Violet stormed into the break room, her cheeks flushed, and slammed her mug down on the table.
Never again will I go to Mollys for help! she shouted, voice cracking. Let the council hire the tradesmen if they need a fix!
Ian, her husband, stood by the doorway, his eyes wide.
Whats wrong? asked Violet, bewildered. Did something go offtrack?
Ian swallowed, his face turning a deeper shade of red. Its its everything went wrong.
Speak up, Ian! urged Zoey, leaning against the wall with a wry grin.
Before he could finish, Mrs. Anne Whitaker, the senior accountant, interjected. Why didnt you bring your husband along? We paid for two tickets, you know.
Violet forced a laugh. Im not on a diet, so I can afford a little extra.
Mrs. Whitaker lifted her spectacles and said coolly, I meant it in the sense that we expect families to come together.
Nora snorted, Looks like Violets hiding her husband from us!
Its not like that, Violet protested. Hes just ill!
Zoey chuckled, Is he already celebrating New Years Eve? We could have given him a thousand grams of gingerbread and hed have been right as rain!
Nora shook her head, Or youd be left a widow, Violet.
Dont be ridiculous, Zoey waved her hand. We have such a garden here, anyone would spring back to life!
And then start dancing on the tables! Nora added with a sly smile.
Zoeys eyes twinkled mischievously. Violet, perhaps you dont even have a husband? Maybe youre wearing that ring just to keep the old boys from hanging around?
Well find you a proper bloke straight away. If its for your health, just give us a call.
I do have a husband, Violet replied, voice flat.
Of course you do! Nora confirmed. Ian Parker showed up with your marriage certificate at HR. Hes yours, isnt he?
Zoey leaned in, Arent you keeping Ian from us? Its looking a bit suspect.
Two months ago we had that teambuilding trek, you were only with your son! Now its the office party and youre strolling around alone, as if youve never been picked up from work, never met, never seen off.
Ians voice cut in, He works.
Mrs. Whitaker threw her arms wide. Alright, why are you all pestering Violet? Shes got a husband! Shes content! No ones asking you to stick your noses in.
Mrs. Whitaker, the head of accounts, had been the power broker at the corporate gathering. The boss had already fled to his private club, leaving a murky atmosphere. By the second toast he was already urging everyone onto the dance floor.
Veronica, whod worked closely with Violet, mused, I think Violets hiding her husband from us. Were practically family, after allfriends at work, sisterinlawtype closeness.
Zoey glanced at her, concern flickering across her face.
What then? Violet asked.
Veronica pretended to think, Well, how many times have I visited Violets house and never seen Ian? I swear Ive been there at least twice and he was never in sight.
Violet retorted, Hes either in the loo or on the balcony! He never meddles in my business.
Her explanation was reasonable, but the tremor in her voice and the way her words shivered gave everyone the impression she was hiding something.
Nora, the HR veteran, said sharply, Lying, Violet, is unsightly.
Oh, Lord! Violet exclaimed, Why do you all need him?
Zoey replied, We just want to know the man behind the husbandwhat sort of father, what sort of partner. Maybe we can steer him onto the right path, give him a bit of a lesson.
Dont try to teach him, Violet snapped, clenching her fists. Ill handle him myself.
Zoey pressed, At least tell us what hes like. Hes new here, only six months, and we know nothing about him!
Violet shrugged, Ians a normal bloke. Average, works, nothing special.
Nora smirked, Youre hiding, youre not trusting us! So youve locked him away from us, from your friends and colleagues. Thats not right, Violet!
Suppose I have legitimate reasons? Violet asked.
Then share them and well judge, Zoey said, leaning forward.
Right, right, Violet, Anne Whitaker encouraged. Our boss is still on a break, the programmes on hold, and were here to pass the time with a little drama.
Violet muttered, Not much is interesting.
Zoey nudged her, Then tell us!
***
Violets earlier life had unfolded in a small town two thousand miles away, a place she still called home. All the pivotal momentsher first job, her weddinghad taken place there. The new chapter was quiet, orderly, a gentle contrast to the chaos shed left behind.
Shed met Ian at the factory after finishing college. He was a few years older, senior in rank, yet that hadnt stopped a workplace romance from blooming into a solid marriage.
