now.
Alison carefully arranged the flowers in a vase, then asked the flower girl, “Can you tell me now?”
“Miss Fairchild, you’ll find out when you answer your phone.”
The flower girl smiled.
Just then, Alison’s phone rang.
She frowned at the number before picking up.
“Pierre? It’s you. I don’t like it. I’ll throw them out immediately.”
She was about to hang up.
“Fine, then I’ll intercept whoever’s delivering to Gabriel. Do you want to see him lose his temper during work hours?”
Pierre chuckled, clearly threatening her.
“You…”
Alison was speechless.
“Go ahead,” Pierre chuckled.
“I’d love to see you write with both hands. It’s so amusing — something I’ll never master.”
“Your mind isn’t clear. That’s why you’ll never learn.”
With that, she hung up.
“Someone take these flowers out and throw them away,” Aidan shouted; he had just heard Alison reject Pierre.
“Aidan, don’t throw them away. Just leave them here.”
Alison objected, giving in.
“This is an office, not a flower shop,” he reminded her.
“I know, but you can do that after work, not now.”
She insisted.
Puzzled by her reaction, Aidan pushed her into the break room.
“I’ll wake you in an hour. We’re going to Chanel,” he said, standing at the doorway.
She nodded, thinking she could sort everything out after a nap.
When Mia returned to the office, she found it flooded with roses.
News of Alison receiving the flowers spread like wildfire throughout the office and was soon embellished into rumours that Aidan was responsible.
Gabriel stood at the entrance to the lobby.
He overheard the idle chatter of employees, and his gaze grew gloomy.
Alison and Aidan emerged, her arm around Aidan’s.
He strode toward Gabriel like a victor.
Alison didn’t sense the tension between the two men.
Her mind was elsewhere, preoccupied with the photos in her inbox.
“Alison, did you sleep on your stomach again? Look, you’ve got pillow marks on your face.”
As they neared the door, Aidan turned and gently said to her.
She turned her head away, avoiding his hand.
“Oh, I didn’t sleep last night, so I slept really deeply just now.”
“Come on. I’ll take you to that beauty salon for a makeover. You’ll look even more stunning when you meet Mr. Bates,” he said as they walked out of the lobby.
Gabriel ignored them the entire time.
Aidan opened the car door for Alison, and the two headed toward Chanel.
Alison turned her head; her gaze drifted back to Gabriel instinctively.
Why does it hurt every time I look away from him?
After buying an outfit, they went to the airport.
The airport announcement informed passengers that the flight from Frankfurt was about to land.
Suddenly, Aidan’s phone rang.
“What’s going on?” he picked up.
“Mr. Winston, please come back immediately. The old lady… she…”
The household servant’s voice sounded anxious.
Aidan’s expression darkened.
“I understand. I’m heading back now.”
He hung up hurriedly and turned to Alison.
“Alison, my mother’s illness has relapsed. You’ll have to handle everything with Mr. Bates. I’ll send a driver for you shortly.”
“Okay, Aidan, go back then. I’ll explain the situation to Mr. Bates.”
She nodded.
Aidan was frantic.
He rushed toward the airport exit, leaving Alison behind.
The scent of roses still clung to her — too sweet, too heavy — like a warning she couldn’t shake.