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The people on the floor scrambled back to their booths as soon as they heard the distinct ping of the elevator doors. At exactly eight in the morning, the company CEO purposefully walked towards his office, not sparing any of them a glance.
Dressed in an expensive suit, his whole demeanor screamed of power and wealth. Yin Anan Wong was not an ordinary man and everyone inside this building was well aware of that fact.
He pushed the door to his office open and the office staff breathed a collective sigh of relief as soon as he vanished through the glass panel.
"I'm meeting my grandmother for lunch, make sure all my engagements are rescheduled." He ordered as soon as he sat down. "And make sure no one disturbs me this morning, I'll finish all my work by noon."
"Yes sir."
Yin nodded and immediately went back to work, hours passing by idly as he read the papers on his desk.
It was a lethargic routine of sitting on his chair and reading over all the necessary reports before signing them and sending them to the right department, but it was a routine he's grown accustomed to.
At exactly half past twelve, he closed the remaining folder on his table and pressed the intercom.
"Call my driver, I'll be down in a minute." He stood up, brushed the invisible dust on his suit and walked out of the room, looking as collected as ever.
"No meetings until after I get back to the office, understood?" Yin asked as soon as his secretary was within earshot. "If anybody pries, tell them that I am busy."
He waits for her to nod in affirmation before closing the elevator doors.
When he settles at the back of the car, he curses softly when he realizes that he was empty-handed.
"Go to the nearest flower shop, I have to buy something first."
---
The florist hums happily to the merry tune blasting on the speakers as he arranges the daffodils on their rack. He steps back and admires their simple beauty before bouncing back to the counter when a customer presses the small bell.
"Hi! How can I help you today?" He asked brightly, hiding a laugh when he noticed the slight twitch in his customer's handsome stoic face. "Sorry, did I startle you?"
The man shakes his head and looks at him with a pair of piercing eyes. He looked almost out of place inside the colorful shop, a black blob in the cacophony of colors.
"I need flowers." The man in the suit replied curtly.
"Yes, I figured that that's the reason why you're in my shop." He laughs lightly. "But you'll have to be more specific than that. Do you have any preference?"
"Any kind of flowers will do, I suppose." The man replied as he looked around, making him frown.
"May I ask what they're for?" The florist pressed, not satisfied with the man's answer.
"A gift."
"For an anniversary? A birthday?" He continued to press, making the man in front of him raise a delicate brow.
"Is all that information really necessary just to get a bunch of flowers?"
The florist's nostrils flared at the mention of 'just a bunch of flowers' but he figured that not everyone could appreciate them as much as he could.
"It is so I don't accidentally give you flowers that don't say what you want them to say." He explained instead. "You don't want a bouquet that says 'I hate you' right?"
"No, not at all." The customer replied and the florist's smile slipped back to his lips.
"Good."
"It's a gift for my grandmother." The customer replied. "That's all, I'm afraid."
"That's enough, I'll be right back." He said but before he could walk away, he turned back to his lone customer with a small smile. "I'm War Wanarat by the way, welcome to WNR blooms."
He walked to the back of the shop where he kept a small greenhouse for fresh pots of flowers and gathered some carnations and hydrangeas. Humming lightly to himself as he carried them back to the storefront.
"Did my reindeer offend you by any chance?" War asked as soon as he gathered the flowers in his station, looking at the man with curious eyes. "You've been glaring at them since I walked back in. Not a fan of reindeers?"
"Not a fan of Christmas." The man replied. "Too much for just a simple holiday."
The way War stopped everything he was doing, the scissors hanging in midair, as he looked at the other man was almost comical.
"Excuse me?" He asked with wide eyes. "Not a fan of Christmas?"
"Yes, is there a problem with that?" The customer argued, not willing to back down.
"It's the happiest time of the year." War replied in exasperation. "Who doesn't like Christmas?"
"Yin Anan Wong." The man replied with a shrug.
"Who?"
"Me."
"Ah, you."
"Would you mind putting away the scissors before looking at me like that?" Yin said, his eyes trained on the florist's skilled hands.
