The budding relationship between Damien and Violet was no longer a secret in the company. Violet had tried to keep it a secret but after a while, it became impossible. She and Damien could hardly keep their hands off each other and they look they exchanged, spoke volumes, causing all who saw them to smile understandingly.
Violet had a rosy glow about her that could only be a testimony of one truely in love.
Amanda Jones was happy for her but Sandra Davis was even more antagonistic towards her if it were possible.
'She is just jealous', Amanda told Violet when Violet expressed concern about Sandra's behaviour towards her. 'She has been trying to catch the eye of our CEO but he wouldn't give her the time of day but you have managed to capture him and it is a bitter pill for her to swallow'.
Especially being someone she detested right from the start, Violet thought. But she felt there was something else because Sandra had been hostile to her right from the start, she couldn't have foreseen that the CEO would get into a relationship with Violet.
Violet made up her mind to ask her what Sandra had against her.
An opportunity came one day when Sandra had to work with her on one a count, as they worked, Violet looked up and regarded Sandra who was just being coldly civil to her.
'Sandra, what is your problem with me?' she asked.
'I do not know what you are talking about', Sandra replied after expressing shock at the blunt question.
'Yes you do', Violet countered. 'Since I came to work her, you have been hostile to me and it made me wonder what I have done to you. Do you know something, I don't or have we met before? Because I can't remember seeing you until I got here'.
Sandra looked at her condescendingly. She is pretending she does not know me nor what she has done to me? People can stoop very low in achieving their goals.
'Do not pretend this is the first place we are meeting', Sandra said, 'The way you have been carrying on, behaving as though you are above reproach disgusts me. I wonder what your lover would say if he found out who you really are and what you have done to me'.
Violet was shocked. 'Is this a joke or what? What do you mean and where have we met before now?'
'By the way, when did you come back from West End?' she asked derogatorily. 'Did you eventually get tired of Raymond or was it the other way round'? He got tired of you and kicked you out?' Sandra continued, now that she had started, she could not seem to stop talking. She had kept quiet for so long. The anger was bursting inside of her and she had to let it all out.'What did you expect? That he would go on loving you? I bet someone else did to you what you did to me and you could not do anything about it like you made me helpless and you ran to this place to ensnare this innocent man. If he finds out what kind of a woman you are, would he still be smitten with you, I wonder?'
Violet was shocked. She looked at Sandra closely. The girl might just be sick in the head. She was sure she had never met Sandra before she started working for Damien but she seemed to think other wise.
'Sandra, I do not know what you are talking about', Violet said trying to be reasonable. 'I have never lived in the heart of London, I have always lived here in Barnes with my father'.
Sandra scuffed. And continued what she was doing. What had she expected, she thought to herself, that she would own up to her misdeeds and apologies for wronging her? Nonsense! Of course Viola would keep pretending that it never occured, she was sure.
'Are you okay, Sandra?' Violet asked when she suddenly became silent, not saying anything. 'I do not know who Raymond is but I guess he must be your boyfriend and I assure you, that I could never take your boyfriend from you', she said placing a hand on Sandra's shoulders to show her how sincere she was and to calm her but Sandra brushed off her hands roughly, her eyes flashing. Violet had never seen her look so crazed and in spite of herself, she backed away in apprehension.
'You may have changed your name from Viola to Violet', Sandra said, 'but you cannot change your face or body though you are acting like someone else and even dressing differently but I know that it is all a pretense. You can never deceive me. I know your kind and you have taught me a lesson of a lifetime'.
Something clicked in Violet's mind. Viola! Of course. They were identical twins after all, their parents could rarely tell tell apart. They knew each by their mannerisms and behaviour's which were as different as day was from night.
Violet could only recall vaguely her father berating Viola for acting selfishly towards her twin but Violet hadn't minded, Viola was her sister after all.
'Now I understand', she said, turning to speak to Sandra but she was already walking away, leaving her there to finish the task.
She wanted to let it go but she felt that she had to clear up the air so that they could have a good working relationship. So, she got up and ran after Sandra, 'Sandra, wait up', she said. 'You got it all wrong'.
Sandra looked back at her in disgust and continued walking away, thinking that the girl had no shame.
'It was not I but my twin sister Viola', she said but if Sandra heard her, she did nothing to indicate.
Violet had reached her by this time and placed her hand on her shoulder trying to stop her walking further away but Sandra gave her a shove and Violet lost her balance and fell.
Damien happened to be walking by as this happened and he caught her before she reached the ground and stared angrily at Sandra's retreating back.
'What was that all about?' he asked looking away from Sandra who was no longer in sight and had been oblivious of his presence, to Violet who was still looking shocked.
'Er.. it's nothing', she said, smiling uncertainly.
'You can't tell me that', Damien said in disbelief. 'She pushed you on purpose and that too while you were holding her and you say it's nothing? You'd better start talking', he said furiously.
Violet looked round and knew that they would cause a scene of they remained there.
'Okay, let's go into your office and I'll tell you everything's, she promised, already heading towards Damien's office upstairs.
Damien looked at her back with a deep frown and then followed her upstairs into his office.
'You were saying?' he prompted.
'There is really no problem', Violet insisted.
'You promised to tell me as soon as we got into my office', he said exasperated. 'What happened to change your mind?'
'Nothing'.
'It can't be nothing and Sandra pushed you the way she did. If you do not start talking now, I shall send for her and make her tell me what all this is all about'.
'That is not really necessary', she said in a pleading tone. She did not want Sandra to come and say anything about the nonsense she had been talking about earlier though it was possible that her sister was the one Sandra was mistaking her for but Viola was still family and had to be protected.
'She asked me to help her with something and when I refused though she pleaded, she got angry and walked away', Violet said, hoping he would swallow her flimsy ex use, though it sounded hollow even to her own ears.'I realised that I should have helped her and regretted my refusal', Violet continued. 'I ran to tell her that I would help her as she asked me to but I tripped just as I reached her and was about to touch her shoulders and I would definitely have fallen had you not saved me. You are my hero'.
Damien looked at her piercingly and looked down shaking his head.
There was a tap on the door and as the person was invited in, Violet's eyes became as round as saucers when she saw who the person was.