Sixty Three

CHAPTER 63

Cassandra couldn’t sleep. Thomas’s words replayed in her mind like a broken record. “Antonio is dangerous.” Agnes’s cryptic warning earlier that night only added to her unease. Was everyone around Antonio merely playing roles in his game of manipulation? And what had Thomas risked to warn her? Questions buzzed relentlessly in her head as she paced back and forth in her room.

The clock struck midnight, and the mansion had fallen into a heavy silence. Cassandra knew Antonio would be in his study, reviewing documents or making phone calls as he often did late at night. If there was ever a time to seek answers, it was now.

Resolute, Cassandra grabbed her shawl and slipped out of her room. The hallways were dimly lit, casting long shadows that danced with every flicker of the lamps. She moved cautiously, her steps silent on the polished wooden floors. The path to Antonio’s study felt longer than usual, her heart pounding with each step.

When she reached the study door, she paused, pressing her ear to the wood. The low murmur of Antonio’s voice confirmed he was inside, speaking on the phone. Cassandra bit her lip. Entering uninvited could be risky, but she needed to confront Antonio. If he truly was dangerous, facing him was the only way to uncover the truth.

Taking a deep breath, she knocked softly.

“Come in,” Antonio’s voice called, smooth and calm as ever.

Cassandra pushed the door open and stepped inside. Antonio sat behind a massive mahogany desk, his jacket draped over the chair, his sleeves rolled up. He glanced up from his papers, his expression shifting to one of pleasant surprise.

“Cassandra,” he said, setting his pen down. “What brings you here so late?”

Cassandra moved closer, trying to appear composed. “I couldn’t sleep,” she admitted. “I thought maybe you could help answer some questions that... have been troubling me.”

Antonio leaned back in his chair, regarding her with interest. “Questions? About what?”

“About us. About the people around us. About you,” she said carefully, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her.

Antonio’s smile faded slightly. “That sounds serious,” he said. “Sit down, Cassandra. Let’s talk.”

She hesitated briefly before sitting in the chair opposite him. Antonio’s gaze never left hers, his sharp eyes seemingly trying to decipher her thoughts.

“What do you want to know?” he asked, his tone remaining gentle but firm.

“Why do people warn me about you?” Cassandra asked directly, deciding to confront him head-on. “Tonight, someone told me to stay away from you—that you’re dangerous. Even Agnes seemed to imply something similar.”

Antonio’s expression hardened, and for a moment, he said nothing. The silence in the room grew stifling. Finally, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk.

“Dangerous?” he repeated, his voice low. “Cassandra, you’ve known me long enough to understand that I’m a man who takes control of situations. In my line of work, that can be misinterpreted as... dangerous.”

“So you deny it?” Cassandra pressed.

Antonio’s eyes narrowed. “Who told you this?”

Cassandra hesitated, unsure if she should reveal Thomas’s presence. “Does it matter?” she deflected. “I want to hear the truth from you, not rumors.”

Antonio exhaled slowly, leaning back in his chair. “The truth, Cassandra, is that I have enemies. Powerful enemies. People who would do anything to tarnish my reputation and turn you against me. If someone approached you tonight, they were likely one of them.”

“But why would they warn me?” Cassandra asked, refusing to relent. “What would they gain from it?”

Antonio stood, pacing behind his desk. “Because they know you’re important to me,” he said, turning to face her. “They want to sow doubt, to create a rift between us. They’re using you as a pawn in their game. Don’t let them succeed.”

Cassandra felt her resolve waver. His words carried conviction, but was it genuine? Or was he manipulating her, just as Thomas had warned?

“If that’s true,” she said quietly, “why didn’t you tell me about these enemies before?”

Antonio stepped closer, his voice softening. “Because I wanted to protect you. The less you know, the safer you are.”

His hand reached out, gently brushing her cheek. Cassandra froze, her mind spinning with conflicting emotions. Antonio’s touch was warm, his gaze tender, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that darkness lay beneath his polished exterior.

“I care about you, Cassandra,” he whispered. “And I need you to trust me.”

Cassandra pulled back slightly, her heart racing. “Trust has to be earned, Antonio. And right now, I’m not sure who I can believe.”

Antonio’s expression darkened momentarily before he composed himself. “Then let me prove it to you,” he said. “Stay by my side, and you’ll see that everything I do is for us.”

Cassandra nodded faintly, though doubt still gnawed at her. Antonio’s answers only deepened the mystery. She needed more clarity, but one thing was certain: the game she was caught in was far from over.

In an unexpected moment of silence, Antonio suddenly pulled Cassandra into his arms. The embrace was firm but not threatening, instead radiating a surprising warmth.

“Everything will be fine, Cassandra,” he whispered softly into her ear. His deep, assured voice inexplicably calmed Cassandra’s anxiety. Even though she knew he was her enemy, someone Thomas had warned her about, there was something genuine in Antonio’s demeanor that night.

The tension gripping Cassandra’s body slowly melted away. Unconsciously, she closed her eyes, allowing the odd sense of safety to wash over her. Somehow, the security of his embrace made her feel tired. Within minutes, her breathing steadied, and she drifted off.

Antonio realized Cassandra had fallen asleep in his arms. He gazed at her peaceful face with an unreadable expression. For a moment, the man known for his cold, calculated nature simply looked at Cassandra gently, as if she were the most precious thing in his life.

Without a sound, Antonio lifted Cassandra and carried her to a long sofa near the window. He laid her down carefully, ensuring she was comfortable before covering her with a light blanket nearby. Antonio studied her face one more time before standing, his thoughts returning to bigger matters.

As he returned to his desk, his phone vibrated on the wooden surface. Antonio quickly picked it up, seeing Ben’s name on the screen. He answered the call silently, listening.

“I saw him at the gala last night,” Ben’s voice came through the phone. “Thomas was there.”

Antonio froze. His jaw tightened as rarely-seen emotion flickered across his face. “Are you certain?” he asked, his tone low and dangerous.

“Absolutely,” Ben replied. “I saw him speaking with some guests. I don’t know what he’s planning, but this isn’t a coincidence.”

Antonio said nothing. His grip on the phone tightened until his knuckles turned white. His face twisted into a mix of anger and frustration. Thomas had gone too far by attending the event. If he dared to appear in Antonio’s domain, it meant he had a high-risk plan.

Without a word, Antonio ended the call and placed the phone on the desk. Moments later, he clenched it with such force that a faint cracking sound emerged. He dropped the damaged device sharply onto the desk, its screen now riddled with cracks.

His eyes shifted back to Cassandra, still peacefully asleep on the sofa. His hardened gaze softened slightly.

“Thomas,” he murmured quietly but with determination, “I will make sure you never trouble her again.”

Antonio took a deep breath, regaining his composure. He knew that his next steps had to be calculated perfectly. That night, while Cassandra slept soundly, Antonio began planning his next move in the dangerous game involving Thomas, himself, and the woman caught between them.