She knows instantly that Cole has broken off a spray of flowers to bring to her as an offering.

ECONOMIST: Recent American fiction: Where the wild things are | The

She is expanding her business with a gift basket of cake and flowers within New York City, and beyond the city with a mail-order catalog offering dozens of rich desserts.

FORBES: Let them eat cake . . .please!

The much-touted 1-800-flowers.com wilted below its initial offering price in its first day of trading, and is now priced 36% below the offering.

FORBES: A Year for Sizzle

Interactive is offering to pay 106% of Refco's known regulatory capital, higher than the Flowers' group's bid of 103%, and said it would not require a break up fee unlike the flowers group.

FORBES: IBG Makes A Play On Refco's Futures Business