CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE: THORNS OF ROSES.

MEREDITH:

The night was terrible for me. I found it hard to sleep. The news and how calmly Miles took it didn't sit well with me. The next day, it was chaotic once we got out of bed. Miles checked his stock prices, and they weren't looking good. His conversation with Aarhus ended with him being asked to hold off on the deal until after the investigation. When he called Zara, it was the same response. I had to do something to help.

After pleasantries with Neymar, I took out my phone from my handbag once Mile strode into his office and dialed Zara's number.

“Good Morning, Zara. How have you been?”

“Meredith, love. I am fine. I have missed you. How was your vacation? Spill all the juicy details.”

I managed to drop my handbag and walk to the convenience, so Miles didn't accidentally hear my conversation with her. Even though he was in his office, I couldn't be too sure. That man was meticulous. Also, he warned me to focus on myself and not stress about what was happening. I still wanted to help.

Laughing, “the vacation was wonderful. You should give up everything and tour the world with Aarhus,” I suggested.

“I have been telling that stubborn handsome dude that we have enough to put us through if only we would leave the business to the kids and vacate in different parts of the world. He is yet to accept that proposal.”

“It is a big one. It wouldn't come easy.”

“Zara, I know you must have heard the news,” I started, changing the topic. “I can assure you that it is false. I would never lie to you.” Yes, I wouldn't. I just omitted some truths. “Miles has worked hard to become a part of your family, and it breaks his heart that this happened.”

“I know what you mean. However, Steele isn't just run by Aarhus. All the others think it is better to hold off until we are certain that he can be trusted. We have seen over time this kind of thing come to play, where people take relationships and marriages to get what they want. We want someone who isn't desperate. Don't get me wrong, Miles isn't that kind of man. He is a ruthless business person. But, this is for the best.”

“I understand.” I was so tempted to tell her that although we had initially lied about our relationship, we had fallen in love over time. “Can I ask a silly question?"

“Anything, darling?”

“By chance, do you know who the informant is?”

The line went cold for a second before she spoke up. “I am not sure, Love. But, I can tell you that it is someone close to both of you.”

Pressing further would be clingy and that would be bad. Respecting the little information she gave was best. “Thank you so much. I hope this doesn't ruin anything between us.”

“No, darling, it wouldn't. Make time to come visit me.”

“I will. Stay healthy.”

“You too. Bye-bye.” She disconnected the call.

I sat on the toilet seat, with the phone in my palms, thinking hard. Who could have possibly stirred up such a rumor? No one came to mind.

Checking myself in the mirror, I went back to my office. At my entrance, Neymar was signing a delivery guy's ledger. The entire office was adorned with roses. One bouquet lay on my table with a note. “Oh, someone has a lover,” I teased Neymar, wiggling out of excitement. The delivery guy nodded and walked past me. “Who is it? A girlfriend? Boyfriend? What am I missing, Ney? We even have snacks. Lucky us.”

He laughed with a mixture of confusion and relation. “I wish, Meredith. They are for you.”

“Me?” I squeaked in excitement. Did Miles take out time despite everything that was happening to put a smile on my face? Such a keeper!

“Come on! Open the card. Let us hear the lovely note.”

“Sure!” The roses were so many that they got around Neymar's side. Some were in bouquet form, others in beautiful vases, and a few around boxes of snacks. I took out the card tied with a blue ribbon. Giggling, I opened it.

“You complete me, Meredith.”

I began, reading it aloud to Neymar's hearing. “Go on, girl. You are one lucky girl.”

“I am,” I repeated.

“I have not been the same and I regret losing you.”

Swallowing hard, I knew where this was going, but I kept going.

“You made me happy, and memories of us together always make me smile. These roses are a symbol of my feelings for you. Fresh, anew, and forever. Give me a chance to do things right. I love you always, Meredith.

A. S”

I needed no soothsayer to tell me that this was from Alan.

“Wow. That sounds like an ex asking you to take them back. Girl, never. If you break up with them once, a second time would be brutal. Moreover, you are happier with this mysterious, handsome, and strict billionaire,” Neymar advised.

“You don't have to say it twice,” I responded, shredding the card into pieces, and tossing them into the nearest trash. This was bad. I didn't want Miles to see all this. How can I dispose of them without him seeing me move them? This had to stop. It needed to. Most of all, what gave him the audacity to send these to my workplace?

Smiling, a bright idea struck me. “Neymar, do you know how many employees we have?”

“Over millions.”

Rolling my eyes, “I am talking about here with precision. The headquarters.”

“Oh, a couple of hundreds? I guess. Or, more. I am not sure.” Neymar adjusted his glasses and took a box of chocolate. “This looks yummy. As a friend to the ex that is wanted back, I will gladly eat this,” he joked.

“Go ahead.” I wasn't keeping it anyway. “Do you think--”

My great fear happened. Miles opened his office with a document in his hand. He was looking down at it, “Mr. Kane--” slowly, he raised his head, his eyes scanning the thousands of roses that filled the office.