“I’m honoured you think that’s what I want,” Breht replied. “I was just hoping for some advice. You’ve known her a long time and spent more time with her. How can I get through to her when she’s so upset?”
“Well, she’s not really a flowers and strawberries sort of girl. Actually, she broke up with one of her exes after they made that gesture. I don’t recommend it.”
He couldn’t help but chuckle at the poor man’s misfortune.
“She’s the sort that needs time to simmer down so that she can see things rationally again. Maybe try and give her a call and explain things to her when she is ready to listen?” Tori suggested. “But, there’s something else. I don’t know how things have gone between you, there’s something I know about her that not many do.”
“Okay,” he nodded along as Tori spoke, taking her advice on board.
“Despite what I said about the flowers and strawberries. She loves being treated. I mean, what woman doesn’t, but, Princess-y,” Tori explained. “You know what I mean, right? She loves a man with confidence, so when you talk to her. Treat her like she is the most precious thing in your world.”
“That won’t be difficult,” Breht answered with a glimmer of a smile on his face.
“It’s not my place to say, Breht, but she’s been a lot happier since you came back into her life,” Tori ploughed ahead with her words, saying the things that she shouldn’t in the hopes thatit’d bring the two closer together once again. “And I don’t just mean for the sake of her business. She talks about you nonstop. I haven't seen her light up like that before.”
He didn’t even know how to answer that, but a broad grin was plastered behind his tusks. Even if Tori’s words weren’t true, they cheered him endlessly. When he didn’t reply, she elaborated.
“What I’m trying to say is that you already treat her right. You’ve given her confidence and something to believe in again. Something she always had, but lost sight of. Herself. And, I don’t want to see her losing out on that again. So, when you’re feeling good and ready, you ring her. Tell her what you told me, and maybe offer to take her out to dinner, just take care of her. You got that?”
“I got it,” he replied, deadly serious, instilled with a glimmer of assurance in his voice. “Thanks, Tori.” Brierley’s friend was a lot more forward than he’d been expecting, but if her words were to be adhered to, he would have to be the one to initiate the next step between them. Brierley wanted to be treated well; he could do that. If she wanted more than tender, drunken kisses, well, he had nothing wrong in that department either.
“One more thing,” she said before he managed to hang up, bringing the phone back to his ear.
“What’s that?” He asked.
“You hurt her, you go running back to that fake-breasted bimbo, I swear, I’ll come down on your ass like a ton of fucking bricks. You seriously won’t know your arse from your elbow! Understand?”
“Yes, Ma’am,” he replied. What the woman could actually do to him if she were being every inch serious as she sounded, he didn’t know. She was only small compared to his large frame, but he didn’t doubt her conviction for a second.
“Good. Go get her, tiger,” she giggled down the phone before hanging up.
He closed his eyes as his hand lowered. Deciding to wait before trying to call. According to Tori, Brierley sounded like the sort of woman who needed time and space to calm down when she was angry. If he pushed her too soon, it would only end up exacerbating the disaster. Time passed in torturous slow motion. It already felt like hours since he’d left her working in the shop, but when he checked his phone, it was still only mid-morning.
Using the machine in his room, he brewed himself a strong coffee and wasted a bit of time by pulling out the art materials he’d brought with him. Doodling some fresh designs as they came to him, putting his one qualification to good use! His mood dictated how they turned out. Jagged lines and geometric shapes formed before his eyes, looping in symmetrical knotwork. He coloured in the central stones with the radiant colours of blues and greens found in paua shells, taking care to make sure the jewellery could be easily replicated by Brierley’s loving hand. All the while, a rehearsal of the looming conversation was playing out in his head.
After completing several designs, he picked up his phone again and bit down on a well of anticipation. He rang Brierley’s number. Picking the right moment to give her a call was tenuous; how long would she carry her anger? The sound of his heartbeat rushed through his ears, beating to a crescendo with every note of the dial tone.
A ray of hope when the dial tone stopped was swept out from underneath him as the merciless, electronic announcement asked him to leave a message after the tone. Rather than pour his heart out to the dead-end of an inbox, he hung up. He’d try again later. He had to.
Chapter 12
ItwasonlywhenTori entered the store with a massive, three-tier cake that Brierley stood up from her desk. She looked horrified at her friend as she called out, “Is that the time!?” She had been so wrapped up in her creativity that the hours had slipped by unnoticed. So deep into her zone that she hadn’t even had lunch! As was always the case when her hands got busy, all else had faded away, and it was just her, some wire thread and the glittering shards of shells. As she’d worked all other thoughts had filtered away, and she’d rationalised her misplaced anger; now that she was free of it, there was no time to dwell on the consequences. Her relaunch was looming dangerously close, and that took priority in her addled mind.
She stood up and hurried over to help Tori with her delicious-looking burden. Most of the store had been prepared the day beforehand, and as such, they just needed to place a few of her day's creations in their display cabinets. Filling in the last gaps in her stock. As soon as the cake was settled in pride of place ona central table, Brierley picked up a long necklace and watched it twirl in front of her. The light caught the paua’s glittering colours, reflecting them across the store like a disco ball.
“I’m really nervous,” she admitted.
“Don’t be,” Tori soothed from behind the cake. “I have absolute faith in you.”
“What about in Breht?” She scoffed, bringing up the orc before anything else.
“In him, too,” Tori replied, knowingly.
Brierley gave her friend an odd look at her words. They came across as loaded with meaning; something she didn’t understand. A part of her was hoping that the orc would show up tonight, but at the same time, she didn’t think she could handle his presence. He’d only distract her with complications she didn’t know how to deal with, but it felt cruel for him not to be there. Seeing the fruits of his labour. Seeing the delight on the face of anyone who brought his designs. He had a right to be there as much as she did; so intricately woven he’d become in Ohpaua.
She settled the necklace down on the display piece and closed the glass cabinet carefully behind her.
“Ready?” She asked, plastering a smile on her face.