Casey P.O.V.We were seated at a quiet corner table in the restaurant, the hum of light conversation and the clinking of cutlery filling the air around us. Our server had just taken our orders and walked away when I turned my attention back to Owen, who was sitting across from me, fiddling with the edge of his napkin. "So why this sudden emergency meeting after your mother and sister just left this afternoon?" I asked, taking a sip of my water, watching him over the rim of the glass. God is finally on my side. My mother and uncle had to cancel their plans because of some emergency, otherwise they would be coming today.He sighed, and the sound was heavy, like he’d aged twenty years in one day. "I talked to my mother this evening.""And?" I pressed, sensing something big coming."She hired a private investigator," he said, his voice flat. "To investigate your background. Your career. Your stepfather."I sprayed the water from my mouth directly onto his face in shock. "What?!"Owen scr
Casey P.O.VI blinked at him. "Monday? But I have an interview on Monday morning.”“You can attend the interview. The flight is in the evening. Hope by then your interview will end.” Then Owen gave me a look, one I was not sure how to read. I can not say if I like it or not. "And there is something I want to talk about… I am offering you a job at my restaurant. In HR position of course.”I stared at him, mouth hanging open. "Wait, what?”"The position is already yours. You just have to show up for the interview as a formality," he said casually, as if he had not just thrown a bombshell at me. "My mother suggested it when I told her you wanted to do something on your own. She thinks it is a good idea and I think the same. It will be a good opportunity.”My blood boiled, and I shot up from my chair. "Excuse me? I do not need your favours, Owen. I can get a job on my own based on my qualifications, not because you put in a word for me.”I turned to march out, but Owen grabbed my hand, st
Casey P.O.VBefore dessert arrived, I excused myself to use the washroom. With my purse in hand, I made my way through the restaurant, heels clicking softly against the marble floor. The air was cool, and the scent of food lingered in the background, but I hardly noticed any of it. My thoughts were jumbled, running a mile a minute, and this was the perfect moment to take a breath.Pushing open the washroom door, I stepped inside and quickly entered one of the stalls. I did my business, grateful for the brief escape from the awkward dinner conversation at the table. After finishing, I stepped out to wash my hands, the washroom still completely empty. The sleek marble countertops and polished mirrors reflected my hurried movements as I turned the tap on.As I was washing my hands, the door behind me creaked open. I did not pay much attention to the person entering and focused on myself, staring down at the running water, lost in thought. When I finally turned off the tap and glanced to
Casey P.O.V.The entire restaurant had broken out into loud whispers , and I could feel dozens of eyes burning holes into my back.I need some air. The sting from Grace’s hand still lingered on my face, and as much as I wanted to storm out, the part of me that hated public scenes felt frozen in place.I was about two steps away from making my grand exit when a familiar voice stopped me. I turned back .“Do not believe her Grace. She and her cousin are not much different.” Brooks’s ex wife came and stood beside Grace with her arms folded on her chest. They both looked like Cindrella’s two stepsisters trying to look down on me but failing miserably. “Trying to shag another woman’s man.”I copied her terrace .“Didn't I tell you? Do not stick your nose where it should not be stuck.” I gave her a mocking smile. “Oh I forgot. You let dicks of other men stick in you when it should not be sticking. Isn't it how you ended up divorced in the first place because you slept with Brooks' best frie
Casey P.O.V. “After you, ma’am,” Owen said in a terrible attempt at a British accent, holding the car door open for me. He even bowed his head dramatically like some old time chauffeur, his lips twitching with amusement. I stifled a laugh, biting my lip. “Why, thank you, kind sir,” I replied, matching his bad accent with one just as ridiculous. I stepped into his luxurious car, settling into the soft leather seat as we shared a chuckle over our botched accents. Owen closed the door behind me with a flourish, still playing his part, before he hurried around to his side. Once inside, he buckled his seatbelt and started the car. The engine purred to life, a deep, throaty hum that reminded me of the car’s price tag, and we pulled out of the parking lot. “Damn. Tonight was eventful. I felt like I was riding a rollercoaster. Non-stop drama,” Owen muttered, shaking his head slightly as he turned the car and took the other lane. “Uh-huh, and the drama was not even about you,” I sighed, l
Casey P.O.V."Is it too late to go back to the car and crash it?" Owen whispered beside me, his eyes glued to my mother, who stood in front of us like a warden ready to pass judgement."I am regretting not taking the first option now," he added, swallowing hard, his Adam's apple bobbing nervously as he stared at the broom in her hand.“Told you. You should have, at least we would be in hospital, kicking.”My mother was terrifying. She had that look on her face, the one that could make grown men confess to things they had not even done. She was standing in front of us with a broom in her hand, and tapping her right foot on the floor. Her face twisted in anger as her eyes were moving back and forth between the two of us. Fury was blazing through her eyes that might shoot fire at us. I felt like I was the helpless cartoon character who had awakened a fire breathing angry dragon who was going to shoot fireballs at any moment and burn me alive.Behind us, the rest of the family cowered in
Casey’s P.O.V."I know it is fast, but I can not stay without your daughter," Owen said, pulling me closer by the waist, his hand resting protectively on my hip. I froze under his touch, heart pounding in my chest, not because of him but because of my mother's eyes that were shooting lasers at us by now. My mother’s gaze flickered between the two of us, like a hawk deciding whether to swoop in for the kill or let her prey go for a few more seconds.She turned, glancing at the rest of my family, probably hoping for some silent opinions. Everyone shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. Then she turned back to us, a slight narrowing of her eyes. "Yeah, I get it, but why don’t we wait until—"Suddenly, Uncle Matthew, who had been completely fine a second ago ,clutched his chest with both hands pressing against his heart. His face contorted in pain, his knees bent . They buckled under his weight. He gritted his teeth. His whole body wobbled forward and he fell down the ground , laying on his
Casey P.O.V."Surprise! Happy Birthday, Ryder!" The excited chorus of voices rang out as Ryder’s family, colleagues, and friends emerged from the house, faces bright with anticipation, until well until what was waiting in the garden.They stopped short, mouths hanging open, eyes wide with disbelief. The scene before them was pure chaos, and it was nothing like what anyone had expected. I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing out loud, while Zazu, standing beside me, stifled her own amusement, her shoulders shaking with silent mirth.Grace stood behind the cake table, knife in hand, she had a big smile on her face, her eyes locked on Ryder who was standing there, blindfolded and grinning, completely unaware of the carnage his party had become. The crowd gawked at the decorations behind us, where everything had spiralled wildly out of control.The neighbourhood wasn’t much better. Some neighbours who were heading inside their house stopped dead in their tracks, staring in horror at th