Page 12 of The Final Rose

“You must be hallucinating. It's too early for you.”

“You should really check the time before you make the call by the way.”

“I thought you wanted to be involved in this, mate. I got your flowers.”

“I mean, yes, just not so early. Now tell me more about this Callie.”

“Good night, Maverick.”

“I’m up now, you prick.”

And even though he curses, I know it’s all good.

5.

Callie

The huge flower bouquetfalls into his lap, and I cross my arms over my chest.

“If you have a girlfriend, Riggs…”

He laughs, showing off the perfect column of his neck. Taking the card, he reads it before passing it on to me.

Good luck breaking Vera’s heart.

-Maverick

I read it and then read it again. I can’t believe it, even as I blink at the words printed in front of my face.

The absolutely outrageous words!

Because it’s impossible that he’s eliminating Vera first and even more ridiculous is that he’s telling his friend and getting flowers about the spoiler.

I tear the card apart in desperation. I don’t care what Riggs has to say, but he doesn’t even see it. He’s gone already and I have to jog to catch up.

He passes the bouquet to a P.A. as he smiles at her, making the poor girl trip over her feet. I suppress a groan. That damn Englishman charm! That damn smile and the accent. I’m so angry at him, I refuse to find him charming.

“Are you eliminating Vera?” I hiss as soon as the P.A. is out of earshot.

He only spares me a glance.

“Are you allowed to tell me that?”

“I’m not telling you. I read about it!”

Sebastian looks from one side to the other, and I follow suit. When it’s clear we are relatively alone, he lowers his voice.

“It’s just Maverick.”

I wiggle my finger at him. “Do you understand what can happen if anyone knows you’re sharing information?”

“I’m not sharing information. I don’t even have the information to share.”

“This is information.” I point to the general area where I was when I read the card. “It’s not possible you think it’s ok to do this.”

He winces. “I know, I know. But I needed to talk to someone. I’m telling you,I don’t have information.”

Sebastian says the last part like it’s a code he’s trying to convey. I find myself crossing my arms in front of my chest. “What do you mean?”

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