What on earth? I uploaded this last night but the server said I didn't… Iceani, is this the problem you were asking about?
14 - Flowers
In a net of silken thread bouquets of flowers hung from the ceiling of Onica's, rose petals blanketing the desks and counters. The air was heavily perfumed and the flowers artistically arrayed, never had she seen such a display outside of a wedding or a florists shop. "Did I over do it?" looking towards her desk Onica was startled for the second time that day. There in the midst's of flower petals and paperwork, sat Dovidi D'angitino.
"Mr. D'angitino… I'm afraid I don't understand… you startled me quite a bit." Dovidi smiled his most charming smile then got up and handed her a rose. Not knowing what else to do Onica accepted it.
"I am sorry, but I realized this morning that I had no right to intrude upon your life as I did yester-evening and decided that this was an appropriate apology. Am I forgiven?" Dovidi replaced his smile with a dramatically tragic expression and Onica couldn't help but grin so boyish did he look.
"You are forgiven. Though for what I'm not sure." Turning her back to him she once again took in the room. "So this is why I've been getting glared at this morning." Seeing an inquisitive glance thrown her way she explained. "When I walked into the building today I felt like a leper, everyone seemed so jumpy and frightened around me. I guess they saw you setting this up." Suddenly a laugh escaped her, giddy from the odd sense of relief she felt at this all being an elaborate apology, firmly ignoring all other possibilities. She turned to Dovidi as if they were co-conspirator's "This would probably be funny if we could hear what they were saying down stairs –and up for that matter. Can you imagine the scuttle butt that must be going around?" She laughed again and Dovidi was amazed most women would have taken offense at what he'd done, but she was taking this so lightly, as if it were all a joke. With relief he laughed to.
"You can you know." Grinning lopsidedly he pulled her over to her desk and made a few modifications on her computer, typing in security codes to access panels she didn't know existed. "Pick a person." Raising her eyebrows, Onica thought for a second then decided on the person most likely to be talking, and most openly at that.
"Dana from reception." Immediately Dovidi made the necessary modifications and over the speakers of her computer came a voice low but loud, as if talking to a small crowd.
"I swear, two days ago she was acting as if she and that reporter were dating. I'm telling you she's playing him. Bad." Immediately a hubbub rose some people agreeing some complaining.
"Honestly Dana, that's the biggest load of bull I have ever heard. Even if what you're saying about Ms. Kohl is true, Dovidi D'angitino is too smart to let a woman get to him like that." It was a man's voice that spoke and one that Onica didn't recognize, out of the corner of her eye she could see that Dovidi was relieved to hear that someone believed they weren't involved.
"What universe are you living in?" This voice was brass and disbelieving. Dovidi recognized it as the senior file clerk. "My husband didn't even pull that elaborate a set up on my wedding night. Did you see those flowers he had sent in? There were probably enough to go around the block twice. She's obviously got him in the center of her palm, and I bet I know how." At the last few words she had lowered her voice lewdly, implying what the others wouldn't say. His face red Dovidi turned off the speakers and closed the tap he had created into the COM system.
"When I find out who was just having that conversation… heads are going to roll." His serious tone and obvious embarrassment only fueled Onica's laughter, causing him to narrow his eyes. "And you if don't watch it yours will be one of them." As she laughed harder Onica could only bat her eyelashes then say in a thick French accent.
"But Monsieur, I have you in the palm of my hand. No?" Finally loosening up Dovidi too laughed, suddenly seeing a way to implement an idea of his.
"I could always spare you a meeting with madam guillotine." Smiling mysteriously Dovidi pulled a golden envelope seemingly out of no where. "You will come, I insist, if only for that comment you just made. After all if they are going to talk – and they will talk - we might as well give them a reason." Bowing slightly he left the room, leaving a very pale, very confused Onica holding a party invitation
***
As Sarah parked the car which had been tailing her most of the morning stopped to. She had seen it, and assumed that it was one of Irons employees keeping tabs on her. As she got out of her car, the man in the car behind her did to. He was dressed in all black, dark black sunglasses hiding his eyes. Ignoring him Sarah kept walking towards her destination, a coffeehouse in front of her suddenly the Witchblade swirled in warning, too late as she was dragged into an ally and a hand clasped over her mouth.
***
Dovidi couldn't believe how well that had gone, granted the comments by the file clerk had not been calculated, and that woman would be looking for a job by the end of the week. Things had gone wonderfully, Onica's past had checked out completely, and on top of that he had found something that would be useful in his crusade.
In truth he was worried, and the elaborate flowers in Onica's office had been a self-diversion. Not one of the Giamano's had shown yet. Officially their presence wasn't requested until the gala he was holding tonight but reasonably they would have paid him a visit already. That they hadn't meant one of two things, they had learned his true plan, or they had something up their sleeves which made him useless to them. Both were more then just dangerous options, and only the second gave him any chance at manipulation but then again it didn't matter. In the end he would win, just like he'd win the affections of Onica Kohl.
***
Before Sarah had time to transform the Witchblade the hand let go of her. "It's me." Surprised Sarah turned to see Luka Giamano
