Twenty Five

CHAPTER 25

Cassandra gripped her trousers tightly, her nails digging into the fabric as she fought to contain her anger. The muscles in her jaw tensed, but she forced herself to maintain a calm demeanor. Slowly, she met Antonio’s intense gaze with her own, her voice steady as she asked, “Do you think I’m fit to be a police officer?”

Antonio’s response was immediate—a sharp laugh that echoed throughout the room. He leaned back on the sofa, his smirk widening as he pointed a finger at her. “A police officer?” he said, mocking disbelief in his tone. “No, Cassandra, you’re far better suited to being my bedmate.”

The insult hit her like a slap, but Cassandra remained stoic, suppressing the storm of fury building inside her. Stay calm, she reminded herself. Instead of reacting, she tilted her head slightly and forced a small smile, as if his words had no power over her.

Antonio’s smirk remained, satisfied with his perceived control over her. “Come,” he said, rising from the sofa and motioning toward the table where the sushi platter was elegantly displayed. “Let’s enjoy lunch together. This sushi was flown in fresh from Japan this morning. Only the best for you.”

Cassandra stood, her movements deliberate as she followed him to the table. She sat across from him, her eyes briefly scanning the exquisite arrangement of the sushi. Antonio wasted no time, pouring himself a glass of sake and beginning to eat with calculated elegance. Every move he made seemed designed to showcase his wealth and power.

As Cassandra reluctantly took a piece of sushi, Antonio leaned back in his chair, watching her intently. “You should appreciate this,” he said, gesturing at the food. “Do you know how much effort it takes to ensure my wife receives first-class treatment?”

Cassandra lowered her gaze, feigning humility. “I’m just a lowly journalist,” she murmured, her voice laced with self-deprecation. “I don’t deserve such extravagance.”

Antonio’s smirk faltered for a fraction of a second before he leaned forward, his dark eyes narrowing. “Whether you think you deserve it or not is irrelevant,” he said, his tone sharp. “You are mine, Cassandra. That alone is enough reason for me to provide you with the best.”

Cassandra swallowed hard, her stomach churning with a mixture of disgust and frustration. Despite her inner turmoil, she forced herself to eat, knowing that any sign of rebellion would only fuel Antonio’s desire to assert control over her.

When the meal was finished, Antonio wiped his mouth with a cloth napkin and fixed his gaze on her. “Tell me, Cassandra,” he began, his voice deceptively casual. “What do you need? Money? Jewelry? A new car? Say the word, and it’s yours.”

Cassandra set her chopsticks down, folding her hands in her lap to hide the slight trembling in her fingers. “I don’t need anything,” she replied softly. “I’m fine as I am.”

Antonio’s smirk returned, but this time it was accompanied by a glint of mischief in his eyes. “If you don’t give me a specific answer, I’ll have to assume you need everything,” he said, his voice silky smooth. “And I’ll give you exactly that—everything.”

Cassandra blinked, momentarily caught off guard by his words. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could speak, her phone buzzed inside her bag, breaking the tense silence. Both their gazes shifted toward the source of the sound.

“I need to take this,” Cassandra said, her hand reaching for the bag.

But before she could retrieve the phone, Antonio’s hand shot out, gently but firmly grasping her wrist. “Not so fast,” he said, his voice low and commanding. “Who would dare interrupt our time together?”

Cassandra’s heart raced as she looked at him, her mind scrambling for a way to diffuse the situation. Antonio’s piercing gaze held hers, and for a moment, the air between them grew thick with unspoken tension. She had to tread carefully—one wrong move, and everything she had worked to conceal could unravel in an instant.

Cassandra swallowed hard, steadying herself before replying with practiced ease. “It’s just a work notification,” she said, her tone light. “I’ve been following a story about a celebrity scandal in New York. The editors love the updates.”

 Antonio’s grip on her wrist loosened, and his intense gaze softened slightly. “Celebrity gossip,” he mused, letting out a faint chuckle as he finally released her. “I suppose your job has its amusements.”

 Cassandra offered a faint smile, masking the relief flooding through her. “It does. But I should take this.”

Antonio gestured toward the door with a dismissive wave. “Go ahead, but don’t keep me waiting too long.”

Nodding, Cassandra grabbed her phone and stepped out of the office. The moment the door closed behind her, she let out a quiet exhale, her body momentarily sagging with tension. She quickly answered the call. “Martinez,” she said softly, glancing around the corridor to ensure she was alone.

“Cassandra,” Detective Martinez’s familiar voice came through, calm but firm. “We have a situation. I need you to meet me at Emperal Hospital downtown. It’s urgent.”

Cassandra hesitated, glancing at the closed office door behind her. “Right now?” she asked, her voice wavering slightly. “I’m... in the middle of something.”

“Cassandra, this can’t wait,” Martinez pressed. “It’s related to the Foster case.” Her heart sank.

She bit her lip, weighing her options before finally nodding to herself. “I’ll be there,” she said, keeping her voice low. “Give me twenty minutes.”

She ended the call and stood there for a moment, her thoughts swirling. Returning to Antonio’s office now felt even more precarious, but she couldn’t risk raising his suspicions by disappearing without explanation.

 Bracing herself, she adjusted her posture and re-entered the room. The sight that greeted her immediately set off alarm bells in her mind. Ben was standing close to Antonio, leaning down slightly as he whispered something to him. Antonio’s expression remained calm, though his brows furrowed faintly in thought.

When Cassandra stepped inside, Ben straightened and turned to her, his face betraying no emotion. “Excuse me,” Ben said smoothly, inclining his head toward her before walking past and out of the room.

Cassandra watched him leave, her instincts prickling with unease. Ben had always struck her as someone who observed more than he let on, and the way he glanced at her before exiting only deepened her suspicion.

“Was that about me?” she asked, her tone light as she turned back to Antonio. Antonio chuckled, reclining slightly in his chair.

 “Paranoid, aren’t you?” he teased. “Ben and I discuss many things, Cassandra, but not everything revolves around you.”

Despite his words, Cassandra couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted in the dynamic. She forced herself to sit across from him again, keeping her expression neutral even as her mind raced. “Let’s not waste time,” Antonio said, his voice casual yet commanding. “Where were we?”