Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

CASSANDRA

I get home quarter to midnight because I trekked home thanks to the fact that there were no cabs, I couldn’t afford to order an Uba, and also because I stayed out late; courtesy of Ma’am Victoria and her very annoying bodyguard. As soon as I climb the porch up to the doorstep, I sight a pile of letters. I look around for a while wondering who could have sent me the letters. With trepidation, I pick them all up and then look for my keys in my bag. I unlock the door, enter the house before locking it after me.

I take off my heels at the door, letting out a relieved groan, as I walk into the sitting room barefooted, not bothering to wear my flip-flops. I dump the stack of letters on the table before throwing my bag on the living room couch. “I’m so thirsty, I need water.” I yawn, walking to the kitchen to get myself a glass of water. I pour myself a glass of water before walking back into the living room. I gulp down the water in one try before picking up my phone to dial Cole's number; I really miss him, and want to hear his voice.

“Yo! Yo! Yo! Its Cole, I am partying with demons. Haha! Just kidding leave a message and I will get back to you whenever I can. Peace.” I sigh, dropping the phone on the table. I just want to hear his voice and have a conversation with him. I can’t remember when last we talked to each other. All he does is to call for money, and I, to ask if he’s doing well. I place my legs on the table, resting my head on the throw pillow on the couch before closing my eyes. The memories of my encounter with Ma’am Victoria flooding my head. I sigh, rubbing my temples, and hoping today would just be a dream or my imagination.

I get up the next morning at the sound of the stupid alarm clock beside me. I groan in frustration and tiredness, before rubbing my eyes, while yawning non-stop, due to my extreme fatigue. I look around, realizing I’m in my bedroom, and not on the couch where I fell asleep last night. How in the world did I get up here when I fell asleep on the couch last night?

The alarm clock shakes me out of my thoughts with its’ stupid annoying sound. “Would you shut up?!” I yell, hitting it with my fist and thankfully shutting the little demon up. I remove the covers from my body and then step out of the bed still in my tank top and jeans. I take off my clothes, and wrap a towel around my body. I walk towards my closet to pick out the clothes I was going to wear today before walking into the bathroom to brush my teeth, while admiring my facial features in the mirror. I take a cold bath for the first time in a long time, because that is just what I need right now; my brain needs to cool down.

I come out of the bathroom, dressed in a knee-length black skirt, black tank top with a long sleeve jacket over it, because of how cold it is. It's early December, meaning the snow will soon start rolling in, any moment from now. I walk over to the mirror staring at my hair, wondering what to do with it today. After a lot of spraying and brushing, I finally put it up in a ponytail; as usual. I rub a little powder on my face and then put on my red lipstick. Everyone says red looks good on me; it’s not like I don’t see it in the mirror.

I walk barefooted down the stairs into the living room where my bag is. I grab all my things off the table, shoving it into my bag in a very disarranged manner when I notice the pile of letters I had left on the table last night. I turn to leave when I see the word ‘Mortgage’ on a letter that had several other letters on it.

Not again. I sit on the couch as I pick up and tear open the letter from the Mortgage Office and read the contents in the letter, a frown forming on my lips as I read further. I toss the letter to the floor the moment I finish it before getting up from the couch. “They are going to take away my house if I don’t pay them twenty million dollars in week… unbelievable.” I scoff, pacing round the sitting room. They want to take away the only memory of my dad, which costs a fortune… Fuck them!

I wear my heels at the door before shutting the door angrily, and locking it. I take my phone from my bag and dial Cole’s number again. “Yo! Yo! Yo! Its Cole, I am partying with demons. Haha! Just kidding leave a message and I will get back to you whenever I can. Peace.”

“Hey Cole! It's Cassandra, in case my number isn't saved on your phone or you lost your contacts. It’s your sister whose calls you haven't for a few weeks now. I'm really worried about you and I need to talk to you, so please call me as soon as you get my message… Yeah… Bye.” I leave a voice message and then put my phone into my bag before letting out a loud sigh.

 

NICHOLAS

“Good morning, Mr. Bennett.” Laura, Nicholas Bennett’s secretary says as soon as he enters the office. She collects his briefcase and then follows him into his office.

“Good morning.” He replies calmly walking towards his desk. He takes his seat, leaning back in his chair and then loosening his tie a little.

“Did you get a call from Mr. Benson this morning?” He asks her, switching on his laptop. Laura drops his bag on the chair in the office before walking up to him.

“Yes sir, I did. I told him you were out of the office, and won’t be coming back today.” She replies politely.

“Well done! If he calls again, keep telling him that I’m out of the office, he’ll eventually get the message and stop.” He says, and she nods her head.

“So what are my plans for today?” He asks her, his eyes not leaving the laptop, as his fingers moved across the keyboard with amazing speed.

“You have a board meeting scheduled with the company at nine a.m. sharp…” She pauses, and then continues when he signals for her to do so. “Your father requests your attention after the meeting.”

“Tell him I'm extremely busy and can’t make it.” She nods, not surprised by his refusal to see his father.

“Mr. Marshall wants to have a cup of tea with you by eleven a.m.”

“Okay, tell him I’ll be there.”

“You have lunch with Mr. George, and dinner with Mr. Roberts, and Mr. Lawrence.” She concludes.

“That's a tight one… Hmmmm… Can you can reschedule one of the meetings?”

She shakes her head negatively, “They won't take no for an answer since you’ve been canceling with them since last month. They want to finalize the deal today, and they’ve threatened to take their offer elsewhere.”

“It's fine then. I’ll see them today. You may take your leave.” He sighs. Laura gives him a polite smile before bowing her head, preparing to leave his office and go back to her work.

“Laura.” He calls and she turns to look at him.

“Yes, Mr. Bennett.”

“Could you get me a cup of black coffee if you aren't so busy now?”

“Yes sir.” She says and then walks out of the office to get him coffee.