by Rose, Lila
“Thanks for dinner.” Violet smiled. “Izzy is amazing.”
“She is,” I agreed, stopping right in front of her. “Go on a date with me,” I blurted.
Her body jolted, her wide eyes coming up and pinning me to my spot. “What?” she breathed.
“Go on a date with me… please.”
“I don’t think—”
“Did you enjoy tonight?”
“Yes.”
“Did you suffer from my company?”
When she bit her bottom lip, my gut sank. Only then she whispered, “No.”
My gut sprung back up to its rightful place. “Then you could like dinner with just the two of us.”
She glanced to the side, thinking. “Maybe.”
“I’ll pick you up this Friday.” It was a week away. Enough time for more calls from me, more getting to know one another so she could become more relaxed. I hoped.
“Um… okay.” She nodded, and I felt like whooping in joy.
She’d agreed to a date.
Progress.
Of course, I reached for more. “Can I kiss you goodnight?”
“No, yes. No.” She opened her door quickly and slipped in. “Night,” she said before slamming her door.
Hell, I didn’t care. Even as I watched her drive away, I did it smiling because she’d said yes in between her two nos. I couldn’t wait until our date where I may have a better chance of getting a firm yes from her.
Christ, my cock thickened. It liked the thought of that.
Chapter Nine
Violet
“You didn’t tell me we’d be traveling to Melbourne for the date,” I said, shifting in the passenger seat to stare at Travis. He looked amazing, like always. Damn him. He’d dressed in one of his expensive suits. Awareness hit me. Knowing where he got his money from curled my belly. I glanced away and pushed that thought down. I promised myself to be on my best behaviour, and I would. I knew it would be strange, maybe even difficult with only the two of us and no Izzy as a buffer, but I wanted to give this a shot because I enjoyed… no, I loved the side of Travis I saw when he was with his daughter.
“I said where I wanted to take you would be a surprise.” He smiled.
My heart stumbled. I glanced away again. He had said he wanted it as a surprise on the phone earlier in the week when I asked multiple times where we’d be going. I didn’t expect to be traveling out of town for it, and what if I wasn’t dressed right for the date? I played with the hem on my black dress. Then again, it’d been said a little black dress could be for any occasion. I mentally berated myself for caring what I looked like. I had to stop.
He either accepted me as I was or not at all.
I had a feeling he would accept me even if I wore tracksuit pants and a sweater.
Travis wasn’t shy about how he wanted me in his life. I knew it, and even though it scared the hell out of me because of his business, I was still in the car there with him.
And all because I had seen the man he was with Izzy, and I wanted to be around that man. A lot. Especially when he’d dealt with his ex in a way that showed him to be a better man than I realised he was. If it had been me, I would have used words and fists as my weapon, but he didn’t do either. He stood back and let someone else deal with it because he had hope for Izzy and her mother to one day have a better relationship. He thought of Izzy before himself.
He amazed me.
Hell, all these feelings were after only one night of being around him.
What would tonight lead to then?
Having him alone could cause me to throw the differences between us to the wind and yell, “Fuck it,” while falling into bed with him.
After all, he had asked me to pack a bag for the night. I did, with a promise to him over the phone that I wouldn’t be sleeping with him.
If the night was as amazing as it had been at his place, though, my willpower would fall to the floor along with my clothes.
How crazy was that?
It was too soon, but I couldn’t help but remember the days, years we’d had when we were younger. We’d been strong and real. After being around him, it was clear my feelings for him were still inside of me. They’d been buried over the years but had perked up at first sight of him.
Yes, this was crazy. We still had a long way to go if we ever wanted something like we’d had, but I did want to see how the night went.
The drive went fast as we spoke of random things during the trip. It wasn’t until we sat in some fancy restaurant that I asked, “Tell me something I don’t know about you.”
“You already know I own an electronics company.”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t remind me.”
He chuckled. The waiter set down our drinks we’d ordered on arrival, and when he moved away, Travis said, “I also co-own a construction company with Link. Then there’s the law firm I own.”
“A law firm?”
“Yes.” He smirked. “And I co-own a few branches of hairdressing shops around Australia.”
“Hairdressing?” I laughed. “How did that happen?”
“Link’s sister wanted to run her own. I went into partnership with her.”
“That’s… nice.”
He shrugged. “Link and I have been friends for a long time. When he refused to place his name to ‘anything girly’—his words—Trisha came to me. She has a brain for it, so I backed her and it paid off.”
“I like this,” I blurted, feeling my cheeks burn.
He leaned in. “What?”
I licked my suddenly dry lips, glanced around, then returned my gaze to him. “Talking with you.”
His eyes darkened. “Spending time with you is what I like.”
“I know,” I said, and both of us laughed.
We moved onto Izzy, what school she’d be going to, and if she would be doing out-of-school activities. I told Travis how I liked she had the support, not only from her father, but Link and Trisha also.