"Sorry I didn't think I'd meet the modern version of the grinch today." The florist scoffed as he whispered to himself. "So sad."
"Well Mister War Wanarat, sorry to break it to you but not everybody has a holiday." Yin huffed with crossed arms. "Now, my flowers?"
The florist rolled his eyes before he smiled slyly, looking at his customer with an odd look. He reached out towards the shelf behind him and plucked out a yellow carnation.
"A little extra, just for you." He smiled mischievously as he ringed up Yin's purchase.
The man looked at the flowers being offered weirdly. "Won't you put that yellow flower in the bouquet?"
"The bouquet is for your grandmother, I'm sure she's a lovely woman." War replied. "The yellow carnation is for you specifically."
"For me? Why?" The man asked curiously but the florist merely shrugged.
"Off you go Mister Yin Anan Wong, I hope the next time I meet you, you'll be less of a grinch." He said as he waved him away with an even bigger smile.
---
Yim looked up from his work when he heard a gentle knock on his door.
"Dad." He puts away the papers on his desk and turns his full attention to the man walking towards him. "What are you doing here?"
"I thought I'd check up on you."
"More like checking up on the company." Yin replied and his father shrugged, taking a seat on the chair in front of him. "Everything is fine dad."
"I know." His father's gentle smile was ever present on his face. "I left it in good hands after all."
A rare smile bloomed on the stoic man's face at his father's praise and they chatted idly about business until the old man caught sight of the lone flower on his desk.
"That's new." He commented with a smile directed at his son. "I didn't think you were the type to have flowers on your desk."
"I'm not, someone gave it to me." He replied, eyeing the flower that was a bright contrast to his monotone office. "It's going to wither eventually anyway."
"Someone gave it to you?" His father asked and he nodded, curiously staring as the old man laughed. "You might want to revisit this person."
"And why is that?"
"Did you know that flowers have meanings?"
"I am aware." Yin replied, thinking back to his encounter with the odd florist. "Why?"
"Well son, in flower language, yellow carnatíons can mean rejection or disappointment."
"Come again?" The CEO asked and his father laughed at his confused face.
"Whoever gave this to you, they're not your biggest fan."
Yin remembers the florist's sly smile and his twinkling eyes as he sent him away with his bouquet and the single stem of yellow carnation.
"I might have to pay him another visit."
----
"Hi! Welcome to WNR-" The florist's bubbly greeting was cut off when he recognized the figure that entered his shop, the man still sticking out like a sore thumb. "Oh it's you."
"Yes me, someone you're apparently disappointed in."
"Yin Anan Wong, it took you two days to figure out what the flower meant." The florist laughed at his frowning face. "I'm proud of you."
"Is this some kind of joke?" The man huffed. "I am seconds away from calling the owner of this place."
"Well, you're in luck because he's right here." The florist said with a small gesture to himself. "What seems to be the problem?"
Yin groans and turns to walk away but is stopped when the florist grabs his wrist.
"Where are you going?" War asks.
"Away from small florists who give random customers disappointed flowers." Yin replied, making the florist laugh.
"First of all, I'm not small and second of all I've never heard anyone call them disappointed flowers and the only thing stopping me from laughing is my reputation." War said with a grin. "But it's funny, I'll give you that."
Yin gives him an unimpressed stare but the florist only stares back challengingly, taking the CEO by surprise.
"I hope you know that glaring doesn't work on me."
"You-" Yin sighed. "What do you want from me?"
"I'm on a mission to make the grinch like Christmas." War said happily and Yin's glare deepened.
"I'm not a grinch."
"Whatever you say."
---
The fresh bouquet of magnolias sitting at the reception area was the recent subject of the office gossip, ending in an exchange of shocked glances when the CEO's own secretary came down to pick it up with a bewildered look on her face.
"Sir, something came for you." She said through the intercom, eyes glued in the flowers on her desk.
"What is it?" Came the distinct voice of the man inside the glass room.
"Flowers."
There was a stagnant pause and she waited in tersed silence for the reply from the other line.
"Send them in."
The secretary breathed a sigh of relief when she didn't hear the usual annoyance in his voice. She carried the flowers in her arms and entered the office, head bowed low as she left the bouquet on the sitting area.
