Whispers Of The Past

Chapter 2:The Familiar Encounter

Violet turned around, and her eyes made contact with the greenest pair of eyes she had ever seen. Her breath caught, and their eyes held for a short moment that felt like a lifetime. She immediately needed to go inside and catch her breath or hide.

Violet couldn’t deny the feeling of familiarity that she felt while she stared at his face. She needed to hide. She felt like those eyes had seen through her and pulled away the embroidery of success that she used to hide all her pain and shame. He had seen through her secrets.

His eyes wandered around the room again, stopping momentarily on Violet before continuing to survey the space.

He finally spoke, his voice smooth as silk yet carrying an undeniable authority.

"Forgive the intrusion, but I couldn't resist the urge to see the woman behind the VH couture in person," he said with an outstretched hand for a handshake.

Violet stared into his eyes without saying a word; she wanted to speak, but her mouth didn't seem to open. There was something alluring about him.

“Vi, Vi, Violet…” Kamara called her name and tapped her hands to bring her back to the present.

“You are Violet Harper?” A blonde skinny girl materialized from behind the imposing but devastatingly handsome man and walked towards Violet.

“Pamela Trinket,” she brought her hands for a shake. Violet took it and forced a smile.

“And this is Mark Calvin,” Pamela said, hooking her arms with Mark's.

“It’s my pleasure to have you,” Violet answered after a sharp intake of breath.

“Welcome to VH couture where all your fashion dreams will be fulfilled,” the words rolled off Violet’s tongue thanks to years of practice.

It was those eyes again. She couldn’t stop herself from looking into them, and this time she saw a small smile form on his lips as he extended his hand towards her. His hands were strong and firm, yet soft and clean. Such long fingers and those nails, a man who took manicure seriously was scarce…

“What the hell is wrong with me? Why am I still holding his hands and staring? Did she just say that her last name was Trinket? Whoa. f*****g old bastard money,” she said in her thoughts while still staring at Mark.

“And Mark Calvin? She knew that name from somewhere. Oh, yeah! Forbes had named an under forty billionaire along with a picture, calling him New York's most eligible bachelor. What! They are in my office, while I live and breathe?” Violet's thoughts echoed in her head.

“A billionaire and bourgeoisie wanted her service, and I'm admiring the man's fingers,” she said in her thoughts still trying to compose herself.

Violet cleared her throat and started,

“Emery, you will attend to them,” she stopped talking as she saw that almost all her staff were paused in their various duties staring.

The purple material had left Emery's hands, and her mouth was agape as she looked at Mark and Pamela.

Obviously, the name had affected everyone. Kamara was tapping away at her iPad and talking in a desultory fashion as she led the couple to seat in the VIP lounge.

“Welcome to VH couture, Miss Trinket and Mr. Calvin,” Kamara made a small bow as she extended her free hand, showing them the way to the VIP section.

“I am Kamara, Violet's intern. I would create a profile for you while Emery would listen to all your needs and ideas. She's the best designer here, and she’s a psychology branding specialist,” Kamara said.

“Mmhmm, now that's a very cool-sounding qualification, but I would love my business handled by Violet Harper herself,” Pamela answered as she took a quiet sip of water, sat back into the sofa, and crossed her legs.

“Err…alright, miss…ex…excuse me,” Kamara stammered.

“Hope you won’t mind waiting for a while? Violet has a fitting appointment with Shoshana in thirty minutes' time, and she's putting everything in place. Emery could start you up with listening to your needs while Violet would join you when she's done,” Kamara implored to Pamela.

“Excuse me, so I have to wait?” Pamela emphasized the “I” and pointed a red long fingernail at herself.

“Do you think I'm jobless?” Pamela asked, her voice high-pitched and whiny.

“I’m sorry, miss…I will get her immediately,” Kamara said and fled the lounge in search of Violet. She passed Emery on her way and told her to wait a bit.

“So she's a snotty ass b***h and thinks I can't serve?” Emery asked, towering over Kamara and raising one bushy eyebrow.

“Shhhhh,” Kamara raised her index finger to her lips with a pleading look all over her face.

Kamara didn’t know about the conduct of the elite who thought everyone was beneath them. She will learn soon, Emery thought as she looked over the scrawny but promising intern.

“Alright, revert back to Violet, but I‘ll be waiting. I want to hear whatever is in that blondie's head,” Emery told Kamara.

She found Violet scanning fabrics fitted on various mannequins that had Shoshana's shape and a similar skin tone. Pamela would have to use the dolls in the next room. She made a mental note to make sure that white size two mannequins were available immediately she settled this slight issue.

“Miss Pamela, I promise you that Emery is my best staff. She’s excellent at the job, and she even clerked for Shoshana. Shoshana will be here in no time, and I have to attend to her myself,” Violet said in a tone that managed to be both beseeching and formal.

“Wait,” Pamela sat up on her seat.

“Do you mean Shoshana, the actress, Jordan's girlfriend?” Pamela added in excitement.

“Yes ma'am. The one and only,” Violet tried to hide the pride in her voice.

Serves this one right; at least she would know that bigger deals than her trusted her. Even though it was just one big star. Thank you, Shoshana.

“Great. Wait till I tell the girls that I am touching what Shoshana has touched,” Pamela said excitedly.

“That’s some bragging weapon, right?” Mark asked.

His voice was rich and poured over Violet's ears like honey and cream. He looked at Violet as he spoke.

“What a terrific hair color he was thinking; could it be natural? The woman definitely has great style. And that body. She knew how to adorn those curves of hers. You couldn’t ignore how lush her body was. She was beautiful in a way that made his heart skip in a scary but curious manner.

“Oh, It’s a bragging weapon, Mark. You know me,” Pamela answered.

“Of course, I know. Now I would never hear the end of this,” Mark said.

“Oh, Shoshana has got nothing on me. Oh, we use the same designer… ah ah ah,” Mark laughed and mimicked Pamela's whiny voice with a melodramatic falsetto voice.

Violet couldn’t help but laugh. It was funny to see the muscled all-serious man mimic Pamela.

Mark found himself staring at her as she laughed, and suddenly, he was thinking of ways to make her continue laughing. He wanted to run his hand through her gorgeous brown hair. An intense look transpired between them.

Pamela watched the both of them. She was getting furious; she didn’t understand what was going on.

While Violet was still staring, Pamela's lips touched Mark's lips and immediately engulfed his in a deep kiss.

Violet stopped laughing immediately. She felt a pang of jealousy course through her.

Pamela withdrew her lips from Mark's.

“That was intense,” she chuckled as she smiled at Mark. She used her index fingers to massage Mark's lips.

Pamela turned to meet the awe-struck Violet. The acrimony from Pamela's gaze poured over Violet's skin like fire.

“Let me reintroduce Mark,” Pamela said with emphasis on “RE”.

“Mark is my fiancé,” Pamela said as she stretched her hands towards Violet, flickering her fingers in order to show off her diamond ring.