Violet
I'm just standing there, in the middle of the chaos. It's like all of this is happening to someone else and I'm just an onlooker.
“Dominic!”
Someone says and rushes towards him to greet him. Dominic is surrounded by family, friends, and all those people he used to know.
He has always been the most enigmatic man in the room. The one you can’t help but notice.
Tall with broad shoulders and a confident look on his face. His black hair is slightly longer than it used to be. Deep, back eyes you can't NOT notice.
This hasn’t changed.
What’s changed is he seems to be smiling more.
“How have you been, “ someone says and he smiles at them, replying politely.
Dominic is dressed in a perfectly tailored suit. He used to hate suits and always said he can't breathe in them.
Suddenly all the memories from before are flooding my mind and I am taking deep breaths to calm myself down.
I can’t just run away, pretend I didn’t see him and this never happened, can I?
He is only a few feet away from me, but he doesn’t see me. There are too many people around him.
Evie has disappeared somewhere and it’s just me.
But as Dominic is accepting greetings, and talking to his father, a tall, slim woman emerges from behind him. She is wearing a dark- blue fitted dress, making her perfect shapes stand out even more.
As if it’s not obvious from the first look at her that she's perfect, she has to make it impossible for everyone around not to notice her.
Just like everyone is looking at Dominic.
Then I remember. I know her.
She’s a model.
A very popular one at that, especially recently.
What is she doing here?
And while I am considering the options- she is probably accompanying someone, she comes to stand right next to Dominic and he glances at her.
He smiles at her and she wraps her hand around his forearm.
What…
He is with her?
That’s when I feel like all the people around the couple pull back, there’s no longer anything standing between them and me. Dominic is right opposite me, his model girlfriend glued to him.
It feels like I am in a dream.
Or as if I'm underwater. the “underwater” feeling explains why I can’t breathe right now.
“Dominic!”
Conor exclaims and goes to greet his brother, embracing him. Then my husband turns to me.
“Violet, please come greet my brother. “
I am moving slowly, this dream-like feeling remaining.
“Hello, “
I hear myself say and Dominic smiles.
He doesn’t remember me, I can tell by the brief glance he casts at me before he looks away again.
“This is my wife, “
Conor wraps a hand around my waist.
I want to crawl out of my skin. He’s never done this before, what is this display of affection he is showing right now…
The model flashes a pretty smile, which reveals a set of perfect white teeth.
“How nice to meet you, “ she outstretches her hand in my direction. Perfect nails. “I am Anastasia. “
I accept her hand and return the smile.
“Violet, very nice to meet you. “
“A wife?”
Dominic asks and Conor’s hand closes around me, pulling me a bit too tightly.
“Yes, Dominic, “ he says, “my wife. “
Then Connor tells him, “I don’t know if you remember her. “
I shift nervously and steal a glance in Domnic’s direction.
He shakes his head.
“I… I can’t say I do. I’m sorry. “
Suddenly I am enraged.
Dominic doesn’t even remember me… But then again- it wasn’t like we were really close to each other.
He was the love of my life, but we were just kids. Right?
Besides, nothing really happened back then- it was just the classic case of the stupid poor girl that happens to be studying in the same school as the hot, rich guys.
I got into that school thanks to a scholarship.
My best friend was a close friend of Dominic’s and Conor’s. She introduced us. I fell in love with Dominic the moment I saw him.
“Just like all the other twenty girls who were head over heels for him, “ I remind myself, “It’s not like I was the only one. “
Dominic and I went out just once, and then- well, I never saw him again. Later they told me he left for the US and that was it. After that, Conor asked me out and my father got sick. The rest is history.
When Dominic left out of the blue, I decided it had all been in my head and he never really liked me, no matter how much I had thought it was real.
Seeing him here, not even remembering me, proves I must have been right.
“It’s okay, “
I smile at him, “We weren’t close anyway, it’s expected you wouldn't remember me. “
I look away from him, my heart beating funnily. I take a long sip from my glass and Anastasia turns to me.
“So, what do you do? “
She asks.
“Business. “ I smile over the rim of my glass. ‘I am taking care of my father’s business after…”
I fumble with my glass and Dominic surprises me when he asks.
“What happened to your father?”
“He passed away. “
“Oh, I’m so sorry,”
Ansatasia says and I glance at Dominic who looks concerned.