"You man go." The CEO said with a wave of his hand and she nodded, closing the door to the odd sight of the usually tense businessman picking up the fresh bouquet of flowers.
---
"Why did I just deliver a bouquet of flowers to the main building of the Wong group?" His friend and usual helper asked as soon as he walked in.
"You're quick." War complimented, ignoring the question.
"Explain."
"It's nothing, I just sent Yin flowers that's all." The florist replied and his friend raised a brow.
"Yin?"
"Yin Anan Wong."
"Excuse me what?" The man asked, voice one pitch higher. "You sent a bouquet of flowers to who?"
"Yin Anan Wong." War replied with a shake of his head. "Why?"
"Do you not know who he is? How did you even meet him to be sending him flowers like this?"
"No? Should I know him?" The florist asked with a tilt of his head.
"Are you living on a rock?" His friend asked and raised a finger when War was about to answer. "Don't say a word."
"But-"
"I said, no words." The other man replied, slumping down on the bench by the station. "I can't believe you just sent the CEO of the Wong group a bouquet of flowers."
"Oh he's the CEO." War said, his lips turning round. "That explains the expensive suit and the overall attitude."
"What do you mean by attitude?"
"He hates Christmas, how can anybody hate Christmas?" The florist defended. "It's not comprehensible."
"He's running a multi-million dollar empire, I think he's entitled to dislike whatever he wants to dislike."
"Not on my watch."
"You're very stubborn, if that man closes this place down, what will you do?"
"He won't." War replied with a hum, turning his back to his bewildered friend and continued where he left off.
"And how do you know that?"
"I just do."
---
The next morning, the employees of the top floor were again eyeing an odd addition to their monochrome office. The basket of poinsettia and holly sitting innocently on the reception area glaringly stuck out and for the second time that week, the CEO's secretary scratched her head as she carried it in her arms.
"Sir, something came for you." She said and in a second, Yin's voice echoed through the intercom.
"Send them in."
Yin only looks up once to nod at her as she leaves the basket next to the vase of magnolias and waits for her to close the door before walking to the new colorful addition in his office.
He noticed that unlike the magnolias there is a small note hidden in the middle of the flowers.The CEO chuckled to himself when he read the short note.
I'm not quite sure how festive your fancy office looks but here's my little contribution to your holiday cheer!
WNR
At the corner of the paper is a smiling reindeer chasing what he assumes is a running grinch.
He takes the note and walks back to his desk, laying it down next to the withered carnation.
---
That weekend as War was opening the shop, a sleek black car stopped in front of him.
"You can't park here-" His words were cut off when the windows rolled down to reveal a familiar face hidden behind black sunglasses. He leaned down and rested his arms on the open window, smiling sunnily at the driver. "Well if it isn't my favorite customer."
"For the record I only ever bought flowers from this shop once." Yin replied as he removed his sunglasses. "That's hardly enough purchases for me to qualify as your favorite customer."
The florist shrugs. "The number of purchases is not the criteria, somehow you've managed to endear yourself to my humble shop."
"Is that why I've been receiving flowers throughout the week?"
"Maybe." War said with a hum. "What brings you back here?"
"I don't know." The man answered honestly and the florist brightered.
"Since you're here, do you want to come in?"
---
War herded his guest inside, closing the door behind them and pushing him to take a seat on the bench.
"Stay here." The florist ordered and disappeared to the backroom as Yin looked around the shop.
"What am I doing here?" He murmured to himself as he looked directly in the beaded eyes of a stuffed Santa Claus.
"What was that?" War asked, startling the businessman out of his stupor. "You're very jumpy did you know that?"
"I didn't." Yin replied absentmindedly but immediately straightened up when he realized what he said. "I mean, I'm not."
The florist giggles as he lays a tray of freshly baked cookies and a mug of hot chocolate in front of the bewildered businessman.
"What's this?" Yin asks as he takes a bite of a cookie shaped like a star, sighing in content when the rich flavor exploded in his mouth.
"Christmas cookies and hot chocolate, I figured that even someone like you can appreciate the fine taste of good food." War said as he spun around and ducked under one of the shelves. "I almost forgot."
