Violet placed the bag of buttercream on the table. Habitually, she reached for her phone in her pocket while taking off her apron.
It was nearing lunch hour, and she usually had her lunch with Ryan at the hospital.
Violet thought of going straight to the hospital once she finished frosting the batch of cupcakes. However, her movement halted the moment she saw a text from Ryan. Violet did not know how she should feel upon seeing that Ryan had once again cancelled their lunch date.
He told her that he had an important operation and would not be able to accompany her for lunch. However, Violet knew that it was just an excuse.
Ryan was avoiding her.
She should know that this would happen when she rejected him. Then, why did she feel disappointed?
Violet should have known that this would happen. After all, things were awkward between them ever since Ryan suggested that they give their relationship a try. Then, she rejected him.
Violet stared at Ryan's text for a long time. After a moment that felt like forever, she replied to him before sliding her phone into her pocket with a sigh.
"Violet?"
The voice startled Violet. Turning around, she found that Sarah and Evan were standing next to her with a puzzled look on their faces.
"What's going on?" Sarah asked. "You have been standing here and sighing for a long time."
"It's nothing." Violet shook her head slowly. She tightened her apron once again before turning around to the mixer on the table. Under Sarah and Evan's gaze, Violet reached for the ingredients on the shelf and started adding some butter and sugar into the mixer.
She turned on the mixer and watched as the whisk moved. Next, Violet reached for the bag of flour and a measuring cup. Before she could scoop the flour with the cup, someone snatched the cup away from her.
Violet stared at her empty hand with a dazed look in her eyes. A few seconds later, she turned around and realized that Evan was the one who snatched the cup away from her.
"What are you doing?" Violet crossed her arms in front of her chest and looked at Evan in anger.
"I'm saving you from making a big mistake," Evan said. "In case you haven't noticed, you just mistook salt for sugar."
Violet turned to look at the container on the table. The corner of her lips began to twitch once she saw the label on the container.
Evan was right. She had mistakenly used salt instead of sugar.
This was a mistake that should never have happened. After all, the container for sugar in the bakery is bigger than the one for salt. Violet could not understand what was going through her mind when she took salt and added them to the mixer.
Her eyes shifted towards the mixer again. Violet wondered what she was supposed to do with the overly salted butter.
As she looked at her friends again, Violet did not miss the worried look in their eyes. She suddenly did not want to admit that she had made a mistake.
"Perhaps I was trying to create a new cupcake recipe?"
"Like what? Salted tiramisu cupcakes?" He shook his head lightly in disapproval. "Forget it, Violet. You're out of here. I don't know what is going on, but you can't work in this condition. You're too distracted."
"I hate to say this." Sarah nodded. "But I have to agree with Evan. You're losing your focus. You definitely need some time out."
Violet frowned. "You guys can't kick me out of my own kitchen! I'm the boss here."
"Of course we can," Evan said. "You're going to thank us later for saving you when you're facing the customers' complaints from eating your cupcakes."
Sarah stepped over and linked her arms with Violet. "Come on, Violet." Without wasting time, Sarah dragged Violet into her office. "You're going to sit down for a while and tell me what's going on. You need to relax."
Violet took a deep breath. "I am relaxed."
"No, you're not," Sarah helped Violet to sit down. "Now. No one else is here. Will you tell me what is going on with you?"
Violet hesitated. She had not told Sarah that Ryan had suggested giving their relationship a try. With the end of their trial dating period soon, Violet thought that there was no need to talk about this matter to anyone.
"Violet?" Sarah heaved a sigh when her friend did not answer. "I'm worried. According to Evan and a few of your staff, this was not the first time you have made a mistake. Yesterday, you mixed up a customer's order."
The corner of Violet's eyes started to twitch as she recalled that incident.
Fortunately, Evan was around to help her and sort out everything.
Violet heaved another sigh. She knew that she could not let something like this continue.
After a brief hesitation, Violet raised her head and looked at her friend. She opened her mouth and started telling Sarah about Ryan's confession and how she had rejected him.
…
Meanwhile, Ryan was not having an easy day.
After sending a text to Violet, Ryan leaned on his chair and stared at his phone for a long time. The food in his tray remained untouched.
He wanted to see Violet, but thinking about their last meeting made him feel awkward. He did not know how he should face Violet again after she had rejected him.
Currently, Ryan was planning to avoid meeting Violet again until the end of their agreement. When the time comes, they will both meet with their parents and tell them that they are not suitable as a couple. Then, perhaps he won't be seeing Violet again.
The thought made his heart hurt.
Ryan realized that he liked Violet more than he thought. This was the reason he had to stop seeing Violet. Ryan was afraid that the more he saw her, the more he would like her. By then, it would be too late for him to turn around, and the person who would hurt the most would be him.