The night was running smoothly, and the more I looked at him, talked with him, and was just around him, the more it reminded me of the days before, in our past, and how comfortable I felt with him. My feelings grew throughout the night, causing me to feel lighter within myself. He made me laugh, smile, and even feel excited.
Of course, things didn’t stay that way.
“Mr Stewart,” was cooed close by. I tensed, already hating the sound of the needy voice.
Travis and I glanced to the side when two women stopped there.
“Lenore, Liza. What are you both doing here?” Travis asked pleasantly, though I could see his posture stiffen, his eyes harden.
“We’re here with Mr Himmel,” Lenore, the busty redhead, said.
Liza giggled and winked down at Travis. I clenched my jaw. My eyes widened when Lenore pulled out a chair and sat, while Liza got close to her back and ran a hand over Lenore’s shoulder, flicking her hair off.
They were Travis’s.
They had to be his employees.
I glanced over to the table Lenore pointed at before and saw a balding, overweight man in his fifties. He smiled, lifted his drink my way and winked.
I tuned back into the conversation to hear Liza say, “I remember that night explicitly. We had so much fun with you, Mr Stewart.”
Travis chuckled.
I saw red.
Did he really just sit there, instead of telling them to fuck off, talking and flirting lightly with them?
Lenore’s hand slid over the table. It landed on Travis’s. I watched it, him, and my shoulders dropped, along with my stomach. My heart wasn’t faring too well either because he didn’t move his hand away.
He spoke with them like he cared what they had to say.
I guessed it was good for being employer and employee, but for me to witness it, to sit there on a fucking date and watch women pawn over Travis… it wasn’t good at all.
He hadn’t introduced me.
Hadn’t acknowledged me since their arrival.
I didn’t like the man in front of me.
Not at all.
This scene angered me to a point I clutched the steak knife in my hand. Disappointment at him, and at my reaction, raced through me. My brows dipped. Most of all, hurt spread through my chest and clogged my throat while tears threatened to fall.
Liza giggled. I imagined throwing the knife at her throat. Lenore hummed under her breath, her fingers stroking over Travis’s hand. Both stared at him like they were hungry for dessert.
My stomach rolled.
Dinner threatened to come back up.
Enough was enough.
All eyes flashed to me when my knife, pointy side down, ended up in the table. “I’d like to leave,” I said low.
Travis’s jaw clenched. I didn’t give a fuck if he was upset with me by my actions. I didn’t give a fuck at all at that moment. I wanted out of there.
Travis nodded. He finally took his hand away from under Lenore’s. I caught his eyes widen a fraction, as if he was surprised by her hand on his.
Fucking bullshit.
How could he not know? I knew where my hands were, near ripping my handbag to shreds. I stood, as did Travis. His hand landed on my lower back, and I shifted away.
“Violet, I’d like you to meet—”
“I don’t want to meet them,” I snapped.
Liza huffed. “Rude.”
“Ladies, if you’ll excuse us, have an enjoyable night.” He laid some money on the table, while the idiots giggled. I stormed off. He would follow, and I would wait for him and the car out the front. Then I would plan how to get back to Ballarat that night.
I wouldn’t stay in a house with this man.
I couldn’t be around him much longer.
“Violet,” Travis called after me as I exited the restaurant. I heard him open the door, speak with the valet, and then I felt his heat at my back.
“It’s not what—”
“Don’t. Jesus, just don’t.”
“We’ll talk at the house then?”
I nodded. That nod was a lie. We drove to the house in silence. Actually, it hadn’t been a house at all, but an apartment. A very flashy apartment where there was a valet, a doorman, security, and once on the top floor, a large apartment. I noticed my overnight bag just inside the front door. I made a note to myself to grab it on the way out.
“I’ll just take a shower and then we can talk.”
I ground my teeth and nodded.
He walked off down a long hall. As soon as the door closed behind him, I took his keys off the table near the front door, grabbed my bag, and made my way back downstairs.
“Miss Marcus,” the doorman called. Travis had introduced me when we’d arrived. Donald was a man in his sixties. He had a friendly smile and eyes that felt like they could read your thoughts.
“Is everything all right?” he asked, approaching me.
“Fine,” I bit out. “Can someone bring Travis’s car around?”
His eyebrows shot up. “But you just arrived, and usually Mr Stewart calls down for his car before he leaves.”
Closing my eyes, I gripped the bag in front of me tighter. Opening my eyes, I held out the keys, my gaze to the floor. “Please, Donald.” My fucking voice quivered.
My emotions were getting the better of me and soon I would be a blubbering mess, but I refused for it to happen there. They could wait until I was safely at home.
“Yes, Miss Marcus,” Donald said softly, taking the keys from me. “You know, if you need a moment, I have a room out back that you could use.”
Shaking my head, I said, “Thank you. But I need to get home.”
His hand landed on my shoulder. “Of course.” He quickly went outside to speak with the valet.
I was grateful I didn’t have to wait too long. Donald returned. He ushered me outside and into the car. “Please drive safely.”
“I will.” I nodded, offering him a sad, watery smile.
