Wild Violet (The Vi Trilogy of The Gilded Flower Series Book 1) (10 page)

“Happy New Year!” Todd greets Vi when she enters the bar.

She grimaces.

“Cold enough for you?” Todd asks.

Vi shakes the snow off her jacket before perching on the barstool. “I absolutely detest winter. I can’t believe we have another three months of this.”

He smiles as he pours her usual, Grey Goose on the rocks.

“Where are our Broadway stars tonight?” She asks, nodding toward two empty stools on the other side of the bar.

Todd shrugs. “Probably didn’t want to come out in this storm. Which begs the question, why are you here?”

“Should I be anywhere else?”

He puts his hands on the bar and leans in. “I could think of a million places.”

“I highly doubt that. Name five,” she challenges.

“The library—studying.”

“Was there earlier,” she replies.

“At home watching reruns of the Real Housewives of New Jersey.”

Vi shakes her head. “Done it once and lost a few brain cells. Try again.”

He chuckles and looks up at the ceiling a moment. “At home with your vibrator.”

“Already done.” She smiles slyly.

Todd’s eyes go wide. “You are really my kind of girl.”

“You have two more to go.”

“Slow your roll, math girl. Ice skating in Central Park.”

“Ice rink is closed. You’ve got one more. This better be good.”

“At my place in an hour, because I’d really like to fuck you tonight.”

Vi laughs, a throaty, sultry sound emanating from her. The invitation is incredibly tempting considering she hasn’t been with anyone since Andrés. She wasn’t lying when she told Todd that she had used her vibrator earlier. Her craving for sex is back, but she wants something else from Todd, and sleeping with him will only complicate their potential relationship.

“That isn’t such a ridiculous proposition, is it?”

Vi shakes her head. “Not at all. I just have another proposition for you . . . .”

“Your itinerary will be emailed within the hour,” Vi’s father’s secretary informs her.

Vi swivels around in her chair. “My itinerary for what?” 

“Spring recess, Ms. Rai. Your father doesn’t want to disrupt your studies, so he’s expecting you in Dubai in March.”

“Couldn’t he at least ask me?” Vi’s voice is loud enough to get the attention of the social worker at the desk next to her.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Rai, I’m not the person to discuss this matter with you.”

Vi lowers her voice to a whisper. “No, of course you’re not. But it’s my last year at university. Shouldn’t I be able to enjoy my Spring Break?”

“Again, you can speak with your father about that. I’m merely arranging your travel to Dubai.”

“Alright then. Am I expected to stay at his home?” She gets up and walks to the water cooler, hoping to find a bit of privacy. Every time Vi’s seen her father, it’s either been in New York or in London. Not once has she met anyone from his legitimate family other than his son.

“I’ve booked The Address in Downtown Dubai for the week.” The secretary’s tone is clipped.

Vi pulls at her dark gray cashmere turtleneck, which is starting to feel suffocating. After a long pause, she says, “Very well. Tell my father I’ll see him then.”

After hanging up, she stares at her phone, wishing it would give her the answers she seeks.
What does her father want with her now?

“Everything okay, Violet?” A kind voice breaks through her muddled thoughts.

She looks up and smiles at John, her boss. At almost sixty, he has an easy-going demeanor of someone who has seen life at its worst but can still find a reason to smile. There’s something in his gentle eyes and the humble way he treats those around him that has Vi wishing he were her father instead of the man who believes extortion is an acceptable form of parenting.

“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just . . . ,” Vi sighs. “Why are some parents just so impossible?”

John chuckles. “If I had a dime for every time my son or daughter complained about my wife and me, we could retire to Tampa by now.”

Vi stares at him blankly. She can’t imagine that John’s children would find fault with him. She would give anything to have an attentive and compassionate father.

“The key, Violet, is to work with what you have. Every parent is far from ideal, and kids only realize that when they become parents. Whatever it is they are willing to offer you, is probably the best way they can show their love. Try to be open to that.”

Vi offers him a polite smile, wondering what he would say if she actually told him who her dad is. She can only imagine there’s a special paternal category for meglo-maniac business tycoons like her father. “Thanks,” she mutters. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

John pats her shoulder before walking back into his small office.

Vi watches as he disappears around the corner.
Is it really as simple as that?

“Mr. Rai will see you now.”

Vi looks up from a copy of
The Financial Times
and nods at her father’s secretary, a mid-thirties no-nonsense English woman, her blond hair pulled back into a tight bun.

