chapter 6

Two days came and gone like a flash. My alarm sounded and I turned it off the second it rang. I was already awake, I was restless last night. In what seems to be a few short hours Erik and I will be face to face again. I looked in the mirror and my dark circles were a shade darker than usual. I took a shower and put my hair up in a bun and put on this red dress with shoulder length sleeves. It went past my knees and I put on my black ankle boots I gave myself another once over and did my make up. We were holding a fund raiser brunch this morning so I had to look somewhat lively. I came down the stairs Derek and Leigh were in the kitchen already. Leigh was playing a doll at the table and Derek making coffee. Derek looked up at me. "You look nice to day." He said flatley. "Thanks," I said as I made my coffee. I waited for him to tell me happy birthday or something but it never came. A knock on the door came and then it opened. "Good morning everyone!" called Mary before she entered the kitchen. Her face was bright and she was holding her hand behind her back. "Happy birthday Razlynn!" She exposed her hand and she had a small bouquet of red and yellow roses, a card and a little gift bag. "Oh Mary you didn't have to do this!" I smiled and accepted her gifts. I opened the bag and it was a bottle of my favorite perfume. I smiled my biggest smile "Thank you, so much." I hugged her tightly for a minute and let her go. "I also bought you a bottle of wine but I could carry it and hide everything." She said and we laughed about it. Derek was still quiet he stood with his back against the counter looking at his phone. I rolled my eyes and smiled again before Mary could notice I was a little distressed. "Just put it in the fridge thanks again" I said bending down to kiss Leigh on her forehead before walking out the door.

I pulled up to the office checked my teeth for lipstick smoothed a loose hair and took a deep breath. A knock on my window startled me. It was Jacob. I got out of the car and was swept in to a hug immediately. "Happy birthday Queen!" he said almost yelling. I shushed him "Thank you but I don't think the people on the other side of town heard you." We laughed and he said "They will later when we go to your party." We started for the elevator. When we got to my office I paused at the door. There was a vase with red and yellow roses in it and balloons tied around the neck of it on my desk. On my couch there were three gift bags and I looked over at Jacob. "What is all this about?" I almost whined out. I hated being center of attention and this was definitely going to draw attention to carry out later. "I can honestly say I have no idea. I got you one of the gifts but the others isn't from me." Jacob said eyeing the unfamiliar items. He walked to my desk and picked up a note. He read it and said "The note said this was delivered to the office for you." I walked to my desk to read the card on the flowers. "Happy birthday Mon Avenir, I can't wait to see you tonight." My heart could have exploded at that moment. Jacob of course was already reading it before I could say anything. "OMG he sent you this stuff for your birthday let's see what he got you." Jacob said rushing to the gifts in the couch. I was still a little shocked he had did this and that he even remembered my birthday. Derek didn't seem to noticed it was more than another day even after Mary had made a commotion when she came in this morning. I sighed and turned my attention to the sound of paper rattling. Jacob pulled out a little black box. "Jewelry!" he assumed. I took the box and opened it. It was beautiful. it was a silver necklace and it had a small amethyst heart on it. He had even remembered my favorite stone. I held it like it was the most fragile thing in the world. Jacob took it and undid the claspe of it and put it around my neck. It looked beautiful with my red dress. "He has some great taste, you sure he's not on my team?" Jacob asked jokingly. Jacob picked up the next bag. This time I opened it. There was two mini bottles of liquor, a couple bath bombs, a bottle of nail polish that was my favorite shade of red, and a matching body wash, lotion, and perfume set that was orange and jasmine scented. I haven't worn this scent in a long time. It was his favorite back then. I smiled as I breathed in the familiar scent and sprayed on some of the perfume. "He is so sweet, why didn't you marry him again?" Jacob asked, "Dont start," I replied shortly. I looked at my watch "Come on we got to go downstairs to make sure things are ready for the brunch." Jacob hurried over to the couch "Wait you didn't open my gift yet." Jacob says and hands me the bag. I opened it quickly it was a PJ set with black hearts on the red shorts and a big red heart on the blakc shirt and it said queen in white writing on it and a candle. "Thank you I love it," I said as I hugged him. We were downstairs at the event hall. It was a big room with white walls and round tables all around the room and a good space for dancing if the occasion called for it. We also had a beautiful patio space for outdoor events just outside of this room. My boss Mr. Devener, had this built in when I mentioned how we could save money in venues if we used the space we had. The room was set up and everything was ready for the guests. After I checked on everything I looked at my phone. I put it on vibrate so it wouldn't be so distracting. Erik had messaged me. "Good morning, I hope you like your flowers and gifts happy birthday and see you later." My heart fluttered again and I snapped out of it remembering where I was. I looked across the room, Jacob was talking with some caterers and I thought to myself thank God for Jacob. He was a great VP, we made a great team. The guest filed in and the event flowed smoothly. After it was over we went back upstairs. Jacob walked me to my door and told me he'd be at my house to pick me up at 7 o'clock. I hugged him and waved him off. My phone rang while I was in my office. I picked it up "Hello?" "Hey Raz it's me, I just wasted to let you know I have to go out of town this afternoon for a couple days." Derek said over some commotion. "Really!?" I said in disbelief. "Yes really you know this is my job what's the problem all the sudden?" he shot back. Unbelievable he didn't remember my birthday. I know I had plans later but still this is ridiculous. "Nothing, be safe see you when you get back." I hung up on him and sat on the couch. I twirled my necklace in my fingers and sighed. "Hopefully tonight will cheer me up."