Chapter 100 I meant it
Violet
The day finally crawls to an end sometime after six, though it feels like it lasted a week instead of a few hours.
The office floor is quieter now, but not peaceful. More like the aftermath of a storm where everyone is still checking the damage. Desks are half-empty, people packing up slowly, whispers drifting through the hallway about the press conference, about the footage, about the way the entire narrative flipped in the span of an hour.
I finish shutting down my computer and gather my bag, trying to ignore the dull ache behind my eyes that has been building since mid-afternoon.
Rowan’s office door opens across the hall at almost the exact same time.
Theo steps out first, already checking something on his phone, while Rowan follows behind him with that same composed expression he’s worn all day. Camille appears from the copy room a second later, heels in one hand again, hair a little messier than it was this morning.
We end up walking toward the elevators together without really discussing it.
The doors slide open with a soft ding and we all step inside.
The ride down starts in silence.
Theo is still talking quietly to Rowan about something involving the press fallout, Camille is leaning back against the wall rubbing her temples, and I’m staring at the glowing numbers above the door, counting down the floors.
The elevator reaches the lobby.
The doors slide open.
Everyone steps out.
I hesitate.
“Theo,” I say suddenly.
He stops halfway across the lobby. “Yeah?”
“Hang back a second.”
Rowan stops immediately.
His head turns toward me, his expression sharpening slightly. “Is everything okay?”
Camille’s shoulders tense too.
I offer them a small shrug. “Yeah. I just need to verify something with Theo about his schedule tomorrow.”
Camille exhales like she’s already tired of the answer. “God, Violet,” she says, shaking her head as she starts toward the exit doors. “You’re always in work mode.”
I give her a faint smile. “That’s how the world keeps spinning.”
She waves over her shoulder. “We’ll be outside.”
Rowan doesn’t move very far.
He steps off to the side of the lobby instead, leaning lightly against one of the marble columns near the entrance, arms crossed loosely. He’s not hovering exactly.
But he’s definitely not leaving.
Which is fine.
I just needed Camille out of earshot.
Theo is already launching into something before I can even speak.
“Tomorrow’s schedule is actually pretty straightforward,” he says, pulling his phone up. “Rowan has the development call at nine, then the zoning meeting at eleven, and I moved the investor lunch to Thursday because—”
“Theo.”
He keeps going.
“—the mayor’s office called twice but I pushed them to voicemail because frankly after today I don’t trust anyone in city hall—”
“Theo.”
“—and I also told security to double the coverage tomorrow morning just in case the press—”
“Theo.”
He finally stops.
I stare at him.
“Shut up,” I say flatly. “And answer this question honestly.”
Theo blinks.
That was clearly not the direction he expected this conversation to go.
Slowly, he lowers his phone. “…okay.”
I fold my arms. “What are your intentions with Camille?”
Theo freezes.
Actually freezes.
Like I just asked him to calculate the national debt in his head. “…what?”
“You heard me.”
He shifts slightly, clearly uncomfortable. “That doesn’t really concern you,” he says carefully.
Something in my chest tightens. “It absolutely concerns me.”
His eyebrows pull together. “How?”
“Because she’s my best friend,” I say bluntly. “And she is way too emotionally invested in you.”
Theo rubs the back of his neck slightly. “Violet—”
“She thinks you’re going to leave her.”
That makes him stop.
Really stop.
For a second he actually looks surprised.
“She said that?” he asks.
“Yes.”
Theo exhales slowly. “That’s not happening.”
“Then why are you acting like it is?”
He glances down at the floor for a moment before answering. “I’ve just been busy.”
“Busy,” I repeat.
“Yes.”
“With what, exactly?”
“Work. The Calder situation. Hargrove. The press meltdown. Pick one.”
“That’s not an excuse to stop talking to your girlfriend.”
His jaw tightens slightly. “We still talk.”
“She says it’s just sex and touching now.”
Theo’s head snaps up. “She said that?”
“Yes.”
He sighs. “She’s exaggerating.”
I step closer. “She’s hurting.”
Theo studies my face for a moment. “I appreciate the heads up,” he says finally. “But I’ve got it under control.”
Something inside me snaps.
Maybe it’s the exhaustion.
Maybe it’s the stress.
Maybe it’s the way he brushed that off like it didn’t matter.
I step forward until I’m practically in his space.
“Theo,” I say quietly.
He looks down at me.
“If you fuck this up,” I continue calmly, “I will kill you.”
His eyes widen slightly.
I don’t break eye contact.
“If you hurt Camille,” I add softly, “I will make your life a living hell.”
Theo stares at me.
Probably trying to decide if I’m joking.
I’m not.
“You think Rowan is terrifying when he decides someone needs to disappear?” I say. “Try me.”
He swallows.
“I know where you live,” I continue, ticking off points on my fingers. “I know your brother’s house. I know your work schedule. I know exactly which coffee shop you go to every morning.”
Theo’s expression shifts from surprise to something closer to concern.
“I will sabotage your dating life for the rest of your natural existence,” I continue calmly. “I will tell every woman you ever meet that you cry during romantic movies and once tried to microwave a fork.”
“I did not—”
“Not the point.”
I lean slightly closer. “If Camille ends up crying because of you, I will make sure every single day of your life becomes inconvenient.”
Theo blinks.
Then slowly raises both hands.
“…noted.”
I straighten.
“Good.”
He exhales slowly.
“You’re terrifying, you know that?”
“Only when necessary.”
Theo glances toward the entrance where Rowan is still leaning against the column watching us carefully.
Then he looks back at me.
“…I’m not going to hurt her,” he says quietly.
“Good,” I reply.
Because if he does... I meant every single word.