Cassie’s POV
"Cassie!"
"Wakey, wakey, sleepyhead."
I groaned, burying my face deeper into my pillow. My whole body still ached from yesterday, every muscle protesting the second I tried to move.
"Cass! You need to wake up." Kate tugged at my bedsheets.
"Go away," I mumbled, pulling them back over me.
"No. It’s past noon — you haven’t eaten since you got back. You didn’t even shower."
"I’m so tired, Kate. Everything aches."
"I know, but you have to eat something."
"I made pasta with sausage. Your favorite."
My stomach growled at the thought, betraying me instantly. I cracked one eye open. Sunlight streamed through the curtains, way too bright for someone who’d barely slept.
Her persistence won, like it always did. The sleep drained out of me slowly, and I hauled myself up despite the exhaustion in my bones, arms stretched overhead until something cracked in my spine.
Thank god it was the weekend. I couldn’t imagine dragging myself into work feeling like this.
"Shower, get yourself together. I’ll have your food ready."
I dragged myself into the bathroom for a hot shower — exactly what my body needed, the steam loosening some of the tension I’d been carrying since last night. A few minutes later, dressed in sweatpants and a polo, I finally headed to the kitchen to face the day properly.
"So what happened yesterday? Why’d you come back so late? Tell me everything."
"Kate, I don’t think I can keep working for him." My voice came out raw, more vulnerable than I meant it to. "He treats me like I’m less than a person."
"What happened?" She watched me, sharp with curiosity, already leaning forward like she knew there was more.
"He wanted me to come to the family meeting. As his personal assistant."
"...What?"
"Yeah. But that’s not even the point — I lied my way out of it."
"Why would he want you there as his assistant? Does he know who you are?"
"No. If he’d meant to expose me, he wouldn’t have believed my excuse. He’d have known it was a lie the second I said it."
"True."
"But then something weird happened. Right as I left his office, I got a text from Dylan saying he’s looking forward to seeing me at the meeting." I paused, remembering the chill that had gone through me. "The strange part is, he was staring at me from his office at that exact moment, phone in his hand."
"You think he sent it?"
"I don’t know, Kate. It’s so confusing. I keep going back and forth."
"I was so shaken my phone slipped right out of my hand."
"Yeah, I noticed the crack." She pointed at it, wincing.
"Then he called me in and told me to review some files before I could leave."
"How many?"
"Over a hundred, Kate."
"What?!"
"Yes. Honestly, I can’t keep being treated this way." I kept going, the anger creeping back into my voice. "He even sent a driver to take me home — so nothing ’bad’ would happen to me, leaving that late."
"That fucking bastard."
I stared down at my food, appetite gone completely. Just anger, simmering under my skin.
"I’ll help you find something better."
"At this point, anything would be better."
Kate laughed. "I’d pay to see his face when you hand him your resignation letter."
"I’d love to see his reaction when he realizes it was never a privilege working for him."
"I like that energy," she said, still laughing, some of the tension finally easing out of the room.
Quiet settled over the kitchen, just her spoon against her plate — until the doorbell rang.
"Expecting someone?"
"No. You?"
"Definitely not."
I checked the peephole. "Delivery guy. Did you order something?"
"No."
I took the package, shut the door. A small note was tucked inside. I pulled it out, already suspicious.
"What’s it say?" Kate leaned in.
Hey Love,
I got this for you. I want you to wear it to the family meeting. I saw it and thought of you right away- I really hope you like it.
I know you’ve been ignoring my calls and text, and I’m sorry if I did something to upset you. I really want to see you and make things right.
I’ll pick you up at six. I’ll be waiting for you.
Love, Dylan.
"That’s so sweet," Kate murmured, practically melting.
I looked at her, a little deflated, and tore the note into pieces without ceremony.
"The only reason I’m going is your dad. I don’t want to cause problems." I kept going. "But after this, I’m done. Done with him, done working for him, done with everything he’s put me through."
"I’m done."
"I get it, Cass. Whatever you decide, I’ve got you."
"Thank you, Kate. I don’t know what I’d do without you." I pulled her into a tight hug.
"Okay, enough hugging," she said, already pulling back. "We need to get you ready for tonight — the wig, and that gorgeous dress Dylan got you. You’re going to be breathtaking."
I laughed. She always had a way of pulling me out of a mood. Her specialty, honestly.
Beep beep.
Kate’s attention dropped straight to her phone. Ugh — that smile. Had to be Alex. I still didn’t fully get what she saw in him, but she loved him, and I guessed that was what mattered most.
"Lover girl," I teased. "What’s Mr. Good Guy saying?"
She didn’t even look up, giggling at the screen like a teenager.
"Kate!" I said again. "Were you even listening? Why are you giggling like that?"
"It’s Alex. He wants me to come over tomorrow." She glanced up briefly. "Says he’s got a surprise for me."
"That’s nice."
"What?" She frowned. "Why’d you say it like that?"
"It’s nothing, Kate. He just gives off this weird vibe I can’t put my finger on. But he makes you happy, so — I’m happy for you."
Her expression shifted, and not in a good way. "I think he’s right. You’re trying to come between us."
"Kate, calm down. I’m not his biggest fan, but I can see he makes you happy. That’s all I actually care about."
"I really don’t want to talk to you right now." She got up and left me alone in the kitchen, the chair scraping against the floor behind her.
"Kate, I didn’t mean it like that—" The door was already shut.
I’d never seen her that annoyed with me before, not like this. Alex was trying to drive a wedge between us, and I wasn’t sure yet how to stop it.