I groan, straining my eyes open a little, debating whether to leave my warm bed or not. I decide the latter and close my eyes again.

The bell rings again. Twice this time. I roll over, glancing at my bedside table and checking the time. 8:30 AM on a Saturday fucking morning. Who could be so inconsiderate?

The bell rings again. "Oh fuck off." I leap out of bed, my reflection catching my eye in the mirror. I wore my pyjamas to bed, my eyeliner was a little smudged after failing to remove most of my cleansing process and my hair looked appalling. I take the band out of my hair and retie it up as I stalk my way towards the door. The metal handle feels cold against my hand, pulling it open letting it creek open, scowling at the person behind it. There's a man who chews on his bubblegum quite bored and is decked in a high visibility red jacket with a parcel and clipboard in his hands.

"Isabella Romero?" he asks, staring dead at me.

"Yes, that is me,"

"Sign here." he shoves the clipboard in my face. I glance down at it, beginning to sign my name down.

Once my sign has been recorded, he passes me the parcel that is laced with matted vinyl paper. I thank him and close the door, treading over to my kitchen island and place it down. I don't remember ordering anything online recently and stare at it in confusion.

Beginning to search for some scissors in the draw, I cut the top of it and the paper springs revealing a bouquet of pink peonies with a tiny black box sitting in the middle and a note on one of the peony petals.

Someone sent me peonies?

Examining the flower, I declare they were beautiful and arranged lavishly in all their entirety before gently extracting the note from the petal and reading it. The handwriting is practically perfect and neatly written.

Isabella, I hope these peonies find you well. I give you my sincerest and deepest apology about your car mishap. I am to blame after all. I hope my little present will suffice.

– Dimitri Asterio

It takes me a second to absorb the words written on the tiny note in the neatest handwriting I can possibly fathom. I read it again, making sure I wasn't still dreaming. Fuck, Dimitri Asterio sent me these. Little present? What little present?

My eyes trail to the tiny black box and my heart flips once, twice. I feel nauseous. My fingers wrap around the box and I gently undo the white silk ribbon, letting it unravel. With my breath held, I lift the lid off the box and it feels like the roof has collided into me.

In the plush silk material of the box lies a car key car. I gaze astounded, lifting it up with trembling fingers and flipping it over. It was a Jaguar.

No, no, no. He sent me flowers as a little gift, he sent me a whole brand new car? I must be dreaming, I must be dreaming – I viscously drill into my brain, running towards my living room window and glancing down at the street. Right in front of my flat sits a black car, shining underneath the sun and I'm left at shock for words.

I chew my bottom lip, debating the man is entirely crazy and how the fuck he got my address in the first place. I possibly couldn't accept this! This was deemed inappropriate and highly unreasonable coming from a man whom I did not know.

I glance down at the sleek car again that stands on the edge and shake my head. Then without a second thought, I dart into my bathroom, brushing my teeth, freshening up and ripping my clothes off me.

Fifteen minutes later, I'm dressed in a black dress that nips at the waist with my hair curled and makeup delicately applied. I throw on some heels, my coat and collect the key off my island and stalk out of my flat with one last look at the peonies.

I didn't have the heart to throw them out, they were too beautiful.

The security guard smiles at me on my way out and I give him a nod. I couldn't recall his name. Nathan? Noah? Nial was it?

And there she stands in front of me, the sleek interior of my brand new car. It was beautiful and very shiny but I don't have the heart to keep it. I possibly couldn't accept such a little present from Dimitri Asterio. I felt as if I was going against my own values and principles.

I press the key and the car blinks into life before I open the door and sit inside the cream seats. Christ, it had that new car smell confirming my suspicions that it was very recently brought.

My hand thread into my coat and pull out the sleek card that has his name and company address on it. I had sworn it would never glance at it again but desperate times call for desperate measures. With his address noted in the satnav and no actual plotline of a conversation in my head, I roll out. My only reasoning is that I need to see him.

————

Oh she going to see him!!

Ugh, he sent her flowers. *swoons*

Ugh, he sent her a car! *double swoons*

— 𝓐.