Chapter 7 Flowers

Nelda and Jacqueline had been working on files for almost three hours when the elevator dinged. The golden doors opened to reveal a large flower arrangement of different colored roses. The delivery man stopped at the desk and waited for Nelda to sign for the flowers. "They are heavy, want me to tote them into the office for you?" he asked.

"Sure, thanks," Nelda said.

She showed him to the small table in the window and took the card from him. She handed Jacqueline the card and waited until the elevator doors had closed before pouncing on her. "Are they from him? Are they from Bruce? They have to be from Bruce! I mean there are probably three dozen roses in this vase! Who could spend that kind of money but Bruce Wayne?"

"Calm down Nelda," Jacqueline said shushing her assistance. "Yes they are from Bruce and he asked me to call him, so if you don't mind…"

Nelda squealed with delight before rushing out of the office and closing the door behind her. Jacqueline stared at the card in her hand.

Jacqueline,

Sorry I haven't called. Had to make a quick trip to Berlin.

Call me when you get some free time today.

XO – Bruce

She could smell the roses from her desk and she was tempted to call him tonight. He had gone almost three days without even a text message, but she couldn't be prideful she really liked Bruce and she didn't want to wait. She grabbed her cell phone from her desk and dialed his number. He answered on the first ring.

"I didn't know if you would call or not," came a deep voice from the other end of the line.

"Why wouldn't I call Mr. Wayne?"

"Are we back to that? I thought after dinner the other night we were on a first name basis."

"People on a first name basis talk more often than every three days, Mr. Wayne."

He sighed into the phone. "The roses are my apology Ms. Nallier. I had to go to Berlin to deal with a holding there…"

"And you couldn't even send me a text message to let me know?" she asked sharply cutting him off. "The roses are beautiful but I would have been much more accepting of a phone call or text message saying you were fine."

"But the roses are beautiful? Are they as beautiful as you are?"

She could feel herself blushing. "It's a good thing you aren't here Mr. Wayne, statements like those are enough to make a girl blush."

"That's the intent, but I would love to see that pretty blush… maybe tonight?"

"I can't tonight Bruce, I already have plans with some friends of mine after work."

"How about after? I could send Alfred to pick you up and we could have a sleep over at the house…"

She took a deep breath and he paused. "Too fast?" he asked.

"No, no not really, I mean… I'm not sure Bruce, can I… can I let you know a little later on?"

"Absolutely Jacqueline, no pressure. And I'm glad we are back to a first name basis."

"Bye Bruce, I'll call you a little later."

She clicked the end button before he could say anything else and pressed the cool phone to her forehead. She wanted to spend the night with Bruce. She wanted to spend the night in his arms and let him do amazing and wonderful things to her body, but after her outburst with Jack last night she didn't feel right about shacking up with Bruce. Of course Jack wanted her to get close to Bruce so that he could use it to his benefit. She wanted to get close to Bruce because she wanted to and there was not another reason. Well, there was the fact that she had not gotten laid in over two years and the human contact would be amazing but other than that she didn't want or need anything from Bruce. Except maybe a couple of amazing orgasms.

"What are you doing Jacqueline? You have lost your mind," she said out loud.

Nelda quietly opened the door and entered the office with another large bouquet of flowers. These were Gerber daisies in colors of pink and orange. "I wasn't sure if you were off the phone but this vase is too large for the counter out front. Want them on the table too?"

Jacqueline nodded before getting up from her desk and walking towards Nelda and the new bouquet. Nelda handed her the card.

Doll face,

I'm an asshole.

Jack

She smirked at the card and shook her head. "Are those from Bruce too? What did he do? It must have been something major to need all these flowers."

"No these are from my brother," she slapped her hand over her mouth as quick as the words slipped out. "I mean, they are… they are from… ah hell Nelda. Just drop the topic ok."

She stalked back over to her desk and slapped the card down. "The family drama you mentioned? Has to do with your brother huh?" Nelda asked.

Jacqueline nodded. "He's not a bad guy although everyone that meets him thinks he's a criminal."

"And?" Nelda prompted.

"He found out that Bruce and I had gone out on a date and he wanted to utilize it for his benefit. We had a fight because of his suggestion and I stormed out of his house. I screamed at him in front of everyone… that's why I stayed at the office because he wouldn't look for me here."

"Let's go grab some lunch, it's after eleven o'clock and I think some food and ice-cream is in order."

Jacqueline smiled at her. "Sounds like a good idea Nelda. We can deal with these files later."

Nelda and Jacqueline were sitting in their favorite lunch place sharing hot fudge brownie sundae when her phone dinged indicating a text message. "Get the flowers – J."

"Just like him to ruin a great moment like this one."

"Your brother?"

"Yeah, he wants to know if I got the flowers."

"Are you going to respond?"

"I have too. If I don't he'll keep texting and assume something bad has happened. He kind of overreacts because he thinks everyone is like him."

"A criminal?"

She glanced up at Nelda. "I'm not judging," Nelda said with her hands up in front of her. "Like you said you can't choose your family."

Jacqueline looked at her phone again and hit reply. "Too much. Apology in person is better – J."

She hit send and they got back to their brownie before the phone dinged again. "Dinner tonight. I'll come to you? – J."

She started typing furiously while Nelda giggled. "Hell no! Do not come to me! I'll come to you later. Just don't be an asshole anymore, K? – J."

It was only a second before a new text came through. "No promises doll face – J."

She tossed her phone in her purse and growled. "I don't know who he is, but is he sure he wants to mess with you?" Nelda asked with a grin.

"Oh he has no qualms about messing with me. Older brother and all you know… but we'll make up later." Jacqueline glanced at her phone for the time. "We better get back to the office and get those files finished if I'm going to make my evening plans." And if I'm going to spend the night with Bruce, she thought to herself.

Nelda and Jacqueline were knee deep in a file when the office phone rang. "Jacqueline Nallier's office," Nelda said continuing to type the handwritten pages in front of her. "May I ask whose calling? Hang on one moment please."

Nelda put the phone on hold and looked at Jacqueline. "It's your friend Alicia, want to take or me take a message?"

"I'll take it, I'm having drinks with her in a little while." Jacqueline clicked the phone line while Nelda excused herself from the office.

When Nelda walked back in fifteen minutes later Jacqueline was back to working on the file. "Alicia canceled. I knew she would."

"Does that mean dinner at your brother's?"
"Heaven's no!" Jacqueline grinned. "But it could mean something else entirely. Let's call it a day Nelda. I'll see you Monday morning?"

"Great!" Nelda said with evident delight expecting a big night with her husband George. "I'll see you Monday! Don't do anything stupid this weekend ok."

Jacqueline laughed. "I promise I won't."

She waited until Nelda was gone before she text Bruce. "I'll be over around eight tonight if that's ok."

She waited for a reply and when her phone dinged she was sweating. "Can't wait. Alfred will meet you at the door."

Now she had to get home and figure out what you wore to an adult sleep over….