Chapter Two
Violet
Violet didn’t know what to expect from a man who answered his phone like a brute. She didn’t have any expectations at all. The man was friends with Claire, so he could be a wide variety of things from starving artist to lunatic conspiracist. It was said birds of a feather flock together, and Violet wasn’t sure which parts of Claire Frank would share.
Still, Violet needed the help, so she walked forward, with her head held high. As Frank’s receptionist instructed, she walked through the lobby, past the security check, and rode the elevator to the eighth floor. It opened to a glass, a desk, and a woman bent under the desk putting something in a file cabinet. Violet stopped herself from gasping as the woman sat up, revealing her perfect face and elegant neck.
Violet wasn’t sure what to say to a woman who looked to be playing pretend for some kind of magazine selling desk furniture and staring at her like she should be invisible.
“Can I help you? Who are you here to see?”
Violet’s eyes traveled to the small nameplate inscribed in clear, bold font: Cathy Merkel.
“Frank Lodge, please,” she said to the ridiculously thin modelesque woman masquerading as a receptionist. With her face and makeup, you’d think she was booked for a runway. “He’s expecting me.”
“Name, please,” Cathy said, cutting her gaze from Violet to the computer screen.
“Violet Green.”
Her red outlined lips puckered as she scrolled through something on the computer screen and she flipped her bone-straight hair behind her before saying, “He’ll see you now.”
Violet wasn’t sure what she imagined Frank would look like. She hadn’t thought of him at all, but the man before her was pretty damn good looking. His hair was brown and a little longer than business casual, with the sun glinting off the blonde highlights in his hair. She wondered if they were natural or colored.
He walked around his desk in sure strides with his hand outstretched. Up close, she noted his eyes. Blue. Sky blue, a strong nose, and a hard jaw. He didn’t look like he belonged in the office, but in some kind of movie instead. He smiled widely, shocking her by the warmth in his eyes and said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you in the flesh.”
She shook his hand and continued to stare. He looked to be about ten years older than her, so that made him in his upper thirties, not that it mattered. She was strictly here for business.
He towered over her, even though she was wearing heels. “I hope you found the place all right,” he said.
“I did,” she said smiling up at him.
Frank’s face froze then he frowned before stomping to his door. “Cathy turn the A/C up,” he said before closing the door.
Violet wasn’t sure where to go and drifted toward the outer wall. Frank’s office was huge, and one wall was built entirely out of glass. The view was beautiful, and she watched the cars plug along down the road and disappear from her sight.
“It makes you feel insignificant, doesn’t it?” he said right behind her, makine goosebumps line her arms. His voice on the phone versus in person was very different. He wasn’t a brute anymore. Now, she felt he could sell ice cream to an Eskimo.
“Yeah,” she said sounding breathless. “From up here, we look like ants.”
Violet turned and was shocked to find intense eyes staring at her. What was Frank trying to see? In the right lighting, he would be terrifying, but in the sunlight, he looked beautiful. His eyes were blue but lined in gold. She wanted to keep looking, but he turned away, gesturing for her to sit in the big chairs by the window. She thought they would do this business at his desk, which was on the far side of the office, but instead, she was able to keep her great view.
“Thanks again for coming. Cathy can get you anything you need if you want something to drink,” he said, sitting in the chair right beside her.
“No, I’m fine,” she said, crossing her legs and glancing up to see Frank staring at her patiently.
“So, how long have you been here?”
Frank crossed his legs and leaned on the armrest closest to her. “We’ve been here a long time. I started my business and built it from the ground up. I’ve always had an affinity for numbers.”
“Lucky you,” she said. “I guess some people are born with it because I definitely do not have the gift.”
“It’s not a gift. You just have to practice at it.”
“I don’t know.” Violet shook her head. “I’ve been practicing a long time, and no matter how hard I study, I just can’t get it. While I can do it when I have to, I can’t imagine doing it for a living like you do. I would never want someone to pay me to count,” Violet said unable to keep the disgust out of her voice. Frank laughed and Violet flushed. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to talk bad about your profession.”
He shrugged. “I know it’s not for everybody and that’s why I get paid the big bucks!”
She laughed. “Well I hope you’re not talking about me because I can tell you right now, mister, I’m a small business owner. I don’t have any big bucks to give!”
A soft smile settled on his face. “I wouldn’t ask you to do that. I already told you, a friend of Claire’s is a friend of mine. Plus, it’s part-time. How much can I charge you for less than ten hours a week?”
“I googled you. According to the testimonials online, you’re one of the best in the city, and that’s saying something, since we’re right outside of New York City.”
Frank tilted his head in deference.
“You could be working anywhere. I bet you could be on Wall Street, but you’re here working with little old me,” Violet said, realizing just how grateful she was. “I really appreciate you agreeing to help me. I don’t have much, but it’s all I have.”
“That’s why I own my own business. I wouldn’t like it on Wall Street. Too dog eat dog over there for me. I prefer working my own hours and helping people like you. So does every guy on my team. Each floor deals with different types of financing, but all of it is to help the little guy.”
“Are you always this chivalrous? I hope you don’t take offense, but you don’t look the type.”
Everything about Frank screamed millionaire, if not billionaire. He had really nice things, and his entire office looked like it cost more than anything Violet had ever owned put together. Not to say that meant his type didn’t know how to give back to society. Violet knew all about charities and such but was Frank the kind of man to do so? She wasn’t sure.
“I understand.” He uncrossed his legs so he could lean forward. “In my younger days, I wasn’t the most giving. I felt that I earned everything I got in life so everyone else should do the same but I have learned that life is not truly lived without giving. The key to happiness is sharing.”
