My Billionaire Ex Beg For A Second Chance-Chapter 98: Flower That Wasn’t His

Felix stood just behind the crack of his office door, half-hidden by the frame, watching her.

Katherine was seated at her desk with her fingertips were gently brushing the petals of the sunflowers in the glass vase. The flowers stood tall, fresh and bright, their cheerful color a stark contrast to the steel-and-glass world of the office.

He didn’t need to ask where the flowers came from. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

He’d seen Leonard holding them.

And even though a part of him had expected her to toss them aside or leave them forgotten in some break room sink, she hadn’t.

She had taken them.

She had filled the vase on her desk with water and carefully arranged the bouquet. Like it mattered to her.

Felix swallowed.

He knew she wasn’t the kind of person to throw something away just to spite someone—not when it was something as innocent as flowers. She wasn’t cruel like that. The flowers didn’t deserve her anger. Still, he couldn’t help but feel a strange weight in his chest. A heat. Not quite jealousy, but close.

He leaned against the frame for a moment longer, studying her profile—the gentle slope of her nose, the soft pinch of concentration in her brows as she tilted one of the stems to a more aesthetically pleasing angle.

She looked... peaceful.

Too peaceful, considering.

His thoughts spiraled again to earlier that morning, when they walked together from her apartment to the office. It should’ve been a normal routine—they had done it many times before—but this time it felt different.

The eyes were different.

They passed a few coworkers near the lobby. Felix felt the subtle shift in energy, saw the curious glances that flicked between them and the vase in Katherine’s hand. He heard the low murmurs just under the hum of conversation.

"Think those are from Mr. Crawford?"

"Maybe he’s finally making a move."

"They look close. Don’t they live near each other?"

Felix wanted to tell them all: No. They’re not from me. They’re from someone else. From someone who had his chance and blew it.

Even worse, inside the elevator, a few women from finance had joined them and immediately spotted the bouquet.

"Ooooh, someone’s getting flowers this morning!" one of them teased, eyes glimmering.

Katherine gave a polite smile. "They’re not from Mr. Crawford, if that’s what you’re thinking."

Just like that.

Firm. Unmistakable.

A denial that left Felix standing there beside her, shoulders stiff, jaw clenched so tight he thought his teeth might crack.

Now, in the quiet, he inhaled deeply, squared his shoulders, and stepped out of his office, letting the door close behind him.

He cleared his throat dramatically, feigning casualness as he approached her desk. "Seems like someone really likes those flowers."

Katherine glanced up, a small, nonchalant smile on her lips. "Yeah. They’re pretty."

Felix tried to smile back, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Honestly? I thought you’d toss them in the trash."

"I’m not that cruel," she said with a light laugh, turning back to the bouquet. "They didn’t do anything wrong. Would’ve been a waste."

Felix slid his hands into his pockets, rocking slightly on his heels. I could buy her the whole flower shop, he thought to himself. Hell, I’d buy the whole chain if she wanted.

"Just the flowers, right?" he asked lightly. "You only like the flowers. Not the person who gave them to you?"

Katherine’s brows furrowed slightly in confusion. "What?"

Felix’s voice faltered. He shifted uncomfortably. "I mean... the flowers. They’re nice. That’s all I meant."

Katherine gave him a slow blink, still clearly puzzled, but she let it go with a small shrug. "Yeah. Just the flowers."

There was an awkward pause. Felix rubbed the back of his neck, wishing he’d said nothing. Katherine turned her head toward the vase.

"Isn’t it a bright spot in the room?" she said suddenly, almost to herself. "I’m glad I kept the vase around."

Felix looked up. "Yeah," he said. "It is."

She tilted her head, as if seeing the arrangement for the first time all over again. "I think I like the way it catches the light," she said. "Makes things feel a little more... alive."

Felix latched onto that answer with quiet relief.

He took a deep breath. Okay, he told himself. Now’s your chance.

"I wanted to tell you something earlier. Before we were interrupted in the hallway."

Katherine leaned back in her chair, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Right. What was it?"

Felix hesitated only a second before stepping a bit closer. His mouth opened, but just as the words were about to spill out—

The phone on Katherine’s desk rang.

They both froze.

Katherine’s eyes darted to the screen. Her expression shifted. "Sorry, I should take this."

Felix nodded stiffly. "Of course."

She picked up the receiver, pressing it to her ear. "Hello? Yes, this is Katherine speaking."

Her voice was calm, polite—the professional tone she always used—but Felix watched the change happen in real time. Her body stiffened, her lips parted slightly, and her brows slowly began to furrow.

The hand not holding the receiver gripped the edge of the desk.

"Yes," she said, a little sharper now. "Yes, I understand. I’ll be right there."

She hung up, eyes still wide.

Felix stepped closer, heart skipping. "Katherine? What’s wrong?"

She turned to him slowly, blinking as if trying to return to the moment. There was something uneasy in her posture now—something tense and urgent.

"That was reception," she said softly. "Leonard’s downstairs. He’s looking for me."

Felix froze.

For a heartbeat, he didn’t move. Couldn’t.

Then everything inside him clenched—hard, sharp, sudden.

He blinked. "What? Why? Is something wrong?"

"I don’t know," Katherine murmured, already gathering her things. "They just said he’s here and asking for me. He sounded... serious."

Felix stared after her, his mouth slightly open, heart hammering in his chest.

So close. He had been so close.

But once again, Leonard had appeared—right in the moment he was about to open his heart.

And now, Katherine was walking away. Again.

With sunflowers on her desk, and another man waiting downstairs.