1. All characters are 18+
2. No characters represent real people
3. Enjoy the fiction
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CHAPTER 1
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I almost didn't see the flower shop. It was tucked into the wall a bit, and the signage wasn't very good. You'd only see it if you were actively looking for it, which I was.
When I walked in, I saw flowers that I'd seen in other places. But I wasn't looking for normal flowers.
I had a date that night with Melody, whom I'd been crushing on for a while now. One of her friends told me she loved flowers, and that she'd be impressed if I could find something different. So no ordinary daisy or rose would do for me. I had to find something unique. So I found this little shop online. Their website wasn't fancy, but it had boasted that they had flowers no other shop did.
Behind the counter, there was a short Asian man, who I assumed was the shop owner. He had a gaze that was a little creepy, but very knowing. As I perused the bouquets, he asked in slightly-accented English, "Can I help you find something, sir?"
I ventured to the counter. If anyone could help in my quest, it would be him. "I'm looking for something unique. Something beyond the normal roses."
He smirked. "How unique are we talking about?"
I told him, "I have a date tonight, and I need something she's never seen before."
"I can help with that," he nodded. "I have rare flowers over here," he pointed to his left, "but if you're truly in the market for something one-of-a-kind, I have something better in the back."
"How much better are we talking?" I asked, implying the monetary cost.
"Not as much as you think. Come with me."
He led us into a small back room, where I saw a table with several small pots lined up on it. Each pot had the most amazing, multi-colored flowers inside. It seemed that the petals almost sparkled in the light. I also noticed that each pot had a plastic lid on top.
"These are my own hybrid," he explained. "I call them Glittariums, for the obvious reasons." He lifted a pot and brought it closer to my face, and the petals inside sparkled brightly."
"They're fantastic. I've never seen anything like that," I marvelled. "But why the plastic lids? Won't that hurt the plants?"
He smiled and explained. "These are no ordinary flower. Their scent does magical things."
Inwardly, I rolled my eyes. "Really? Magic?" I was thinking he just made that up to raise the price on gullible morons.
"Yes, magic. Here, smell." He lifted the lid a crack for me.
I sniffed it. "I smell nothing. No aroma at all."
"Yes sir. Men don't smell a thing. But women, however, smell a pheremone. It makes them intensely attracted to the man who brings them the flowers."
"Bullshit."
"I assure you, it's true!" He pleaded. "Trust me."
I did not believe his story about the magic, of course. That would be ridiculous. But these were amazing flowers, so I was still interested. "How much?"
"Only $25 per pot."
Very reasonable for something that pretty. "Sold." I dug out some money from my wallet, and paid the man.
He smiled again as he handed me the pot. "Remember, don't lift the lid until you give the woman the flowers. You will not be disappointed."
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I showed up at Melody's place three minutes before 7, but I sat in the car for a minute, gathering myself. The small flower pot sat next to me. I eyed it again before I picked it up, and carried it to her door. Then I rang the doorbell and waited.
She answered the door with a smile. She was wearing a blue button-up blouse, a grey knee-length skirt, black heels, and her blonde hair down at her shoulders. "Hi Tom," she said. Then she saw the flower pot. "Oh. Wow. What are these?"
"Special flowers. For a special lady." I grinned. I had practiced that line in the mirror.
She was quite amazed. "They're sparkling. I've never seen flowers do that. What type of flower is this?"
"I forget the name. Glitteriums, I think?" Then I remembered about the lid. "Let me open this up for you."
I removed it, and again, I smelled no odors at all, aside from Melody's perfume. But I watched Melody's face as she obviously smelled something. Her eyes changed in a moment, and she blinked a few times. "Wow," she said. "That's a... that's an interesting smell."
"Good interesting?" I asked, hoping that I had not bought stinky flowers. If that old man swindled me, I swore I would burn his shop to the ground.