It made Violet’s heart stutter to hear that. She believed the same thing, which is why she always tried to help her friends and why a portion of her proceeds each month went to a different charity. She didn’t have much, but she always felt better when she gave. She smiled at Frank, and he smiled back.
“I feel the exact same way.” She shuddered. Whether a chill from how alike they were despite outward appearances or the air conditioning, goosebumps lined her arms again.
“Are you cold?” Frank asked, eyebrows knitted in concern.
“A little,” she admitted, wrapping her arms around herself.
“Here,” he said sliding off his unbuttoned coat. “Take my jacket. I’ll tell Cathy to turn it down again.”
“No,” she said. “You don’t have to do that. This is your office. You keep it on if you’re warm.”
“Well, at least take my jacket,” he said, standing up so he could wrap it around her small shoulders and she found that he was indeed, very warm. The jacket was toasty like it came right out of the dryer and she found herself snuggling deeper inside of it.
“Thank you,” she said feeling like a little child. She wondered what Frank’s suit size was because it seemed so big. “You’re so warm.”
“It’s no problem. I normally run hot,” he said, sitting back down in his chair.
They talked about a few more things, completely leaving the business conversation, and before long two hours had passed. She learned Frank didn’t have any siblings and moved around a lot as a child, but he didn’t have an answer when she asked where he was from. She told him Claire was the only reason she even had a business. She had started an Etsy shop selling jewelry, and after sharing her sells, Claire had encouraged her to ask the bank for a loan. Of course, Violet being the most reasonable one said no, but Claire wouldn’t take no for an answer.
She wrote a proposal for the loan without Violet’s permission, and when it was approved, she used it as proof that Violet should have her own brick-and-mortar store. Now, three years later, The Velvet Box was one of Violet’s biggest accomplishments. Violet had regular customers. She made and sold nicer pieces now because she could afford better quality jewels and stones. When she wasn’t doing that, she ran workshops teaching people how to make their own jewelry or start jewelry-making as a hobby. It worked for her.
“Has Claire always been like that?” He smiled at the way she told the story.
“Definitely. We’ve been friends since middle school, and I could tell you some stories about her,” Violet said running her fingers through her hair.
“Oh, my gracious, is that the time?” Violet asked, glancing at the clock on Frank’s wall. She didn’t wear a watch, preferring to wear bracelets to market her business instead. “I can’t believe it’s almost noon.”
Frank looked like he didn’t want to get up and Violet felt the same way. It felt like they were old friends and she wanted to keep talking with him.
“Do you have lunch plans?” he asked, still not standing.
She didn’t have any lunch plans, but she knew she needed to get something quickly. She had to talk to Claire and open her store. Without any assistants, it couldn’t open without her. “I’m sorry. I do. Maybe we can reschedule?”
“I would like that,” he said, holding out his hand to help her stand.
She took it and stood, pulling his jacket off and handing it to him. “Thank you for your jacket,” she said, not wanting to give it back.
He took it and placed his hand on her lower back with the barest of touches, guiding her toward the office door. His touch sent a thrill running through Violet’s body that was almost electric. She had to force herself not to lean into his heat as her heart skipped a step and her breathing accelerated. The air seemed colder as Frank stepped away.
“Oh, wait. I almost forgot.” He ran to his desk. “The paperwork! We almost forgot.”
She smiled as he handed her a pen and turned his back to her so she could sign. “Go ahead,” he said.
Violet pressed the documents to his back, smirking as she signed her name.
“There should be three places,” he said, as she turned the page.
“I’m missing one,” she said, turning to the last page and not seeing it.
“Toward the middle, on the right.” Sure enough, there it was. She signed it with a flourish and stepped back. He smiled down at her, as she handed the stack of papers back to him.
“Thank you, ma’am,” he said, taking the papers back, walked back to his desk and began to lean on it. “It was a pleasure doing business with you. I can walk you to the elevator,” he said, walking forward to escort her out.
“Oh, no, you don’t have to do that, trust me. I don’t need anything. This has been great, but I’ve held you up long enough. I’m sure you have plenty of work to do.”
“I wouldn’t mind,” he said shaking his head.
“I would mind,” she said, stepping back toward the door. “You’ve already done so much for me. Please, just stay in here. For me.”
Frank watched her for a moment and seeing her determination, sighed and nodded. “Okay. For you.”
“Thank you.” She smiled and opened the door. “See you around, Frank.”
As soon as she was out of Frank’s office, Violet dialed Claire’s phone number. The receptionist was on lunch break, so Violet felt safe talking without anyone eavesdropping. She couldn’t wait to share the good news—she was hiring an accountant.
Claire had been hounding her for days, and even though she had agreed coolly, she hadn’t told her she was going. She didn’t want her to know in case the meeting didn’t go well or worse, she didn’t like Claire’s friend.
“Yello!” Claire said.
“Hey, babe. You’ll never guess who I just got done meeting.”
Claire squealed. “Frank?”
“Yes,” Violet was about to say more, but Claire cut in.
“Isn’t he the sexiest thing walking?”
Of course. Violet wasn’t sure why she hadn’t realized this was some kind of setup. Claire was always meddling, and she fell for it. Violet turned red and glanced back at the door to make sure it was closed. Even though the receptionist wasn’t around and Frank’s office was huge, she wanted to be sure he couldn’t hear what was being said.
“He’s cute.” As soon as she said, it she winced, knowing Claire was going to take it too far. “But I don’t need him to be anything other than my accountant.”
Claire sighed. “Why are you always a killjoy?”
“Why are you so overzealous?” she said walking into the now open elevator.
“Well, tell me the rest of the story,” Claire said.
Violet smirked. It wouldn’t take much to make Claire happy again. “Where did you meet him? He was wonderful, so it was a no-brainer. I hired him. I’m certain he will be a great accountant for The Velvet Box.”