Petals of Destiny.

Alex navigated his way through the rain-drenched streets, the echoes of his boss's words reverberating in his mind like a haunting melody. A decade of unwavering dedication to the role of Chief Marketing Officer was thrown out through the windows just because the relentless downpour from the night before had transformed the asphalt into meandering rivers, carving paths of unexpected challenges that delayed him from making it to work on time for his presentation.

"You're fired as C.M.O. We lost a $500 million deal because of you. The investors got fed up waiting, and they had to leave," he exclaimed, slamming his hand on the conference table in the well-furnished room.

"Chairman, this is my first time being late to a presentation," he began to explain, but the chairman abruptly cut him off with a raised hand, signaling him to stop speaking.

"Clear out your office by 12 pm," he ordered, storming out of the room and leaving him alone with his thoughts.

His thoughts were halted by the persistent barking of a grey and white Doberman, jolting him back to reality. Below the slope towards his house, a wheelbarrow and a determined dog stood in his path. He honked impatiently, urging the owner to clear the way, yet the more he honked, the more the dog continued its relentless barking.

Leaning on his fist, he shut off the engine of his white E-class sedan and stepped out. He approached the wheelbarrow guarded by the vigilant dog and found it brimming with freshly cut flowers, yet there was no sign of the owner in sight. In the midst of his contemplation, the dog gently tugged at his trousers, as if coaxing him to follow. Alex, surrendering to the unforeseen guidance, raised his hands in agreement and trailed the dog. Scaling the slope, he came across a woman writhing in pain.

The eroded road had betrayed her, resulting in a broken ankle. The wheelbarrow careened downhill as she fell, with the loyal dog faithfully following. Alex sprang into action and lifted her from the ground, transporting her to a dry section of the road. The dog trailed behind, wagging its tail.

"I'll call the paramedics now. You'll be fine," he assured her. He retrieved his phone and dialed 911. After a few seconds, a voice on the other end responded. He conveyed the situation and the location before hanging up.

"Your dog is quite clever. He led me straight to you," he said, gently rubbing the dog's head as it wagged its tail happily.

"I'm Annie, and this is Bronze," she introduced, extending her hand for a handshake. Alex took her hand in his, shaking it gently and noting the softness before releasing it.

"Why Bronze?" he inquired, and Annie smiled, revealing a set of teeth so white and perfect that it caught his attention.

"My grandmother gave him the name. When she passed away, I inherited her garden and the dog. I'm a florist, and I was on my way to deliver some flowers before the accident happened," she explained with a touch of nostalgia in her voice.

Alex looked into her eyes. She possessed almond-shaped eyes adorned with dark lashes that framed them perfectly. He observed as she brushed her hair away from her face, the wind playfully bringing curls to cover it. Her lips were full and perfectly shaped, adorned with a natural rosy hue that rendered them irresistible. Her skin was flawless, with a soft, creamy complexion that seemed to glow from within. She wore no make-up and no accessories, just a short flower gown that clung to her curves as a result of its wetness from the fall.

It wasn't merely her physical beauty that set her apart, but also the grace and poise in her movements as she spoke passionately about her job and the challenges that came with it. After she was done, Alex, in turn, opened up about his recent job loss.

"An idea just struck me. How about we open a flower shop that doubles as a community hub? With your excellent gardening skills and my financial and business management expertise, we could be a formidable force. What do you think?"

As Annie attempted to respond, they both heard the siren of the approaching ambulance.

"I think the paramedics are close by," Annie said, smoothly changing the topic. Alex picked up on the cue. Aware that he was still a stranger to her, he recognized the importance of earning her trust before delving into the idea of a joint business venture.

Bronze barked and wagged his tail as the ambulance ascended the slope. Upon arrival, the paramedics took charge, lifting Annie off the ground and into the ambulance. Before she was whisked away, Alex scribbled his number on a piece of paper and folded it into her hand. Annie expressed her gratitude and promised to stay in touch.

Source: Dziana H on pexels

Three weeks later, Alex returned from his early morning jog and played his answering machine. The first voice that resonated through the speaker made his skin tingle and his heart skip a beat.

"Hey Alex! Annie here. I just want to thank you very much for your care the other day. I'm really grateful, and Bronze says hello. I'm sorry for not calling earlier. You can reach me at this number, and perhaps we can discuss that business idea of yours over a cup of coffee. What do you say? We expect to hear from you soon."

Hearing the tone of the answering machine, he did a little dance. Finally, he was going to meet up with the woman who had taken over his dreams since the first day he met her. He called her back, and they agreed to meet at her home the next day.

The next day, Alex strolled down the pavement leading to Annie's house, enduring the scorching heat of the unforgiving sun. He knocked at the door and waited. After a minute, Bronze emerged from the backyard, barking and wagging his tail in greeting.

"Hey man! How have you been?" Alex asked, squatting down to rub Bronze's head and play with his ears. The door opened, and when Alex turned, he found Annie standing in front of it, dressed in a red velvet gown. Her hair was up in a ponytail adorned with a flower crown. She smiled at him and welcomed him into her house.

It was a simple house with decent furnishings—chairs, flower pots, a wall-mounted television, a fireplace, and numerous pictures adorning the walls. As Annie went inside to brew coffee, Alex entertained himself by perusing the pictures.

A few minutes later, they were seated on her double settee, discussing Alex's idea.They explored the prospects of the business and anticipated potential challenges. Alex assured Annie to leave the marketing aspects to him, citing his numerous contacts and emphasizing that flowers are a sought-after commodity, particularly for events like weddings. He was optimistic that the business would thrive, and maybe someday they would be more than just business partners.