56 The Invitation

Flora stirred from a restless slumber, jolted awake by the shrill ring of her phone. Disoriented and still groggy, she fumbled for the device, her irritation mounting at the untimely interruption. Having recently returned to Billy City, she had severed ties and blocked contacts, expecting solitude. Grimacing, Flora eyed the unknown number flashing on the screen, her annoyance peaking. "Who on earth is calling me this early?" she muttered to herself, hesitating momentarily before answering, her irritation evident in her voice. "Hello?" Flora answered tersely, her tone reflecting her annoyance but received no response. Flora's sleep-fogged mind boiled with frustration as she unleashed a flood of fierce words into the silent receiver. "Don't you have anything better to do? Why are you calling and disturbing my sleep? Since you do not have anything to say then why did you call? If I should get hold of you I'll skin you alive!" Her voice, dripping with irritation, echoed in