Chapter 206: Chapter 206

Violet

I couldn’t believe what just happened.

My brain literally froze as I kept staring at his retreating figure in shock.

He didn’t look back even once. He didn’t linger but just before he reached the gate a notification sound on my phone made me return back to the present.

I mindlessly reached for my purse and saw that it was a text message from him. Against my better judgement, I opened it and saw just two words and a question mark.

Still staring?

I couldn’t believe the audacity of this man!!!

I wanted to grab something, maybe a stone or a bomb and throw it at him but he had disappeared down the gate.

The light above me started flickering again and I yelled out at it because there was nobody around to take my frustration out on.

“Go to hell!!”

I started pacing, my mind racing to find a solution. And a name popped up in my head.

Dane. He would know what to do.

I instantly dialed his number but it went straight to voicemail.

I pulled at my hair and kicked at a stray pebble, wondering what the best course of action was. While I was trying to think of a solution, I heard a familiar voice.

“Did he leave?”

I turned around to see Mirella reappear, somehow back in her formal attire. I didn’t bother her asking where she changed or why.

“Yes, but he wants me to come work for him or he promised to destroy our company.”

Her face scrunched in confusion. “What? Why?”

I let my hands fall to my sides to slap my legs. “If only I knew”

I began pacing back and forth as more people returned to their booths after sensing Elijah had left.

“Oh, well thats how these bigshots are. They can’t digest another one taking their place so they want to destroy the competition. But, it isn’t necessarily bad, right?” She asked after a while.

“How is it not bad?”

She approached me, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Look, I know things get difficult for a newbie in this competitive industry but think about it. Our company is small and Dane can’t provide you with all the resources that Elijah can.”

“I don’t need his resources…” I began but she cut me off.

“You are not listening” She said and then looked around before bringing me to the corner.

“Dane told you that he wants to compete with them and be the number one brand in our industry, right?”

I nodded. “Yes”

“Then what better way to get into enemy territory and get all his trade secrets?”

I stared blankly at her.

“What are you suggesting?”

She lowered her voice, looking around to see if anybody was eavesdropping before continuing.

“Look, Dane just had to run back home urgently because his grandfather fell sick and was hospitalized.”

My eyes popped.

“What? When did that happen?”

“He got the call just around the time Elijah made us leave and now that I think about it, everything happens for a reason. The timing couldn’t have been perfect”

I was still not buying the idea.

“I should call him. Dane didn’t even receive my call, I should check on him.” I tried dialing his number again but Mirella shook her head and took the phone from me.

“What are you doing? He needs support” I said, trying to snatch it back from her.

“No, he told me he wanted some peace and quiet and that he will call back once he is fine.”

He had just told me he would love to celebrate if the launch went well not even an hour ago and I had been the one in charge of our booth.

I couldn’t just leave without even having a word with him.

“But…”

“No ifs and buts. Try to understand, Violet. You were already gone for a month and now if you tell him you are leaving just weeks after returning how would he feel?”

That made me pause.

“But I don’t want to leave the company.”

She shook her head, clearly unimpressed by my refusal to listen to her.

“You aren’t leaving. To be number one, you have to take that spot from the one who owns it. Be the insider for us, get us all important and classified information on the designs, production process, supply chain, vendors, everything. We will topple them from the inside.”

“But…”

“It is the easiest way to take him down. Don’t you want Dane to be number one?”

I did. But sneaking behind Elijah’s back to get all the classified information and hand it over to Dane…that wasn’t morally correct.

But then what he did to me wasn’t right either. And I hadn’t gone to him begging for a job, he offered it himself.

The more I thought about it, the more I began to feel maybe Mirella wasn’t entirely wrong.

“But Dane…I have to talk to him once about it.”

Mirella began pushing me away from the booth and towards the exit already.

“I will inform him, don't worry. And he will be more than delighted to see you work so hard for him in his absence.”

All of this felt too rushed, too quick. Plus, the thought of working for Elijah, seeing him everyday…was not too pleasing.

But then I wanted revenge and if I had to see his face everyday to make him realize his mistake, then so be it.

“Are you sure? Don’t you think I should at least consult…”

“No, Mr Stratford’s condition has declined a lot. Dane won’t be in the condition to talk about work. Just leave it on me. I will take care of everything.”

I sighed.

“I know you don’t like me but I trust you to be loyal to Dane.”

“Of course. After Elijah Lockwood showed interest in our booth, many would compete to buy our jewellery. We would sell every last piece. You did your job already.”

Maybe she was happy to get rid of me once and for all but Dane was hoping for much more than friendship which I didn’t have in me right now. All I wanted was revenge.

So, maybe putting some distance from him would make him realize friendship was all I could offer.

And if Elijah was behind all this, I was going to make him lose every penny he ever earned and turn into his worst enemy.

“Fine. I am resigning as of now.”