Violet was caught off guard by the abrupt message received from Janice to meet up, but she knew it was inevitable. She had to schedule it before she left for fear that delaying it would only be detrimental to Sebastian's mental health.
They avoided cafes because, from experience, it was very easy for paparazzi to publicise their meeting. Instead, they went to a park near Janice's family's house. It was where Janice always did her early morning runs.
As Violet parked and quickly made her way to a hidden spot overlooking a gazebo by the man-made lake, she took in the fresh breeze blowing by, realising it's been awhile she was out in nature. Even if she was, she had been very occupied with coordinating work all the time.
As she approached Janice, who was standing under the shades, she began to feel nervous. "Hello…" Violet greeted, trying to sound natural, but her voice turned out a little shaky.
Thousands of possibilities flew through her mind about how this meeting would end up. She was prepared for a slap or even being trampled on by a bunch of muscular men, but she knew it was just her overthinking.
Janice turned around calmly to face Violet, who stopped in her tracks quite a distance away from her.
"Hello…" Janice greeted warmly as though meeting an old friend.
She took a good look at Violet from head to toe, trying to fulfil her curiosity about the reason Sebastian would have fallen for her. She was wondering how different Violet was from her. Violet felt strange and uncomfortable at the silent moments, though she kept her composure.
"Thanks for coming out despite the hectic schedule. I'm sorry for taking your time, but I will make it short." Janice finally said as Violet shook her head.
"It's alright. I assume it would be important. Don't worry, he isn't aware." Violet told Janice to keep her comfortable.
That's where Janice noticed how thoughtful Violet was as she walked closer to her. Violet instinctively stepped back as Janice stopped heading forward.
It was no wonder Sebastian made her his assistant. She had good reflexes and could read body language, yet her mind was always on high alert.
"Sebby really has a good eye for people…" Janice accidentally spoke her thoughts out.
"Err, I'm sorry? You meant?" Violet tried to seek clarification as Janice chuckled.
"It just means you're a great assistant. But I think we both know it wasn't that simple, isn't it? Janice questioned Violet with a mysterious hint.
Violet was getting even more uncomfortable. She could feel she was being tested as she looked up at the sky. Violet wasn't sure how much Janice knew, and it was always safe to deny anything for fear that, who knows, there might be paparazzi around or that this was Janice's trap.
"I'm sorry, I think you have mistaken." Violet finally decided to deny everything, which amused Janice.
"Very well done. Rest assured, it's just us speaking really softly. I know what you are afraid of, but let me tell you… I recognise the look in his eyes when he sees you... When he talked and laughed with you… I once saw that before when he was with me. I thought I could relive those moments again that night when you sent us home. That's where I knew very well I had wasted my chance. How silly of me?" Janice spoke as though she had left the past in the past, but Violet was still not convinced.
"Are you…" Violet wanted to check if she was alright with the hidden truth she found, but hesitated, which made Janice smile.
"I'm fine. I am here today just wanting to get to know who the girl my soon-to-be ex-husband kissed during our first meeting. Or rather, you probably didn't see me, but I caught a glimpse of your dress that night… I have to admit I was very jealous of you. But after how you could withstand all the mockery I tried to hurl at you all this while? Yet he still loves you, and you still cared so much for him, made me realise, my time is really up. It's time to pick myself up and move on… For good. How could I not when he's so happy? I have to live even happier than he does, isn't it?" Janice chuckled, which made Violet smile politely, a little relaxed and relieved that it wasn't as bad as she had expected.
"I hope you will be the one who stays by his side at all times, Violet. This industry is brutal. It's not easy. I know you could endure it all, but still… Humans are very cunning. Tabloids and rumours are killers. That's what happened to my marriage…" Janice sighed deeply.
"Why didn't you try to salvage it?" Violet couldn't help but question out of curiosity.
"Why didn't you salvage yours? You ended up divorced too, didn't you?" Janice questioned back as Violet cleared her throat slightly.
It was no surprise to Violet that Janice had done her homework on her background before coming to look for her, but she definitely wouldn't know her history since it wasn't all written in the media after all.
