ALEXANDER

Chapter 23

Alexander POV

It has been three days since we went to my parents’ house. I’ve been calling mom and asked about gramps but he didn’t want to talk to me. Just glad nothing worse happened to him that night.

Cassidy had been going out lately. Maybe visiting her family or her friends. But when I got home, she’s already there preparing our dinner.

Being with her has made my life complete. That’s for sure. She’s the woman I could ever ask for. By thinking of her right now has just made my day.

“I thought you won’t come.” Says Ulysses.

“You know I will not bail on this one.” I say.

We’re in the golf course. This is our monthly past times. We wager on this game, too. Two hundred fifty grand was the lesser wager, and the highest was a million.

We don’t just come here and have some fun. We also earn a lot. That’s how businessmen do. My friends are not just businessmen, investors, or name it. They are also golfers and car racers. Whilst I am a certified pilot, same as Gabriel. The only reason he’s not here right now is because Sab is so clingy today. Well, that’s what Gabriel has told us.

I can’t comment on that as I am no different with her.

Ugh! I miss my girl.

We’re in the freeway section when I notice a woman coming.

“What is Cheska doing here??” I ask them, having my brows slightly furrow.

Everyone follows my gaze.

“Well, she’s our friend. In case you forgot, she’s also a golfer.” says Moross.

“Yeah.”

I was the one who introduced this to her, and since then, she loved it. We’ve crossed path in several occasions and in different golf club tournaments but I rarely talked to her.

I don’t want to give her an impression that I still want her. Besides, she’s a known personality as well, paparazzi are just everywhere, so I don’t want to get involved with her to avoid speculation. But then here she is now.

“Hey, everyone. Oh! Alexander! What a surprise?!”

I ignore her and just walks to the next area..

“Hey, don’t be rude.” she says.

“Are you really here to play golf or you’re here because you know I am here?” I ask which I hit something in her. She pauses in a few seconds.

“Of course, to play golf. You know how much I love this. And don’t be too high on yourself, Alex. I’m totally over you.”

My friends laugh while shaking their heads. They hear it, of course.

I know she’s lying, but I don’t want to waste my time talking to her, so ignoring her presence would be the best option I can do.

**********************

CASSIDY POV

“That’s the truth, Anj.”

“We know you’re not telling the truth, Cassie. So spill the tea!” says Valeen, while Anj is just raising an eyebrow at me.

She really knows me well. I’m just glad she doesn’t find out about my secret yet.

“Earth to Cassidy? Hello?!”

Valeen’s voice has instantly cut me off from my thoughts.

“I’m sorry. I just remembered something. Anyway, where are we again?”

“Really, Cassidy? You’ve been spacing out for ten minutes! We even finished our meal, yet your mind was still wondering.” Anj is rolling her eyes at me.

Oh!

“I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

They still stare at me, waiting for my answer.

“Alright. You win!”

They both squeal when I confessed about the hickeys. Anj noticed the hickeys on my neck and my shoulders when we went into the bathroom earlier. I thought I hid it well, but she still saw it. Well, she first saw the trail of hickeys near my ear when I combed my hair. Then she checked on me instantly after that. I denied their interrogations earlier. However, they didn’t stop until we got here.

“I knew it! Omg! Aww I’m so envy right now. I want to have a handsome boyfriend worshipping my body as well.” says Anj.

“Me too, Anj! You’re so lucky, girl!” Valeen responds while giggling.

“Haha! I’m lucky indeed.” I respond while giving them a wide grin. Not because he is a billionaire or handsome. But I am lucky because I met a nice man and met people I didn't dream to meet and I went to places I didn't even know they existed.

Alexander is with his friends right now, so I have met my friends too, just catching up with our lives.

We’re currently having lunch here in our favorite restaurant. This is also not expensive. They planned to shop after which I agreed since I have nothing to do at home.

I’ve almost mastered the art of cooking because I spent my time cooking and baking some pastries. Well, at first, I was so into binge-watching but I got bored doing the repetitive things in his house. I decided to just practice cooking, which later on I got addicted to. I even visited Anj and gave her the pastries I baked. I also went to Alexander’s office just to have him taste my version of food. But this time, I gave it to his parents. I visited them and Alexander does not know about it yet. I will just tell him on our next visit, which will be in two days from now. I promised them I'll visit again. Athena has been loving my seaweed soup and even Augustus loves it. I’ve been visiting them for three consecutive days as well. But I made sure I got home before Alexander did.

In fact, I just came from his parents’ house. I had a funny story telling moment with them.

