Published: Sept. 20, 2019----Sept. 30, 2020

"Oh! It has been three days in a row that somebody sends you flowers, and you still didn't know his name?"

Katelyn looked at Michelle, who stands in front of her after a receptionist delivered the flowers in her table.

If the person responsible for sending her flowers will be known, everyone will be shocked, and she will be the topic of everyone's conversation.

So as not to be so secretive, she took the card, which as usual, signed in a letter H and flipped it open in front of Michelle for her to see.

"Gosh! So mysterious, don't tell me he will fill the office with his red and white roses before introducing himself." Michelle told her while looking around and added, "Good thing, Mr. Steele doesn't use the common elevator lately, or else he will see his office had become a garden with this commotion of flowers. But on the other hand, what will be his reaction?'

Katelyn just smiled at Michelle's comments while her eyes roamed around the room.

She put some of the flowers on Mark's table, whose eyes bulged, but no comment came out of his mouth.

Twelve red roses also adorn Michelle's table.

She even called in the store to deliver floor vases so she can arrange the flower on it.

Their office smells the rose's aroma upon opening the door and gave the ambiance of being in a flower shop instead of an office.

The culprit, he even planned it like the first day of his courting, sent a dozen of flowers an hour for the whole working day. His reason, because those are for the days, he knew her and never even given her one.

Once they got home, and she complained of his being extravagant, he reduced it to one hundred roses the next day.

Today, it had become twelve roses because of what he said last night.

Shyness creeps within her at the thought of the event leading to what he told her, "he wanted her to be his not just in body but all of her."

She was too daring and tried to seduce him.

She had been bothered by his casual behavior towards her after he stated his intention to court her.

He started to spend time again in his study and made sure she was asleep before he went to bed. So instead of going to sleep like she did the past two nights, she waited for him while wearing a black baby doll sheer nightie with deep v neck, emphasizing her cleavage, a nightgown she had ignored before because it doesn't cover anything.

She assumed a provocative pose on their bed and made sure to uncover her legs. Even though the room was cold, it was not a hindrance to her plans.

An hour of waiting, she almost gives up as the coldness of the room seeped into her skin.

It was also the time the door opened, and he entered. Instead of starting the seductive moves, Katelyn was left numb as doubt of her actions worms its way into her head.

Jared's putting a blanket on her exposed body answered her wavering mind, but it also made her determined to do as planned.

"Jared, you just came inside?" She asked and slowly turned to face him and then covered her mouth, pretending a fake yawn.

"I'm sorry if I awaken you, but the room is cold, and you are not under the covers." He told her while avoiding her eyes as he lay on the bed.

His avoidance of her triggered the naughtiness in her. She removed her blanket, ignored the chillness, and crawled towards him.

He jerked as she slumped on his chest as if her closeness had burned him.

"Are you avoiding me?"

Finally, he looked at her and answered. "I am still a suitor. I don't want to take advantage of the Lady."

"What if the lady doesn't mind?"

"Still, I will practice self-control as I want to have all of her, not just her body."

The seriousness of his voice as he answered surprised her.

"Is he in love with her?"

She almost giggles in happiness but was stopped as the realization hit her. Jared wanted to court her because he believed in her lies, of not loving him.

She almost told him of her real feelings, but before she did, he told her. "Tori don't overthink anything. Let us sleep else my resolve will weaken and do something that a suitor is not supposed to do."

She wanted to reply," I am waiting for it," but then he encircled his around her waist and rested her head on his chest.

His reasoning, as well as his action, made her abandoned her seduction plans.

She felt that Jared's mind was stuck on the idea of his need to prove his seriousness in courting her, or maybe he has something else more on his mind.

So who is she to deprive him of that chance?

She never knew what had made her slept, maybe the soothing sounds of his heartbeat or his fingers that combs her hair or being excited about the days to come.

Even until now, she cannot pinpoint which or maybe it's the combination.

"What do you think, Katelyn?"

Michelle's question made her realize, she got carried away by her mind, "I'm sorry, but what did you ask me?'

"Oh, that mind that drifted away to a mysterious suitor. I asked..."

Katelyn never knew what Michelle meant as they were interrupted by the entrance of a visitor. They both greeted him, and then Michelle walked towards their guest to ask before letting him into Mark's office.

Katelyn is left to return to face her computer and continue where she left before the receptionist arrived.

After finishing her working hours, Katelyn went down to the mall to meet her two friends.

A few days ago, they could not buy the clothes they were supposed to wear for tomorrow's night concert. It was not because of her but Nicole. Her sister gave birth, and so she went to visit her.

They are waiting for her in their meeting place when she walked out of the connecting door. After they greeted each other, they walked to the elevator's direction as the dress shops are on the lower floor.

