Page 19 of Be-Leaf in Love

“He has far more of a right to be there than I do.”

Jack is silent for a moment. “Wait, what makes you say that? The changes you’re making are great. I saw you chatting with the staff – they clearly love you.”

“Not all of them. A few were staring at me as if I had three heads.”

“Who?” There’s an edge to his voice.

“It’s not important. The people trying to work. Or talk on the phone. I’m a distraction.” I can’t hold back my heavy sigh. “Jack, I’m really not the type to be molded into a corporate…” I hesitate. “Girlfriend, or whatever. It’s not my thing. I certainly wouldn’t be able to do a good job for you.”

“Violet, I don’t want you to do any kind of job. I just want you to be with me. And I want to be with you.”

There’s a strange feeling swirling around in the pit of my stomach. Not anger. More like…hopelessness. I’m afraid to look around the room, in case my sisters are listening.

“We never stood a chance, Jack. It’s okay.” I fake a light laugh. “Did you know it can take up to a decade for the corpse flower to bloom, and then it only lasts for one to two days?”

“That’s a shame.”

“That’s nature. Some things are short-lived. Everything has a life cycle.”

“I refuse to believe that our relationship is over just because my father is an insufferable jerk.”

“Look, sometimes you do everything right and the plant still dies.” I hunch down in my chair, hoping he doesn’t hear my slight sniffle as I try not to tear up. “Sometimes the root system isn’t strong enough to handle rough conditions. Your job – running an entire company – involvesreallyrough conditions. Like the approval of your staff and your father, whom you still probably need?—”

“I most certainly do not.” It’s the first time I’ve ever heard true anger in his voice. “He’s not permitted in the office again without my say-so. If you want him banned from the building entirely, I will do that, no problem.”

“You don’t need to do that.” I hope he can’t hear my breathless sigh. “He’s family. And he’sright. What if there was some sort of important client dinner? You can’t bring some girl with flowery bracelets who can’t even discuss global investments intelligently.”

There’s a faint growl. “I will buy you even more floral bangles. And jungle dresses. I’ve never considered bringing a date to a work function, but if you want to go, I will invite you to every single one.”

“Please.” My voice is about to give out. “Your father glared at me like I wasnothing. Mark, too. A few others seemedconfused as to why on Earth someone like me was even there.” My disappointment feels like ice water running down my spine. “I’m tired, Jack. I’m going to sleep early, okay? We’ll talk in a few days about when to install the green wall. If you still want it, that is.”

“Of course I do. Rest well, baby. I’ll be thinking of you.”

Jack ends the call quickly, thank goodness. He always seems to know what I need.

My head is spinning. I work with plants every day. Some of them are incredibly fussy, and never want to take hold properly. If that sort of fussiness is in our relationship at the very beginning…ugh.

Jack might be irritated by his father, but family comes first. Always. Everyone knows that, especially when it looks like his business depends on it.

Better that we end things now before I get too attached, like a pothos climbing up a moss pole.

Before I’m too deeply rooted.

14

JACK

After a lousy, fitful sleep, I give up and hit the gym early. It’s the only way to get rid of the pent-up tension.

I start with a particularly brutal round of weightlifting, then hit the treadmill at a good clip. There are only two other people in the entire place, and thankfully neither one has turned on the TV, so I just stare out the window at the murky clouds gathering.

How the hell did Dad just happen to pop by the office when Violet was there? It’s been bugging me all night. He hardly ever drops by, because I berate him whenever he does so for never making an appointment.

Yet there he was, within twenty minutes of Violet stopping by, telling me to end things with her.

Which I’m never going to do. Obviously. I’d give up my company first. That’s completely overdramatic, but it’s genuinely how I feel.

Could any of my employees have a problem with Violet, or the way she’s been brightening up the space? I ramp the treadmill speed down to a slow walk, still staring out at the thick,ominous clouds. Violet mentioned Mark glaring at her. I don’t like that one bit.

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