“Take care, Miss Marcus.”
“Violet,” I called.
He smiled. “Violet.”
Somehow, and I didn’t know how exactly, I made it home and into my house before I fell to my bed and broke.
Chapter Ten
Travis
Sighing, I punched the shower wall again. I’d fucked up. I knew I had, not only from Violet’s silent treatment on the drive back to my Melbourne apartment, but because I’d acted like a fucking moron in front of her. Talking to my employees like they were something special to me. They weren’t. But I had to make them feel they were so they did the best job they could. It had always been something I did. If they thought I treated them like diamonds, they would continue being an asset in my business.
It didn’t help that I’d slept with both of them years ago—one stupid drunken night.
I’d royally fucked up big time and wouldn’t blame Violet if she kicked me in the balls. I deserved it. I deserved worse.
Turning off the shower, I got out and grabbed my towel. I didn’t bother drying myself. I had to go out there and beg for forgiveness.
I’d gone for a shower because I felt fucking dirty for the way I’d acted. I should have introduced her to them from the start, at least then, I may still have Violet talking to me, but I hadn’t because I didn’t want them to know anything about Violet. She wasn’t a part of that world. She was good. Clean.
Christ, I hoped my time in the shower would also help Violet calm down a little. The drive to the apartment wouldn’t have been enough for her to listen rationally to me.
However, I knew if the shoe were on the other foot, I’d be an absolute prick. I wanted her to yell, to scream at me. I didn’t like the silence. Hell, I’d even suggest she could hit me a few times, or I’d do it myself.
Making my way into the room, I paused. No Violet.
I went from one room to another searching for her.
“Violet,” I called, walking out of the last spare room, my stomach beginning to bottom out.
No answer.
“Violet?” I called again, heading for the living room. She wasn’t there. I ran to the kitchen, the dining room, the games room, and the second living room. She wasn’t in any of them.
It was then, as I made my way back near the front door, I noticed her bag was gone from the floor where the doorman had dropped it after I’d asked my driver to deliver it to my apartment.
Violet had left.
My heart hammered in my chest.
Fuck.
She’d left without wanting to see or hear me.
I couldn’t blame her.
But it fucking killed.
I was in deeper shit than I thought.
“Fuck,” I roared into the silent room. I stomped down the hall, headed into my room and then to my walk-in robe. Dropping the towel, I dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. I went to my bed, sat, opened my bedside table and pulled out some socks.
Only to stop.
I’d been ready to race after Violet and beg, but I wasn’t sure it would work.
“Fucking hell,” I muttered. I was a complete and utter goddamn idiot. I had Violet with me, on a date. We’d been talking, laughing, having a great time, and then I’d screwed it over.
I fucking messed it up.
My actions were pathetic. I may have just ruined my life, what I wanted most.
I threw the socks at the wall. Running my fingers through my hair, I cursed myself. I had to think of something to get her back.
I needed Violet in my life.
The time we’d had would never be enough. Two dates, one with Izzy around, which I absolutely classed as a date, and I’d fucked things up in a way I wasn’t sure Violet would listen to me.
I wasn’t sure Violet would accept my apology and give me a chance again.
I knew I didn’t deserve it, but I had to try.
Violet was mine.
We had a past, a
nd I wanted a future with her. Even after those short dates with her, I knew I was a total cockhead for letting her go, especially knowing she was meant to be mine. She hadn’t changed as much as she thought she had. It was I who’d changed, and I didn’t like myself for who I’d become. How I’d acted.
Rubbing at my chest, I cursed myself over and over again.
I had to find a way to convince her that what I did, how I acted, would never fucking happen again. Jesus, I would rather gut myself, cut out my own tongue, to ever see her face crumpled with disappointment and hurt again.
Stalking out of my room, I went to the table near the door, where my phone was, and picked it up.
First, I sent a text to Violet. I’m sorry. I know it’s not enough, but I am so fucking sorry for tonight. I know I ruined it. I know me explaining how it was only one drunken night many years ago with those two isn’t enough for you to come back to me.
I’m sorry.
Truly sorry.
Christ, I just hope one day you’ll forgive me. I’m not asking for it now when I know what happened was disgusting.
Shit. I’m terrible at expressing anything over text.
Need you to know, Violet. I won’t give up.
I can’t.
Clenching my jaw, I read over what I’d sent and thought I sounded like a pathetic twat. I couldn’t take any of it back; I’d already sent it without thinking. I wasn’t sure if any of what I said would be any good at getting her back with me. But she had to know I regretted my actions.
I scrolled through my contacts, found Link’s name, and hit Call.
“Yeah?” he answered.
“Need you here at the Melbourne apartment.”
There was silence on the other end, and then, “I thought Violet was with you tonight.”
“Fuck, Link.”
“What the fuck did you do?”
“Just get here.”
He hung up. I quickly dialled downstairs, already guessing how she left, but I needed to confirm it.
“Travis,” Donald answered.
“Tell me how she left.”
“In near tears and in your car.”