Chapter 6: Game Commences Violet's POV

The moment after Clyde had made the announcement publicly, the tension within the office had been unendurable. I could feel the employees' gaze at me while I walked down the hall, their whispers cloaked. It wasn't just my suddenly revealed identity that had captured the attention of all of them; it was the aftermath.

The very next morning, Tony was called into Clyde's office. Though I wasn't privy to the conversation, the aftermath was loud enough for the entire floor to hear.  

"You can't do this to me!" Tony's voice thundered from behind the closed door. "I've been loyal to this company!

Clyde's calm, measured reply cut through Tony's tirade. "Loyalty is not about coming to work, Tony; it's about respect, and you clearly lack that. Security will escort you out.

The door sprang open a minute later and out stormed Tony, his face beet-red with rage. His poor fiancée trailed after him, her face bright red with embarrassment. I kept my head down, pretending interest in the folder that Clyde had given me earlier, but the smirk I tried to conceal tugged at my lips.

Tony gave me a poisonous glance as he strode past, his face twisting with a sneer. "You're going to be sorry about this, Violet. You just watch."  

Clyde's voice came from the office, firm and authoritative. "Tony, go away before I make this worse for you."  

And then he was gone.  

That evening, I sat on the balcony of the West estate, sipping tea and trying to sort my head out. Everything seemed so surreal: Clyde's staunch defense of me, the opulence of the mansion, and living a life that wasn't really mine. 

But my moment of solitude was interrupted by a knock on my door.

"Come in," I called, setting my cup down.

It was Clyde, dressed casually for once in a crisp shirt and dark jeans, an envelope thick and clutched in his hands, his expression unreadable.

"I wanted to let you know that Tony's been fired," he said, sitting across from me. "You don't have to worry about him causing trouble here anymore."

I nodded, though a part of me was uneasy. Tony wasn't the type to let things slide.  

"There's more," Clyde added, shifting forward. "I think my stepmother may try using him against us."  

"Sharon?" I asked, even though I wasn't surprised. The woman had made her dislike for me crystal clear since day one.

Clyde nodded, his jaw clenching. "She is not just upset about you being here but threatened. She and her daughter Eva have been trying to control this family's fortune for years. My father's illness has only made them more desperate, and now that you are here, they see you as a threat to their plans.

I swallowed, his words taking hold. "So, what do we do?"

"We stay ahead of them," Clyde said firmly. "I've already warned my legal team to watch for any moves they might make. But I need you to be careful. If Sharon or Tony approaches you, don't engage with them. Let me handle it.

I nodded, but couldn't help but have this feeling that trouble was already brewing.  

Later that night, lying in bed staring up at the ornate ceiling, I thought about Tony. His arrogance had always been a thorn in my side, but now it was something more dangerous.  

What I wasn't aware of was that already Tony was planning his next move.  

Tony paced back and forth in the small café's dimly lit room, his face contorted in anger and desperation. Across from him sat Sharon West, her manicured fingers tapping impatiently on the table. 

"I don't have all night, Tony," Sharon said, her voice cold and clipped. "What's your plan?"

Tony scowled, his hand raking through his hair. "Plan? I don't even know why you dragged me into this. That girl-Violet-has always been trouble. I don't know how she wormed her way into Clyde's life, but I'll find out.

Sharon leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. "That's exactly why I'm involving you. I want evidence that she's an imposter. When we can prove she's lying, Clyde's little charade will fall apart, and my position in this family will still be secure."  

Tony hesitated, weighing his options. "And what's in it for me?"

The corners of Sharon's lips arced into an aggregation of slyness. "You'll be rewarded handsomely, Tony. I will ensure you have a position in this company far superior to the one you had before. Of course, financially too.

Tony leaned back, considering her offer. He hated Violet for the humiliation she had caused him, and now he had a chance to get back at her while securing his future. It was a win-win.  

“Fine,” he said. “I’ll do it.”  

Sharon’s smile widened. “Good. Start digging into her past. Find anything—everything—that can discredit her. And remember, Tony, this needs to stay between us.”

Tony nodded to himself, a new resolve now flashing in his eyes.  

As Sharon walked away from the café, the smirk still plastered on her face, Tony whipped out his phone and began to scroll through old photos and messages. If there was one thing he knew, it was that Violet wasn't perfect. And he was going to find the cracks in her story.  

Getting up the following morning to get ready for another day at the company, I couldn't get the feeling that someone was watching me off my mind. Clyde had warned me about Sharon and Tony, but I hadn't expected their scheming to start so soon.

I went to the office. It looked normal at first, but as it did progress in the day, small things- whispers of conversation that would stop when I pass by and suspicious glances of those whom I don't know- all these tied my nerves into knots.

At lunch time, I found Clyde in his office, perusing some documents.

"You think Sharon's already making her move?" I asked, closing the door behind me. 

Clyde looked up, his expression composed but grave. "Possible. But don't let it faze you. They're desperate, Violet. They'll do everything in the book to get under your skin. You keep your eye on the prize."

I nodded, trying to draw strength from his confidence.