Chapter 45 Chapter 45
Violet
I smiled again. Even in my case, I agreed most of our relatives were good for nothing so I could understand his reluctance to meet them.
Though I wasn’t sure why it would piss him off, get annoyed and irritated, yes, but I couldn’t think of anything my parents could do that would piss me off.
My mother’s recent action had left me confused and hurt at best, not wanting me to break all my contact with her.
But there was still a question unanswered.
“What happens when Elijah sees you plastered to bed one day and jumping around the other?”
Cassie seemed to have thought about that as well.
“Not happening. He has gotten too busy with work. He barely visited me once. And I took that chance to use it for good even if I had been guilty initially of not listening to him.”
I shook my head. Siblings were weird.
But I didn’t have any siblings to experience it first hand. And my parents were completely loyal to each other. I had never heard of any other woman, or man for that matter, try to wedge a discord between them.
Which is why I used to wear rose tinted glasses around Nate and never notice how he could return to his crush the second she showed up.
“That is great” I mumbled, lost in thought.
“It is. The dinner will mostly happen next week, you are free, right? Can I confirm with dad?”
I gulped nervously.
“Just a few hours right? And then I am free to leave?”
I still was not completely onboard but I had a feeling Cassie would pester me until I agreed either way.
“Sure” She nodded while typing furiously on her phone.
“Good then. It was great to see you but I really have to get back to work.”
Cassie nodded mindlessly, still typing on the phone. I had expected her to ask what work I mentioned but she seemed busy with her master plan.
So I turned around and headed for the door but then her voice stopped me.
“Wait, where are you going? And what work?”
A hint of a smile appeared on my lips to hear that. I turned around and my smile made her knit her brow.
“What has gotten you smiling so much all of a sudden?”
I beamed at her and grabbed her hands. “Something amazing happened yesterday which is why I couldn’t visit you.”
It was a lie but a partial one. I didn’t mention anything about Tyler or Gavin’s words but simply told her everything about the opportunity and Dane.
Cassie listened to me with interest, paused and interrupted me quite a bit of times but in the end she was truly excited for me.
“Damn, so you are going to switch fields and become a jewellery designer?”
I bit my lower lip nervously.
“If Dane Stratford hires me and likes my designs, then yes.”
“That is amazing. We always hear that we should follow our passion but experiencing it must feel incredible.”
“It does”
I couldn’t help feeling happy to have finally shared the news with her and also relieved that she shared the same joy as me, not just a performative act of being a friend.
I had known her for far less time but she was genuine and really didn’t have a filter. So I knew her words of encouragement and hype for me were real.
Cassie pulled me into a hug and rejoiced.
“Look at us! Planning new stuff and taking risks. May the Goddess bless us with victory.”
I really needed all the blessings right now. So we chatted and spoke about random things for quite a long time.
It was only hours later when her phone rang that we bothered to check the time. It was evening already.
“Shit. I am beyond late. I gotta go, Cassie. Have to work on the designs.”
Cassie slapped my back a bit too enthusiastically.
“You got this. And if you need any help, feel free to call me.”
We made plans to celebrate if I got the appointment letter and I headed out towards my car hurriedly.
But when I stepped outside the hospital, I saw somebody waiting by the car.
Elijah was leaning on the car door, hands folded and a serious expression on his face. He was looking in the opposite direction and I couldn’t help but notice the way his fitted shirt covered his broad torso, and the sunlight glinting in his eyes.
His hair appeared bronze because of the tint of the sun and when he raised his hand to rake a hand through his hair, my throat made a noise.
That made him look in my direction and I immediately shook my head.
Elijah straightened on seeing me while I fished in my bag to find the keys.
I didn’t say a word and simply opened the car while Elijah tried to talk to me.
“Violet, stop.”
I reached for the door to pull it close but his hand landed on the window, preventing me from doing so.
“I have to leave,” I said without looking at him.
“Can we talk for five minutes?” He asked tensely.
“There is nothing left for us to talk about.”
“Whatever you heard back in my office…” He began but I snapped at him.
“I came to visit my friend and you are her brother so we have nothing to talk about.”
Even the memory of seeing him just let Gavin and Tyler speak whatever they wanted and him getting up only when he noticed me standing outside the door was enough to anger me.
That line made Elijah narrow his eyes.
“Is that so?”
I finally looked him in the eye. He had the audacity to look upset.
“What else would you say we are? Friends?”
He lowered his voice and added, “Does your friend know how much time you spent with her brother?”
I glared at him. Or tried to.
Shut up. It was a mistake.”
“Once it is a mistake. But twice, it's intentional, little girl.”
How dare he?
I didn’t even realize when I had raised my hand or when it connected with his cheek. The sound of the slap rang through the surrounding area.
“You just proved me right. You are just like all the other girls who want to get fucked by me. That you yearn for my touch and dream of my cock.”
I laughed, bitter and hollow.
A faint imprint of my palm was now visible on his cheek. And I suddenly realized that maybe I had taken things a bit too far.
That his words shouldn’t have affected me so much. That HE shouldn’t affect me so much.
I should have apologized. And for a second, I was certain his eyes would be glowing with anger and his hand on my neck to strangle me then and there.
But he simply straightened his back and pretended I’d never slapped him.