<b>Chapter</b><b>306</b>
Iwas<b>utterly</b>baffled.<b>If</b><b>not</b>York, whoelsecouldhavesenttheflowers<b>?</b>We’veonlyever<b>dealt</b>withYorkfromRFGroup.
While<b>pondering</b>it,York’ssuddenrealizationcamethroughonthe other end ofthephone.“Oh,oh,oh<b>,</b>itwasme<b>,</b>all me!Sillyme<b>,</b><b>I</b>askedmyassistanttohandleit.Hemusthave mixeditup.Imeanttoorder<b>99</b><b>,</b>youknow,towishyoupanygreatsess<b>and</b>longevity.”
Yorksoundedalmostapologetic,“999isadmittedlyabitoverthetop.Didn’tmeantocauseyouanytrouble,did<b>I</b><b>?</b><b>”</b>
“Well…”ncingat therosescrammedfromtheelevatorlobbyintoouroffice,Imanagedaheadache–inducedsmile,“Uh,not<b>really</b>.Maybe<b>I</b>couldtalktothefloristandseeifwecan returnsome?<b>It’s</b>justtoogenerousofyou.”
<b>“</b>Noneed.It’snot<b>a</b>big dealforhim.”Yorkblurtedoutandclearedhisthroat slightly,adding,“Myassistantishere<b>to</b>gainsomelifeexperience.Loadedascanbe.I’lldeduct<b>it</b>fromhisbonus.”
“Okaythen.”Afterexpressingmygratitudeandchattingabit<b>,</b>Ihungup.
Christineleanedin,curious.“So,he’stheonewhosenttheseroses<b>?</b><b>”</b>
“Yep.”Ichuckledlightly,“Butitwashisassistantwhogoofedup.Turned99into<b>999.</b>”
Markfrowned,pondering.“Howcouldoneevenmakethatmistake<b>?</b><b>”</b>
“Ah,let<b>it</b>go.Isn’titnicetohaveflowerstobrightenupthece?”As<b>a</b>flowerenthusiast,Christinecouldn’tstopsmilingatthecontinualdelivery<b>of</b>flowers.“Ineedtosnapapictureformysocialfeed.Withthismanyflowers,<b>our</bpanywouldthrive<b>.</b><b>”</b>
“Goforit.”Takingtheinvoicefromtheflorist,Isignedforthedelivery.
Seizingthe moment,Christinesuggested,“HeyJane,howaboutwethrowpany dinnertonight?Celebrate ourofficiaunchandweethenewfaces.”
Iagreed,“Soundsgreat.Iwasthinkingthesame.”
LookingtowardMark,Iinvitedhimwithawarmsmile,“Mark,<b>free</b>tonight?Joinus<b>?</b><b>”</b>
HavingMarkinvolvedwasagestureofgratitude.Afterall,heyedacrucialroleingettingJaneDreambacktome.Dinnerwas<b>the</b>leastIcould do.This is from N?velDrama.Org.
Hewasdeepinthought,lookingattheflowers,butoffered<b>a</b>gentle smileuponhearingmyinvitation.“<b>You’re</b>asking<b>,</b>andhowcan<b>I</b><b>say</b>no<b>?</b><b>”</b>
Ismiled.“<b>I’ll</b>send youthe detailsoncewe’vepickedthetimeandce<b>.</b>”
“Okay.”Markncedatthetime.“Ishould headbacktomyofficethen.”
Afterseeinghimoff,Christinefollowedmeintomyofficeandsatacrossfromme,wearingateasingexpression.“Spillit.HowarethingsgoingwithyouandMarknow?<b>”</b>
“Nothing’s changed.”AsIcontinuedsketchingtheengagementdressforDorothy,Ireplied.
Christinewasn’t convinced<b>,</b>herskepticismevident.“Noway.You’rehidingsomethingfromme!<b>”</b>
Ipausedandlookedupather.“MarkandImadeasix–monthpact.Doesthat<b>count</b>as progresstoyou?”
“Definitely!”Shewascontent<b>,</b>unabletoresistpryingfurther,“What’sthepactabout?”
Isetdownmypencil<b>,</b>lostinthought.“MarkwillgiveupifIdon’tfeel anythingforhim after<b>six</b>months.”
Reflectingonthepact,I<b>wasn’t</b>sure<b>if</b><b>it</b>wasright<b>or</b>wrong.
Christinenoddedinunderstanding.“Havingregrets<b>?</b><b>”</b>
Iasked,“Regrets<b>about</b>what?<b>”</b>
Christinelooked<b>at</b>me<b>,</b>saying,“Makingthatpact<b>.</b><b>”</b>
“<b>Not</b><b>really</b>.”Ishookmyhead,feelinga bitlost,“<b>I</b>agreedtoit,hopingitwouldmakehimmove<b>on</b><b>sooner</b>.But<b>now</b><b>,</b><b>I</b><b>wonder</b><b>if</b>it<b>could</b>havesparedhimsometime ifIhadbeenclearer<b>from</b>thestart.”
<b>“</b>Oh,please.<b>Mark</b><b>couldn’t</b><b>let</b><b>go</b>evenwhenyouweremarried<b>.</b><b>”</b>