First Blood: The Perfect Mistress

CHAPTER 3

            Time passed swiftly for me and my mom. We managed to survive without Dad despite the scandal which spread like wildfire after my father’s mistress uploaded their intimate video online. When it happened, I felt bad for my mother because the humiliations and insults were prolonged for some time.

            “Why don’t you give up the club, Mom? It’s useless to train those women into someone better and more presentable! They’re just a bunch of idiots who will break another woman’s home,” I explained.

            “They’re still human, Cassie,” she replied.

            “Whatever, Mom. I have to go now,” I bid goodbye after I carried my lunchbox to the car. I loved lunchboxes because they reminded me of the times when my parents were happy to send me to school.

            “Will you be home for dinner?” She asked.

            “Hmmm, I’m not sure about that, Mom. I have a meeting tonight,” I answered.

            “Alright, take good care of yourself, darling!”

            Before I went outside, I checked my appearance in the mirror near the main door. As usual, I tied my long and brown hair into a ponytail because it’s clean to look at. I despised everything that’s untidy!

            Then, I saw him!

            A topless man with tattoos on his arms and chest stood close to my car and I glared at him! “Don’t you dare touch it!” I warned him and he glared back. The nerve! “What are you doing in front of our house?”

            “I lived nearby, and you know what? You’ll be prettier if you’ll stop judging people by their appearance,” he snapped and walked away.

            I was mad at the way he looked down on me and my nostrils flared when I get inside my Mercedes and sped away. While driving, I let out a deep breath numerous times because he made me do something that’s against my nature. For the longest time, I managed to remain calm in whatever situations I’m in, but that arrogant bastard caused my blood to boil!

            Nobody was able to do it before and I wouldn’t tolerate his behavior. He should pay for being insolent and arrogant to me!

            I was so mad that instead of going to the office, I returned home. I thought that my mother would be surprised upon seeing me back, but it was me who was shocked to see her talking casually with the stranger I had the misfortune to meet earlier.

            “Did you forget something?” She asked.

            “Yes,” I lied.

            “Perfect! Common, I’ll introduce you to our new neighbor. Hmmm, Keith, this is my daughter, Cassie.” She asked me to shake hands with the man whose name was Keith.

            Keith took my hand forcefully and then squeezed it hard. Was it a warning? When I looked at him, I confirmed his inner motive. “Aren’t you busy, Mr. Keith?” I asked him to imply that a man without a job is useless.

            “Keith Demakis at your service, Cassie.” He said, and the man got the nerve to wink at me.

            “I don’t need your service, Keith!” I set him straight before leaving them. Then, I heard my mother apologized to him for my bad behavior.

            Once again, I checked myself in the mirror to see if my lipstick smudged a bit, or some of my hair strands became loose from the ponytail.  

            “Cassie, that was uncalled for!”

            I was startled when she yelled at me. For what? Because of him? “Why do you care so much about him, Mom? He’s not part of this family!” I questioned her motive for being extra nice and friendly to our neighbor, Keith Demakis.

            “He’s a nice person, Cassie.” She took his side and I didn’t like it.

            I frowned at my mother for favoring another person instead of me. “You said I come first,” I reminded her of our previous conversation, and a line appeared on her brows in confusion. “I’m going to the office now,” I told her.

            “Cassie, wait!” She called me so I turned around.

“What is it, Mom?” I inquired, but she suddenly withdrew her intention to inquire about something from me.     

“Nothing baby, just take care of yourself always.” She told me.

“Yes I will,” I promised because I couldn’t let anything happen to me, or she would be alone. I didn’t want her to feel lonely and sad.

“You should! Especially now that there’s a serial killer on loose,” Adrianna mentioned a killer, and I was suddenly interested in it. 

I narrowed my eyes at Adrianna Anderson and asked, “Who told you that?”

“It’s in the news, sweetie. Keith and I discussed it before you joined us,” she added.

“Why? I mean, why you should discuss it with him?” I inquired.

“Most of the victims are members at The Perfect Mistress,” she referred to the club she ran to help young women become a better mistress.

I covered my mouth in shock because it was unexpected! “Are you sure?”