“You were right Linda” Cassie sat with Linda in her kitchen, watching her chop vegetables. She had managed to find a silly reason to leave the mansion since Jeffrey and Zander were away on a business trip.“Rich people are different,” she continued.Her mind replayed the events of the family dinner again and she pushed them away, forcing herself to focus on the small bowl of ice cream in front of her. Linda watched her silently as she played around with her spoon, managing a few scoops of the vanilla and banana flavored ice cream.“I thought you loved Vanilla and banana” Cassie had the same question on her mind. This was usually her favorite flavor. She has even craved them so badly the week before. “It is my favorite but…I don't know, I just don't want it anymore” Cassie replied pushing the bowl away.Linda smiled, reaching out to take away the bowl of rejected ice cream. “You really are pregnant Cassie”Cassie looked up at her in confusion and she quickly explained.“The wild
Everyone in the kitchen froze except Cassie who was confused. She took a quick look around her and realized that the warm smiles on their faces had been replaced by terror.She slowly stood from her seat and stood watching Zoe who stood at the door in gym wear glaring at them.“What are you doing here?” Zoe asked, not bothering to hide her anger.Cassie smelt trouble brewing but she couldn't come up with a good escape plan. Zoe was standing at the door and she couldn't leave.“I was hungry so…” she began Zoe scoffed, staring her down from head to toe.“And what? You think you can walk in here and order our staff around?!” she asked, furiously.“No! No! I just wanted something to eat” Cassie replied meekly, staring at the floor.“The nerve of this bitch! How dare you?!” Zoe yelled.Cassie knew she had to leave. She didn't understand why Zoe was mad at her but she wasn't sure she wanted to find out in this situation.She hurriedly grabbed the cup of hot chocolate in one hand and the s
Out of reflex, his arms went around her in an attempt to hold her up and stop her from hitting his chest with full force. The scent of flowers, vanilla and chocolate hit him all at once, overpowering his senses and leaving him frozen for a minute.What is this feeling? He couldn't bring himself to pull away. He towered over her and her smallish, warm body fit perfectly in his arms.She looked up at him and the look in her eyes finished the deal. He was knocked senseless, unable to form words or move. This wasn't right. “Oh God!”Did she say something? Her voice was barely above a whisper. She suddenly jerked away from him and he was shocked at the tiny regret he felt as soon as her warm body cut contact with his.He swallowed, suddenly regaining his power of speech. This was stupid. Why did an accidental hug affect him so badly? “You should watch where you're going” he blurted out, hating how cold he sounded.His eyes were stuck on her face. He hadn't realized how beautiful her e
He walked to his desk, sat down and opened his laptop. After pausing several times, he finally mustered courage and opened his email.It still surprised him how much power his father's actions had over him.“One would think that after all these years, I would have grown a bit of thick skin” he muttered to himself.“Let’s see what you have been up to. You sly old man”He opened Stone’s encrypted email and began to go through the file slowly.He chuckled bitterly as he went from one page to the next.As expected, it was a bunch of rules and regulations to keep him in check and dictate how he should run the company.“Running my affairs even from the grave” Zander whispered, laughing to himself.Well….his father was dead now. He was in charge now! He had spent every day of his life trying to prove himself to a man who never thought he could measure up. He was going to run the Scott group of companies however he liked. “I have always made the best decisions for this company anyway. Do you
Zander shut his laptop just in time as Cameron walked into his office in his usual carefree manner. “Hey big brother!” Cameron greeted with his mysterious smile.“I wasn't expecting you. What a pleasant surprise” Zander replied, smiling and trying to appear cheerful.Cameron narrowed his eyes at his response but didn't comment on it.“I haven't been to the company premises since I returned home. I thought it would be a good idea to pay a visit” he replied smiling.Zander nodded stiffly, his eyes watching Cameron's every move and body language.“Of course. You're always welcome here. Please have a seat” he replied, waving him to a seat.Cameron didn't sit down immediately. He took his time, walking around to admire the large office. He came to a halt in front of their father's picture hanging boldly on the wall and stood staring at it.“He looks so intimidating in this picture” He said, reaching out to caress the picture gently.Zander stood from his desk to join him, racking his head
