Kate’s POV
"What are you doing here?" I asked, at the sight of Alex.
"I’ll leave you two to it." Cassie said, leaving me outside with the devil.
"What do you want?"
"Baby, what’s wrong?"
"No — don’t call me that ever again." I said, walking toward the door.
"Why? What’s wrong? I came back from the grocery store and you were already gone. I thought something important came up. What happened?"
I felt disgusted just standing there talking to him. I wanted him gone.
"It’s over, Alex. We’re done."
"Why? Don’t you love me anymore?"
I scoffed. "No, I don’t. So move on."
Saying it out loud felt like taking off something heavy.
"Is this about Cassie? Did she brainwash you?" His voice sharpened with anger.
"What?" I laughed. "You really think this has anything to do with Cassie?"
"Yes, I do." He paused. "She’s never accepted me as your boyfriend."
"Interesting, Alex. Very interesting."
"Some men came to the house while you were at the store. Who were they?"
"No one. Irrelevant. It’s just you and me that matter. No one else."
"Bullshit, Alex. They threatened you. To cut you, and I don’t want to get dragged into whatever mess you’re in."
"Baby, I’ll handle it. Just don’t leave me. I love you."
"It’s over, Alex." I walked past him toward the door.
He grabbed my arm, hard. "No — Kate, you can’t leave me like this."
"Security!" I called out.
"Take this man off my property, and I never want to see him near it again. If he comes back, you’re fired."
"Don’t do this, Kate. It’s all Cassie’s doing — she’s in your head — but I’ll get rid of her." He screamed as they dragged him away from the estate.
Cassie’s POV
"Did you hear him, Kate?"
"He thinks I turned you against him." I said. "Is something wrong with me? First my father, now Alex? What is it about me?"
"Wait, what do you mean about first your dad? Did you met him?
"Yes. He came and made a scene at the office today. I have no idea how he knew where I worked. Kate, it was a nightmare."
"Kate, I don’t feel safe. I keep having these awful dreams, and I don’t know what to do about any of it anymore."
"We’ll figure it out. I checked the surveillance footage from around the property, and I found something strange."
"What?"
"Alex met with those guys the night of the party. He let them in — the event was supposed to be restricted access."
It was insane.
"Alex? I had suspicions, sure, but not this. I figured drugs, maybe debt."
"I think it’s actually both. He tried to get me to lend him $5,000 for some ’project.’ I almost believed him."
"He was just using me." I could hear the pain underneath her voice. "But he’s not getting away with it."
I froze, genuinely scared. Somehow I’d made two enemies without even trying, and one of them was my own father.
"You need to be careful, Cass."
"I will. I promise." My voice shook saying it.
8:00am
I was ready for work, breakfast finished, about to flag down a cab when a car pulled up in front of me.
"Good morning, ma’am." The driver was polite, practiced. "Your ride."
"My ride? I didn’t order one."
"Mr. Blackwood did. He’s asked me to drive you to work from now on."
"Thank you, but I really can’t."
"Please, ma’am if I don’t drive you, I lose my job."
I glanced around. No cabs in sight. Fine. I got in, and we drove off.
I picked up his coffee from Lola’s Café on the way to the office. He was already at his desk when I walked in, like he hadn’t even noticed me enter.
"Good morning, sir." I set the coffee down in front of him.
"Morning, Cassie. Any meetings today?"
"Yes, sir. I’ll send you the details." I hesitated, trying to figure out how to actually say what I needed to say.
"Anything else?" His eyes stayed fixed on the document in his hands.
"Sir — I appreciate the concern, but I don’t think I need someone driving me to and from work every day."
He finally looked up. "You think this is about caring for you?"
"You work for me. Directly. You’re my assistant, and if anything happened to you, it would create a mess for the company. That’s what this is about."
"This isn’t a request. It’s a command. Someone will drive you, to and from work, no exceptions. Whatever you do in your free time is your business — this isn’t."
I felt myself deflate, like all the air had gone out of me. Of course it was about the company. It was always about the company.
"Okay, sir." I said, retreating back to my desk, defeated.
Every few minutes I caught him glancing my way, and I couldn’t shake the feeling he was studying me — for what, I had no idea.
By the time lunch rolled around, I practically ran for the cafeteria, desperate for thirty minutes where Damien wasn’t watching me.
I’d already booked his lunch — this was my time now, my favorite part of the day.
The cafeteria buzzed with coworkers clustered in their usual groups, chatting over trays of food. A few eyes flicked toward me as I walked in — no doubt still talking about my father’s little scene.
I scanned for CeCe. Nowhere in sight. Perfect.
I grabbed a tray, loaded it with a burger, some fruit, and a bottle of water, then found an empty table by the window, as far from the crowd as I could get. The last thing I needed today was a conversation with CeCe.
I’d just taken my first bite when a tray clattered down across from me.
I looked up and nearly choked.
CeCe.
The exact person I’d been avoiding. Of course she found me.
"Mind if I join you, Cassie?" She was already sitting down before I could answer.