Big, Tiny Flowers
Devon cannot help but force herself not to smile when she walked into the living room of the mansion and found Daemon standing in the middle of it holding a bouquet of flowers in his hand. He looked so awkward holding the huge bundles of roses in his arms that she knew right then and there that this is maybe the first time he held them to give personally to a woman.
She crossed their distance and cocked a brow at him. “Is this your way of making me yield on you?”
“Do you want me to be honest?” he asked back.
“Of course.”
“Yes, that is one of the reasons why I’m doing this.”
She rolled her eyes on him as disappointment set in. Is it really that hard to act like he really meant it for her? He saw the flowers and instantly remembered her? Compared to his daily routines as a mafia boss, lying should be peanuts to him.
“You’re a jerk. No need to do this, Daemon. I told you already. I won’t leave.”
Frustrated and annoyed, she turned to leave but he quickly grabbed her arm to stop her.
“But I want to do this for you at the same time. I want us to be a normal couple. I want to be a regular husband who gives flowers to his wife.” He held out the flowers to her. “Please, take them.”
Sighing, she took the flowers from his hand and smelled them. The smile she’s been containing since earlier showed.
“You like it?” Daemon asked hopefully.
Devon just shrugged, suppressing back his small smile. “You’re not used to this, are you? You look so uncomfortable holding them.”
He puts his hands on his pockets, his eyes obviously pleased to see the flowers in her cradle. “I’m used to it now. Seeing how you like it so much, I must have been a really bad lousy husband for not giving you even a single stem or petal back then.
“I don’t like them,” she denied while smelling the petals.
“Why? Are they too big? Too small? Do you want the medium sized one?”
“No, they’re perfect. I just took them from you because you look so annoying standing there.”
“How about that small bouquet there?” She gestured at the flowers on the sofa. “For whom is that?”
“It’s for Emily. Can you keep them for her this time? Next time, I’ll buy her a doll.”
She teared up instantly. Until now, nothing came up in their investigation. No total solid lead came out but they’re not giving up.
“Sure, I’ll keep it for her so that when she comes back to us, she’ll be happy to know that we never forgot her.”
He slowly backtracked to get the small flowers to gently put in her other arm. Devon lovingly stared at the flowers imagining it was Emily who held them.
Smiling, he cupped her face and planted a soft kiss on her lips. “I got to go. See you later.”
“Wait, where are you going?”
“Back to the office.”
“What?” she looked at his tidy clothes. “I thought you’re already done for the day.”
He let out a giddy smile. “I know you want me to be here but I got responsibilities sweeties. I just drop to give these to you.” He kissed her again on the lips. “Bye.”
Devon can only watch as he climbed inside his car. After waving at him silently, she went upstairs to preserve the flowers.
BEFORE going out of the car to go to the office, Daemon made sure to warn Henry on his way out. He specifically ordered him to drive him back to the building.
“Do not misunderstand, Henry. You know how territorial I can be but I also know how not to betray a loyal man. I can let that slide. I hate saying this knowing I’ve let too many mistakes and misgiving of people slide this week.” He looked at him hard. “You get me?”
Henry nodded without meeting his eyes. “I understand, sir.”
“Good. I won’t lose my wife to you.”
Daemon has an unexpected visitor that afternoon in his office. He thought it’s one of his business partners who wanted to pull out an investment after the news came out with the police further investigating but it is entirely not who he was expecting.
Gestoni Farrows is seated on the visitor’s lounge chair waiting for him. His blood immediately boiled at the sight of him. Gnashing his teeth together, he sat on the vacant chair in front of him.
“What miracle did I do for the lord to pay me a visit,” Daemon lashed out while keeping his temper in check.
His hand is already on the waistband of his pants where his gun is tucked in.
Gestoni put the plastic cup of coffee on the table and crossed his leg on the other.
“Give me back my daughter, Daemon.”
Daemon chuckled and looked to the side. “Devon is mine, old man. No one can take her away from me, not even her own father.”
“Did she know that you only tend to use her because of your so-called petty revenge?”
Petty revenge?! His jaws clenched in uproar. His father’s death is only some kind of petty for him?!
“She did know and she also knew that I was not using her for that reason. Not anymore.”
Gestoni shook his head. “She’s a fool for staying with a man like you. You will never surpass me, young man. You will live all your life frothing your way to steal my position but you will never achieve it.”
He relaxed for a bit. “Maybe she is but I’d rather be a fool than to let my own father prostitute me into marrying a man her father’s age.”
Gestoni’s brows moved. “You had a daughter, right? You’ll know once you realize that no man is enough for your daughter except the one you chose for her.”
Daemon froze in his spot at the mention of his daughter. How did he know?!
His father-in-law stood up. “I’m serious, Daemon. If you really care for her just like what you’re telling me now, then return her to her true family. My daughter has no future with you.”