Yin tilts his head in confusion when the florist returns and hands him a single stemmed flower.
"What is it?"
"A white camelia." War replied once he was seated and munching on his own cookie.
"What does it mean?" He asked as he inspected the delicate bud.
"You'll have to find out by yourself." The florist said with a mysterious smile.
"I don't speak flowers." The CEO replied, gently laying the flower on the table.
"Too bad for you then." War slaps away his hand that was holding his phone when he pulls up a search engine.
"I can't look it up too?" Yin asked with a playful glare. "You don't happen to have a book of flowers lying around somewhere do you?"
"In fact-" War pulls out a small notebook from his pocket and shows it to his companion. "I do."
"Of course you do." Yin sighed and laid out his hand. "Now let me read it."
War pulls the book out of his reach and lays it on the seat next to him. "Not now."
"Why not?"
"In due time."
"You're a weird one aren't you?" The CEO stated matter-of-factly, piercing eyes looking at the man seated next to him.
"I sing to the plants in my spare time, believe me I know." War replied with an easy shrug, biting the head off of a gingerbread cookie.
"Singing to plants huh?" Yin rested his chin on his palm. "Tell me, what more odd hobbies do you have aside from sending innocent customers flowers?"
"I guess you'll never know."
The stoic businessman finds himself shedding his usual demeanor in the presence of the bubbly florist. He finds himself entertaining mundane conversations that he usually wouldn't care about, much less attentively listen to.
"I wish I could go ice skating." The florist said with a heavy sigh. "But it's boring to go alone."
"I've never been ice skating." The words slipped out of his mouth and the shocked gasp from his companion was almost comical. "What?"
"Get up." War stood up and hurried to the counter, turning back to him when he remained seated. "Get up!"
"Why?" Yin asked as he took another cookie.
"We're going ice skating."
----
Yin fell on his ass for what felt like the hundredth time that minute. He frowned when he heard the stifled laughs of the amused florist beside him.
"You're not very coordinated when you're on ice Mister CEO."
"This is a giant deathtrap." Yin retorted as he shakily stands up, almost falling back down if not for the secure hand on his elbow.
"It's because you're so impatient." War said as he guided him around the rink slowly. "It's not something you can learn in a few seconds."
The florist guides the unbalanced CEO to the side and let's him hold on to a wall.
"Watch."
Yin's eyes followed War's delicate movements on ice, the smooth glide of his feet and the blooming smile on his face. War returned by his side with flushed cheeks and a wide grin on his face.
"See? It's fun." The florist said with a light tone and grabbed his hands, pulling him away from the railing. "Now do as I tell you."
Yin let himself be pulled away, gripping War's smaller hands in his as they slowly made their way around the rink again.
"Closing deals with stingy old businessmen is more simple than this." Yin huffed as he almost slid on the ice, again.
War let go of his hand and wrapped it around his waist instead. "This should make it easier."
They glided around the rink, laughing among themselves as War tried his best to keep both of them from falling down.
---
"So Mister fancy CEO did you have fun at the local skating rink?" War asked when they were walking back to the shop. "And don't say no because I will be extremely upset."
"Then why ask me if you don't want to hear a different answer?" Yin asked with a small smile directed at the smaller man. "Fishing for compliments?"
"Maybe." The florist hummed but before Yin could reply, the smaller man's lips broke into a smile and he started jogging away.
"War!" Yin called, following the florist with quick steps. "Where are you going?"
"Cat!" Was the short enthusiastic reply before the florist was once again striding away.
"Cat?" Yin whispered to himself, long legs working overtime as he tried to keep up with the overenthusiastic florist.
War's little escapade led them to the park where the smaller man suddenly crouched down and started cooing at what Yin assumed was a cat.
"Should you really be petting strays?" Yin asked in concern, eyeing the purring cat with masked distrust. "What if you get bitten?"
"I've only been bitten once." War replied with a cool shrug. "It doesn't usually happen."
Yin shakes his head and watches in amusement as the cat purrs under War's ministrations, basking in the florist's attention.
