“Spread your legs.”
Oh my goodness, it hurts like hell!
“Wider, Jassie. Nothing will happen if you won’t move your whole body.”
My chest rises and falls, I am out of breath and I need to get out of this position. My sweat is dripping down my neck and back. I want to grab the little towel but I can’t reach it. I bit my lower lip, I held my foot tightly so I can do what it was ordering me to do.
I feel like I’m going to break a bone in what we’re doing. This is my first time and I have no experience. We are just starting but my whole body is already hurting.
I raised my two hands.
“All right, I’m done! I can’t do this anymore.”
Her eyes widened, she was surprised at what I said. Suki suddenly turned off the television, wiped her sweat.
“What? We are just exercising for freaking fifteen minutes. Don’t tell me you are already giving up?”
I shrugged.
“Sorry, I gave up. I really can’t do this. If we continue this, my body will surely hurt even more.”
She wheezed.
I got up from the fitness mat. I grabbed the towel and sat in a folding chair.
We only had fifteen minutes of exercise but I couldn’t take it anymore. It’s Sunday so I agreed to come here to her condo, but I never thought we would do this. I have no experience when it comes to exercise. I’m not saying I’m lazy, I’m just not really interested in such things. I was always obsessed with studying, now I’m busy in my flower shop. Suki just forced me here, the result was that I almost broke a bone.
I rested my back on the restback. My hair is almost sticking to my neck because of its sweat. I watched her, frowning as she arranged the things. She also turned off the sound that had been making noise throughout the condo.
“Why is that? Even if you don’t go to the gym, you are skinny, while I still have to work hard to achieve this body.”
Suki Takahashi. She has been my bestfriend for five years. She was so close to my parents that I thought of her as my sister. She’s just petite, she has a black high low bob cut. Her hair matched her brown prominent eyes. Also has a proud nose like a living barbie. She always has pink lips, blush on which gives more life to her face. Suki Takahashi is a pure Japanese, I met her when I went to school in New Zealand. Since she’s been my friend for a lot of years, I already knew her passion. She’s obsessed with exercise, which made her body looks so fantastic.
“Do not compare yourself with me,” I said and drank water from my bottle. She smiled and ran closer to me, she sat in the next chair.
“Okay fine, but… what’s your secret to having such a body?”
My eyes bored into her.
“What are you saying? Of course, nothing. You know I’m busy with my babies.”
Babies, I am referring about my flowers. I am a flower shop owner for almost four years. I was only twenty when I started this job, I took business management when I was in college, that should be a four years degree program but I didn’t go any further for the remaining two years. My parents knew that and they just let me go since the job I entered was successful. When I was a child, I used to love flowers, and my name… Jessamine came from a flower where my dad gave to me. Which leads me to set up a flower shop that I know is popular with people—especially in valentine’s day.
“It’s Sunday today, are you still going?”
I took a towel and I also took my bag, I put on my crop top and I layered a jacket on it. I adjusted myself before turning to her and nodding.
“Yup, I have to take care of three bouquets of flowers for my customer. I need to call Hayden for the delivery.”
“Hayden? I thought he was leaving?”
I smiled, I combed my hair. I put some powder on my face.
“Nope, his departure did not continue since his grandparents allowed him to stay at work.”
“Great, he doesn’t have to leave anymore, even if he’s just a delivery boy, you are giving him a high salary.”
In my flower shop, there are only two of us working. Hayden Watson, he’s my delivery boy. I gave him a bike and truck to deliver flowers for the different places. He is just nineteen years old, he is attending a university in this area. Hayden rents a house near the flower shop. And the salary I give him helps with his education and his family.
“I’m leaving, Suki. Do you have a job tomorrow?”
She looked at her schedule.
“Yup, one pm to eight thirty pm. A celebrity hired me for fitness practice. Why?”
I shook and smiled at her.
“It’s nothing. See you tomorrow, then.”
“Take care, Jassie. See you tomorrow.”
I immediately went straight to the elevator. When I came out, I caught up with a group of teenagers, they were carrying gym bags and looked ready to do something. Almost all of them looked at me so I smiled at them. Maybe they are already looking for Suki. She is a gym attendant for five years. Like me, she didn’t continue her studies and just did the job she wanted. What I do is what she does. Where I am, she is also there. Pfft, bestfriends.