“Thank you, “
I look away from him and smile at Anastasia.
“Anyway, it was a few years ago. Let’s speak of something more cheerful. What do you do?”
“Oh, I am a model. “
She says, proudly.
“Of course you are., “ I think. I mean, I knew what she did, but I didn’t want to show her that she was That famous. Perhaps she knows how famous she is, though.
“How long have you two been together?”
Conor asks and I am washed over by the same desire to leave this place and never, EVER come back.
“Just a …”
Dominic begins saying and Anastasia interrupts.
“I feel like it’s been so much longer than it is, in fact. “
She says, wrapping both her arms around him.
Does she ever let go of him?
“A few weeks, “
Dominic says, voice grave.
“But I feel like he knows me so perfectly, “
Anastasia looks up at him beaming.
“Yeah, “ he clears his throat. A servant passes by and I pick up another glass from the tray and give him my now-empty one.
And here I was telling Evie she shouldn’t be drinking so much…
I resist the urge to finish everything in one gulp when Anastasia asks.
“What about you? How long have you two been together? “
“A few years. “
Connor says.
“But it feels like ages, “
I fake a smile and only Conor gets the remark. His hand closes so hard on me that it hurts.
“Years!”
Anastasia exclaims, “That’s… that’s great. “
“It is. “I mutter. They don’t know our marriage is a fake one, but I also can’t just say it.
“Do you have children?”
She asks, still excited and for some reason, her bubbly personality begins to irritate me.
“No, “
I say shortly and take a step away from them, pushing Conor’s hand away from me.
“I need to see something, “ I excuse myself, “It was nice meeting you Anastasia. “
Then I smile at Dominic.
“Enjoy your evening. “
“It was great meeting you too, “
I hear Anastasia saying but I am already walking out of the hall to the garden downstairs. I quickly get outside to a deserted corner in the small garden when I hear footsteps behind me.
Violet I hear the footsteps and pause. I don’t dare turn around. What will I tell him after all this time?And here, of all places. Why did he choose to come back now? My hands close into fists and I turn around.But the man coming my way is not Dominic.It’s Conor.And he looks pissed. Very pissed, at that. “What the hell was that in there?” He growls, coming to stand before me. I take a small step away from him. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”I say. “I just needed some fresh air, it’s really suffocating in there. “I’m keeping my voice neutral but he is already irritated to no end for some reason.“Suffocating?”He snorts. “You know perfectly well what I am talking about,” Then he takes a threatening step in my direction. Conor grabs me. Now, that it’s just the two of us, he has no reason to try to be careful and no one would see him.He grabs me really forcefully and pulls me towards him, looming over me.“I saw how you look at him.” he snarls. “At who?” I ask
Dominic “Why did we leave so early?” Anastasia sits in the car and takes the seat opposite mine in the limo. Then she leans heavily back with a pout. “We can leave, Massimo, thank you. “ I instruct and ignore her question. “Yes, Sir. “ The driver starts the car and the car quickly slips back to the busy streets of London. “So?” she asks, crossing her arms. “I didn’t feel like staying. “ I was hoping she forgot the question but here we are. “You haven’t been home in so long and you say “you didn’t feel like staying?” she exclaims. “That’s right. “ Anastasia gives me a pointed look but doesn’t continue asking. “I think your family is really cool, “ She keeps trying to start a conversation. “You don't know them. “ Despite my answer, she goes on. “And Conor seems like a real gentleman. His wife looked like a total bitch, thought.” That catches my attention and I look away from the window and the bright lights of the city ahead. “What did you say?” I try to
Dominic “Yes, that’s right. “ I tell Max. “Is this the same Violet Conor was in love with since high school?” “I... I have no idea. Maybe? Same name, I guess it’s the same woman.” I start glancing around the room for my cigarettes. I haven’t smoked for the entire evening, but I decide “fuck it,” “It must be her. But isn’t this the same one you dated?” Max goes on. “I mean, you went out with her a few times, but then Conor said he was in love with her so you dropped the whole thing. “ “We never dated. We just went out a few times. But yeah, maybe. “ “You don’t remember?” Max laughs, “Bro, you don’t just randomly date anyone. I am excluding the models like Anastasia you sleep with for a week or two. And you’re saying you don’t remember if that's the same, Violet?” “Maybe. “ I say and finally, spot my box of cigarettes. I pick up one and light it. I take a very deep inhale and Max argues. “What do you mean maybe?!” “All I am saying is this is in the past. She is married to
