Fifty Three

CHAPTER 53

Antonio's words echoed in Cassandra’s mind as they returned to the city. The drive back was silent, each lost in their own thoughts. The sun, now high in the sky, cast long shadows across the road, reflecting the internal conflict within Cassandra. She couldn’t shake the feeling that things had shifted between them, but how? And why did she feel so unsettled by it?

Once they reached the city, Antonio broke the silence. “Cassandra,” he said, his voice still carrying the weight of something unspoken. “You should take the day off today. You don’t need to go to work. Rest. We’ve had a lot of things happen, and it might be good for you to step back for a while.”

Cassandra turned to look at him, studying his face for any hint of manipulation. Instead, she saw concern, genuine concern, something she hadn't expected. She wasn’t used to this side of him, but she could feel the sincerity in his words.

“I... I suppose I could use the rest,” Cassandra murmured, feeling an unexpected wave of relief wash over her. It was as though the weight of her responsibilities had lifted, if only for a moment.

Antonio nodded, his expression softening. “Good. Take some time to breathe. I'll handle everything for today.”

They arrived at her apartment, the familiar surroundings offering no comfort. Cassandra stepped out of the car, her mind still in a swirl of emotions. She was grateful for the break, but also confused about the deeper connection Antonio was hinting at. Was it just a part of his plan? Or had things truly changed between them?

Once inside, she went to her room to change, but the quiet of the apartment made everything feel louder, the thoughts in her mind overwhelming. She needed a moment to herself.

As she stood in front of the mirror, trying to sort through her emotions, her phone buzzed. Martinez’s name flashed on the screen. She hesitated for a moment, but something in her gut told her to ignore it. She had spent so many hours listening to his calls, pretending to be fine while she was anything but. Today, she just wanted silence.

She let the phone buzz a few more times, each ring like a reminder of the world outside of her own. But as the call came through again, she made a decision. Cassandra pressed the power button on her phone, silencing it once and for all.

The absence of the call felt strangely freeing. For the first time in a while, Cassandra didn’t feel the weight of expectations pressing down on her. She was allowed to be still, to breathe without any outside pressures. The noise of the world faded, leaving only the quiet hum of her own thoughts.

Sitting down on the edge of her bed, she let her mind wander back to the conversation with Antonio. There was something in his voice, something different, when he spoke about needing her by his side. It was as if he understood just how dangerous the world he inhabited really was. The power he wielded, the connections he had—they were dangerous, and yet, he needed her to stay with him. She was his anchor, his strength in a world that would easily crush him without it.

His words haunted her, a quiet plea hidden beneath the surface of his confident exterior. He didn’t just need her for business. No, it was deeper than that. She wasn’t sure whether it was a calculated move or if Antonio had begun to rely on her presence for more personal reasons.

Cassandra felt a mixture of guilt and gratitude. The vulnerability he had shown her—was it real, or was it a mask to keep her close? She didn’t know, but there was something in her chest that told her she couldn’t walk away, at least not yet.

As she leaned back on the bed, closing her eyes for a moment, she thought of everything that had led her here. The marriage, the promises, the dangers. All of it seemed to twist into something neither of them had intended. But the deeper she sank into these thoughts, the more she realized how entangled she had become. She had no idea what the future held, but she could feel the weight of it pressing down on her.

The sudden ringing of her phone broke her from her reverie. Martinez again.

For a split second, Cassandra considered picking up the call. After all, there were always questions about business, about what was next. But the thought of listening to Martinez’s grating voice made her stomach turn. She could not deal with it right now. Not after everything that had happened.

Instead of answering, she let the phone continue ringing. She needed this time—this small, precious time—to herself. It was fleeting, but it was hers. With a sigh, she took the phone and set it face down on the nightstand.

Minutes passed, but they felt like hours as Cassandra sat in the quiet of her room. The decision to silence her phone, to ignore the outside world, had brought a sense of peace she hadn’t known she was craving. She closed her eyes again, letting the stillness fill her.

But even in this moment of tranquility, her mind returned to Antonio. His words lingered, like a shadow that refused to be banished. “I need you by my side, Cassandra,” he had said. How could she ignore that? How could she deny the strange mix of emotions his confession had stirred in her?

She had tried to keep her distance, to remind herself that this was all just business. But it was becoming harder to separate the man from the situation. Antonio had found a way to break through her defenses, to make her question everything she thought she knew about herself and her place in this world.

The knock on her door pulled her from her thoughts, and she quickly wiped the tears that had formed at the edges of her eyes. She didn’t know how long she had been lost in her mind, but she couldn’t let anyone see her this vulnerable.

When she opened the door, Antonio stood there, a concerned look on his face.

“Are you alright?” he asked softly, his gaze searching hers for any hint of distress.

Cassandra hesitated, then nodded. “Yes, I’m fine. Just... just needed some time alone.”

Antonio studied her for a moment, his eyes softening with understanding. “I get it,” he said, stepping inside the room. “I didn’t mean to crowd you. Take all the time you need. But know this, Cassandra: You’re not alone in this. I’m here for you, and I’ll stay by your side, no matter what happens.”

There it was again—his words, as simple as they were, sent a ripple through her chest. He wasn’t just talking about the business anymore. There was something deeper in his tone, something she couldn’t fully understand, but couldn’t ignore either.

Cassandra swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. “Thank you.”

Antonio didn’t say anything else. Instead, he stepped forward, closing the distance between them. Gently, he took her hand and squeezed it, his grip reassuring.

In that moment, as he stood beside her, Cassandra realized something. She didn’t know what the future held, or how this strange journey would end. But she knew one thing for certain: Antonio had become more than just the man she was married to for convenience. He had become someone she was starting to care about, even if that care was still buried beneath layers of fear, doubt, and confusion.

And for better or worse, she wasn’t ready to let go. Not yet.