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chapter twenty four
florence thompson
song: shut up - greyson chance

The next day I woke up in Vincent's spare room, groggy and ready to go back to sleep when my phone went off next to me, signaling I didn't have long before I had to be at work. I quickly jumped out of bed, grabbing my phone and dashing down the hall to laundry room and retrieving my clothes from the dryer.

I slipped into the bathroom, changing into my clothes and shoving my pajamas into my overnight bag. I pulled out my toothbrush and toothpaste, quickly brushing my teeth before shoving my toiletries back into my bag and throwing my blonde hair into a messy bun.

Without a second thought I grabbed my bag and rushed towards the empty living room, the memories of last night weaseling their way into my mind as I glanced to the couch.

After our discussion last night he had showed me to the spare room and we both went our separate ways.

I drew my lip between my teeth, hoisting my bag further onto my shoulder and venturing into the kitchen, the only place I'd guess to find him other than his room which I didn't exactly want to go rummaging through. As I made my way into the kitchen and came up empty handed, I spotted a note on the island.

I picked it up, quickly realizing it was for me.

Thank you for last night, Florence.
I hope we're still on for Wednesday, if we are I'll see you then.
Darby is waiting to bring you home.

Enjoy your day, bella.

-Vincent.

I released a wistful sigh, flipping the note over to the blank side and grabbing the expensive pen that sat next to it.

My pleasure, Mr. De Bellis.
Yes, we're still on for Wednesday.
I'll see you then.
Enjoy your day as well, Vincent.

-Florence.

I placed the pen back onto the counter next to the piece of paper, looking at my handwriting once before turning on my heel and exiting the kitchen, heading for the elevator. Once I made it into the small contraption, I hit the ground level button, giving Vincent's penthouse one last long look before the doors closed, shutting me in.

It was a fairly quick ride to the first floor where I found Darby was stood near the entrance, waiting patiently for me. I wondered how long he'd been standing there, feeling absolutely terrible that he had been waiting on me.

"Ready to go, Miss Thompson?" Darby asked, nodding politely to me in a greeting.

I nodded wordlessly, rubbing my eyes as they adjusted to the ridiculous amount of natural sunlight that was spilling into the lobby from the obnoxiously large windows.

Without another word Darby led me out to the same SUV I'd rode over in last night before opening my door for me again, allowing me to climb in. The ride was the same, just as silent as last night, giving me plenty enough time to think over what happened last night and how much I regretted.

When we pulled up to my apartment complex, a wave of relief washed over me. I pushed open my door myself and climbed out before Darby could do it for me.

"Thank you, Darby. Have a good day!" I called out before slamming my door closed and dashing for the stairs to my apartment.

I quickly ascended them, finding my door before unlocking it and rushing in, tossing my bag onto my bed and running to my room before stripping out of my clothes and slipping into my outdated uniform, my mind wandering back to the offer Vincent had laid on the table about referring me to a higher paying job.

I didn't waste too much time on the thought, knowing I probably would never get the position due to my complete inexperience when it came to anything related to business. I'm an art major, for christ's sake, the most I know about business is graphic design.

I slipped on my vans, knowing that I would have to wear my roller skates once I got to work.

Without wasting anymore time I grabbed my phone and purse before dashing out of my apartment, locking my door and making my way quickly down to my Death Bucket. With sweaty hands, absolutely anxious about the possibility of not making it to work on time, I shoved my key in the ignition and turned it.

Instead of hearing the engine roar to life, a sputtering sound met my ears before a loud silence. My heart dropped at this, panic rising in my body. This cannot be happening. Not right now, when I'm running late as it is.

Oh my god.

I tried it three more times, still nothing.

You have got to be kidding me.

"Argh!" I yelled, slamming my palm onto the steering wheel before leaning forward, pressing my forehead on the cold surface.

With a reluctant whine, I grabbed my phone from my purse that was sat next to me and texted Glenn that my car decided to not start today and that if I do make it in, it won't be until later. He was quick to reply, telling me not to worry about it since it was a slow day anyway.

I released a sigh, sinking into my seat, resting my head against the back of my seat as I looked at the hood of my car through the windshield.

What in the world am I supposed to do? Ben is working, along with Rico.

I reluctantly scrolled through my contacts until I found the V category. Without giving it much more thought I pressed the call button and listened to the even ringing. My eyes were scrunched close as I hoped he wouldn't pick up and I'd be left to find another way to deal with this.

