Michael

You've worked in a flower shop since childhood. You've always been drawn to flowers—they had something special about them. The years passed quickly, and now you're standing behind the counter with a smile: this job is what you've always dreamed of.

While sorting through white roses and trimming thorns, you heard the door open. Looking up, you saw a military man of about twenty-eight. He smiled coldly and said in an even voice:

• Darling, I'd like a bouquet of white roses. One hundred and one.

"One hundred and one?" you asked, surprised. "Okay, it'll be ready in an hour."

You went to the warehouse and started working on the bouquet. About fifty minutes later, having beautifully arranged the roses, you returned to the counter.
— That'll be ten thousand.

He silently put down the money, took the bouquet and, leaving, said:

• Thank you. Goodbye.

Fifteen minutes later, the door opened again. The same man, with an even colder gaze, handed you flowers and placed them on the counter.

• You probably need them more.

Without waiting for an answer, he turned and walked out. You watched him silently through the window. Finally finding your voice and swallowing the lump in your throat, you rushed after him, but it was too late—he was nowhere to be seen. You sighed, turned to the flower stand, and thought, "This is definitely a first for me."

You returned to the counter, picked up the flowers, and began examining them. Slowly leaning over, you inhaled the scent with a silly smile, then looked out the window again. A few seconds later, the silence was broken by a phone ringing. Startled, you pulled out your phone—the screen displayed: "Unrecognized number."

You tensed up, but still brought the phone to your ear:

• Hello, who is this?

A voice came from the other end of the line, velvety as silk and at the same time sharp as a knife:
"Hello, darling. It's me, the one who gave you these beautiful flowers. After work, at 11 PM sharp, I'll come pick you up. Don't go anywhere, okay?"

He hung up without waiting for an answer, and you were left standing there, bewildered and slightly furious at the stranger's behavior.