2X The Heat (2X The Pleasure 1)

-p.s. wear your best dress.

I was fine until I read the last part. I realized I had absolutely nothing that was close to acceptable for an event like this. And I didn’t have the money to go out and get one either. I had to shove that aside, I need to do my job first.

I made a breakfast of oatmeal and a smoothie, then showered and got dressed in jeans, and a knit sweater. I tied my hair up, which I always tended to do when I had a big project ahead of me, and then headed to the shop. I felt a pep in my step since I opened this place, it had been my dream for so long. Now I just need a steady income to keep it afloat. My savings won’t pay the lease forever. I hoped that this charity event would help me in some way.

Once inside, I went about the daily task of opening up the sun views, checking the flowers’ water levels, and keeping everything neat. I got a lot of pass throughs, but the business from that wasn’t necessarily substantial enough. I still treated them well, of course.

But today my mind was on this event. I printed the floor plan Sasha sent me, the place was huge. And so was her budget. You would think ten thousand dollars gets you a lot,

but for gardening and a flower arrangement for a party of this size, it was just enough.

By about two in the afternoon, I had a plan put together. As if on cue, Dan came inside with the check.

“Hey Emilia, delivery from Sasha.” He pretended to roll out a creed and bow. The kid had a great sense of humor.

“Thanks. How was school?”

He rolled his eyes.

“Horrible. I hate biology. And no offense, plants especially.” He dropped his bag on the counter, and blew out an exasperated breath.

“I love plants. Let me take a look.”

He took out his obnoxiously large biology book, and I spent the next hour helping him with his homework. I didn’t mind it, though. I was glad to help him, and he seemed to understand it by the time I was done.

“Thanks, you’re the best. I was prepared to fail this class.” He shook his head. “But Sasha wouldn’t have liked that very much.” He chuckled.

“Yeah, what about your parents?” I noticed he never really talked about them, and maybe I was overstepping. But my curiosity was getting the better of me.

“They work a lot. It’s my grandparents that I live with, actually. It was that or boarding school.” He slung his backpack over his shoulder, signaling he had to get going.

“Oh, okay. Well just let me know if you ever need help in that class.”

“I will, see you!” He called over his shoulder, and then the door shut behind him.

I never noticed his parents weren’t around. I mean, it must be sad. My dad worked all the way over in Barbados, on a botany research project. Something about the water retention in tropical plants. He seemed to be having a lot of fun whenever we talked. We would skype about once a week or whenever he had service.

I missed my dad too, but that was a situation I couldn’t change. And after mom had died, he was so different. More distant, enjoyed things less. I think it’s why he decided to go on this course when I left for school, that’s how long he has been gone. Ten years.

I placed the order for everything I needed, and the labor required. I managed to find a company that handled all of that. I was to drop off the check at the time of service, that way I could make sure everything got put in correctly. When I left for my apartment, I actually felt like I had a pretty productive day. Then I remembered the last part of Sasha’s email.

I was lucky my best friend was a designer. I didn’t expect her to make me anything in twenty-four hours, but maybe she had a massive discount to some stores, or I could borrow something.

“Hey, Ivy. Are you busy?” I skipped the formalities.

I was on my couch, just about freaking out with every breath. I couldn’t exactly show up looking like the flower girl, I had to blend in. Otherwise, I would rather not stay.

“Not in theory. Are you okay? Did something happen at work?”

“No, not really. It’s just I realized I don’t have anything to wear to this gala. Sasha said, I quote, wear your best gown or something like that. I have nothing!” I shrieked.

Ivy just laughed, how could she be laughing?

“Don’t worry, Emilia. I actually just finished a show with my boss, and I think one of the dresses would be perfect. You can wear it and he would never know.”

I gasped. “Really?”

“Yeah, I can bring it by later. Just let me finish this up. Deep breaths, girl.” She laughed and then hung up.