Chapter 217 Chapter 217

Chapter 217 Chapter 217
Violet

I forced myself to climb into bed and close my eyes, counting numbers until sleep came eventually, fitful and restless but mercifully dreamless.

I was only woken up by a knock on the door and my mother’s voice.

“Violet” she whispered to me.

“I need to sleep a bit more” I replied drowsily, burying my face in the pillows.

“Its 5 pm already” she said softly and I jerked up awake.

“What?” I asked, hurriedly looking around for my phone to check the time.

Mom gently approached me and placed a hand on my neck and forehead.

“You don’t have a fever which is good.”

I had slept the entire day.

“Why didn’t you wake me?” 

Panic seized me immediately as I thought of missing work and an entire day without calling in, without informing anyone. 

What must Elijah think? What would my team think?

“Because you need to rest. Now, relax while I get something to eat for you.”

She had already walked out of my room but I angrily shook my head, hoping to drive sleep away and stifled a yawn.

It was truly past five in the evening yet there were no missed calls from the office. I hastily checked my emails but there were no new e-mails either.

My sleepy brain was about to dial Mirella when I suddenly recalled that I didn’t report to her anymore.

I reported to…Elijah.

Bracing myself for an angry lecture at how unprofessional and irresponsible I was, my fingers shook as I pulled up Elijah's number. 

I stared at his number for a second before hitting the dial button.

The phone rang twice before he answered.

But he didn't speak despite receiving the call. 

For a few seconds, I heard just breathing on the other end of the line, slow and measured and somehow tense.

"Elijah?" I said hesitantly.

The silence stretched, becoming awkward and uncomfortable.

"Elijah, are you there?" I tried again, my own voice sounding small and uncertain.

Finally, he responded. "Yes." His voice was hoarse, rougher than normal, like my saying his name had done something to him.

"I'm so sorry," I rushed to say. "I overslept and I didn't mean to miss the entire day and I should have called this morning but I was just so exhausted and…"

"It's fine." The words cut through my rambling. "I already approved your sick leave for as long as you need."

I blinked in surprise. "You did?"

"Yes. You clearly needed rest. Take whatever time you require to recover."

The kindness in his voice made my throat tighten. After everything, after the manipulation and the forced employment and all the complications between us, he was still looking out for me in small ways.

"Thank you," I managed. "But I think I'll just take today. I should be fine to come back tomorrow."

There was a pause. 

Then, he carefully added, "Perhaps you should go out with friends instead. Get some fresh air. Do something enjoyable rather than rushing back to work."

It sounded like a suggestion, but something in his tone made it feel almost like a plea.

"Cassie has been asking about you," he added, even more hesitantly. "She'd like to catch up."

"Okay," I said, though I had no intention of calling Cassie. The thought of explaining everything that had been happening felt overwhelming. "I'll think about it."

"Good." Another pause. "Take care of yourself, Violet. You sound like you barely got any sleep"

How could I tell him I saw him murdering me in my nightmare?

“I will” I forced the words out.

“And…” He trailed off when I was about to hang up.

“Yes?”

“And if you need anything, feel free to call me as your…as your boss” He finished.

I didn’t know what to say to that so I simply stayed silent. The awkward silence would have stretched on forever except for his ragged breathing until he muttered.

“Violet?”

“Yeah?”

I heard him open his mouth to say something but then he hung up, leaving me staring at my phone with a confusing mix of emotions churning in my chest.

What the fuck was wrong with me? Sleepy me was dreaming of getting killed by the same man the awake Violet still lingered over.

I set the phone down and was about to head to the bathroom for a much-needed shower when it buzzed with an incoming text.

My immediate thought was that it was a text from him and I hastily grabbed the phone back but it was not a text from him and neither from his sister.

It was from Dane.

Dane: Hey. Good time to talk?

I had completely forgotten about him and about his ailing grandfather, about all the fucked up things that had happened in such a short time.

I didn’t bother texting and immediately dialed his number.

“Hi, is your grandfather okay now?” I asked hastily.

“Uh, yeah. Though I thought you would ask about me first”

I took a pause, not sure how to respond to that.

Dane let out a chuckle though I could tell he was stressed.

“Relax Violet. I was just kidding. My grandfather is stable. Doctors say he'll pull through.”

My stiff shoulders sagged in relief.

“That is good to hear. Also, I wanted to talk to you about my resignation and…” I began but he cut me off.

“Are you free to meet? I would like to discuss everything in person.”

“Uh…sure” I replied.

“Besides, I promised you dinner if the Gala went well. Consider this a treat from me.”

I thought he wanted to talk about work and how my abrupt departure left his company in shambles.

“Are you sure?” I asked hesitantly. “I mean it wont be appropriate given your grandfather’s condition.”

His reply was immediate.

“He would definitely approve of me not sitting in the hospital room worrying about him 24/7. But if you don’t want to…”

“No, I didn’t mean that. I was just…”

“Cool then. See you tonight. I will text you the address. Looking forward to our little meeting tonight.”

He said and hung up.