They were near the S&B Jewelry when Katelyn suddenly turned around to avoid confrontation with someone she saw. But it seems she was too late as someone called her name.

"Katelyn, is that you?'

Lizzy's boisterous voice asked her, and she turned around to smile guiltily to her friend, who is walking towards her.

"We coincidentally meet again in the mall."

"Is that a coincidence or because someone told you of the connecting door?"

"Hmm, how perceptive of you," Lizzy told her while holding her hands.

Katelyn then realized her two friends had stopped from walking and looking at them. Caught in a trap; if she lies, it will be obvious.

She decided to introduce Lizzy to them. She didn't tell them of the latter's noble background, only some minimal information, but it seems like fate is not on her side.

After the introduction, Lizzy reminded her of their luncheon date that raises her two friends' eyebrows.

"Katelyn, don't forget to send me the location of your house so the driver can pick you up."

Lizzy then looked at her friends, and to her horror, she invited them too.

She was happy to hear their refusal at first, but as soon as they hear Blake's name, the conversation became different. Both Nicole and Tess become curious about her connection to him.

But Lizzy will not tell if they will not say yes, so what better way than to go as she invited?"

Once Lizzy left them, they continue their stride.

On the other hand, Jared was still in his office with his PA, finalizing the Quarterly board meeting reports.

He stopped checking on the documents on his hands and looked at Mark engrossed on his computer before asking. "Did you already arrange everything for tomorrow's night?"

"Yes, Mr. Steele, it was arranged. They will be with her from the time she enters."

Satisfied by the answer of his PA, he started to continue with his work.

After a few minutes of silence with just the rustling of papers, Mark talked. "Mr. Steele, can you please tell Mrs. Steele not to put flowers on my table?"

He stopped reading the paper on his hand. He then looks at Mark first and, upon seeing the seriousness in the latter's face, asked, "why didn't you tell her when she was doing it?'

"Because she looked so happy arranging it in front of me that I lost the courage to tell her I don't like it."

"If you don't want to tell her, do you think I will?"

"But you are her husband, and it's you who sent them to her."

"So it's his fault now?" He shrugged his shoulder before commenting," That is only for this week, next time it is only for her, so bear with it for I will not tell her of your complaints."

If he tells her, she will only remind him of his exorbitance. He noticed his wife is careful with money. She will not buy anything unless needed.

He gets up from his chair while giving instructions on what to do to the papers that he separated and then walked to his elevator's direction.

It was closing time for the mall when the three of them were able to finish their shopping.

But the most surprising of all, Jared just patiently waited for her in the parking area. When she sat down beside him, all he asked was if she had found the dress that she wanted to wear for the concert.

They went home in silence after answering him about buying it, but she did not mention her lunch date.

It was only in the morning when she awakened that it came into her mind she needed to wake up already so she can prepare.

But she has a problem. Jared has no idea about it yet.

She had told him about the concert on the night she was supposed to go shopping with her friends for the dress. He was just calmed and did not comment on it; he only nods his head.

She slowly removed Jared's hand on her waist, but it returned and pulled her closer to him.

"Jared, I need to get up."

"It's early, yet Tori and its Saturday."

"It's twenty past eight already, and I need to prepare to meet Nicole downstairs."

"Where are you going with her again?"

She turned around so she can answer, facing him.

"We will have a lunch date with my friend, Lizzy."

Upon seeing his knotted brows, she continued with a guilty smile. "She is the visitor of your Aunt Melanie."

"You mean the daughter of the Earl of Knighton, so you are that friend of hers that Aunt had told me last night."

"She told you about me? Why?"

"To invite me, but I refused as I wanted to spend time with you than meeting women I don't know."

His answer almost made her giggle from gladness that he is not interested in anyone but her, only his question stopped it.

"Why you didn't tell me about it before?" He looked at her guilt-ridden face and then said, "Ah, I know how you don't want me to be there."

"No...it's not like that, but I thought I could get out of the invitation, but Lizzy insisted.

He then gathers her in his arms," Don't worry about Aunt Melanie. Besides, I will be there."

She gets out of his embrace and then asked," I thought you don't want to meet any women?"

"Well...you are there, so I will go," Jared stated and then gets up from their bed.

"But my friends will be there too," She said more to herself than to Jared as he walked in the bathroom.

Before she left their apartment, Jared told her to go with him, but she was adamant of going with Nicole, and so in the end, he did not insist anymore.

They go down together, but he left the building first.

She is in the lounge area of their apartment building sitting for ten minutes or so when Nicole arrived.

She immediately stands up to meet her.

"Did you know that when I told the guard as you instructed that I am a visitor of Mrs. Steele, he immediately ushered me inside," Nicole told her after they kissed each other cheeks.

