Page 42 of Heart of The Night

‘We went for dinner at a place called Fusion near Chinatown, then hit the minigolf course.’

‘That sounds fantastic,’ she said, her eyes brightening.

‘It was.’ My smile right then likely revealed more than my words. ‘I lost at minigolf, though. Bruised my ego a bit.’

She chuckled. ‘I love a bit of competition. Especially in sports.’

‘Me too,’ I admitted. ‘Have you played any sports?’

‘Tennis for the most part. I still play, actually.’

‘Really? Have you played for a long time?’

‘Pretty much my whole life. My grandfather was an instructor, so he used to coach me after work when I was a kid.’

Smiling at the charming mental image, I said, ‘How sweet. Does your sister play as well?’ I vaguely remembered she had a younger sister, Camilla.

‘She used to, but gave it up after we moved to England about twenty years ago.’

‘You’re not originally from England?’ This was news to me.

Shaking her head, she replied, ‘My dad’s English, Mum’s Spanish. They met when he was working in Madrid. Later, we all moved here.’

Intrigued, I asked, ‘What does your dad do?’

‘Back then, he worked in the finance sector. Now he’s a professor of economics.’

‘Wow,’ I said, eyebrows raised. ‘And your mum?’

Her brown eyes twinkled with amusement. ‘She’s a corporate lawyer. It’s how they met.’

I chuckled, shaking my head. ‘So she’s your inspiration, then.’

‘Absolutely,’ she said, her voice filled with pride. ‘But they both are, really. What about you?’

A back and forth began as we stepped out of the lift and made our way to the canteen. Details about Violet’s life flowed freely, painting a vivid picture of a woman who had been moulded by diverse experiences, and I found myself thoroughly enjoying her company. What struck me most was her genuine kindness, her sincere interest in my life and the palpable lack of resentment or pettiness.

She’d once had a physical relationship with William, a fact I couldn’t help but remember as we lunched together. Yet, even in the light of that history, there was no bitterness or envy marring our connection. Instead, she seemed genuinely happy for William and me, something I found incredibly refreshing. Her attitude defied the clichés and stereotypes one might expect in such circumstances. Indeed, Violet was entirely enchanting. The more we interacted, the more I found myself admiring her, both as a role model and as a friend.

§ § §

At the stroke of five, I found myself rapping lightly on William’s office door.

‘Come in,’ he called.

Turning the handle, I pushed the door ajar. Peering in, I was met with the sight of William, sitting in his desk chair amidst a sea of documents. They were strewn about the floor around him, a testament to the intensity of his work.

My goodness.

I took in the chaos for a brief moment, then shifted my gaze to William’s. The sight nearly stopped my heart. He was completely run-down, his face unnaturally pale, and the heavy bags under his eyes spoke of utter exhaustion.

‘It’s five on the dot. You made it,’ I said, hoping to lift his spirits. ‘Now you can finally get some sleep, guilt-free.’ Shutting the door behind me, I crossed the room.

He threw his head back with a weary groan, spreading his arms wide. ‘Come here, you.’

A rush of warmth filled me at his affectionate command. He made it sound like my presence was his only solace. Flushing, I approached until I was right in front of him. The playful raise of his eyebrow told me he wanted me closer.

‘Nearly there, love,’ he said and reached out, pulling me toward him with such vigour that I ended up sitting astride him. His strong arms enveloped me, nose burying in my hair.

---