Cassie sat by her bedroom window staring out into the beautiful garden below. A novel sat in her lap but she was tired of reading. She had always thought that she could spend eternity reading books without bothering about anything else but she was wrong.She needed to leave her room! She was beginning to feel suffocated in the large room, all alone.“The garden calls out to me” she muttered to herself.That's it! She had to go downstairs and take a walk before she lost her damn mind! She picked up her novel, changed into a loose fitting dress and made her way down the stairs. The sound of laughter and raised voices reached her as she got closer to the Central wing.What is going on? Is someone having a party? She wondered. She had thought that she was all alone in the house but apparently, someone else was having a fun party downstairs.As she came closer, she could make out Zoe’s voice from the crowd. It seemed like she was having a get together with friends. Allowing her curiosit
“Is she going to be Okay?” “Yes of course Zee. I believe she was just stressed” Dr. Kim replied calmly Cassie slowly opened her eyes. She was in her room and she could hear Zander's worried voice as he spoke with Dr. Kim.“Do pregnant women faint often?” He asked“Oh no! But it is not uncommon. I will like to speak with her and run some tests to be sure that we have nothing serious to worry about” Dr. Kim replied, patting him gently on the back.“Please do everything you can. I cannot lose my child” Zander replied anxiously.“She will be fine” She reassured him.They were standing with their backs to the bed so they didn't notice that she was already wide awake and listening. She decided to stay silent. It was probably better to avoid Dr. Kim's questions.“I will take my leave now. Keep me updated” Dr. Kim announced.“Thank you very much” Zander replied, following her to the door.He returned with Jeffrey who had been standing outside the door and was surprised to see her wide awake
“I know that you are scared, Miss Cassie but you should talk to me. I can help you” Jeffrey pleaded softly.Cassie shook her head but said nothing. Bella was clear with her warning. She wasn't sure she could trust Jeffrey or Zander toscoffed protect her every minute of the day if she told the truth.“I saw what they did to you back there. Nobody has the right to treat another person so horribly” Jeffrey said.“You don't understand. It was just a prank” Cassie replied quietly.A prank you couldn't walk away from, even when you couldn't take it anymore? I am not blind, Miss. Cassie. That was not a prank” Jeffrey replied.He sounded frustrated with her and Cassie couldn't blame him. She was sticking to her stupid story for as long as she could.“I don't need your help Jeffrey. Don't worry about me. I will stay away from them and I will be okay, "she said.She turned her back to him and laid back on the bed, covering herself with the sheets to hide her face.“Please, do not tell Mr. Zand
The sound of gunshots echoed in her dreams, forcing her eyes wide open. Clutching her stomach protectively, she tried to sit up but a sharp pain stabbed through her shoulders, forcing her backwards.Strong hands pushed back on her hands and she opened her eyes to see Zander staring into her face, his eyes filled with concern.With his rumpled shirt, ruffled hair and the dark circles under his eyes, he looked like he had not slept in days.“Where am I?” Cassie asked. Her hoarse voice sounded so strange in her ears.But one thing weighed heavily on her mind as the memories of the shooting flashed back to her mind.She clutched her stomach. It felt round and soft underneath the soft fabric of her hospital gown. She felt no pain on her belly.“My baby?.....” As the words left her mouth, she suddenly remembered that she had never told Zander. Her eyes flew to his eyes which remained fixed on her face. Did he watch the video? Did he know about the baby now?Zander nodded and as their eyes
The creaking sound of the light bulb dangling in the center of the empty room was the first thing Cassie heard when she woke up.Squinting to see clearly in the dimly lit room, she glanced to the side and sighed in relief to see Maya sprawled on the floor, deep asleep.She wasn't sure how long they'd been sleeping but everywhere was silent. A bodyguard sat by the door, wide awake and scrolling through his phone.Someone had loosened the ropes around her arms. The door suddenly burst open and Cameron stormed in with Frank following closely behind.Cassie sat up in the chair, her eyes and ears on full alert.What happened? Why was Cameron looking so angry?“I told you he would try something crazy, didn't I? My face is all over the news!” He yelled, banging his fist on the concrete wall.Her legs shook beneath her. The news? Frank suddenly turned to glare at her as if he had just remembered that she was in the room.“Your boyfriend seems to enjoy pissing me off huh?”She stared at him.
