Page 18 of Alpha's Sunflower Smiles
“Oh, yes, they would. At least Alder wasn’t here. He’s much more imaginative about what he can get up to and where, and I don’t want them using any of my equipment for sexy stuff.”
My reflex to ask about that was hindered by the door opening and Richard walking into the shop, glaring at me.
Wilfred peered round me.
“Where’s Gui?”
“He snuck out the back door becausethis one,” he gestured at me with his thumb, “scared him away.”
Wilfred beamed. “He’ll be back.”
I decided to chip in. “Maybe you shouldn’t be necking in the back room and then you wouldn’t be caught.”
“Maybe you should learn to read signs that say ‘staff only’ and stay in the shop where customers belong.”
“I’m not a customer,” I pointed out.
“Then what are you doing here?”
Ah, he had me there. Basically, I was there to see Wilfred because it turned out that any day where Ididn’tsee him sucked balls.
I couldn’t tell this pushy omega that, though.
Which is how I ended up buying three candles and a wooden bowl that, I was assured, was perfect for salads and could be a feature on my table. Richard really knew how to upsell Wilfred’s stuff. He left to go back into the workshop, telling Wilfred he was going to work and to call him ifanyonewas difficult.
On the basis I was currently the only other person in the shop, I assume he meant me.
“What does he think I’m going to do? Smash all the ornaments?”
Wilfred gave a little chuckle. “Oh, don’t take offense. He’s just very protective of me. He thinks I don’t stand up for myself enough.”
“No? Why not?”
“Oh, um, well, you see he’s still not convinced you weren’t shaking me the other day. I did tell him you were helping but he’s a bit sceptical.”
I wasn’t sure how to feel about that.
Half of me was annoyed that Richard clearly thought so little of me, but the other half was glad that at least someone was looking out for Wilfred. He was so generous that he’d help and help and help other people until he’d given away everything he owned.
Wilfred settled the large bowl in front of him on the counter. “Would you like this gift-wrapped?”
“No, there’s no need for that.”
“Are you sure? It’s not a bother.”
“No, there’s no need. I’ll only unwrap it when I get home.”
“You’re not going to give it to somebody?”
I shook my head. “This is the one I’m going to keep for myself. The candles can go. I-I didn’t mean—”
Wilfred waved a hand. “Don’t worry, I know what you meant. You don’t care about candles. Don’t let Richard hear you, he loves my candles.”
I figured, since Wilfred liked his employee so much, I couldn’t afford to lose brownie points with Richard. “Tell him I lit every one of them.”
Wilfred nodded and wrapped the bowl in some tissue paper, just to protect it in transport. He moved slowly, and he looked like he was thinking, building up to something.
At last, he said, “Do you want me to gift-wrap one of the candles?”
