"Boss? He hasn't called himself that in a while," Adrienne thought, smiling shyly.
She sniffed the roses and they smelled lovely. She hoped there was a note inside, but there wasn't.
She remembered the last time he sent her flowers with a note. It was months ago and the note only had 'I' on it.
"Where did I put it?" She wondered, searching her drawers. She finally found the note and looked at it for a few seconds.
"He never finished this sentence," Adrienne said.
She set it aside and put on the dress.
The dress was black with a strap and a sweetheart neckline and a ruched bust. It had mesh inserts at the waist with vertical lines and draped fabric that wrapped around the midsection. The slit on one side was indeed dangerously high.
"I am sure he can survive a little skin," Adrienne thought as she admired the dress.
Wait. Where are we meeting? Adrienne wondered.
She read the note again and he didn't say where they were meeting, he just said 'wear this tonight'.
Does he want to meet at his mansion? Are we visiting Juliette? Or the hotel? Adrienne thought.
It was still afternoon so she decided to wait until evening, maybe he would text her where he wanted them to meet.
She took off the dress and went to the bathroom to shower. She operated her phone for a while and then fell asleep.
When she woke up, it was evening and she was hungry.
She wanted to head downstairs, but when she got to her door, it wouldn't open.
"What the hell?"
She tried and tried the knob, but it wouldn't budge. Adrienne started to panic.
What if Richard didn't send her the dress? What if she had another enemy? What if they broke into her house and locked her in while she was asleep? What if her house was on fire?
She felt like she couldn't breathe, even though her two large windows were open. The room felt stuffy.
She grabbed her phone and called Richard.
"Hello. Someone locked me in. The door won't open, and I can't breathe. I think I'm going to pass out," Adrienne said, breathing fast.
"Hey hey hey, relax, okay? Just calm down," Richard said.
"Breathe in... and now, breathe out... " he instructed her and she did as he said.
"Now, go and open the door. Trust me," Richard said.
She slowly went back to the door and this time, when she tried, the door opened.
"Huh?" she gasped as she stepped out.
"Surprise!" Richard said softly.
Small scented candles lined the floor of Adrienne's hallway. The lights were off, so the candles cast a warm, dim glow.
The candles led to the stairs, and Adrienne followed them slowly.
"Richard, what's going on?" Adrienne asked him on the phone as she went downstairs.
"Just follow the candles. They'll lead you to me," Richard said.
"Listen to me. I want to make every moment we spend together memorable. I want to celebrate tonight in a special way. I want you to know how much you mean to me.
No matter what we're going through, no matter what's happening in our separate lives, I want you to know how important you are to me," Richard said.
Adrienne's heart fluttered with excitement and curiosity as she followed the candles and listened to Richard's words.
She reached the end of the stairs and saw that the candles led to the living room, where Richard was waiting with a smile.
He held a champagne bottle in one hand and his phone in the other.
"Let's have a celebratory drink tonight," Richard smiled at her.
He hung up and put down his phone and champagne bottle. Adrienne ran into his arms.
"You scared me back then," she said on his chest.
"I'm sorry," he stroked her hair.
"Nah, it's okay. I love this," she said, still on his chest.
"Sit here," he led her to the couch.
He popped the champagne bottle and poured two glasses. Adrienne's glass was very, very small and she frowned when he gave it to her.
"Come on. Don't look at me like that. You have to cut back on alcohol for Amelia's sake, okay?" Richard said and Adrienne sighed.
They clinked their glasses and drank. Richard kissed her softly and said,
"You remember the soap opera from when you stayed with me three years ago. They're remaking the show and..."
Adrienne interrupted him eagerly, "Oh my God, are we watching it tonight?"
"You didn't let me finish, but yes, we're binge watching it tonight," Richard said.
"Yay! I get to see Richard! I wonder how much he has changed," Adrienne said.
Richard scowled at her.
"Don't tell me you still have a crush on that Richard character?"
"Come on, I never had a crush on him. Start the show already," Adrienne slapped his butt playfully.
"When did your butt cheek become so soft?" Adrienne teased him as he played the movie.
He reclined on the couch and Adrienne lay on top of him, resting her head on his chest.
"Are you comfortable in that position?" he asked gently.
"I'm fine, I'm lying on my side. You should worry about yourself. I'm pregnant, so I'm heavier," Adrienne said.
"This body can handle any weight. Besides, it makes me feel closer to you and Amelia. So..." He adjusted her head on his chest and started to rub her back as the show began.
"Hmm. Richard is not as hot as I thought," Adrienne remarked. They were a few minutes into the show.
"I'm so happy he's not," Richard grinned.
Adrienne began to sway her hips against Richard's, although her baby bump made the movement a bit awkward.
"What are you doing?" Richard laughed at her attempts.
"Trying to awaken that joy stick," Adrienne flirted with him.
"Come here," he said, kissing her while caressing her curvy butt.
"Baby, how much do you love me?" he asked after breaking apart.
Adrienne smiled and said, "How much do I love you? Let me count the ways. I love you more than chocolate, more than pizza, more than sleep, more than orgasm, more than..." She paused and looked at him with a playful glint in her eyes.
"Well, maybe not more than orgasm. Orgasms are pretty good."
"Orgasm? I thought I'd hold the top spot in your heart," he teased her.
"Well, you give me those orgasms, so you are basically in the top spot," her eyes sparkled with affection as she traced circles on his chest.
Richard laughed.
"You are so funny, Adrienne. And so adorable. And so sexy. And so smart. And so sweet. And so..." He leaned in and whispered in her ear. "And so mine."
His last words sent a shiver down her spine.
"Oooh. Say that again," she closed her eyes, wanting to hear him call her his again.
"You... are... mine..." he said huskily, sending another chill through her veins.
"Damn! I almost had an orgasm," Adrienne said, her finger running through the waistline of his short.
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, enjoying each other's presence and the warmth of the evening.
"I have a confession to make. It is very important, and... we have to have a serious talk right now," Richard said, his tone becoming serious.
A chord of fear struck Adrienne's heart, and she immediately sat up.
"What is the problem?" She asked.
"Before Juliette died, she stole some documents from my house. That was also the day she found out that I was her father, but that's not important right now," Richard said.
"So... you need those documents as they are very important, right?" Adrienne tried to understand.
"No. That's not it," Richard said.
"So... what is it?" she asked, but he was silent.
"Why are you hesitating? You are scaring me," Adrienne asked again.
Richard heaved a heavy sigh.
"I am going to prison."