Made in Manhattan

“What do you think he meant, impossible?” Ashley asked as she reapplied red lipstick that perfectly matched her red dress. “What could he need to do?”

“I have no idea,” Violet said, biting her tongue to keep from adding for the hundredth time.

They’d been over the conversation ad nauseum, and she was no closer to understanding Cain’s odd behavior than Ashley was. Adding to the strangeness of the befuddling encounter was that even Edith was avoiding her. Violet had expected to hear something from someone following the vote yesterday afternoon, but Alvin had told her Edith was swamped with last-minute details for the gala and the big announcement.

Violet was too proud to reach out to Cain directly, especially after he’d left her standing alone in his office like some sort of rejected old toy he no longer had a use for.

“Does it cheer you up at all to know that he’s been looking at you all night?” Ashley asked, turning to Violet and reaching out to smooth a flyaway hair.

Violet had picked out the dress just days ago, forgoing the typical pink or red Valentine’s theme she’d originally planned on, and opting for a vivid purple.

Violet, the tag had read. Violets had been her mother’s favorite flower, hence the name, and she’d frequently dressed her only daughter in her namesake color. Violet had avoided the shade entirely since her parents’ death. Not intentionally; it had just somehow seemed too bold, too bright for the version of herself she’d so carefully cultivated.

Now, even through her anger at Cain—perhaps because of it—the color felt right. The dress was simple in cut. Floor length, but with a deep slit up to midthigh. A modest neckline to complement her ever-present pearls, but a flirty low back.

She’d let Ashley do her hair. A simple chignon at the back of her head, to show off the diamond and pearl cluster earrings Edith had sent over via Alvin, and Violet hadn’t felt quite peeved enough at the other woman to snub the gesture.

A harried-looking woman who worked for Edith entered the restroom and did a double take when she saw Violet. “Violet! You should be out there. They’re about to announce the new CEO!”

“We were just leaving,” Ashley said with a smile, dropping her lip gloss into her clutch and pulling Violet’s arm to the door.

“Do we have to?” Violet muttered under her breath.

“Yes,” her friend said firmly.

“I feel like I’m going to puke.”

“If you’re nervous, think how Cain must be feeling. He needs you, sweetie. I know it doesn’t feel like he does, I know he’s been a turd pile, but trust me on this. I’ve been watching him watch you all night. You’re his life preserver.”

It was just about the only thing that could have gotten Violet to step into the crowded ballroom. Dan Bogan was already at the microphone, delivering a boring welcome speech as Violet let Ashley weave her through the crowd until they were in the first couple of rows in front of the stage.

She felt rather than saw Cain up on the stage. She’d sensed his presence all night, though this was the first time she’d let herself look his way.

Violet expected him to be ignoring her, but her stomach dropped when she found him looking right at her. His gaze was dark and piercing, as unreadable as it had been that first day in Edith’s parlor. She had no idea what he was thinking, what he was feeling…

A quick glance at Edith didn’t give Violet any more information. The woman had always had a frustratingly impressive poker face.

The rest of the board members looked equally impassive. Only Keith wore any expression at all, one Violet could only describe as smug.

Oh dear.

“Keith’s smirk is not a good sign,” Ashley murmured, echoing Violet’s thoughts.

Keith had made no effort to hide his opposition to Cain as CEO. If he was looking this happy…

Violet’s heart began to hammer, and not in a good way.

Dan was in the process of handing over the microphone to Edith, who was dressed in a stunning maroon gown paired with the ruby necklace Bernard had given her for their fortieth wedding anniversary.

“I’ll start by echoing Dan’s gratitude for you all joining us tonight. My late husband was always a hopeless romantic, and Valentine’s Day was his favorite holiday—when he proposed. When we got married.”

Edith dabbed her eyes before continuing. “I always miss him most on February fourteenth, but this year in particular is bittersweet, as I know he’d have wanted to be here to see Rhodes off to its next stage, with such a bright future ahead.”

She cleared her throat. “Some of you may know that this is my final year as the head of the company. It’s been a vital part of my life for so long, and it’s not a decision I’ve made easily. But it’s time to let the next generation take over so I can finally pursue my life’s desire: drinking gin and tonics at noon.”