The tension in the room was palpable as Frank and Cameron exchanged glances behind the scene.After a long pause, Frank turned back to the screen, an evil smile hovering on his face.“You have 30 minutes. If I call back in thirty minutes and you haven't granted my requests, then you will not see your woman ever again”The threat was loud and clear. The billionaire heir to one of the largest business empires in the country was being asked to choose between his inheritance and some random woman.Cassie blinked hard to keep the tears from rolling down her cheeks. She knew he couldn't see her from the video chat. They were keeping her as a last resort.She whimpered softly, watching the dread cloud his face as he nodded before the screen went blank.They were asking him to choose between her and his company? Frank gestured to one of his men who moved over to turn the camera towards her.“Now, you're going to read that letter to the camera for your little boyfriend” Frank ordered.She lif
She blinked again to be sure. “What…..what is this? Why?.....” She wasn't even sure which question to ask. He stopped a few feet from her and stood with his hands in his pockets, staring at her.She met his gaze and shivered at the icy look in his eyes. It almost felt like she didn't really know him anymore.The silence in the room was deafening. But not as loud as the pain of betrayal slicing through her ribs, squeezing the air from her lungs and leaving a trail of bitterness in her throat.Her eyes followed him as he lowered to a squatting position.“I am sorry, Cassie but I had no other choice….”She narrowed her eyes at him. What on earth did he mean by that?“What connects you to this….this man?” She blurted out, struggling to keep the tears from spilling over.“Why are you helping him?” She asked, throwing a quick glance in Frank's direction.Cameron sighed.“I just want to claim what is mine and Zander is standing in my way. He took you from me…..he has taken everything away
(TWO DAYS LATER)“Do you think we are making a mistake?” Zander asked, glancing at the document in his hand.He watched silently as Stone typed rapidly on his computer, barely listening to the conversation.“I am sorry but I don't think Miss Cassie has the patience to wait.” Stone replied.Zander nodded and glanced again at the file in his hand. It has been barely 48hrs and even though Cassie appeared to be calm and following their instructions, he had just received an update from Jeffrey.“She has just sold her jewelry collection worth over 5 million dollars to a collector and was seen making trips to the bank in secret just this morning." Stone added.He had to agree. It was a suspicious move. She didn't trust him enough to wait and decided to take matters into her own hands.“You think she will pay the money?” He muttered.He already knew the answer. There was no sacrifice too big for Cassie to make for her sister.Could he blame her though? Would be have done anything different?
“He called again?” Zander asked, the disappointment clearly written all over his face.Cassie nodded, lowering her eyes. He ran a hand through his hair, barely concealing his frustration.“I am not surprised. I expected another call and that is why I left some of my men behind to keep an eyes on things….” Stone murmured.As he said the last part, he turned slowly to glare at the officers who quickly lowered their heads in shame.“Why did I leave you behind if you had to miss such an important update?” He scolded them.Cassie sighed. “It isn't their fault. They didn't know that I had a phone with me in the room and no one could have known when I woke up and took the call….”They had only found out that she was awake a few minutes ago, when the detective and Zander had returned. She caught an officer trying to stifle a yawn.They must have been awake all night.“What did he want? Did he make any demands?” Zander asked, breaking the awkward silence.Cassie’s head snapped up and her conv
Zander watched the gentle rise and fall of her chest in her sleep. It had taken a solid hour but eventually, the crying and sobbing finally pushed her to sleep. Stone hovered by the door, waiting to speak to him.He glanced at him and sighed deeply.If only he could just stay by her side while handling things. He desperately wished he could just watch her sleep and everything would be fine by morning.Another signal from Stone finally forced him to move away. He slid his hands from underneath her and let her body fall gently into the soft sheets, then covered her up and strolled to the door.“I don't think....." Stone began but Zander hushed him with a wave.“Shhhh...... she's finally sleeping." he whispered.He shut the door with a soft click behind them and pushed Stone ahead, far away from the door.“Alright. Go on..."“Well......we cannot do much right now...." Stone continued, his ice blue eyes barely hiding his frustration.Zander frowned. That wasn't what he was expecting to h
Cassie stood like a statue in her living room, barely listening to the bustling of officers moving from one point to another.Detective Stone stood like a general in command gesturing in different directions as they set up all kinds of equipment in her house.A gentle tap on her shoulder forced her out of her thoughts and she jumped in surprise.“Heyy" Zander whispered.“It's just me. How are you holding up?" he asked, his kind eyes peering into her face.She barely had it together. All it would take to crush her right now was a any bad news about her sister. But she plastered a weak smile on her face and turned to him.“I am good"His brows twisted for a second and the doubt crossed his eyes but he pursed his lips. She glanced around at her living room. Stone and his men had converted it into a control room of some sorts with monitors and strange devices she couldn't recognize.Zander moved away from her and drew closer to the detective but she followed closely behind him, her ears
Cassie tried hard not to let her eyes follow Jim as he paced from one end of the office to another.“Come on, Jim. You're going to punch holes in the floor with all that pacing” He turned to her with a pout and rubbed his forehead in frustration.“Easy for you to say, superstar. You're not the one who's going to reject all those juicy deals and watch money move from our hands to another's pockets”She shook her head. It was even more painful for her to think about all the money she was going to lose but she had to think about her baby first.Jim stopped pacing to look at her.“You are really not going to tell me why you need this urgent break?” He asked, his curious eyes searching her face.She lowered her head to avoid his eyes. It wasn't fair that she wouldn't give him any good reasons for her actions but Jim was always kind and understanding, so he wouldn't push for answers anyway.“I don't think you'll understand, Jim. I really need a break to sort out something personal” she rep