Chapter Six

Cassie slumped into the chair, feeling drained and defeated. "Let's grab a drink, Natalie," she said with a sigh, hoping it would ease the tension in her mind.

Natalie's s face twisted with anger and disappointment. "That little... how could she?" Her brows furrowed, and her lips pressed into a tight line.

"She was never gonna hire me anyway," Cassie muttered bitterly, her eyes filling with frustration as she poured another drink. "That interview was just to embarrass me, plain and simple." Her shoulders slumped, and she took a long sip, trying to drown out the sting of rejection.

"I'm so sorry, Cassie," Natalie said, her guilt evident in the downturn of her lips and the furrow of her brow. "I shouldn't have reached out in the first place."

Cassie shook her head, trying to reassure her friend. "It's okay, Sarah. You were just trying to help me find a job quicker. It's not your fault."

Natalie's smile faltered slightly as she asked, "How's it going with your new husband? Any positive changes at all?" Her cheeks flushed with a mix of curiosity and hope, her eyes bright with anticipation.

"He's actually really nice," Natalie admitted, a small glimmer of hope in her eyes, though it was overshadowed by the weight of her worries. "But my dad still hasn't given me the money, and I've been having a really bad feeling lately about my mom. I'm drowning in debt, and I really need to clear my mom's hospital bills."

Natalie's brows furrowed in concern as she listened. "Does your mom know that you married someone to pay off her debt?" she asked, her voice filled with worry, her eyes searching Cassie's face for any sign of distress.

Cassie's expression turned troubled, and she shook her head slowly. "I can't tell her," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "She'll literally freak out." The weight of her secret hung heavy in the air, and she couldn't shake the feeling of unease gnawing at her.

"Jesus!" Natalie exclaimed, her shock evident in the widening of her eyes and the slight gasp that escaped her lips. "You're going through some crazy shit right now..."

Cassie's heart sank at Natalie's words, but she appreciated the concern in her friend's voice. "Do you have anything you could sell for fast cash?" Natalie suggested, her tone hopeful.

Natalie's mind raced as she considered the question, then a glimmer of realization crossed her features. "Ohhhh, yes," she said, a spark of hope lighting up her eyes. "I have something to sell, that's really a nice idea, Nat." Her lips curled into a grateful smile as she looked at her friend.

Natalie returned the smile, her eyes full of caring. "Anytime, Cassie," she said gently.

Cassie quickly grabbed her bag, her expression apologetic as she said, "I gotta go, Nat." She hurriedly explained, "I'm out of cash, so you'll have to cover the drinks." With that, she dashed out of the door, leaving Sarah stunned.

Meanwhile, Anderson and Daniel sat in the car, deep in discussion. Anderson's brow furrowed in concentration as he suddenly remembered something crucial. "What about Jason?" he asked, turning to Daniel.

Daniel's eyes widened with realization as he nodded. "Boss, he's finally agreed to sell you his shares," he replied eagerly. "Now we just need Jack and Tony." A hint of excitement flashed across his face at the progress they were making.

Anderson sat in the car, his fingers propping up his cheeks, lost in thought as he glanced casually at the TV. Daniel noticed Cassie hurrying along the road, her presence catching his attention.

"Isn't that Mrs. Cassie?" Daniel asked, confusion evident on his face as he pointed in her direction.

Anderson observed Cassie from a distance, his fingers still supporting his cheeks. "Follow her," he decided, his expression determined as he watched Cassie's movements closely.

They followed Cassie discreetly to the store, trying not to draw attention. As Cassie entered the doorbell rang, she approached the counter with a box in her hand.

"Hello, sir," she greeted softly, placing the box on the table and opening it slowly. "How much can I get for these?" she asked, her voice hopeful.

The shopkeeper examined the shoes carefully, his expression thoughtful as he inspected them for any flaws. "Hmm, very good condition," he commented, turning the shoes in his hands. "Excellent brand." After a moment, he offered, "I'll give you 2k for them.”

Cassie's eyes widened in disbelief. "$2,000?" she exclaimed, her frustration evident on her face. "They're brand new, and they cost $7,000!”

"Look, lady, the best I can do is 2k. Take it or leave it," the shopkeeper insisted firmly.

Daniel looked puzzled, his brows furrowed in confusion as he asked, "Is she pawning off the shoes you gave her?"

Anderson's face hardened slightly with anger as he replied, "I bought her the shoes. She can do whatever she wants with them." He couldn't help but wonder silently why she didn't ask him for money if she was in such urgent need.

As Cassie recalled Anderson's thoughtful gift, she hesitated, feeling a strong attachment to the shoes. "Uhm, sorry, sir," she began, her voice uncertain. "I'm not interested in selling them anymore," she concluded, closing the box of shoes and preparing to leave.

The shopkeeper's eyes widened in surprise and frustration. "How? Wait, wait, wait," he urged, his tone pleading. "Okay, fine, I'll give you 3k. I know you urgently need this money, so I'll just help you," he said, giving her a seductive smile.

Cassie shook her head, her resolve firm. "Actually, they mean a lot to me. I don't want to sell them anymore," she explained, offering a brief smile.

"Hey, don't be greedy this time!" The shopkeeper's voice grew louder, his frustration evident. "3k is a lot of money. You better sell them now while you have the chance.”

"It's not about the money, I'm sorry," Cassie apologized, taking a step to leave. Suddenly, she heard the man's voice grow louder, causing her to pause.

"Excuse me!" the man shouted angrily. "So you just came here to waste my time? Get the fuck out of my shop!"

Feeling hurt and disappointed, Cassie hurriedly left the shop. As soon as she had gone a distance, the man picked up his phone and dialed a number, a satisfied look on his face as he spoke to the person on the other end.

Cassie walked along the street, feeling the weight of her loneliness as she gripped the box tightly. The quiet and empty street served as a stark reminder of her solitude.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned back several times but found no one there. Feeling uneasy, she quickened her pace, clutching the box even tighter.

Then, she was confronted by three men wearing masks, their faces intimidating. "Hey, hey pretty lady, what are you holding?" one of them asked, their voices harsh and threatening.

"Hey, hand it over," another man demanded, his tone aggressive.

"Get away from me!" Cassie shouted, fear evident in her voice as she felt sweat dripping down her face.

"She's a looker, isn't she?" one of them commented, lust evident in his eyes as he looked at Cassie.

"You wanna have some fun with her first?" he asked, giving a seductive smile.

"No, let's just take the thing and go," the other man protested, his expression tense with urgency.

Suddenly, Cassie felt a strong push from behind, indicating that one of the men had lost patience. "Bro, take the box and leave," he commanded. "I'll take good care of her," he concluded, his voice lowering to a sinister tone.

"Help, somebody, help me, please!" Cassie cried out desperately, her voice filled with bitterness. But the man ignored her pleas, advancing closer to her.

"Stop, please, stop!" were the only words that escaped her mouth, her eyes wide with fear as she begged for mercy.