Page 35 of Strictly Business

Alice was in the middle of a phone call when she looked up to see Sally, the front desk receptionist, walking through the door way bearing a huge bouquet of red roses.

Walking straight to Alice, Sally winked and set the flowers on her desk with a cheekyta-da!flourish.

Alice’s heart began to knock and she lost the train of her conversation with a hire car rep in Mt. Isa.

Who on earth would be sending her flowers? They had to be from Liam. But would he make such a public gesture at work?

Smiling broadly, Sally tapped her fingernail against the little envelope that was pinned to red satin ribbons.

Alice knew she was blushing as she mouthed thank you and she was grateful that her phone call meant that Sally couldn’t hang around while the envelope was opened. But just as the call finished, Shana walked in.Great.

‘Wow! Who sent you these?’

‘I’ve no idea.’ Alice tried very hard to sound cool as Shana fingered the envelope.

‘Aren’t you going to have a look?’

‘Of course.’ Damn. Her fingers were shaking as she struggled to pull out the tiny pin that secured the card.

‘I’ll bet they’re from the boss. Things are hotting up, aren’t they?’ Shana leaned close with a forced enthusiasm that did nothing to calm Alice.

Her fingers fumbled with the seal on the envelope. She hadn’t heard from Liam since he dashed off to Sydney. These flowers must be from him. There was no other man in her life and no other explanation. She was going to be floating on happiness for days.

She read the card and blinked.

‘Well?’ Shana’s cry was close to squeal. ‘Come on, Alice, spill.’

‘They’re from Joe,’ she said, trying hard not to sound disappointed.

‘Joe? Who’s Joe?’

‘The pilot who collapsed in the plane.’

‘Oh.’ Shana couldn’t wipe the relieved smirk from her face. ‘How nice.’

‘Yes. It’s a very sweet note. He’s completely recovered now and he thinks I saved his life.’

‘I’m sure you did.’ Shana gave Alice a pat-you-on-the-head smile and continued on to her desk.

Disappointment deluged Alice. She had so wanted these lovely flowers to be a gift from Liam. What was that man doing in Sydney? Why had he cut her off?

Mad with herself that it mattered so much, she returned her attention to Joe’s card. His message really was sweet. He claimed he’d been brought back to life by the kiss of an angel. Who else it could have been at that altitude he’d asked.

And then, further down, she saw another message in different writing:

Alice, we want to thank you sincerely from the bottom of our hearts for saving Joe’s life. He is a precious husbandand father and we still have him, thanks to you and Mr Conway.

Jean, Gary, Jenny and Jana Banyo

Alice touched a dark velvety rose petal. At the time she’d helped Joe she hadn’t given a thought to his wife and children. She’d just done what had to be done. But everyone had families. Even the simplest action could have wide-reaching effects.

The flowers were a lovely gesture and as she got on with her work, she tried to convince herself that she’d rather receive an uplifting message from Joe and his family than a bunch of flowers from her remote and aloof boss.

But by the end of the week the flowers were wilted and so were Alice’s spirits. She still hadn’t heard anything from Liam.

He left a brief message with Sally, to say that he hoped to be back the following Monday. But that was all.

Of course everyone in the office expected Alice to be able to supply them with details about what the boss was doing in Sydney. And it was anything but pleasant to admit that she was more or less as clueless as they were.

---