The plant was femaleheavy; men, especially engineers like Ian, were scarce. That only fueled the rumors. Men from other departments swooned over him, and the office chatter turned into a relentless chorus of who will win him?
When Ian finally married Violet, it felt as if the female staff had been served a bitter lemon. They resented her for taking away a potential partner. Still, they knew only one could win his heart. Those who had courted him long before Violet arrived couldnt accept that hed chosen the newcomer.
Even after the marriage, whispers persisted. Does she cook? Does she clean? Does she? The jokes carried a grain of truth that made the laughter uncomfortable.
When their son was born, the lemon supply seemed endless, and the most determined colleagues still couldnt accept that Ian was no longer theirs to pursue. Some even plotted to make him single again.
Violet rose to forewoman before maternity, earned a degree on the side, and after returning became a master technician and, within a couple of years, deputy supervisor. She was both a valuable ally and a target of envy.
Molly, another forewoman whod also risen from the shop floor, tried hard to befriend Violet. Violet, however, kept her friendships honest and open, helping Molly with cash, knowledge, and even sending Ian to fix minor issues at Mollys house.
One day Ian came back from Mollys, looking flustered, his hand still shaking.
Im never going to Mollys again! Let the council send a handyman if they need it! he declared.
What happened? Violet asked, confused. Did something go wrong?
Its all gone wrong, Ian blushed. She she well, you know
What do you mean? Violet demanded, as he struggled for words.
She pressed on me, literally attacked! I barely got away.
Youre joking, Violet gasped.
I swear on my sons health, Ian said, his voice cracking. She was in her nightdress, I thought it was at home
She lunged like a shark! I dodged, but she clung like a tick! Ive got bruises on my shoulder now, he swallowed. Im done with her!
Molly didnt know Ian had confided everything to his wife. The next day, gossip spread through the workshop: Ian and Molly had an unforgettable night! Some even showed a ripped piece of his shirt as proof.
Molly was cornered in the staff toilet, where Violet warned her sternly that if she kept spreading lies, there would be consequences. Molly left, cheeks flushed, applying makeup as if that could hide the trouble.
At the office Christmas party, everyone brought partners. The banquet was roaring, drinks flowing. Violet noticed Ian missing from the crowd. She excused herself to the restroom for a moment.
The search lasted half an hour; the venues maze of rooms and dark corridors seemed endless. Finally, she found him tucked in a quiet corner, three colleagues surrounding him, pinching his shirt and laughing. Ian didnt even try to resist.
Violet stormed in, yanking the men by their collars, sending their coats flying. She struck them hard, each blow landing with a thud, and hurled them out of the room.
Ian, looking dazed, was barely coherent, drooling slightly. Violet tried to coax him back to sense, but his eyes were glazed. She spotted a camera on a tripodsomeone had been filming.
The three men were part of a prank crew; Molly and two of her friends from the planning committee were behind it. If Violet had seen the footage, she would have known exactly what had happened to her husband.
After the holidays, Violet and Ian submitted their resignation letters. Revenge felt hollow; the cold logic of the moment made it too late to act. Everything about Ian had already aired. It was easier to leave.
Never trust a friend at work, Violet muttered.
Later, after a long discussion, they decided: Violet would no longer introduce her husband to colleagues or friends.
They wont meddle if they dont know him, Ian said. If they visit, Ill either hide or stay away.
At the new job, Violet kept her personal and professional lives strictly separate; no one knew about Ian, and the office gossip died down.
Mrs. Whitaker praised her, What prudent caution! Such cold calculation! If no one knows your husband, no one can steal him away.
Zoey sighed, Look at Noraher husband disappeared too, taken by a best friend.
And Svetlana from marketing, two kids, and her lifelong palsame story.
It seems better not to have friends at all, Nora concluded.
Violet agreed, But in a new town with new people, you have to find a way to interact.
Ian suggested, Lets keep him a mystery. No one needs to know.
Veronica, ever the observer, added, Interesting, but I wont get involved.
Anne Whitaker chuckled, Exactlykeep your friends in the dark about your men, and they wont be tempted to whisk them away.
