A romantic was the last thing I’d ever describe myself as being, but that’s what Violet King was doing to me. She was changing me into a man who took Saturday nights off and danced in a park.
“Holy crap. Bentley and Bugatti have stores on this street?” Violet asked as we walked by the glass fronts of the showrooms on Bruton Street. “How fancy is this place we’re going?”
“Not very. But the food’s good and you love Chinese.”
“I do,” she said as we grinned at each other.
“Alex,” a man called from up ahead.
I looked up to find Lance and his wife coming toward us. Violet followed my gaze and tugged on my hand when she saw who was coming. I didn’t release her. There was no point—they’d seen us.
“Flavia, this is Violet King,” Lance said, introducing his wife. “And you know Alex.”
After introductions and the obligatory cheek kisses, Lance said, “I’m so very delighted to run into you two like this. You’ve been very discreet. I had no idea about the two of you, although I might have wished it to be true.” He turned to his wife. “Violet is the first person I’ve ever seen who was able to sort out Alex’s billing. And now she’s apparently persuaded him to take a Saturday night off. I’m surrounded by miracles every day.”
“It was my idea. Violet doesn’t need to persuade me to take her to dinner.” From our earlier conversation, I suspected Violet wouldn’t like the idea that I was spending the evening with her because she’d persuaded me to.
“Even better,” he said. “I’m delighted for you both.” He gripped my shoulder. “Look after her.”
“Yes, sir.”
“We’ll let you get on with your evening. We’re just off to the fish place around the corner,” Lance said.
We said our goodbyes and headed into the restaurant. “You okay?” I asked.
“I guess. I’m glad he was cool about it, but I wish we hadn’t run into them. I hope he doesn’t tell Craig.”
“He won’t, but I can ask him not to if it will ease your concerns. But Craig wouldn’t object.”
“I just don’t want the dynamic to alter.”
I squeezed her hand. “No problem. I’ll ensure Lance doesn’t mention it.”
I gave my name to the hostess and we were shown to our table.
“Let’s just forget about it and enjoy our evening,” she said. “Will you order for me? I have no idea what I want.”
I chuckled. “Of course.” I scanned down the menu. “Then you can tell me all about Columbia. Have you thought any more about it?”
“Nothing to talk about, really. I have to take the GMAT first, then see if I get in.” I glanced up and she looked away, as if she hoped the conversation would change course before she looked back.
The waiter came over and I ordered for us as Violet scanned the dim restaurant. “This is fancy, Alexander.”
“You’re far fancier than this place. Your sister’s a duchess.”
She rolled her eyes. “Hardly. And anyway, I’m not my sister. I’m a waitress from Connecticut no matter what my brother and sister do. No matter my degree.”
“And you’re a very clever woman who’s wearing that dress like a catwalk model.” I reached for her hand across the table. “I don’t see much waitressing in your future; especially if you’re at Columbia.”
“I have no idea what’s going to happen. You know me, I don’t like to plan.”
I was going to have to press her on the subject of Columbia. She clearly wasn’t going to volunteer information. I wasn’t sure if she was really worried that she wouldn’t get in or whether she just didn’t want to talk to me about it.
I turned her hand over and swept my thumb across her palm. “Yes, I do know you, and I believe you’re thinking about what’s next, however much you want to deny it.” I wanted to talk about this with her, discuss what she wanted to do, where she wanted to live. I needed to know if she saw me in her future. The more time I spent with Violet, the more I craved. My relationship with Gabby had felt as if it were stuck onto the side of my life like a cheap fridge magnet bought on holiday. Violet was fast becoming an integral part of my life in a way I never imagined a woman could be. I found myself asking her opinion of the morning’s breaking news or wanting to hear more about her growing up in Connecticut. She never asked me to, but I checked in with her during the day when I hadn’t seen her. I missed her scent and her smile when she wasn’t around. She grounded me the way work usually did, but fulfilled me in a way it never had. I wasn’t ready for her to go back to New York, and I wasn’t sure I ever would be.
She bit the inside of her cheek. “I just thought I’d take the entrance exam and go from there. If I don’t score high enough, that will make the decision for me.”
“Violet, you’re going to ace it. You’re one of the cleverest people I know.”
She glanced down at our joined hands. “Maybe. But you’re right. I have been thinking about my future and what I want to do. This job, being in London, away from my old life—it’s all given me room to breathe and consider things.” She shook her head. “I can’t go back to waiting tables. I was a shitty waitress at the best of times, and I don’t want to live my life in reaction to some douchebag I dated in college, however much I thought I loved him at the time. Our business was my idea. I put together the majority of the business plan.”
“It doesn’t surprise me. You’re very talented.”
“And I’ve enjoyed working in chambers, but I think I could do more.”
“I completely agree with you.” She was far too clever for the clerical work she was doing in chambers.
“You do?” She looked confused.
“Of course I do.”
“You don’t think I’m too old to go back to school?”
I frowned. “If we’re not learning every day, then we’re doing something wrong. It’s part of the reason I love my job so much. I’m constantly learning.”
The waiter arrived with our food, and we held each other’s gaze as he set down our plates.
“I think I’d like to set up my own business.” She exhaled as if she’d just rid herself of the most tremendous burden. “At the moment, I’m thinking consulting. But maybe it’s something else. I don’t know, but I can’t waitress again. If I can get my MBA then maybe I can figure out more what I want to do. I have my whole life to seize. Not just the day.”
As I listened to her, I realized I wanted to support her however I could. She deserved a bright future, and however much I would miss her, if she wanted to go to Columbia and discover what her future was, then I’d whistle and cheer loudly from the sidelines. But was there a way she could chase after her future and be with me? Would she even want to?
“I think you’ll be brilliant at whatever you decide to do.”
“Just not waitressing.” She grinned.
“Maybe not.”
“You think Craig will write me a reference?”
“Absolutely.” I nodded. “So you’re thinking of applying for a general MBA at Columbia.”