An American Cinderella

* * *

I carried the notes with me as I went to the last bouquet. It was full of different shades of blue and purple hyacinth and the sweet lilac-like scent filled my entire office with the smell of spring. Hyacinth were my second favorite flowers, right after daffodils. There was one last note.

* * *

I’m bringing you lunch.

* * *

I smiled and put all three notes in my pocket.

“According to the internet, yellow flowers mean apology,” Jaqui read from her phone as she pointed to the daffodils. “Tulips are also apology flowers. As is hyacinth. Good lord, those smell amazing.”

“What about roses?” I asked. “He sent some to my apartment.”

“Um...” Jaqui scrolled down her phone. “Here it is: does he have a reason to apologize? Because fifteen roses means ‘I’m sorry.’ Your guy knows his flowers.”

“Or he looked it up just like you,” I told her. I smelled the hyacinth again. He sure did pick my favorites.

“You going to forgive him?” Jaqui asked. “Because four bouquets? I’d at least let him buy me dinner to apologize.”

I chuckled. “Yeah. I think I can let him do that.”

“You said his name is Henry Prescott, right?” Jaqui asked, tucking her phone back into her back pocket. She frowned slightly as if she were thinking hard. “And he’s from Paradisa?”

I nodded. “Yeah. He plays for the Royals. They’re a rugby team.”

“That explains the killer body,” Jaqui agreed. “I swear he reminds me of someone. I just can’t place it. It’s like I’ve seen him before.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Like I’ve seen his picture somewhere. He just looks famous to me,” Jaqui tapped her lip with her finger. “It’ll come to me. I recognize him from something.”

“Jaqui, do you really think a famous guy would be dating me?” I pointed to my rain-wet hair and mud-splattered pants.

“Yeah. Because you freaking rock,” Jaqui replied, not even pausing a little. It made me smile.

“Thanks, Jaqui.” Despite the cool of the rain in my office, I felt warm all over with her friendship.

“Anyway, you need to get to work. You’re all caught up on backlog, right?” Jaqui looked around at the various boxes filling my office. “Because I have news.”

I nodded. “I finished yesterday. On to the real stuff today.”

“Good. I was told that the Paradisians made a huge trade maneuver last night that is going to affect the negotiations. You’ll be getting new boxes by lunch.”

I groaned. “More work for me. Yay.

“There’s more.” Jaqui looked apologetic. “They’ve asked for it to be sped up. They want the documentation sooner rather than later.”

I groaned again. “Which means a lot more work for me.”

“Yeah. I’m sorry. But, hey, you got flowers!”

“Not from you,” I replied, sticking my tongue out at her.

“Well, at least one Paradisian likes you. And I’m sure the trade negotiation team would too if they knew you.”

I smiled and went behind my desk. “You better let me get to work. I suddenly have a lot to do. So much for the ‘easy’ job, right?”

“I would hate for you to be bored,” Jaqui teased. “Let me know if you need anything.”

“Oh, will you let Gus know that Henry is bringing me lunch?” I asked, remembering the note.

“He really does want to apologize.” Jaqui grinned. “I’ll tell Gus not to throw him out.”

“Thanks.”

Jaqui gave me a small wave before leaving me to the boxes. I sighed as I looked around, knowing that there were going to be more.

That and my stepmother was going to want to know all of it.

Two hours later and I’d managed to get through at least a couple of boxes. I’d managed to convince myself that they weren’t of any use to my stepmother. I had her list of wants memorized, but I hadn’t seen anything come up with the information she was looking for yet.

I knew it was only a matter of time, though.

I didn’t know what I was going to do.

I still hadn’t figured out a way out of our deal. I’d thought about going to Jaqui several times, but I knew how that would end up. If I were fired or let go, my stepmother would release the information on my father. If I were transferred, she would just have me transferred back.