“Wow!”
“Mr. Salazar really loves his daughter, huh. First, the gifts for everyone, and now this? Yeeesh.”
“She’s really the daughter of a wealthy family.”
The crowd murmured while looking at the sheer amount of flowers while Elena sneakily took a video of Aaliyah’s reaction and the sheer amount of flowers.
“Are you Miss Valentina Salazar?” the young man asked with a slight blush on his face as he looked at the actress in front of him before glancing at the black-haired one who was slowly walking toward him.
Honestly, George was pretty starstruck. He was a young florist who had recently graduated from college and came back to his hometown to open a horticulture shop. He had thought he had gotten the best opportunity of his life when he was contacted by a production company to help manage the garden and grounds that were going to be used for the film, but a couple of weeks ago, he received the largest order of his life.
On the first day of the film, he was to deliver thousands of flowers, specifically pink peonies and red roses, to one of the actresses. Thinking that it was a scam, he had quoted an unreasonable amount to complete the job, but the other party had immediately paid the entire price upfront, causing him to panic as he scrambled to acquire all the flowers he would need to fulfill the order.
Then, a couple of days ago, he received another order for the same actress: everlasting roses in a teddy bear shape, along with a handwritten note. The buyer had paid the full amount upfront, so he scrambled to fulfill the order while full of curiosity.
Who was Valentina Salazar?
Since he never looked up the clients or the recipients of his orders, he was filled with expectations and wanted to deliver everything in person so he could catch a glimpse of who it was for. Especially because it was a name that he didn’t recognize. Adding in the fact that he had received a last-minute order for another woman with the same last name, he was burning with curiosity.
Were they sisters? Enemies? Married to the same husband? He had made sure he personally came to understand everything that was going on.
“Ah, no, I’m Aaliyah Salazar.” Aaliyah replied softly, even though she felt slightly irritated that the man was focusing on Valentina, who was now standing beside her.
“Ah, I got it. Alyssa, please bring the other bouquet.” George turned around and spoke to one of the women behind him, who brought forward a large bouquet of yellow and white flowers.
“Please give them to Miss Aaliyah Salazar and have her sign off on the paperwork,” George said concisely before turning to Valentina.
Seeing the tall woman staring at him with enchanting green eyes and a soft smile, he couldn’t help but smile back reflexively as his blush deepened. She was beautiful. Probably the most beautiful person he had seen in real life, if not his entire life.
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“Uh-uhm miss Valentina Salazar. This is for you.” He began stuttering as he held out the rose teddy bear to her as well as two envelopes.
“Thank you very much,” Valentina replied calmly as she took the items from him. The teddy bear filled her arms, and as she held it, the scent of roses entered her nose.
She felt relieved, as it seemed that the large number of flowers weren’t for her. Honestly, it would have been too embarrassing.
Before she could take a sigh of relief, George continued speaking.
“Y-your are very welcome. Also, the rest of the flowers are for you. Where would you like us to put them?”
“Pardon me?”
“What?!”
At the exclamation of the two women, George clarified.
“The bear and the rest of the flowers you see here are for you, Miss Valentina Salazar. I just need you to sign some paperwork verifying that you received them, and then you can tell me where you would like the flowers placed. We can leave them here or deliver them to another location if you prefer. The cost is fully covered, and we’ll make sure nothing happens to them, rest assured.” As George patted his chest confidently, Valentina gave him a confused glance before smiling in embarrassment.
“I think you made a mistake. Are you sure they’re not for Aaliyah?” she clarified calmly, although internally, she was praying.
Please!
God!
Let them be for Aaliyah. Please!
Unfortunately, it seemed that she was destined to be disappointed.
“No, it says right here. Delivery of two thousand peonies wrapped in forest green ribbon, three thousand red peonies as the backdrop, and a grand rose bear made with 365 eternal roses hand-picked from the mountaintops of Ecuador. Total cost $50,000 which has been fully paid. To Miss Valentina Salazar, congratulations on your new role from your biggest fan who wanted to show their sincerity in supporting you.” George patiently explained before he gasped, “Also, congratulations on your role, Miss Valentina Salazar. I hope your filming process is great. I’ll definitely watch it once it’s out! May I please get your autograph and a photo?”
Valentina: “……”
At this point, if she didn’t know who the culprit of this was, she would be an idiot.
It was from Kaiser!
It had to be!
Who else would blow $50,000 on some flowers that would eventually die off? Not to mention that it was her favorite flower! It must be him!
Remembering his sly smile as he had told her to wait for his apology, she wanted to reach through time and space to smack him on the head.
How was she supposed to pay this back?? She would be bankrupt! She didn’t even have enough kidneys and livers to sell! Would the system grow it back through the healing scent.
[No.]
I wasn’t asking you. If you have time to sass me, make me pass out or make these flowers disappear!!
Despite her mental protests, the system just ignored her delusion and watched her scramble.
“Uhm, the photo and autograph are fine, but would it be possible to decline the flowers? I really can’t accept this. It’s really too much and would disrupt the filming.”
“No can do, Miss Valentina. The sender said I should say that if the other party tries to refuse, I should please let them know that,” George paused to read from his clipboard, “Uhm that, you should keep them, hand it out, or have a bonfire with them. It’s your stuff, so you can do whatever you want with it. May I please get your signature to verify that you’ve received the flowers?”
Valentina: “……”
As she stood there speechless, her gaze caught Aaliyah’s, and she noticed the other girl glaring at her.
Hiding a sigh, she tried to look around for help, but the people around her were silent as they watched the show.
“It’s really a bother, I have nowhere to put them. I’ll have to refuse.” She politely declined once more.
“Then you’re leaving me in a difficult position, Miss Valentina, as I can’t leave until you accept them. And I have a shop to get back that’s losing money every minute it stays closed. so if you could sign? It will be quick, I promise.”
Although he smiled politely and was blushing, she could see firmness in his eyes.
Valentina: “……”
Well played Kaiser, well played.