Chapter 7 The Date

Violet got home but could not speak to her father as she had planned because he was so happy that she was going on a date that it touched her. She did not know that her father was that desperate for her to have a social life apart from him.

'It is not a normal date, dad', she said, 'It's a business date'

'I know but at least you will go out and enjoy yourself', he said smiling at her, 'Make sure you look gorgeous'.

Violet always did without having to make much effort. She got her lovely looks from her mother who had pale gold hair like her and blue eyes, she got her pale colour from her dad as well as his height as did her twin Viola.

Violet had the shape that allowed whatever she put on look great on her and she had learnt a bit of sewing from a friend of hers, Jennifer while they were in college and the wife of his father's friend Susan Hermione with whom she stayed anytime her father travelled on duty calls also sewed and it did not take long for her to learn the designs and how to combine materials for her benefit.

She bought some of her clothes but she mostly sewed buying just the materials needed for it.

She went through her wardrobe and flipped through the clothes in it. She didn't know why she bothered but she knew that she had to look good so as to represent the company she worked for very well. After all, they were dinning with a very important client.

She finally saw what she was looking for, a tight fitting deep green gown with flowers of yellow that flared slightly around her knees. The gown left her arms bare with a v- shaped neck . She got out a pale gold handbag and shoes that were almost the same shade as her hair.

She had a shower, and took her time to dress up. She pulled up her hair in chignon and allowed some strands to fall at the sides.

After dressing, she looked at her reflection in the mirror and found like always that the yellow flecks enhanced her blue eyes making them look very luminous, she felt that she looked good enough for the date and looked into her bag to check if she took everything she needed to take notes like her boss had asked and found everything in order. She pinned up the purse and as she did, she heard a car drive up to the door.

'That must be Mr. Douglas', she said to herself.

She walked slowly to the door as her father open the door to her boss and they greeted in a friendly manner.

When she came to the door, both men looked up and one smiled in appreciation while the other kept looking at her as though he could not take his eyes off her and an emotion flipped through his features that might have been admiration, she was not sure because it was gone before she could decipher it.

'Isn't she looking lovely?' Jeremy asked Damien.

'Yes, she is', he agreed. But Violet could have vowed that he sounded disinterested. As though he agreed because he had no choice but to do that.

Violet found that she was getting annoyed but calmed herself with the thought that she couldn't care less what he thought of her.

'Shall we?' Damien asked, pointing towards the door, he had already opened for her.

She had stopped mid stride but continued towards the door.

'Of course', she said.

'After you', he said giving her a smile that did not reach his eyes and Violet walked pass him impatiently. She was tired of his arrogance.

They drove to an expensive hotel where he had already reserved a table for them.

They sat for a while before their guest arrived and Violet was shocked to find that Mr. Steve Robins was actually a young man. He was far younger than she had envisaged and he seemed not to be able to take his eyes off her.

'Mr. Robins, this is my secretary Miss Violet Johnson', Damien said as he introduced them after a warm handshake with the man. 'Miss Johnson, he is the owner of Stay Well Pharmacy'.

'Good evening, Mr. Robins, you are welcome', she smiled politely.

'Thank you beautiful and please you can call me Steve, that's my first name'. he said still looking at her as though spellbound.

'I couldn't possibly....'

'I know it's a formal occasion but I shall be happy if you'd obliged me'.

'Only if you call me Violet', she said smiling more warmly this time.

He found that he kept looking at her and when she looked at her boss, he was looking at her as well but with a darker expression.

Steve made her join in their conversations and made her laugh. She found that her boss looked unhappy about it and wondered why. He had asked her to make sure she behaved well so that they could get the contract and thankfully, the client seemed impressed with her and Damien was not happy? The man was incorrigible.

She was not going to allow Damien spoil the date for her. She admitted that she had been reluctant to come on this date but now that she was here and with pleasing company, she was not going to allow Mr. Grumpy to spoil it for her.

Damien discussed the goods and the modalities involved in the supplies and Steve asked alot of questions and finally agreed and some documents were signed. She looked at Steve with a smile which he reciprocated.

Mr. Grumpy should be happy now and turn back to being Mr. Arrogant, Violet thought looking at her boss and found him looking at her with a concentrated frown etched on his face.

They opened champagne and drank to the success of the date and Steve Robins took that opportunity to give Violet his credit card .

' Call me. I will like to see you again', he said with a disarming smile and Violet nodded after stealing a quick glance at her boss.

Afterwards, they stood to leave and Steve stretched his hands to shake both her boss and her.

'It's a pleasure meeting you', she said.

'Oh no, the pleasure is all mine', he said looking intently into her eyes.

Violet was flattered but found his attentions a little too intense. After all they had just met and she did not want to have any relationship yet but she couldn't possibly tell him that in front of her boss .

'I am expecting your call', he told her with a wink.

Oh she would definitely call him but it was not going to be for the reason he thought. She was going to tell him that she was not interested in going out with him.

The drive home had been a silent affair and after Damien dropped her in front of her house, he reversed the car and drove off with a cut, 'Good night', without giving her time to reply.

Her father was already fast asleep. She tiptoed to her room and fell into the bed after kicking off her high heels.She was very tired. Being around Damien was really very tasking.