Part 3 (1/2)
Sighing, I lean back in my chair, wondering if I can confide in Violet and know that she won't run off and tell our father. ”I don't know. It's just ... it's been hard, not having you around at Fleur.”
Violet's expression is one of immediate guilt and her hand drops from her ear, landing with a thud on top of her desk. ”I probably should've never left.”
”No, no. I'm not saying that.” Reaching out, I set my hand over hers. ”You definitely should've come here. Look at how great you and Ryder are doing. It's amazing, our gains within the UK market. Daddy's so proud of you.”
Violet grimaces. She hates when I call him Daddy. Their relations.h.i.+p is strained at best. Funny, considering how much praise he heaps on her. ”So why is it so difficult without me there?”
”Pilar.” I practically spit her name out. The way Violet's eyes darken, the sudden scowl on her face, I know I've touched a nerve. Doesn't help that the love of her life used to sleep with Pilar. Ick. ”Daddy's going to promote her.”
”Promote her into what position?” Violet appears outraged, which I love. That's exactly the reaction I'm looking for. I want a partner in my anger. I've felt too alone for far too long.
I shrug. Does it really matter? She's getting exactly what she wants because our father is so twisted up over her. ”Not sure yet. Rumors are circulating and I'm fairly certain she's behind them. Daddy's not denying it, either.”
”So you don't know for sure yet-”
”Come on,” I interrupt her. ”You know he'll promote her. He's completely enamored of her. She can do no wrong.”
”Well, she's always been good at her job,” Violet points out.
”Don't defend her!” I slap my hand against the edge of the desk, startling Violet so much she practically jumps in her seat. ”She doesn't deserve it. She's a snake in the gra.s.s and you know it. She tried to destroy your relations.h.i.+p with Ryder-more than once, I might add. She helped break you and Zachary up, not that that was a bad thing, but you know what I mean. She's ... h.e.l.l-bent on getting whatever she wants and she doesn't care who gets hurt in the process.”
Violet leans back in her chair, her lips a thin line, her fingers nervously turning her diamond earring again and again. ”You don't have to yell at me,” she murmurs.
”And you don't have to say such nice things about her, either.” I make a face, my tone going snotty. ”'Oh, she's so wonderful at her job. She's perfect.' Barf.” I roll my eyes. Only with Violet can I be so real, so open with my feelings. No way could I act like this with anyone else.
At least my sister has Ryder. He sees the real Violet, just like I do. He probably sees even more of her true self and no matter how much I try to tell myself it's ridiculous, that little fact makes me jealous.
Stupid but true.
”Tell me how you really feel about her,” Violet says dryly.
”No, you tell me how you really feel about her,” I retort, wanting to know. Needing to know. ”And be honest, Violet.”
Sighing, Violet closes her eyes briefly, dropping both of her hands into her lap. ”Fine. You're right. She's awful. She'll be sweet to your face and connive behind your back. She'll do whatever it takes to get what she wants. I hate the connection Ryder has to her, but there's nothing I can do about it.”
”You don't think ...” My voice trails off and I can hardly get out my next words. My sister has dealt with enough c.r.a.p in her life. All I want is for her to be happy. ”He's not still interested in her, is he?”
”Oh my G.o.d, no. He's not interested in anyone else but me,” Violet says firmly, that dreamy glow back in her eyes, the one she always gets when she talks about Ryder. ”He's in love with me. I know she can't stand that, but there's nothing she can do to change it. We're engaged. We're getting married.”
A smile curls my lips despite the unpleasant source of this conversation. ”I'm so happy for you, Violet. Seriously. You're going to get married.”
”I know. To Ryder.” Her smile is dreamy too. It matches the look in her eyes. ”I still can't believe he's mine. I don't think Pilar can believe it either, though why she's worried about him when she's involved with our father, I'll never get.”
I wave my hand. ”Let's stop talking about her. I can't stand it anymore.” My mind races to change the subject, but Violet beats me.
”So what's going on with you?” she asks quietly. ”I feel like there's more you're not saying.”
Dipping my head, I stare at my hands as I grip my knees. I don't know what to tell her. I'm torn. ”I'm unhappy at Fleur.”
”Because of Pilar.”
”Because of a lot of things, not just Pilar.” Things I can't even really name, but my unhappiness is there. A living, breathing thing I can't avoid. Seeing Pilar's smug face every day as she walks by my office, hanging on Daddy's arm, just fuels my misery. I swear she knows it, too, which sucks. She makes me feel young. Stupid. Impotent in my authority at Fleur, if I even have any. My position there is superfluous at best. The only reason I have it is because my last name is Fowler, and Pilar never lets me forget it. I thought after Violet left that could be my moment to break out and s.h.i.+ne, but Pilar took over the spotlight instead. ”I need a break.”
”Oh, Rose.” I jerk my head up to meet her gaze, seeing the disappointment etched all over her face. ”Don't let her drive you away. Fleur is yours, not hers. It's ours. Pilar is just jealous that she's not a Fowler.”
Spot-on as usual. ”It would be really easy for her to become a Fowler by marrying Daddy,” I say.
Violet's eyes widen and she rests her fluttering hand over her chest. ”You don't think he would ... he would do that, do you?”
”I don't know what to think about him anymore.” Or our mother. I still haven't told Violet what I discovered in the diary. Her last entries were vague, but I read enough to figure out what she was thinking just before she took her own life.
And it's not good.
”They haven't been dating long.”
”Long enough for her to be staying the night most of the week at his place.”
Violet scowls. ”He won't marry her.”
”You don't know that for sure.” I cross my arms in front of my chest, feeling like a spoiled little girl. I swear sometimes I revert back to my childish ways when I'm with Violet. Really it's just the both of us falling back into our respective roles.
”You know what you need? A change of scenery.” She points her index finger at me, her gaze narrowed. ”Come work with us for a few weeks.”
I'm incredulous at her suggestion. ”Here? In London?”
”Yes, I know ... I know it's sort of last minute, but I would love to have you here. For two weeks, a month, what do you think? I'll call Father and let him know you want to stay here for a while. I'm sure he'll be on board.”
Hope rises within me and I try to squash it down. ”Do you really think he will be? And are you sure you want me here with you?”
”I miss you too, you know,” she admits softly. ”Ryder and I don't plan on leaving London anytime soon, so it would be great to have you here. I could show you around the city, we could go shopping.”
I start to laugh. ”I thought you wanted me here to work.”
”Well, we can call it that.” Violet shrugs. ”And you'll come into the office and work when you want, no pressure. We can also go visit the Paris office if you want. Oh, Rose. You should stay here. I know Father will approve. He wanted this for me, to spread my wings and work at other Fleur locations. I know he'll want the same for you.”
I'm not so sure about that, but I don't want to argue with Violet. Besides, I love her idea. I want to take her up on her offer. ”But what about Ryder?”
She frowns. ”What about him?”
”Will he want me around, staying at your place? I'm sure he'd prefer privacy.”
Violet actually blushes. I'm sure their s.e.x life is off the charts, not that I want to think about it. But with a handsome man like Ryder, who fairly vibrates with all that pent-up s.e.xual edginess, I can only imagine what he must do for Violet. To Violet.
Jealous again.