Chapter Text
“Happy birthday, Enrico.”
Enrico looked up from his desk and arched a brow at his normally apathetic assistant, Alexander Anderson. Said assistant calmly entered Enrico’s office and placed a single book on Enrico’s desk before turning on his heel and walking away.
“Ah... Grazie, Anderson.” Enrico said, confused. Anderson inclined his head in acknowledgement before he left the room. Enrico’s birthday dinner was this coming Saterday in a thai place Integra had recommended a week ago; it was odd for Anderson to bring him and wish him multiple days in advance.
As an orphan, Enrico was hardly used to presents - it was one of the reasons he absolutely adored the flowers Integra brought him every week. They sat at his desk and refreshed his every day with their bold colors and warm presence - it made him feel like Integra did care for him, under all her cold exterior. However, Anderson had no precedent in his gift giving, and so Enrico was instantly suspicious.
The book itself was weird -
An Encyclopaedia of Flower Meanings
- as if Enrico gave a damn about flowers beyond their scent and appearance. He looked at the heavy book with apprehension and sighed.
He had absolutely no reason to read a single page of it.
And so, Enrico put the book in the very back of his shelf and promptly forgot about it.
After all, ignorance is bliss, isn’t it?