His Marble Heart

fumbled with her umbrella as she stepped out of the subway, nearly dropping the pastry bag tucked under her arm. It was 7:42 a.m., her so

re

et for her anniversary. Aria had worked late the night before, carefully choosing each stem. Peonies for compassion. White lilacs for

already at the shop, already picturing her mother's soft

s when it

the man until i

led forward, her balance thrown off by her umbrell

flying from her hands. Something crunched underfoot

orry!" Aria gasped, eye

aring a dark stain down the front. His jaw clenched, his face unreadable. And h

, dabbing at his coat helplessly. "I didn't see you-t

ch. Didn't mov

our head in the clouds?" he asked, voic

her harder than

the rudeness, then str

throw coffee at strangers, at least of

er. Heat rushed to her cheeks-par

trangers like they're ben

between them, filled on

prise. She couldn't tell. But before she could say more, he s

lly. "Only when t

that, vanishing into the cro

onto the sidewalk. The man hadn't yelled. He hadn't insulted her ou

hed the flower shop,

ek l

ses. The air inside was sterile, scented with expensive cologne and ambition. Men in tailored suits passed briskly, talk

d and approached

ee Mr. Ethan V

n't look up. "Do you

, b

oesn't take

e about a property he acquired on Atlantic Ave

up, her expression blan

. Aria B

do, Miss Bennett. He'

Aria said, more s

d, startled by the quie

ving until I

enched in her lap, heart thundering against h

nutes

twe

the floor, drawing closer. The door

wned the world. Because

an

it her like a jolt. The man from the

se it w

r. His eyes scanned her f

id, voice low. "Sp

op I work at-the one at 422B-it was bought by your company. We just f

olition next month," he said evenly

just need time. Two months. That shop is everything to

d her, un

built on sentime

the inside of her cheek. "

lio to her chest, heart sinking. She

th

" Etha

ned, co

e of her tote bag, where

t's

y. "I do freelance floral ins

nd pulled the folder

ten

through i

t. Petal structures that resembled cascading water. Suspended vines with hidden lights woven

y. "We need someone to design the botanical eleme

re bribing me with

. "I'm offering yo

man was insufferable. Ar

she need

allowed h

. "Fine. I

===========

d, hair damp from the rain. She hadn't begged. She

ething about

The way she didn't shri

y hadn't expected to offer her a job. But now she was in his world-this sh

steel, and silence-felt the fa

shaped l