"He also told me, "She is waiting." I almost run out of the door of fear. I thought I got caught using her name, good thing I saw you walking towards me."

"Oh, don't mind the guard," Katelyn told her friend, and to divert the latter's mind from the topic, she ushered her on a couch and asked," where did you park your car?"

"I came here in a taxi," Nicole answered while looking around and then added, "What a posh building you live in, Kate."

"Well, you know my uncle works with Mrs. Steele, so he was provided accommodation within the building."

"But at the same place, Mr. Steele stays? I thought most of his old employees live in the Orchard One building, not in this newly opened and heavily guarded place because of the high profile personalities living here."

"Well, I don't know about the reason but, that is what it is."

"Which floor is your apartment?"

When she didn't answer immediately, Nicole did it herself by asking, "basement?"

Katelyn was left speechless but keep quiet, and so Nicole continued," Now I know the reason you never invited us in.

"No, it's not like that, but you know there has never been an occasion that I can let you come. By the way, you want some coffee?"

"Don't tell me; it's also available here?"

"Yes, it is, and it's for free."

"Is a Miss Darcy in here? Your car is waiting outside." They were interrupted by another guard.

"Yes, she is here," Nicole answered while standing up, and Katelyn followed.

The guards never knew her maiden name, only that she is Mrs. Steele. She passed them, signaling to close their mouth before they can mention her name.

They went out to the waiting car of Baker's family.

After an hour of driving, a wrought iron gate opened to them.

Nicole has these jaw-dropping expressions, and Katelyn holds her hands once the car stopped in front of the tall double doors.

"Gosh! What an enormous house or rather a mansion." Nicole commented after they went out of the car.

Lizzy then came out of the door, smiling.

She ushered them inside like a lady of the house does.

Her action put answers to Katelyn suspicious of her presence to the Baker's mansion. But whom is she being paired remains to be discovered?

They went to the back of the house instead of the dining room in a turret-shaped gazebo overlooking a pool. A table is inside, and to Katelyn's surprise, it has only a dozen chairs on it.

"So, they are only eating with the family."

Nicole sits down beside her while Lizzy busies herself in telling one of the housemaids to pour them a drink. She then told them why they are eating outside of the house.

"Aunt Melanie at first was against in this scenario, but I persuaded her that we both love eating outdoors, so she conceded."

"I too like it here, Lizzy, it's more refreshing and appetizing to see the green trees and the garden while eating," Nicole commented.

"I know it; whoever are friends with Kate will get on well with me too."

Lizzy just finished her sentence before she was interrupted.

Another visitor is entering the premises.

She excused herself and then gets up from her chair, leaving her and Nicole in the table.

Katelyn takes a sip on the water in front of her and then stands up and walked to the handrails," Nicole, why don't we go near the pool?" she suggested as she saw in the blue water of it, enticing her to at least touch.

"Wearing these shoes?" Nicole asked her. She then looked at her friend's feet and understood.

Nicole wears a stiletto paired in a shift dress, which they bought last night.

"Girls see who I brought in now, it's Tess."

They both looked at the direction of Lizzy and saw Tess walking with her towards them. At the back of them, two housemaids carried the sweets they bought for Lizzy and Mrs. Baker.

Once they are all seated in their chair, Lizzy entertained them with the memories they both shared when they were young.

Katelyn noticed that her friend made sure that she never mentioned her being a viscount daughter but just a classmate in a school.

It was because last night she told her on the phone that Nicole and Tess have no idea of her family background. So she asked her if possible, not to mention it too. Though she knows Lizzy was curious about the reason, thankfully, the latter did not pry on it.

They were all laughing with something that Nicole talks about when the Baker family joined them.

After the introductions, the conversation started with Mrs. Baker asking her where she stays while living in New York.

Before she can answer, Jared came, followed by Mark and Chase and the housemaids that carry bouquets.

Jared took a bouquet and then handed it to his aunt while the rest of the men greeted Mrs. Baker by kissing her hands to the delight of the Lady of the house.

He took another bouquet, this time of red roses, and walked to where she is seated. He handed it to her while sitting down on the chair vacated by Lizzy once the Baker's came earlier, to her surprise and the other women in the table.

It was then Blake got up and took the two bouquets. He gives it to each of her friends while Teddy, who followed him, handed it to Lizzy.

Once everyone was seated, Mrs. Baker formally introduced Lizzy to them.

Though the older woman did not directly mention Lizzy's being the future wife of her son, in the way she said, "She hopes one of day to hold a banquet to celebrate her son's engagement," said it all.

Mrs. Baker is served first with soup and then every one of them.

"Jared, why didn't you bring Charlize with you?"

Silence reigns with the question of Mrs. Bakers.

END OF PART 24

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