Sundays at the office had become routine for Nora ever since she came to work for her friend’s event planning business five years ago. It was a time for her to catch up on emails and look forward into the coming week’s big venues. What she hadn’t accounted for was the long-winded voicemail left to her earlier that morning from a client who’s wedding was set for two weeks from now. Nora spent the next 20 minutes on the phone with an emotional bride-to-be, jotting down a grocery list of demands to be executed before the appointed date. Being one of Vivian’s more lucrative clients, she knew she had a lot of work ahead of her to fix the problem, but wouldn’t allow that to ruin her good mood.
After a few calls to various sellers, Nora was able to negotiate the price to fit within the woman’s budget. She stuck a post-it note on her computer, reminding herself to find a use for 500 white hydrangeas, as the bride now wanted roses instead and it was too late to cancel the order. She ended up leaving the office at a decent hour, opting to pass by Clary Street to sort out the current flower situation. It was too late to order from the same vendor so she’d have to shop with a local florist. Sliding her phone into her purse after texting a quick update to Vivian, she opened the glass door to the shop and stepped inside. The owner was arranging a bouquet of tulips as Nora greeted them with a smile. She was unsure of how to pose such a tall order, but she’d try her best.
“This might seem like an absurd request, but I need an arrangement of 500 white roses by next Friday and I was hoping you would be so kind as to help me? Price isn’t an issue, but I’m sort of in a tough spot with my client and I’d make sure you were well compensated for your…” she glanced down at the bouquet of flowers, which were actually quite lovely, “unique skill set.” In business, most people often used flattery as a means to an end, but in Nora’s case she was being genuine.
Alexis knew determination when she heard it, and this girl certainly had it. Whatever she was putting together was likely far and away more important than the bouquet of welcome flowers she’d come to put together for her sister-in-law of sorts. She was happy enough to step aside and do some more research of her own while the most recent customer to have set the jingling bells on the door off had her way with the eager worker behind the desk.
It was as she’d stepped aside that she caught a glimpse of the woman’s profile. Instantaneously, she felt her mouth shrink into a nervous pucker. Alexis didn’t know her name, but she recognized her. She’d been unable to stay away from the local dance studio’s recitals---hell, she’d been to every one that year, sitting in the back of the theater with her arms crossed as both jealousy and pride exuded from her with every step the young dancers took. She knew the woman was involved somehow---a teacher? An advanced student? An over-involved parent? Irregardless of her connection, the thought alone put Alexis into a cold sweat.
When the worker walked into the back, Alexis took hold of her opportunity. She cleared her throat a little too loudly and spoke at a pitch just a little too high.
“Excuse me? You work at the dance studio, right?”