But a sound startled the feline and it scampered away quickly but War was quick on his feet.
"Hey!" Before the florist could go any further, his foot got caught in a root.
Yin's reflex kicked in and he quickly stepped in, catching the stumbling florist in his arms.
"Be careful." He looked down and smiled at the florist's wide eyes, grinning at the thought of finally rendering the other man speechless. "Stop following stray cats."
"Don't scold me." War pouted as Yin helped him back to his feet, wincing when he felt a shot of pain from his right ankle.
"You okay?" Yin asked, kneeling in front of him and inspecting the injury. "No, you're not okay."
"You worry too much, I probably just pulled a muscle when I tripped or something." War said, hands resting lightly on Yin's shoulder as he let the other man inspect his foot. "I can walk it off."
"No, you can't." The businessman gently laid his foot back down. "It can turn ugly if you don't get it treated immediately, let's go."
"What are you doing?" The florist asked when the other man crouched with his back to him. "No, I'm not doing that."
Yin looked back at him with a soft glare and War whined in protest but climbed on his back nonetheless.
"This is what you get for being stubborn and for running after cats in the park." Yin scolded, heaving War on his back and grabbing hooking his legs in his arms. "What if I wasn't there and you fell face first in the dirt?"
"That would be a fun story to tell though." The florist replied with a giggle as he wrapped his arms around Yin's neck to steady himself.
The CEO shakes his head and continues walking, careful not to jostle the man in his back.
"I bet people think we're a couple." War said suddenly making the CEO almost choke on air. "We must make quite a sight."
Because of the added weight on his back, it took awhile for them to make their way across the park and the sun started setting, drowning them in orange hues.
Yin could hear War let out a small gasp as soon as the park lights were turned on, bathing them in a cacophony of bright colors.
"I didn't think I'd see the first light." The florist said with a satisfied smile. "It's beautiful."
Yin looked around and couldn't help but agree, the dazzling lights were enough to take his breath away. "It is."
War rested his chin on his shoulder and looked at him curiously. "I hear no disagreements from the grinch."
"I know pretty things when I see one." Yin huffed.
And perhaps Yin slowed his steps a little bit, letting the florist whisper excitedly in his ear as he pointed to the display in front of him. And perhaps he wasn't really paying attention to the twinkling lights around them but to an even brighter star.
---
His flower deliveries continued, much to the astonishment of his staff. It was like a game for them, War would send him a flower in the morning and in the afternoon he would walk out of the office and head to the shop by the corner where War would welcome him with a steaming mug of hot chocolate and a fresh tray of cookies.
Also much to the astonishment of the people who knew him, the usual stoic CEO was more chipper than usual, almost startling the board members when he smiled after a particularly harrowing meeting.
The cause of the man's happiness was a mystery to everyone, the only clue being the flowers delivered to him early every morning.
Until one day, instead of a bouquet or a stem of fresh flower, there was a simple brown box lying innocently on the spot where the flowers usually were.
"Sir, there's a delivery for you."
"Bring it in."
The CEO looked up from his desk and tilted his head curiously when instead of the usual bouquet he spotted a brown box in her arms.
"Who is it from?"
"The same sender as the flowers sir." She replied and Yin immediately schooled his shocked face back to normal, gesturing for her to bring the box directly to his table.
"You may go, thank you."
She bowed and walked away quickly, leaving the pondering CEO alone with his odd gift. He lifted the lid and immediately spotted a note with the familiar handwriting and a scrawl of a familiar face in a Santa outfit.
This is my last gift for you this season, I hope you like it!
WNR
P.S. I wasn't sure about some of the mechanisms but it should work fine.
He smiled at the note and the little Santa War waving at him and put it aside, gingerly taking the wrapped gift from the box.
It was a snowglobe with a red chrysanthemum bud in the center, he gently shakes the globe and snow starts falling on the flower, caking the red in white.
Yin winds the machine and gasps when the bud blooms, revealing two figures skating around the flower petals.
His eyes never leave the two figures as he listens to the soft piano music playing from the snowglobe. But he catches sight of another note inside in the bottom of the box.
I didn't want this one to wither. Merry Christmas!
War
END.