I didn’t know Andrew and Athena told Augustus about how I compared their son to a monkey and just like them, August cracked up too. I also had fun playing games with them these past days. Augustus couldn’t win against me when we played Chess. His doctor was with him, so he agreed about it. I also forced the doctor to play with us. I was afraid Augustus wouldn’t like it, but surprisingly, he wanted him to play, too. Hoping to defeat me. Nonetheless, none of them won against me which I was proud of myself. Haha!

I always left their house with a wide smile on my face. Feeling exuberant I should say.

“Alright! Let’s stop this and let’s get out of here so we can go shopping!” says Valeen

“Okay! But let’s just choose somewhere less expensive...” says Anj, and I agree with her.

After paying our order, we go out while still talking about Alexander, which I can’t help but to remember what happened on my first visit alone to Alexander’s parents.

FLASHBACK:

“Cassidy. Are you alone?” Athena asks as soon as she sees me.

“Hi.” We do beso-beso. It’s a cheek to cheek kiss. “Yeah. It’s just me.”

“Okay. So do you really want to talk to dad?”

“Yes, I really do.”

“Alright. He’s in the backyard. I’ll have the maids to bring you some drinks and food.”

“Thank you.”

I walk to where Athena tells me to go. And a couple of minutes later, sighting Augustus sitting in his wheelchair with his personal nurse beside him while staring at the vineyards. I didn't even know there's vineyard here.

Wow!

Is this their backyard too??!

Augustus notices me, so I wear my best smile and greet him. As I expected, he just gives me his sour mood.

“What do you want? Did I not clarify that I don’t want to see you?”

“I’m here to talk to you, sir. I know how you loathed me right now, as it’s already evident on your face. But I-“

He scoffs. “Then leave.” He says, cutting me off.

“I will not leave unless we talk and clear this misunderstanding, sir. Please give me five minutes of your time.”

To be honest, the way he stares at me is making me scared. Clenching my fist to keep me from running away. I need to talk to him.

“If my grandson just asked you to talk to me. Don’t waste your time. Whether or not we talk, I still don’t believe that your relationship is real. I know Alexander. He loves his company more than anything. He will just hire a good actress to pretend.”

“Just hear me out, sir. Please?? If you really love your grandson, hear me out. He doesn’t know I’m here. I don’t want him to get involved about this because this is my fault. You wouldn’t get mad at him in the first place if he didn’t introduce me. So I should be the one to blame and I don't want you both to have some misunderstandings because of me. Please sir, just five minutes of your time.”

I will not back out on this. I’m here to talk and I’m here to help Alexander, even if it means going to hell for lying.

He doesn’t tear his gaze away from me, so do I. It was him who gives up and agrees to talk.

“Alright then. Your time starts now.”

A smile appears on my face and instantly thank him for agreeing. Then I start my five minutes’ time.

“Alexander and I were telling you the truth. He came back into my life, which I now believe love is sweeter the second time around because he shows me he truly loves me this time. We broke up years ago because he had a lot of women. He didn’t take our relationship seriously. He cheated on me, so I left him. But after several years we’ve met again. And you know those kinds of feelings? Like something has awakened again? Like you feel every thing you did has purpose? And you're always happy just to hear his voice, read his text or even just to remember him. And then I realized I still have feelings for him, so does he. We agreed to give ourselves a second chance, and I wasn’t wrong about the decision I made because he has made me the happiest woman on earth. He’s too good to be true! The ideal boyfriend that everyone is dreaming of, I see that in him. But that’s not what really makes me love him more. What draws my heart to him is how much he cares for his family. And how much he loves you, sir. He’s so worried and had blamed himself that something might have happened that night because of what he did. He loves you, sir. He promised your wife to make you happy. But he can’t just marry someone he doesn’t love. So when he told me you want him to marry someone he loves, he’s going to do that now. He actually asked me to marry him, but I refused.”

“Refused?! Why? Alexander is a good catch and didn’t you just say you love him, too?”

His question brings back a memory of when I was talking with Anj about my feelings for Alexander.

“Anj, do you think I love him?

“Of course you do! Can’t you see yourself, Cassie? You’re in love?!”

I smile at that thought. Then seriously answer Augustus’ question.

“Don’t get me wrong, sir. I love your grandson, not because he has money. I love him so much because he is a good man. But I can’t marry him if I don’t get a full approval from his family. I need to prove myself to his family that I am worth to be a part of his family, too. It’s not just because he loves me and wants to have a family with me. You know, I have a very close relationship with my family and I want to have the same with the family of my future husband. My family loves Alexander, sir. He’s even close with my brothers. I really don’t know how he did that, but he just earned my family’s trust. So I want his family to see me as a good person too. Just like how my family sees him.”