“Very well,” she sighs, placing the newspaper on a large rectangular coffee table.

She follows the assistant out of the spacious glass and metal waiting room down a long corridor. The décor, Vi observes, is austere, the white walls adorned with the occasional tapestry or generic office painting.

Noticing Vi’s curiosity, the assistant says, “Mr. Rai prefers to keep his office simple. He believes art and decoration are unnecessary embellishments.”

Vi nods, her heart beginning to beat faster. She hasn’t bothered to think too much about why her father summoned her to Dubai, although she could only assume that he wanted to check on her and have an update on her near-future plans. It couldn’t be that important since he rescheduled their meeting three times. Her flight back to New York is early the following morning, and she can’t wait. Graduation is only two months away. The clock is ticking, and with May commencement looming, time seems to be moving too quickly.

She stops short of the large office door and takes a deep breath.

The assistant looks at Vi carefully and forces a disingenuous smile. Pushing open the door, she says, “Good luck.”

Vi’s pauses when she sees they’re not alone.

“Violet,” her father says approaching her. “You’re looking well.” He places his hands on her shoulders, but doesn’t embrace her.

“Thank you,” she replies, under her breath, not taking her eyes off the guest.

He motions to the man standing next to the large ebony and Brazilian teak desk. “You remember my son, Azahr?”

Vi nods and holds out a hand, which he is obliged to step forward and take. He grips her hand lightly between his clammy palms. Azahr looks at her wordlessly, his big eyes appearing too large for his head. She pulls back her hand and glances back at her father, who doesn’t seem to notice the awkwardness. He motions for them to sit on the black leather chairs on the other side of the desk.

Vi subtly wipes her hands down the side of her navy shift dress as she sits.

Her heart is pounding, waiting for someone to say something. Despite the air conditioning, she can feel the beads of sweat forming on her forehead and upper lip. It’s as if she’s been brought in for an interview. She folds her hands tightly on her lap to keep from wringing them.

Finally her father reclines in his seat and says, “How are you finding Dubai? Have you had a chance to see the city?”

I’ve seen more of the city than I’ve seen of you,
she thinks to herself. Instead, she nods. “Yes. Yesterday I toured the gold and spice souks. The day before that I went to the museum.”

“Don’t forget the shopping. I’m sure you’ve done plenty of that,” Azahr cuts in.

Vi raises an eyebrow at him. Meeting him once before was enough for her. He had treated her with such a mix of disdain and indifference that it was clear he resented her very being. To have to sit in an office with him and her father was starting to wear on her.

Ignoring his remarks, she continues, “The view of the Burj Khalifa from the hotel is breathtaking. Dubai is developing at quite an impressive rate.” She stole this line from an article she had been reading out in the waiting area. Vi could really care less about this city, finding most of it quite gaudy and over-the-top.

Her father smiles a knowing smile. “I knew you’d see it that way. Dubai represents the future in finance. Its growth will rival Hong Kong’s and make it the financial center of Asia.”

Vi matches his smile.

Azahr leans forward. “Father wanted us to meet. He’s suggested that we may work together soon.”

His energy is intense and unwelcome. Vi shifts to the right in her seat. She looks at their father. “Yes, he’s mentioned that.”

“I’m not sure if I agree with him though. From what I’ve heard, you seem to be a Rai by name, not by reputation.”

Vi’s heart is beating rapidly, blood rising to the surface. Despite her misgivings about working for her father, she refuses to be talked down to by her half-brother.
How dare he challenge me?

She clears her throat. “My reputation is immaterial. Who are you to judge my worthiness as a Rai?” Vi leans forward, imitating his posture. “You’re just riding the wave of Father’s success. He built this company. Your contribution to it is minimal at best.”

He laughs, the condescension clear from his expression. “You entitled brat.”

“I’m sure you know a lot about being an entitled asshole.” The anger and hatred Vi’s pushed to the back of her mind for years is now front and center. Never being fully accepted by her father’s
legitimate
family is something she felt she had no choice but to tolerate. But now, confronted by her half-brother’s callous attitude, the unexpressed rage is boiling up, and she’s ready to explode.

“What do you know about running a company anyway?” Azahr waves a hand toward the expanse of windows that look out onto the burgeoning city. The cloud cover makes it appear as if they’re in a city in the sky.

