They would find out eventually, she knew it would be impossible to hide. Especially now that Violet knew he was here, working for them forced into submission by her fathers ridiculous and very realistic threats. Violet couldn't live her life, or whatever their life together should be under the shadowy fear that her father would do something so terrible and cruel that would send Clay away from her again. It ate away at Violet, making a storm of her insides, her a thundering mess. She knew she had to tell them sooner rather than later. Get on with it before they found out on their own. No better place than a dinner full of old family friends, investors, and others her parents would want to impress. Her nerves were apparent as she picked at her nails, and stood awkwardly outside the large front door, the muffled sounds of the party inside less welcoming than the starry black sky at her back- she could turn away now, put it off, but that was not what he deserved, not what they deserved.
Violet ran her fingers through her hair and extended a hand for him to hold, "Once we go in it could change everything." She said more to herself than to Clay. She smiled fondly and rang the bell of her childhood home before kissing his jaw, the door swung open, and an old house employee Violet had known since childhood greeted her with a cautious smile, "Dorris." She greeted warmly, handing off her coat and leading in with Clay- the music swept through the grand entryway becoming towards the De Luca ballroom where they held larger parties. She could hear the laughter and conversation muddling into white noise. Violet was making purposeful strides, her eyes scanning the photographs on the wall, a portrait of the three De Luca children greeted her, only Violet was here tonight, "Remind me again that they're not that terrifying." She said with a humorless chuckle as the entryway of the ballroom yawned open into the next step into the next unknown.
