Page 49 of Strictly Business

Jade lets out a scoff. “I told you to move in with me, and I didn’t see you pack a single bag.”

“It’s not like that,” I assure them, my shoulders tense. “He was just worried and—I don’t have time for this. I need to work.” I turn toward my monitor, clicking open the list of tasks I need to tackle today.

“Uh-huh. Sure. Change the subject all you want, but we both know you’re lying to yourself if you think you two will make it three months without fucking.” Jade’s voice drips with amusement.

I roll my eyes, keeping my focus on the screen. “Trust me, that won’t happen.”

Her eyes twinkle, and she winks at me. “Whatever you say, babe. We love a good slow burn.”

I feel my face heat up, and I quickly glance away. “Don’t get your hopes up,” I mutter. “Nicholas would never be with someone like me.”

Jade laughs. “Please tell me you’re kidding.” She waits for my response, but when I don’t give her one, she scoffs. “Amara, babe. You’re hot. Your ex was a piece of shit who made you think you’re not desirable, but that’s the farthest thing from the truth.Trust me, that kiss between you two at the gala? You don’t kiss someone like that if you’re not attracted to them.”

Trust me when I say, my attraction to you isn’t an issue.

The memory of Nicholas’s words comes rushing back to me, and the knot in my throat tightens as I wonder if she’s right.

Just as I’m about to respond, the elevator doors open, and a delivery guy steps in, holding a bouquet of flowers.

“Amara?” he calls, looking around the room.

I furrow my brows, not sure what’s going on. I raise my hand. “That’s me.”

He makes his way over, handing me the bouquet. My frown deepens as I take it from him. It’s beautiful—soft pink and white peonies. My favorites.

I glance up at him, confused. “I’m sorry, I think you’ve got the wrong person. These can’t be for me.”

He glances at his phone, then back at me. “Amara Winslow?”

“Yeah… That’s me.”

He nods, offering a polite smile. “Then they’re for you.” With that, he turns and heads back into the elevator.

I stare down at the flowers, my heart racing, the knot in my throat refusing to loosen. Jade is practically grinning, looking like she’s enjoying every second of this. “Are those from—”

“No.” I shake my head. “They… can’t be, right?”

Sophie taps me on the shoulder, a little too eagerly. “Uh… babe.” I glance up and see the elevator doors open again. Another delivery guy steps in, carrying an even bigger bouquet than the first.

My head spins. “He didn’t.”

“I think he did,” Jade adds with a chuckle. “Oh boy, I love it when I’m right.”

“Amara Winslow?” one of the delivery guys calls out, scanning the room.

“That’s her,” Jade says, pointing directly at me with a grin. “Right here.”

Before I can even process what’s happening, another delivery guy walks in, then another, and another. They keep coming, one after the other, each with a bouquet in hand. Hundreds of peonies… The flowers just keep piling up, and I can barely catch my breath. By the time the last delivery guy steps in, I’m standing in the middle of a forest of flowers, my arms full of bouquets.

The whole office is watching the spectacle unfold, and I can feel their eyes on me.

“Wait, there’s a card in this one.” Sophie hands me a small pink card that’s tucked into one of the bouquets.

I take the card from her, and read the words, my stomach fluttering like crazy.

You deserve to have everything you’ve ever wanted.

My breath catches in my throat. I glance up at Jade, who’s watching me intently, her lips curled into a mischievous smile.

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