Cassie’s POV
I checked my reflection in the restaurant window one last time before walking in.
My red gown shimmered under the lights. Heads turned as I crossed the room.
Exactly what I wanted.
Perfect.
If I was going to ruin this blind date for Kate, I had to commit.
The hostess led me to a private dining room.
He was already there, sitting alone with his eyes fixed on his phone.
Dark suit. Crisp white shirt. Broad shoulders. Something about his jaw and black hair gave off serious Brad Pitt vibes.
My type.
But I wasn’t backing down now. I had to do this for Kate! I kept reminding myself.
As I approached the table, his eyes slowly lifted to mine. His expression was unreadable, but the way he looked at me made me feel like he’d just seen an angel descend from heaven.
Oh.
Kate never mentioned he looked this good.
"Miss Winswood?"
He stood.
I forced a bright smile.
"Yes. Kate Winswood."
"Dylan."
I fought to maintain eye contact. He was looking at me like I had fallen straight from heaven.
He pulled out my chair, allowing me to sit before moving back to his.
Well.
He’s literally a gentleman. I almost felt guilty.
Almost.
He looked at me like he had just seen an angel while I searched for the most outrageous thing I could possibly say, but I couldn’t find anything to say.
My gaze was fixed on how good he looked.
It was ridiculous.
Was this what love at first sight felt like, or were my hormones acting up?
"So." I leaned forward, chin propped on my hand. "How much do you make?" I blurted out.
The words escaped before I could stop them.
No. No!
That’s not the right thing to say.
But who cares?
I’m only here to throw him off, and he’ll have to report back to Mr. Winswood how uninterested he is.
His eyebrows lifted slightly, and he stared at me like I’d just thrown a bomb at his feet and he was waiting to be executed.
Straight to the point.
"Money is the most important thing I look for in a man."
I took a sip of my drink for courage.
"I like that about myself," I continued before he could answer. "I don’t really believe in marrying for love."
Nothing.
Not even a flinch.
His gaze remained fixed on me like I was a piece of art waiting to be bought at an auction.
He must be annoyed by now.
I was so proud of myself.
"Love fades." I shrugged carelessly. "Money doesn’t."
He took a sip of water.
"I see."
That’s it?
No disgusted look?
No awkward laugh?
Fine.
I’d try harder.
"I hate cooking." I ticked the points off on my fingers. "I don’t clean. I have people for that. I wake up late. I spend too much on shopping and honestly..."
I smiled sweetly.
Still nothing.
He looked... interested.
Is this man broken?
I laughed dramatically.
"Oh, and I get bored easily. Relationships last, what? Three months? Four, if I’m feeling generous."
He folded his hands together.
"Anything else?"
Why did that sound like an interview question?
"Um, I can be very wild. I love to party." I paused for effect. "Sometimes, I strip."
"Hmm."
"Yes, I can be very dramatic," I said, taking another sip of my drink.
"I noticed."
"Nothing to say?"
"Well..." He cleared his throat. "It seems like you’re trying very hard to sabotage this date."
I almost choked on my drink.
"You want to get Dad off your back, right?"
He raised an eyebrow.
"No," I replied immediately. Can he read my mind?
"No?"
"Of course, I just prefer speaking my mind to know if you can handle me." I smirked.
"Hmm."
He didn’t buy that.
I needed to act fast.
"So, enough about me." I leaned back. "Tell me about you."
"There isn’t much to say. I’d rather hear you talk."
"I know your type." I studied him, tilting my head. "You act like you’ve got it all figured out. Like you’re perfect."
He didn’t answer, so I kept going.
"Do this. Don’t do that. Bet you’ve got rules for everything. What time you wake up, what you eat, probably even how your shirts are folded."
"Ever thought about just... having fun? Being a little less perfect?"
He stared at me for a while.
I knew I’d overstepped.
I was just pouring all my frustration onto him.
"That’s quite an observation," he said gently.
"I don’t have everything figured out. It’s just standards. Perfection is weakness."
I raised an eyebrow.
"That’s a very convenient thing to say."
"Apparently, I don’t fit into your standards."
He shook his head.
"You’re honest about what you want."
Honest? If only he knew I’m nothing but a fraud who somehow finds herself attracted to him, but I’ve to do this for Kate.
"I like that in people."
No. This is really bad. I need to act fast.
Think, Cassie, think!
"And do you think I like your type of person? Too rigid and full of yourself."
"This is a disaster. I hope we don’t see each other again."
"Well..."
He reached into his jacket and set a business card on the table.
"If you change your mind, you can reach out."
He slid the card toward me.
Every ridiculous story I’d invented, every red flag I’d waved directly in his face...
And somehow, he was still interested, Kate won’t like this.
But why was he so calm?
After everything I’d said?
I looked him up and down.
"I don’t think there’s any need for the card. I won’t reach out."
He smiled, stood up, and walked away.
"Besides, I bet you’d look better without the makeup."
He literally threw a bombshell and left like it was nothing.
"Ugh..." I muttered. "The audacity to tell me what you think is better for me."
I gathered my things and stared at the card.
Dylan Blackwood.
"What a ridiculous name."
I turned the card over.
Blackwood Holdings.
I froze.
Dylan Blackwood.
Like Mr. Blackwood.
My boss.
Oh my God.
This can’t be happening.
I grabbed my phone and called Kate.
Once.
Twice.
Five times.
Straight to voicemail.
A few minutes later, I got home, threw myself onto the bed, and burst into tears.
I had just lied to my boss.
And I hadn’t even started working for him yet.
Oh my God.
On my very first day, I was going to be fired.
Fresh tears rolled down my cheeks.
"How did it go?"
Kate’s voice came from the doorway.
The moment she saw my face, her little smile disappeared.
"What’s wrong? Is everything okay?"
"No." I shook my head, my voice cracking.
"Nothing is okay."
I pulled the business card from my purse and handed it to her.
She frowned as she looked at it.
"What’s this?"
"His business card."
"...And?"
I swallowed hard.
"His name... Dylan Blackwood."
Kate’s eyes widened.
"He’s my boss."
"What?"
"I lied to him." A sob escaped my lips. "I lied right to his face."
She immediately sat beside me.
"Oh, Cassie... I’m so sorry."
"If he finds out what I did, he’ll think I’m a fraud." I wiped my tears with the back of my hand. "What if he has me arrested?"
"No." She gently squeezed my shoulder.
"That won’t happen."
"You don’t know that."
"Listen to me."
She waited until I looked at her.
"You were wearing makeup, and your hair was different. He might not even recognize you."
"You really think so?"
"I do. Just avoid him as much as possible. Keep your interactions professional.
Everything will work out."
I took a shaky breath.
"...Okay."
"Oh, I think he’s interested in you."
I blinked.
"What?"
"I know. I acted rude. I came off as promiscuous. I practically tried to chase him away."
"And he’s still interested?"
"Yes. I guess he likes bad girls."
"We’ll figure it out. Right now, you need to get some rest. Tomorrow is your first day at work."