Violet I have a bad feeling about this. Contrary to my horror, most likely written on my face, Philip is smiling widely. Dominic - well, he is unreadable as always. “As you two know I am starting something new. “ Philip continues, “I’ve been planning for this for a while. “Philip turns to his son. “I asked you to come back home not just because of Grandfather. But also because I will need your help.” Then he turns to me. “And yours.”Dominic and I exchange a confused look. “I don’t…”I begin but Philip quickly says. “I am starting a new company. Dominic has proven to be capable of turning a small company into a huge, successful empire. On the other hand- you Violet have been doing a great job with your father’s smaller business... I know you're trying to make the company work. ““I…Yes, “I nod. “Great, “Philip opens his arms, “It’s decided. ““What do you mean it’s decided?”Dominic argues, “We haven’t decided anything. You said you’d needed me for a month or two. ““It… it
DominicShe is hesitating. I should not be doing this. I managed to spend the entire day not talking to her about anything that was not work-related. Violet should say no. “Okay, “She says, “I let the driver go for the night, and I don’t want to make him come all the way here. But only if I am not causing you trouble, or... “I get up and pick up my jacket. “Let’s go. “We are silent as we walk towards the elevator. I don't say anything, even though all I want is to press her towards the wall and kiss her. taste her. Feel her underneath me. I shake my head. Violet is married to my own brother. My hand closes in a fist in the pocket of my coat, instead of around her. We get in the car and I catch the faint scent of her perfume as she settles in the passenger seat. Violet is as pretty as I remember her, if not more. She has this natural, casual beauty that I’ve always liked. It was messy before. Untamed. She was more unaware of it. Now, she has learned how to carry herself, and
Violet I get in and pause before turning on the lights. Something’s off. I can’t say what, but I know it’s there. Then I notice the outline of his figure, sitting in the armchair, the window behind him. I instantly find the switch. Conor is sitting a few feet away from me, drinking. “Where were you?” He asks and I close the door carefully behind me - to give myself time to think of an answer. “Out. “ I say. “Out?” He growls the words. “With who?” “Since when is this sudden interest in how I spend my free time?” “Since you have become my wife. “ “ Oh, come on, Conor…” I let out a quiet protest slip my mouth. He grabs the glass and throws it. I almost jump in my spot. The crystal shatters and the hundreds of pieces fly with a clatter to the floor. My heart is picking up its pace, but I am not going to show him that I am scared. “I will give you one more chance to explain to me where you were. “ Conor says. “I went out after work. Why are you here?” “I have
Violet Dominic’s and my eyes meet. Then they travel to Anastasia, who is a pretty jewel, standing on his right side. All the men are looking at her. You see, there’s a difference between having me there, and her. Despite how I look, they will always see me as a competition. As someone, they have to outwork or outsmart. They will feel obliged to show me who has the upper hand, who is the dominant sex in the words of politics and economics. While Anastasia… Well, she is a beautiful creature they want to look at. I am sure they don’t even attempt to talk to her. Not so much because they can’t think of what to tell her - those men are some of the smartest people in the world, I am sure they can strike up a simple conversation with anyone, but there’s something else. The reason why they don’t talk to her is because they see no point in it. Because they have one aim - to sleep with her. Sex doesn’t involve too much talking. It often doesn’t even require you to respect the intelli
Violet“You kept staring at her!” Anastasia yells. I approach carefully and pause behind the corner. “What the hell are you talking about?”Dominic asks, voice even, which seems to drive her crazy. “You did! You kept looking at her! Do you think I didn’t notice? Everyone did. ““You are exaggerating. ““ ME? EXAGGERATING? And what was all this talking about art and shit? ““What?” “You heard me, “ she keeps yelling, “Since when do you care about this stuff?”“Always, “he says, his voice is still well-controlled. “I was just never able to talk to you about this. “AAA GGGHH!”Anastasia exclaims, then continues complaining. “What the hell is up to you?” she goes on , “It’s like you are an entirely different person since we came to this stupid place!”“I never asked you to come with me . “He says, lightly and - I assume- she kicks something. “I want to leave!”Anastasia yells “I don’t want to be here! I HATE this fuckign place. I HAVE everyone here, and their…. everything, I hat