Chapter 5. Unwanteed Suiter

Saira's POV

I eye the beaming delivery guy in front of me. "Are you sure they are for me?"

"If you are Saira they are for you."

Well I am the only Saira here. I reach out for the card sticking out. Leonardo Norcross!

The nerve of the man! How dare he? Does he think I am one of those silly women who feel blessed to have him around them? I am not accepting these!

"Such lovely flowers! Are they for you?" Suzy asks as she comes in.

"N-No no." I say in a rush. A Customer walks up and asks her something. Saved for the moment, I sigh in relief.

I quickly grab the bunch wanting to dismiss the guy in a rush. I shove the card in my pocket, out of sight.

"Have a nice day Madam." The guy says not making a move to leave. I groan. Of course! He wants a tip! My fingers itch to punch the flowers up his face! I quickly push them out of sight under the counter trying to avoid getting any more attention than they had already grabbed.

I shove a few coins in the man's hands. Dare he hint they are not enough! Luckily he seems satisfied and leaves smiling widely at me as though he had just delivered me on the doorsteps of happiness. I suppose that is how most women recipient of flowers made him feel!

"Who are the flowers for? " Suzy asks, as the customer walks away.

"I don't know. The guy had just been asking for an address." I say quickly, hating having to lie to Suzy.

"Lucky girl, whoever they are for." She says.

If only she knew!

"Had he not been so good looking I would have poured this glass of water on his head!" I heard Stella mutter. I laughed at her "A fussy customer?"

"Fussy? Crazy would be better word! He has just had water since the past thirty minutes! Every time I go to take his order he asks for water and asks me who serves on this table usually!" Stella huffs angrily. "I have been telling him table number 12 is usually served by me during this time of the day! Who does he want to serve him? Cinderella?"

I laugh as she huffs in irritation. "This is his forth glass!"

Table number 12!

I feel my heartbeat pick up "Any idea who is the man who likes water so much?" I ask trying to sound nonchalant. I almost know the answer before she says "Yeah he is well known, Leonardo Norcross." She says walking away.

I close my eyes in irritation. What is this man trying? First flowers and now he is gaining attention by so openly enquiring about the person who served him last time. It would not take long for people to figure out. Especially Suzy.

I open my eyes to see the infuriating man himself approaching the counter with a triumphant smile on his face. How I would love to pinch that smile out of his arrogant face!

I muster up my practised smile." Good evening Sir."

"Did you get the flowers?"

I look around me in alarm. Thankfully no one is within ear shot.

"Yes." I grit my teeth. "Hello to you too." I say remembering what he had written on the note.

"I want to take you out for dinner."

I gape at him stupefied. How dare he?

"No."

"Why not?" He frowns.

The nerve of the man! He really did assume me to swoon at the prospect of going out with him. Overbearing rich spoilt brat! I see Stella approaching. "Look I cannot really talk to you. I am working."

He nods as though he understands. Does he really? I think doubtfully. "I will talk to you later." He says as he walks off.

Figures. He does not understand. He obviously believes my being on duty is the reason behind my refusal to go out with him. King sized ego this man has.

My shift is almost over. I have to think of a way of getting the flowers out without anyone noticing. They really are pretty, notwithstanding the fact that an egoistic arrogant rich brat had sent them! I look at my watch. Another fifteen minutes and I could leave.

***

I slowly take out the flowers from under my shirt as I stand near my locker. I grin at myself as I carefully place the flowers in my bag.

Crazy brainwave I had of tucking them under my shirt. Reminded me of the countless times I had hidden snacks similarly during school days.

I walked out of the back door towards the parking lot.

"Saira." I stopped dead in my tracks. I knew that voice.

"You are still here?" I ask him. Of course he is!

"I wanted to talk to you before you start on your next job." He says with a smirk.

"What about?" I glared at him. "I am running late."

"I am sure Janet will be happy to see me back."

"You know Janet?" I am surprised he knows her name.

"I heard you call her name yesterday" His smile widened.

Why does he look so pleased? Snooping out girl's information must be his forte!

"What do you want?" I snap feeling pissed.

"To take you out for dinner. I told you." The frown is back on his face.

"I already answered that. No." I start walking away.

"But why not?"

"Mr. Norcross, I don't know what gave you the idea you could ask me out, but I have no reason or intention of going out with strangers!"

"Stranger? But you know who I am?"

"Exactly Mr. Norcross. I know who you are, but I don't know you as in the person."

"That is why I want to take you out. So that we get to know each other." He says his frown deepening.

"No Mr. Norcross. Have a nice day." I say pointedly as I open my car door and slide in.

"So you want to know me better before going out with me? Fine. Seems fair. You will get to know me better." He states as he walks away.

Now what does he mean by that? I stare at his retreating back. He is really attractive. No doubt he has woman falling all over him. That explains his surprise on my refusal.

Well not every woman swoons on rich attractive men Mr. Norcross. I, for one certainly don't!

***

I should have guessed! He entered almost within minutes of my reaching the library. Janet is delighted at him being around of course. To give the man credit he does seem to be well aware of books and seems to have a genuine interest and knowledge about books.

Well Good for him! Is this how he plans for me to get to know him? By hanging around in my work place? But why is he being so persistent? He surely cannot be so interested in me! I mean the man could get women just by clicking his finger.

But you refused him said the voice in my mind.

That must be it! He probably thinks it's easy for him to have any woman fall at his feet and must have been surprised at my refusal. He must have taken this as a challenge to himself. I must have hurt his ego, the arrogant man. I need to be careful!

I scowl at him as I see his head bent over a book he is reading. I quickly turn away as I see him lift his head as though sensing I am staring at him. Why does he have to sit so near the counter?

"Oh such beautiful flowers." I hear Janet gush.

Shit! I should have been careful while putting my bag under the rack behind my table.

The flowers had to roll out into visibility!

"Who are they from? " Janet asks .not realising the sender is within ear shot of her quite tone.

I look at the man in question with a despairing feeling in my heart. I see a smile grace his face and he actually looks pleased, as though he had expected me to dispose them off.

I should have!

"No one really. A stranger actually."

"A stranger? Why will a stranger give you flowers? And how will he know your favourite flowers are orchids?"

Oh crap! Janet what are you doing? I decide not to answer her. I steal a glance at Leonardo expecting to see him with an arrogant expression. Instead I see him looking thoughtful.

He looks up at me right then and gives me a soft smile. I don't know why but I feel like smiling back.

No! I will not. I look away not trusting myself to look at him again.

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