02 | you look happier

I included a little family tree of the Owens family for you guys. That way you know what you've missed these past almost 20 years

"Boss I have a few new contracts you have to sign" my assistant said as I walked past her ready to leave the office early that day in order to celebrate my mother's birthday.

"Put them on my desk I'm gonna take a look at them tomorrow" I said and continued to walk out.

"But sir those contracts are important" she said almost pleadingly but I didn't care. If these people couldn't wait for a day then I wasn't even interested in working with them. That's one advantage of having a successful company. You get to pick who you want to work with because everyone wants to work with you. It's as easy as that.

"I said what I said Monica and you know I don't like to repeat myself" I said and went to the elevator not waiting for what she had to say. Not that I cared anyway. I'm her boss and not the other way around and sometimes my staff seems to forget that.

I walked out the building of the company that my father gave me earlier this year because he decided to lay back and work less, so that he can enjoy some time with my mother but also help her deal with my two younger teenage sisters. My father still works at the company he's just not the CEO anymore.

I walked to the nearest flower shop, knowing that my mother had a weakness for yellow tulips and I've been buying her a bouquet of yellow tulips every year. It kind of became a tradition. I already saw the shop from afar and as I was about to head inside my phone started ringing and without looking at the caller ID I picked up the phone which turned out to be a huge mistake.

"Hello Isaac it's me Sage! I was just wondering if you'd like to come over to have some fun" she said in a low voice, obviously trying to sound seductive but she failed miserably at that. I think I accidentally gave her my real number after I left the hotel room. I usually follow my 'I-only-fuck-with-you-once' policy very strictly and I'm not gonna change that for a woman who was probably just mediocre in bed or else I would remember her face.

"I'm sorry Sage I'm very busy tonight so I can't come over" I said sounding extremely uninterested which I was.

"What is more important than me?" she asked almost offended. She reminds me why I created my policy. Women just get attached way to quickly and I don't need that kind of drama in my life.

"Everything is more important than you" I said and hung up the phone after hearing her gasp in shock. Who the fuck does she think she is? In order to avoid her calling me again I added her name to the long list of numbers that I blocked. I stuffed the phone back in my suit pocket and went inside the small flower shop.

As I entered my eyes directly fell on a small woman behind the counter who was currently talking to an elderly woman that was standing in front of her. Her icy blue eyes met mine for a brief seconds but she quickly looked back to the old woman as if she was intimidated by my presence. I grinned at the thought of that. I loved having that effect on people.

The woman shook her head laughing at something the old woman said and after that the lady walked towards the exit.

"Goodbye Mrs. Gallagher. I guess I'll see you tomorrow?" I hear her sweet voice sounding as soft as you'd imagine her voice to be.

"Of course you will dear. We have some things to talk about" she said while wiggling her eyebrows and that was the last thing she did before she left.

"Interesting character" I heard myself say to the delicate angel in front of me. Really Isaac? Way to start a conversation.

"Yeah she definitely is" she replied and I couldn't help but stare at her lips while she spoke. I wish I could- no you're here to buy flowers for your mother.

"Isaac Owens" I introduced myself and she looked at me as if I was crazy which I probably was. I surprised myself as well because I usually don't talk to people I don't know unless they're potential business partners.

"Pardon?" she asked and I had to hold back a laugh, because of her wide eyes that made her look like a deer caught in the headlights.

"Isaac Owens. I was introducing myself" I said once again and this time she seemed to understand what I was saying.

"Oh uhm hey" she awkwardly replied and bit her lip. I don't think she did it on purpose which made in ten times more hot.

"And you are...?" I asked her desperately wanting to finally put a name to the sweet face.

"Emilia Johnson" she replied in a quiet voice that sound way more seductive than Sage's voice on the phone but I'm sure Emilia didn't even try to be seductive. She just was.

"Cute" I said and this time I couldn't help but grin but she didn't see it because she was too busy with staring at the floor. She clearly was intimidated.

"So I need a big bouquet of yellow tulips" I said causing her to look up as if she just remembered that she was in a flower shop and that I was a customer.

