Soft Steel

CHAPTER THREE

Violet

Tell me again why I accepted to go on a date with a guy who I already knew was a jerk? Oh yeah, because Harold Hunt was an ass but he was rich and the son of my father's boss and had intimated me not quite subtly that he had power over my Dad's job. So, here I was, dressed beautifully because I loved dressing up, not because I was dressing up for him since he was a jerk; having dinner with that jerk that I wasn't enjoying because I didn't wish for my Dad to lose his job and I was already at the end of my rope.

"This steak isn't rare, it is fully cooked. I asked for rare cooked steak."

"I am sorry for the misunderstanding, sir. I guess I didn't get your order clearly." I glanced at the waiter and felt sorry for him. There was no misunderstanding. He had asked for steak but hadn't answered the waiter's question of which and had yelled at the poor guy when he had pushed.

"Your apology means nothing to me. Just get the order straight." The waiter nodded.

"Is there any other thing you would like to add or change?" The waiter asked but Harold waved him off rudely. The waiter turned to me but I shook my head softly in the negative. He bowed and left.

"Useless and incompetent. I wonder where they get people like them from." Harold mumbled. I bit my tongue to hold in my words. I was in a very fancy restaurant, about to eat a fancy meal but I couldn't summon any excitement.

"He apologized, Harold."

"People like that are not fit to do anything because their ears are just for decoration." He kept on talking like I hadn't said anything. "For such a fine establishment you would think the waiters had common sense and decorum. No! Just animals!" He said, finishing his tirade. I sat back in my seat and watched him. He busied himself with pulling his cuffs and arranging his tie while I just stared. Finally, he raised his grey eyes and looked at me.

"You've been awfully quiet, Violet. If I wanted quietness, I would have brought a piece of furniture."

"Jonah apologized but he didn't have to because you did not tell him you wanted rare cooked steak." I said quietly, still looking at him. His eyes turned mean like Greg's used to and I stiffened in my seat.

"You know his name?"

"He introduced himself the minute he came to our table. I serve people every day, I am name-friendly." He clenched his teeth tightly and turned away. Okay, I was so done with this date.

"I can do what I wish to do, Violet. I am higher than people like him."

"You mean people like me, right? Because in case you do not know, I wait tables too." His eyes flickered me up and down.

"Maybe, but you, you have assets that can attract people in my class." He licked his lips. If it was meant to be seductive, it failed. It was disgusting. He wasn't wrong though. I had assets -frontside and backside, I was blessed with both. Curves that made men stare, I had. A beautiful face and think long hair.

I refused to give him an answer, just turned my face to look around the restaurant. It was packed. The exterior was classy, the interior was swanky, and the menu was overpriced but delicious.

"Here's your order, sir. Rare cooked steak and for you ma'am, spaghetti with Alfredo sauce." Jonah said, serving our meal. I smiled at him as I looked at my food. It looked good enough to eat.

"Spaghetti with Alfredo sauce? Where is the salad?" Harold asked and my eyes narrowed.

"Who will the salad be for, Harold?" I asked back.

"For you, of course. When you are with me, you eat salad. I don't want a fat lady by my side." Yep, I was so done with this date.

"I pick what I eat, Harold. You don't do that for me." I said quietly. Jonah stood, looking uncomfortable.

"You are with me, I am paying for the meal. You eat what I say you eat." I smiled tightly and picked up my clutch from the table. Jonah saw I was about to rise so he pulled my seat back.

"Thank you, Jonah. That's very gentlemanly of you." I appreciated, giving him a soft smile. Then I turned to Harold.

"Right. In case you don't get what is going on, let me spell it out for you. I have enough self-worth to know when to walk out from a man when he is being an ass." His eyes flared in annoyance.

"I made a mistake, forgive me. A man is one who is self-confident in himself yet aware of others. He isn't a rude, arrogant, childish guy who feels because he has money, people are trash to him."

"You are making a mistake, Violet." The quiet way he said it sent shivers up my spine but I straightened and my mouth kept talking.

"I made the mistake of accepting to go on this...whatever this is with you. I am not making the mistake of staying till the end, seeing as it has been less than 30 minutes since we came and you have insulted Jonah who is a nice guy and you have insulted me." I took a deep breath and looked him straight in the eyes.

"Goodbye Harold." Jonah stepped out of the way for me to pass.

"Bye Jonah. Thank you for the service." He gave me a small smile and I walked out of the restaurant. Outside, I took a deep breath. What did I just do? I had a temper, and I had a big mouth. Both were not always good. Shaking myself, I looked around and took a step forward but my arm was grabbed and I was forcefully dragged back to face an angry-faced Harold. This was not good.

"How dare you? Do you know who I am?" Harold yelled in my face.

"Harold, let go of my arm. You are hurting me." I said quietly. His response was to curl his other hand around my free arm and pull me closer.

"You embarrassed me in front of a waiter, Violet. That is not something I will let fly." His face was turning purple in anger. I swallowed hard but felt my anger starting to rise.

"Harold, you insulted me. Now let go of me!" I retorted.

"I will deal with you, Violet. You will wish you never crossed me." His hold got tighter and I winced. "I will ruin your family and you will learn the difference between I and you. I have money, wealth, and power. You have nothing! You are nothing!" His threats sent equal amounts of fear and anger to my heart.

"Harold, let go of me!" I yelled, trying to pull free

"I believe the lady said to let go." This came from my right and I turned to see who it was. His brilliant jade eyes glinted with anger as I looked into the familiar face of Marcus Grant.

"Stay away from this." Harold snarled not even looking at who it was. Marcus walked briskly to my side and the minute Harold saw his face, he jerked back.

"Harold Hunt? Hurting a lady? Why am I not surprised?" Marcus said, his voice hard. Harold sneered and looked at me.

"I will ruin you, Violet!" And with that, turned around and went back into the restaurant.

"Are you okay?" Marcus asked, his eyes roaming around my face and body, searching for? Injury? At the open concern in his eyes, I felt tears well up in my eyes and run down my cheek.