“That won’t happen,” Elizabeth replied with unwavering confidence. “Don’t worry about roles. Elijah may be influential, but he’s not omnipotent. Not everyone dances to his tune. Just securing a role will put me in the spotlight, ensuring I don’t vanish into obscurity. What I need from you is help picking the right scripts.”
Elizabeth’s resolve bolstered Ruby’s spirits, injecting a dose of courage. “All right, let’s get this started!”
The following day, a Rolls Royce rested by the curb outside the flower shop. Inside, Elijah lounged in the back seat, his face partially obscured by shadows. His eyes snapped open as they caught sight of the vibrant fuchsia Freud roses by the entrance.
“I’ll take ninety-nine of those,” he commanded.
Oliver, wary of Elijah’s sharp gaze, hesitated before pointing out, “Mrs. James usually prefers dusty pink roses.”
Elijah, intent on mending bridges, knew he couldn’t afford any slip-ups, not even with a bouquet. Bewildered, he knitted his brows. “Aren’t they all just roses? Why does the color matter so much?” Flowers were far from his area of expertise. He recalled Sandra mentioning her fondness for fuchsia Freud roses during a stroll past a flower shop, where the proprietor had mentioned their high price. For Elijah, the value of flowers was simply their cost.
Massaging his forehead, he tried to avoid dwelling on the matter. With a dismissive wave, he declared, “Just get ninety-nine of those roses you mentioned.”
“Understood,” Oliver replied, his relief palpable as he exited the vehicle and headed towards the shop. Meanwhile, Elijah remained seated, idly checking the time on his exclusive, high-end watch. The hour hand aligned with the ten on its meteorite-studded moon dial—a rare piece from a renowned luxury brand.
His agenda for the day included collecting Elizabeth from her hotel, treating her to lunch, and then taking her for a comprehensive medical examination at the hospital. Elizabeth had a penchant for exaggerating her grievances to gain his attention, recently even threatening divorce to express her displeasure. If she bore any visible scars, Elijah knew she would exploit them to create drama for years. Her delicate complexion made any blemish particularly noticeable and unappealing. The thought exacerbated his headache.