Shrinking VIOLET

She was mortified that everyone knew what had happened at the weekend

Violet was tempted to call in sick that Monday morning. Her colleagues would have heard about what had happened on Saturday night, and she didn't think she could face them. But she was going to have to put in an appearance at some stage, so she set off for work and got there just before the phones were due to start.

'Violet!' Jenny squealed as she walked in. 'I hear Matt asked you to marry him - and you said yes!'

'I did,' Violet mumbled, her face burning as she scuttled over to her desk.

'Oh, you must be so happy!' Jenny exclaimed, rushing across the office to give Violet a hug. 'Did you know he was going to propose in the restaurant?'

Violet shook her head and sank into her chair. 'I had no idea.'

'Well, it must have been brilliant, Jenny breathed. 'I'd be thrilled if something like that happened to me. I bet you couldn't believe it when he got down on one knee.'

'No, I couldn't.'

'You must have been over the moon,' Jenny went on. 'Terri said everybody stood up and applauded.'

Jenny's sister, Terri, was a waitress in the restaurant, and Violet cringed remembering the other diners' enthusiastic reaction to Matt's proposal.