I took a taxi and reorganized myself. I picked up the mirror and looked at my reflection.
I have well groomed eyebrows, long eyelashes. My almond eyes are brown, my high and raised nose is also piercing. Heart shape face and cupid bow’s lips. My long and black corkscrews curly hair almost reached up to my waist. My hair is neither thick nor thin, it is just medium. I’m not tall but I know I’m taller than Suki. When the taxi stopped, I also got out immediately, I would have continued walking when I saw a black van in front of my flower shop.
I bit my lower lip. Who are they? What are they doing here—oh, maybe they’re just visiting the house near here. I shook my head, I ignored them and quickly walked into my shop. I closed the door but from here, I could still see them. I glued the paper with the word ‘close’ written on it. I put down my bag, approached my office table and picked up the paper.
“Hmm, let’s see…”
Three flower bouquets for one customer. One for his mother, one for his little sister, and the other one is for his girlfriend. Oh, how sweet. I marked it for approval. I immediately took knives, wire, floral tape and ribbon. I was supposed to get a flower to put from the customer’s request, but I was stunned when two men came out of a black car. My forehead furrowed. Black suit, black fedora hat, black sunglasses.
Perfect, the men in black.
I stopped and watched them. A man is holding a black piece of paper. They walked in the direction of my shop. What’s up? Will they do a request? But, don’t they see the shop closed now? I swallowed. I let go of my grips, I grabbed my nape. They stopped at the door so I was even more surprised. What’s happening? I stepped forward and opened the door. I winced at them, they are tall.
“H-hi, how can I help you?” They did not speak. “Sorry, this shop is closed now. You can come back tomorrow. Thank you—”
“Miss Jessamine McCoy?”
“How do you know my name?”
Even though I didn’t recognize him, he suddenly smiled broadly. Who are they? How did they know my name?
“Jessamine McCoy, twenty four years old. An owner of a flower shop, studied in New Zealand. Your parents own two dental clinics and one restaurant. Miss Jessamine is fond of flowers, her bestfriend is a pure Japanese, Suki Takahashi. Congratulations, Miss McCoy. You are Louis Sullivan’s chosen wife.”
“What?”
Almost shed my jaw at what I heard. Wait, am I dreaming? Is this freaking true? To make sure, I pinched myself, I winced feeling the pain. It is true! But how did they know who I was—seriously?! They took my privacy! They got about me without my knowledge. What’s going on?
“I don’t know what you are saying—I mean. Yes that’s my name. But how do you know about me? I am not giving my informations to anyone.”
He smiled even more widely. He removed his sunglasses. I was even amazed to see his blue eyes. Wow.
“Like what I said, the search for Mr. Sullivan’s wife is now over. And you are the chosen one.”
I creased my forehead, I tilted my head.
“Pardon? But I did not do an audition—I don’t know what you mean.”
“For the search of Mr. Sullivan’s wife, you are the top one who caught his attention. You are the one who was bought. Height is 5’4. Weight is 115 lbs. Best assets are your eyes and lips. Marital status, single. Congratulations, Jessamine. In just three weeks you will be Mrs. Jessamine McCoy Sullivan—“
“Wait!”
I raised my hand and frowned as I restrained him from what he was going to say. Looks like I need to take a deep breath first. What is really going on?! I don’t know what that audition is. I did not participate in any contest—is that even a contest? I did not give my informations to anyone. Why did they even find out my height and weight?
“Is this a joke? I am so sorry, I really don’t know what you are talking about.”
He did not answer. He suddenly turned away from me but did not leave. I saw him take his phone out of his pocket. He put it to his ear, it looks like someone is talking to him.
“Yes, Mr. Sullivan. We are already here, talking to Jasmine.”
I swallowed, the man turned to me again. He tilted his head, smiled and handed me the phone. I no longer refuse to take that.
“What?”
The side of his lips lifted.
“It’s Louis.”
“L-Louis?”
I got nervous. I swallowed and just like he did, I put my phone to my ear. My heart beat faster when I heard his deep breathing, followed by his muffled voice.
“H-hello?”
Goodness.
He didn’t speak right away, but only for a few seconds of—
“I knew I’ll pass with flying colors, Jassie,” said of the deep voice from the call.
It’s been six years since I last heard his voice.
Louis Montreal Sullivan.