"Couldn't get enough of me, Miss Thompson?" Vincent's even voice came from the other side of the line, I could clearly hear the smirk to his tone.

I rolled my eyes.

"How'd you guess? You're just so irresistible, you know," I teased, bringing my free hand up to my forehead as I looked out my window at the other people from my complex going about their days, climbing into their full functioning cars.

A deep chuckle came from the other end of the line before he slowly sobered up.

"I have a massive issue and you're the only person I could think to call since my other super handy guys are at work," I sighed, finally getting to the point instead of beating around the bush and taking up more of his time than I needed to.

He chuckled again. "What is it?"

I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose. The last thing I want to do right now is admit that he was right about my car the other night when he told me it isn't reliable.

"My car isn't starting," I mumbled quickly.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" He asked, clearly teasing me. I know he caught what I'd said, the man has the hearing of a lion half the time.

"My car isn't starting," I stated more clearly, enunciating my words with a sigh.

"That's so weird, it's almost as if I knew this was going to happen and offered to buy you a new car," he hummed to himself, causing me to roll my eyes dramatically since he couldn't see me.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it," I grumbled. "You were right, I was wrong."

"Now thats what I like to hear," he gloated from the other end of the line, his voice husky. "I'll be there in twenty, don't go too far," he joked, knowing full well with the state my car was in I was going a whole lot of nowhere.

I rolled my eyes, hanging up and tossing my phone into the passenger seat as I stared at my apartment complex.

With twenty minutes to spare I decided to clean my car up as best I could since I had nothing better to do. The time flew by quicker than I realized and before I knew it a futuristic black Lamborghini pulled into the parking lot making me sink further down into my seat.

Jesus christ, here he is, pulling up in a car expensive enough to buy my entire apartment complex to help me fix my car that I could maybe sell for parts and get $100 back if I'm lucky.

I climbed out of my car slowly, wrapping my arms around myself as he parked next to me, sliding out of his car, looking ridiculously handsome as always. His dark hair was gelled back, a stark contrast from last night when I'd run my fingers through it. He was wearing his standard white dress shirt and black dress pants, this time with a black blazer thrown over it.

His full lips pulled up into a smirk as he looked over my outfit. I very quickly realized that I hadn't changed out of my uniform and I was currently standing in front of Vincent De Bellis in a white dress with a pink collar, cuffs and pockets with white vans to match.

"Don't bother," I grumbled, crossing my arms over my chest and narrowing my eyes playfully at him.

"What?" He asked incredulously, feigning hurt as he placed a hand to his heart. "I was just going to say how breathtaking you look, as always." He smiled, nearing me and brushing a loose tendril of hair behind my ear.

I rolled my eyes at him.

"How very kind of you," I retorted, looking up at him through my lashes as he towered over me.

"So, this death mobile of yours finally hit the hay, huh?" He asked, shoving a hand deep into his pocket and scratching his jaw with the other as he walked around me, looking at my car that was currently refusing to move or even start.

I rolled my eyes again, turning to watch as he walked around the car.

"Yeah, something like that. I'm hoping it's something fixable," I sighed, looking at the car I'd come to love over the years after my mom handed it down to me. It had more meaning than anyone would ever realize, it was the little piece of my mom I got to keep here in Genevieve Springs while she was fourteen hours away.

"Well, I've got a tow on the way and if you'd like, I can bring you to the garage so you can talk to them, or we can wait and I can just bring you when they're all done with it," he offered, looking up at me from the other side of my car.

I cocked my head at him, analyzing his features as he seemed to be doing the same to me.

"Why'd you come all the way here just to have someone tow it to the garage?" I asked, a small smile involuntarily tugging at the corners of my lips.

He rounded the car, coming to stop in front of me as I looked up at him in the clear daylight. His mismatched iris' danced along my face as I watched him closely. A smile pulled at his lips as he looked down to me.

"If we're going to be honest, because the meeting I was in was quite boring and I wanted to see you," he admitted bluntly, causing my heart to beat erratically in my chest. "But, if we're going with the version of the story that obliges by the rules you have very carefully constructed, then I came to give you a ride to work." He grinned that boyish grin that caused my heart to race in my chest.

It was then that I decided Vincent De Bellis is either going to be the life or death of me and I'm not too convinced I'm ready to find out which one it'll be.

• • •

q: favorite childhood memory?

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