"Mine was different. Our love died off long ago. Maybe when the marriage started…" Violet sighed slightly while being reminded that her divorce petition period was going to finalise any time soon. She should be hearing from Dexter over the next few days.
"Marriage was never meant for us. Perhaps never was it meant for me ever again." Violet looked up to the sky, trying to make herself remember it.
Janice was surprised by her answer.
"I thought you and Sebastian got together? I mean, that's what I heard from insiders? And what? No marriage? That guy is a drop-dead romantic despite his King of Mystery image…" Janice pointed out as though trying to sell Sebastian to her.
Violet tried to suppress her laughter but to no avail as Janice laughed along with her.
"Does everything have to end with marriage? After this, we are both divorcees. Do we really need to rely on men? Aren't we independent? Even if we aren't so steadily financially ready to retire, I'm sure you dig so much digging that you must have known I'm trying to keep my distance from him too. The agency is a hawk now." Violet's voice turned serious as Janice nodded with a stern look.
She was indeed updated by her sources on the threat for Violet to leave the agency.
"He should have guessed this much, doesn't he?" Janice questioned as Violet shook her head.
"I didn't let him know the details. I have my plans. I will try to work it out. Besides, what's left to do in a month?" Violet lied with a shrug.
"Oh, you're underestimating them. Be prepared. I know what you have been through with your brother. Sam had it worse. That's why when I found out Sebastian had collaborated with Lucky Clover, I knew he was in good hands. He had never told me about Phor Tat's identity. I suppose you met him where his hometown used to be, isn't it?" Janice guessed, but Violet didn't want to reveal anything.
"What has this industry turned humans into?" Violet averted her gaze the same way she was avoiding answering that question.
"Monster. For fame, everything comes with a price, and for me, it's my marriage. I had no choice but to head out and socialise; otherwise, how would I maintain my fame? Unlike him, he was lucky to make it big… but along the way, I guess I was too immature to understand his predicaments. He needed someone who not just supported his career but also looked after him…" Janice scoffed at herself.
"I grew up with a silver spoon. We had so many maids and rooms at home. I didn't even need to lift anything from a young age. What do I know about cooking or cleaning? I'm glad you taught him to cook his favourite dish… I didn't even know what exactly his real favourites were… He probably lost himself midway through the marriage too." Janice sighed heavily, and Violet could relate. It was that one promise she made Sebastian fulfil for himself.
"Violet… Could you promise me? One day, if you ever want to leave him, ensure he doesn't end up like Sam's trainee who ended her life?" Janice pleaded, which made Violet finally understand the reason she had been holding back the divorce.
"Were you worried he would give up like that if you signed the paper?" Violet tried to clarify as Janice's eyes reddened.
Violet hugged her cause she recognised the same fear Sam had drowned in many years back, in Janice. It was the guilt, slowly eating them up alive. Lucky for him, there was Jade, who pulled him back from that dark abyss back then.
"Don't worry. I will ensure history doesn't repeat itself. But I cannot promise I will walk with him till the end. None of us knows what the future would bring…" Violet said while slowly facing Janice's gaze.
"That's alright… Sigh, what a good friend we would be if we were to meet in a different situation?" Janice questioned, which made Violet smile.
"Hey… Another friend, no matter what circumstances we are in, doesn't matter. Call me anytime for anything. Even if you just want to vent or check on him. I don't mind." Violet joked as the girls laughed together.
"He must never find out about this… He's heading back to film next week for the last bit, isn't he?" Janice asked as Violet's face grew solemn and she nodded.
"Is there something wrong?" Janice could tell, but Violet felt it would be best if fewer people knew of her plans.
"It's alright… Life is full of trouble anyway. We will solve it when we cross the bridge. Hopefully the tabloids will die down after this about your crazy divorce saga…" Violet tried comforting Janice.
"Then I hope you will teach him to make his favourite desserts next… I heard rumours he will be invited to the cooking show again." Janice praised as they laughed together again, ending up in small chats and getting to know each other better.
It was the least expected ending Violet had in mind from their encounter, but at the very least, she was glad to have another friend rather than a foe in this cruel industry. You never know when they might come in handy someday.