CHAPTER 19
1326 Words
My legs were shaking when I walked away. Once again, the feeling of being disappointed in someone caused some havoc on my peace of mind. I couldn’t think clearly as I made my way towards the coffee shop where Mother and the girls were probably having a discussion.
“Girls, this is my daughter, Cassie.” My mom introduced me to them and all five of them smiled at me. I smiled back but it faded immediately when I noticed an empty seat.
“Is someone coming?” I asked and she nodded. Then, she gestured for me to order my coffee.
I was at the counter, dictating my order to the barista when someone joined the group with a big smile on her beautiful face. Automatically, I clenched my jaw when I recognized the woman in a yellow dress.
“It’s a hundred and seventy,” the barista-slashed cashier said.
“Alright,” I replied but my thoughts immediately traveled to the newly-arrived woman. Was she a new member? I didn’t see her photos on the website for the club. I gave my payment to the cashier and I waited for the change. “Miss, can I come back later?”
“Sure,” he agreed.
“Hmmm never mind,” I said after changing my mind. Several years have passed already and there would be a chance that she wouldn’t recognize me.
I smiled at the newcomer and she also smiled back. Perhaps it was the hoodie covering my head that she failed to recognize me or she had a memory gap. How long was it again? Eight years? Seven?
After the brief meeting, Mom asked them to choose something at any boutiques as a welcome gift. “Mom, did you recognize the woman who was late?” I asked when we walked together towards her favorite boutique for shoes.
Adrianna furrowed her brows when she looked at me. “Did you forget your classmate, Nancy?”
“Not really but I thought that it was someone else,” I reasoned out.
“She just joined last week and you wouldn’t believe what the girl went through,” Adrianna shook her head while speaking.
“Unfortunately, she encountered hardships along the way,” I said but to be honest, I really wouldn’t give a damn for Nancy. Yes, we were immature back then, but if I would be given the chance to go back to the past, I wouldn’t change anything.
I still hate her!
“Do you want to buy anything?” Adrianna asked.
“Hmmm no. Is it okay if I will wait in the car?”
“Sure darling, go on.”
I placed both of my hands into my hoodie packet as I strolled towards the elevator that would take me to the parking lot. Nancy’s presence bothered me…especially when she had a brief encounter with Keith Demakis.
“Cassie!”
I turned around when I heard someone called me and as expected, my guess was right. “Yes? What do you want?”
“Is that how you are going to greet your boyfriend?” He inquired. A line suddenly appeared on his forehead when I chose to ignore his inquiry.
“You are not my boyfriend, Keith,” I said then began to walk away but he managed to grab my wrist. Well, that was fast…and painful too! I pulled my hand to get away from his hold but he dragged me towards a corner.
“What about last night?”
“Last night was a mistake,” I reminded him of our conversation before I went home at dawn. “Didn’t I make myself clear?”
“You can get pregnant! Did you know that?”
Keith raised his voice to prove a point but it was pointless! “I’m not naïve or stupid, Keith. If what we did last night will result in a baby, then I can just visit a clinic and –
“Don’t you dare!”
If I was another person, then perhaps his blazing eyes would terrify me! “Are you going to let me go or not? This is harassment, Keith!”
Keith refused to let go of my hands. Instead, his hold became tighter, and when he grabbed me towards him, I couldn’t avoid being pressed down to his muscular chest. “Do you think Adrianna will like it more if I’ll be the one to tell her about us?”
“Don’t you dare!” I warned him. My mom shouldn’t have an inkling of what happened between me and Keith, or she would just overthink.
“Try me, Cassie.”
The smirk on his mouth convinced me, not his threatening stance or his scary voice. “What do you want, Keith?”
“Just the usual. You will work with me and you should let me know once you become pregnant with my child.”
“And what if I don’t?” I challenged every word coming out of his mouth, and I believed that he didn’t like it. The way he gritted his teeth told me that he wasn’t pleased with all!
“You’ll know soon,” he replied.
“Is that a warning, Keith?”
“What do you think?”
“Alright. Why don’t we make some arrangement that’s favorable for both of us? Aside from the contract that binds us to work side by side, we need to be clear with our relationship. You know, I have my priorities in life, and I bet that you also have yours.”
“You’re right,” he replied. “How about you come to my place tonight?”
“I’ll call you,” I said and when he loosened his grip, I went to the elevator and took the lift. The parking area was on the eighth floor of the building and I had to walk a little bit from the exit to the slot where we parked the car.
“Cassandra Anderson?”
I closed my eyes before turning around to check who called me. His voice wasn’t familiar but he could be someone from work. A smile was ready for the man who dared to block my path. “Do I know you?”
“Dave,” he replied.
I snapped my brows together while trying to remember who the hell was Dave? “From high school?” It’s just a guess but I bet it was right. He nodded and then he flashed his dimpled smile at me. “You look different!”
“Is it good or bad?”
“Better,” I told him. Dave used to be a heartthrob during high school and most of the girls fell for him including Nancy… and me! Yes, he used to be my crush but things turned differently after he favored Nancy over me. To complicate it more, he was Rachel’s brother.
“You’re gorgeous! Are you alone? I just got back from the states so maybe we can catch up over coffee?”
“Right now?”
“If you are free,” he said.
The offer was tempting but I had other plans. “Can I take a rain check? I have other things to do today, so it’s a shame. By the way, I wasn’t able to tell you this before, but I’m sorry for what happened to your sister.”
Dave smiled shyly and his eyes showed that he missed his sister. “Thank you, Cassie. Do you believe it was an accident?”
- Writer