Vi glances at her father, who appears to be enjoying this exchange between his children. She takes a deep breath, trying to quell her anger. “I’m sure you didn’t bring me all this way to Dubai just so Azahr can insult me.”

“Of course not.” He holds up a hand when Azahr opens his mouth to speak. “I wanted to know what your plans are after graduation.”

“You could’ve just called,” she replies plaintively.

“You also needed to visit Dubai. It will be your home soon.”

“Right. Well about that, we need to talk. But he needs to leave,” Vi insists pointing at Azahr.

As soon as the door closes behind her half-brother, her father says, “Your brother is always like that. You’ll get used to it.”
Right. After more than twenty years of not having siblings, I’m supposed to consider Azahr my brother?

Vi takes a few deep breaths until she feels her anger dissipate. She gets up and walks over to the window, looking out to the spires sticking out above the clouds. At last she says, “I’m not ready to leave New York.”

“You are violating our deal,” her father bangs his hand on the table in front of him.

Vi shakes her head. “There was no deal. You laid out the terms, but I did not agree to all of them.”

“You’ve accepted my money.”

“You insisted. Besides, I would’ve been broke.”

“Then you will be broke. Once you graduate, I will cut you off completely.”

Vi takes another deep breath. She was prepared for this. “I understand. You’ve done a lot for me, and I appreciate it.”

“That’s it. You are not going to agree to any of my conditions?”

She shakes her head. “I will not be pushed into marrying someone I do not know. As a matter-of-fact, I don’t feel ready to marry anyone.”

“Why not? Marriage isn’t just about love, Violet. It’s a merger of mutual interests. Love and marriage is a ridiculous fantasy. It’s what ruins relationships.”

Vi stops herself, momentarily agreeing with him. Love really does ruin a lot of things.

“I’m not saying I want to be in love. I just find relationships complicated. I don’t want to have anyone in my life.” She throws her hands up into the air and walks back toward the windows.

“You’re not a lesbian? Because I know you are with men.”

She fights the urge to laugh at her conservative father. Instead, she shakes her head. “Marriage requires accountability, and I don’t want to be accountable to anyone but myself.”

“That’s the vanity of youth speaking. Marriage is useful and provides protection for women.”

“I don’t need protecting!” Vi shouts. “Am I less of a person if I’m unattached?”

“In business, being married is practical.”

“Being single is far more pragmatic,” Vi seethes. “In any case,” she pauses, her mind racing to keep ahead of her emotions. “My life is in New York right now. I’ve applied to a few business schools.”

“I’ve told you, what you need to learn you can learn here.”

Vi stops mid-stride and folds her arms in front of her chest. “What do you have against me going to Business School? Azahr attended HEC in Paris. Your C.O.O. went to Harvard Business School. As a matter of fact, everyone in top positions at Rai Industries has an M.B.A. or the equivalent. Why are you insisting that I don’t need one?”

“Violet,” he warns.

She resists the urge to roll her eyes at his patronizing tone. “Please don’t belittle me, Father. I respect you enough to come here despite the fact that I would’ve preferred to spend my holiday with my friends. I would like to take charge of my future, and as far as I’m concerned, that begins with my education.”

“An M.B.A. is expensive. How do you expect to pay for it?”

“I’ve been saving. I even got a part-time job. I have almost enough to cover my first year. Mum said she’d help if I need.”

Her father gets up out of his chair, walks over to his desk, and makes a note on a piece of paper. “Then what?”

Vi shrugs. “I’ll figure it out in the next year. If I come to work for you, it will be when I’m ready. It’s clear that Azahr sees me as a threat. I don’t want to work with him, especially if he’s going to treat me poorly.”

He furrows his brow. “My son sees everyone as a threat. That’s why I like him.”

“Well, I don’t need his abuse.” She walks around to the other side of the desk.

“I do not agree to any of this, Violet.” Her father’s tone is subdued and serious.

“I figured you wouldn’t. I’m sure it’s rare for people to say ‘no’ to you. But I can’t do what you want right now. I’m almost twenty-two. Marrying a man I don’t know and committing to this company is too soon. I know I can be successful on my own.” Vi nearly swallowed those last words, but is glad she didn’t. It’s affirming to put it out there, challenging herself to make it happen.

She holds her breath while her father stares down at his desk, considering her words carefully. Vi jumps when he knocks his fist on the hard wood. “Then prove it.”