18

Violet POV

''Vella Empire is hosting a dinner at Providence restaurant by seven with Frank Pris and his management at Plac. We are going to discuss the empire's new event coming very soon, we are going to host our first gala in Florence, Italy. Sax London and his company, Lange Corporations, Gary Chesterfield, the list goes on, everyone is going to be there...,'' said Jason.

He went on talking about the dress code, our flights, and how long we were going to stay in Florence.

The meeting was adjourned and everyone left the boardroom except for me and Jason.

''-- Will I be seeing you for the night?'' Jason asked.

''Yeah, why?''

''I can't ask?''

''Well, I mean the way you asked me, it seems like you're concern about something.''

''Not concerned at all,'' he smirked.

I scoffed. ''Yeah, right.''

He took a step closer and heaved a sigh. ''Don't fight this, you're not going to win.''

''Win what?'' I shot back.

''This tension between us, that kiss was amazing and you know it.''

''I have no idea what you're talking about.'' I walked my way around him and went to the door. He touched my arm and I flinched, feeling his smooth hands scanning all over my arms.

He spun me around and pressed me hard to his chest. ''I really hate that you're fighting it.''

''I really hate that you're making me fighting it.''

''I'm not doing anything.''

''Jason.''

''Violet.''

I pushed him away and crossed my arms. ''I should go. I'll see you at dinner.''

''Fine, I'll see you there,'' he responded.

-----

''There you go! Looking better than ever!'' Aubree said, spraying Mario Badescu's setting spray all over my face.

''Okay, let's add more Fenty Beauty gloss too.''

''A little too much Bre?'' I asked.

''No, no! You look amazing! See?'' She turns me around and made me take a look at myself in the mirror.

''See? So fucking beautiful. The dress, the makeup! Just imagine you walking down at a red carpet event, ah Violet Johnson, ah you're so amazing!"

''Oh my gosh, I can't with you sometimes,'' I giggled at her.

''I know.''

Abruptly, my phone vibrated uncontrollably from my alarm and it was time for me to go to dinner.

''Shit, I gotta go.''

''You sure you're okay? You know with your knee.''

''No, it's fine, honestly, I feel so much better in a weird way. I don't know how Jason did it, but he did.''

''I'm telling you, he is smitten over you.''

''No... no, he's not,'' I said, walking my way out of Aubree's apartment.

''Yes, he is Vi!'' She said in a singing tone.

''--Yeah, okay, bye!'' I laughed, closing the door.

-----

-----
''Ms.Johnson, right this way,'' said the host.

She guides me through, escorting me towards my reserved table. I sat down and thanked her after she hands me a menu.

I saw Jason standing next to Frank Pris laughing and taking a sip of his champagne. His eyes targeted at mine and I instantly looked away.

Slowly, looking back he still glanced at me, like I was his prey, waiting to devour me any second now. He grinned softly and I looked back to my menu.

I was sitting next to a few people I recognized from the company Plac. We were engaged with one another and shared a few interests we all had.

It was nice conversating, getting to know them and eating the meal that Providence had.

''--- Can I have your attention please?'' Frank said.

Everyone gathered their attention to him.

''I would want to start this dinner-meeting to announce you all about the gala that Mr.Jason and I are hosting.''

He went over about having this event in Italy, just like Jason did during the meeting. It was short and straight to the point but he really made us laugh throughout his speech.

As he came to his conclusion, everyone resumed back to their normal-socializing conversation. I got up from my seat and went to the near fountain to take a selfie, and call it a night.

I was adjusting, having a hard time getting an angle until I heard a peal of laughter around the corner.

''--Man you still haven't changed,'' a dark-voiced echoed.

I looked up and saw a tall Latin boy with a black suit and a purple tie, drawing his eyes to me like I was a trophy.

''Umm,'' I whispered.

He takes a step closer and smiled.

My eyes winded.

''Jack?'' I whispered.

''Hey, Vi,'' he smiled.

------

Jason POV

I took a sip of my champagne and gave Frank a handshake for this event. I went around to see where Violet was so I could talk to her about the kiss earlier today.

She was driving me crazy and I didn't know how to control myself.

Never my life I thought I was going to be hypnotized by a woman like Violet, but for some damn reason, I feel like I'm walking through the gates of heaven when I see her.

Walking by, I stopped near a fountain and caught Violet talking to a man outdoors. She was laughing hysterically and it placed me in a displeased mood.

I could feel my anger boiling through around my veins. I was jealous. So fucking jealous of that guy being with Violet.

She tucks a string of her curls behind her ear and laughed, taking a step closer to him.

''Fuck it,'' I said.

I burst through the double doors and caught them laughing hysterically. The laughter died down as soon as Violet turns her head to me.

''Jason?'' She asked.

''Violet,'' I replied with a fake smile.

''Uhh.. umm... this... this is my friend Jack, we went to Gulfview Highschool together.''

''--Marching band too,'' he adds himself to the conversation, smiling hard to me. He lends out his hand to me for a greeting and I denied with a nod.

''May I have a word with you, Violet?''

''Yeah, sure, okay. It was nice seeing you Jack, hope you and your wife have a safe trip back to Florida,'' she emphasized wife harshly and looked at me with anger through her eyes.

''Thanks, Violet, I will.''

She passed by me and sized me up and down, walking through the double doors.

I sighed and whispered ''Shit.''

----

DING

''I'm---''

''--SORRY?! DON'T EVEN!'' She barked.

''Violet, I couldn't help myself okay? You shouldn't even associate with other men like that--''

''Who the fuck do you think you are? My boyfriend?!"

Someday yes...

''No, but I'm your boss. You were off and wandering around when you knew that there's an important event going on-''

She scoffed. ''You're fucking insane! You're so controlling and act as the whole world revolves around you!''

DING

Four men and a woman came inside the elevator and gave us a small greeting. Violet and I were in the back as we both gave each other the death stare until we reached the second floor.

DING

The doors closed again and I pressed the On Hold button to halt the elevator from escalating up and down.

''Okay, listen to me, I admit what I did was wrong. But we need to talk about that kiss. Didn't you feel something? At all? Whatsoever?'' I asked her.

''No.''

''You're lying. You felt something.''

''How would you know if I felt something?''

I scoffed. ''What more proof do you want Violet?!"

''You really want to prove to me that I felt something when we kiss.''

''It seems like you need a wake-up call.''

''I don't need one.''

''Wanna bet?''

She sighed.

"Ever had sex in an elevator?" I asked.

She bit her lip, and whispered ''No.''

"Neither have I," he said as I whispered into her lips.