"Oh yeah right give me a second I have to get the tulips from the back" she said and her shy appearance suddenly seemed to be gone. She came back with a huge amount of yellow tulips that almost hid her entire body which wasn't a hard thing to do because she was probably only around 5'1 or 5'2 making me more than a feet taller than her.

"Is there an exact arrangement you have in mind?" she asked still avoiding eye contact

"Just do whatever you think looks good. I'll trust you with that" I replied and swear I saw a small smile playing on her lips.

"So who is this bouquet for?" she curiously asked without looking at me because she was too busy with arranging all the flowers. It was like she was in her natural habitat and she seemed to have forgotten that I was in front of her.

"My mom" I gave a short reply. I don't really like small talk. In other circumstances I probably wouldn't have replied but I just couldn't get myself to do that to Emilia which is unusual for me.

"Is it her birthday or is she angry at you?" she asked.

"She's probably always angry at me but these are for her birthday" I said and she laughed, making her eyes glow in a beautiful way in the process.

"So I'm done. What do you think?" she asked and proudly presented the bouquet.

"It looks good thanks" I said and it truly looked amazing. I would have said so even if it looked horrible because I wouldn't want to hurt her.

I grabbed 100 Dollar out of my pocket and gave it to her knowing that the bouquet cost way less than that and then I turned around to leave.

"Wait I gotta give you some cash back" she shouted after me.

"Keep the change" I said without turning around and walked towards my car.

With the bouquet and the present in my right hand, I rang the doorbell and waited for my mother to open the door which she did a few seconds later.

"Isaac" she exclaimed happily and hugged me tightly once she saw me. I don't visit my parents often but when I do my mom finds it hard to let go of me.

"I brought you flowers" I said with a smile once she let go of me and she gasped once she took a closer look at the bouquet Emilia created.

"Wow they get more and more stunning each year. This is the best one so far! Where did you get it from?" she asked and took the flowers out of my hand.

"Jenn's shop I think it's called" I replied and she nodded letting me in.

"Isaac!" I heard someone scream my name, imitating my mother and seconds later tiny hands reached around my legs to hug them. I looked down and saw my three year old niece Kaylee. She's my younger brother's daughter and he had her when he was just 19. It was an accident but that doesn't make Kaylee any less of a sunshine.

"Hey have you missed your favorite uncle?" I asked while I picked her up to hug her.

"Yeah. But you can't tell Mason that you're my favorite uncle. He thinks he is my favorite" she said in a whisper tone and my mother who was still standing beside me smiled softly at her only granddaughter. With Kaylee still in my arms I walked towards the dinner table where the rest of my family was already sitting because I was the last one once again.

.....

"So Isaac is there anyone I should know about?" my mother asked out of the blue when we were alone in the kitchen after dinner. The rest of the family was still sitting at the table but my mother said she needed my help with something in the kitchen.

"No mom you know that I don't date anymore" I said quite annoyed but for some reason Emilia's face popped up in my head when she asked that question.

"Are you sure? You just look happier than you normally do so I figured you met someone" she said trying to sound subtle but I knew she was desperately hoping for me to find someone who'd make me happy.

"This is the exact reason why I don't visit you as often anymore. I'm 24 years old I don't need anyone in my life to be happy" I snapped at her but regretted my choice the second I saw the pained look on my mother's face.

"I'm sorry mom you know I don't mean it" I apologized and she nodded.

"I know. You've got my temper that's for sure" she smiled but I knew she was still hurt. She often complained that I don't visit her enough so me saying that it's basically her fault must have hurt. Why do I have to be such an asshole sometimes? Especially to my family.

"I just haven't met someone who I can picture myself with that's all" I reasoned.

"I understand but promise me that you won't push him or her away because I know that's something you'd do"

"no mom I wouldn't push her away" I said emphasizing the word 'her' to let my mother know that I wasn't gay. There's nothing wrong with it, it's just not my orientation.

"Okay I got it" she laughed and with that we joined the rest of my family at the dinner table again and I couldn't help but wonder what Emilia was doing right now. Fuck what the hell is wrong with me I sound like a love struck puppy. I just met the woman a few hours ago and I can't get her out of my mind.

Today is my 18th Birthday you guys😍 I can't believe that I kinda have to act like an adult now. I'm not sure if I like that or not 😂