Chapter 3

Two weeks have passed since Darcia walked into Wraith Corporation. She had made quite a stir when Riker personally left his office to greet her, escorting her with his hand on the small of her back to his office. I hate to admit it, but his doting action towards her stung. But not as much as when Darcia and Serena had confronted me.

In these two weeks, Riker has accepted Darcia into his office without any qualms, always laughing and smiling when she comes in to visit him. She has been nothing but kind to the staff when she comes, complimenting Anna, the wolf I am training as a new assistant, on her clothes. But I know her true side.

Every day Darcia finds some way to make my life at Wraith Corporation a living nightmare during her visits. She has tripped me on more than one occasion while I am in the middle of delivering Riker important documents or a fresh mug of coffee, causing everything to spill across the floor. Riker would come out to investigate what happened, only to find me glaring up at Darcia who profusely apologizes with tears in her eyes. With her pitiful act, Riker scolds me for being heartless towards Darcia who did not mean to trip me.

This has led to many arguments between Riker and me as I grew more resentful and hurt that he would take Darcia’s side without hearing my side of the events. Because of this and not wanting to lose Riker, I keep the interactions between Darcia and me to a minimum, trying my best not to be alone with her and leaving the room as soon as she walks in.

Luckily for me, Riker has taken my avoidance of Darcia as me being more understanding and I am still able to see him at night. Still able to feel him deep inside me and his lips on mine. But even our nightly escapades have slowly become less frequent.

Jumping as the coffee machine begins to brew the instant mix, I take a deep breath of the much-needed drink. As soon as the coffee pot is filled, I pour a mug and carry it out of the office lunch room towards my desk. I don’t usually drink black coffee, but my body has grown exhausted over the last few weeks. You would think spending less time at Riker’s house would mean I was finally getting quality sleep, but that is far from the truth. Lately, it seems like sleep is avoiding me. 

“Aah!” Turning the corner, I bump into the one person I did not want to see, my coffee mug tipping back onto me burning my skin. I groan with pain, turning my gaze to the person who bumped into me while not watching where she is going.

“I –”

“Don’t be mad with me Cassandra!” Darcia cuts me off, her voice sounding like a pitiful plea. Her left hand is clutching her right wrist while I try to wipe away the hot coffee from my burning skin. It doesn’t help as the sleeve of my shirt keeps the heat in.

“I –”

“Please don’t yell!” She cuts me off again, a smirk on her lips as she glares at me. Before I can ask if she is having a mental breakdown, an angry snarl sounds from behind me and I am pushed to the side as Riker rushes past.

“Darcia, are you okay?” He asks the she-wolf before me. His eyes were full of concern. Tears stream down Darcia’s face as she steps closer to Riker and the latter embraces her.

“I don’t know what I did, but Cassandra threw her coffee at me.” Darcia sobs out, her face full of grievances. 

“That is not true. I was rounding the corner when she bumped into me. I am the one severely burned” I whimper out, wincing from the pain as I manage to roll my sleeve up.

My skin feels like it is on fire and deciding that treating it is a better idea, I ignore the two wolves in front of me and turn ready to rush back towards the staff lunch room to run cold water over my burning arm.

“Not so fast, Cassandra.” Riker growls out, his free hand grabbing my sleeve and preventing me from moving.

“Apologize to Darcia.” He demands, his cold gaze making my heart shatter. 

“I didn’t do anything wrong.” I argue back, trying to break free. My forearm is covered in a red burn, why can’t Riker see that?

“Ri, it’s fine, she doesn’t need to apologize.” Darcia says sadly, wincing as she wipes at the small dots along her hand. Even I can see her pitiful appearance is an act, so why can’t Riker?

“No. She hurt you and needs to apologize.” Riker states firmly, his voice tender as he speaks to the fake bitch. I growl, not liking the fact that I am the one injured yet treated like the villain.

“Shut up, Cassandra. I won’t let you go until you apologize.” Riker shouts, roughly shaking me. I cry out in pain, the action causing me to bump my burned arm into the wall. With tears streaming down my face, I glare at Riker before turning to Darcia.

“Fine, you want an apology.” I shout, finally tearing myself free from Riker’s grasp.

“I am so sorry that you bumped into me and got burned.” I spat out to Darcia before rushing down the hall. Entering the staff lunch room, I quickly turn on the cold water and hold the burn under the flowing tap. Tears are flowing from my eyes as the burn finally soothes, the pain ebbing away.

Angry footsteps thunder towards the lunch room, Riker’s fury radiating off of him even before he can enter the staff lunch room. I don’t care if he is mad. He is the one concerned for some spiteful woman who doesn’t even have any injuries. 

Riker enters the room leading Darcia beside him. He glares at me as he walks towards the fridge, grabbing a cold pack from within. I watch as he tenderly cares for Darcia, placing the cold pack onto her hand while I struggle to keep my arm under the flowing water. Her wounds have already healed by now due to her werewolf abilities while mine are just starting to fade at the edges.

“I expect a proper apology to Darcia.” Riker called towards me, his glare on my back.

“Why should I?” I demand.

“Do you not see the ugly red burn on my arm? See that I am in pain?”

“Stop faking it Cassandra!” He snarls, shocking me. I bow my head in submission, the indignation I feel at being yelled at by the man I cherished.

“Either you apologize to Darcia or you can find a new job.” 

“Why are you being so cruel to me Riker? I have spent seven years at your side as your trusted aid and three of those as your lover. What am I to you?” I demand, my voice a hoarse shout. Riker just scoffs, his body shaking with rage. I can tell he is close to shifting. He pulls Darcia to his side and begins to lead her out of the door. Furious, I growl, watching him stop in his tracks.

“Answer me!” I shout back, wincing when I jerk my arm into the spout of the sink.

“You are nothing to me, Cassandra!” He shouts back, turning to snarl at me. My heart breaks at these words. How could I mean nothing to him when I have been by his side for all these years. But those aren’t the words that broke me. What he said next before leaving me sobbing and in pain is what shattered my heart completely.

“You will always be nothing but a slutty bed warmer to me!”