Cassian
"Now what?"
"Now what, what?" I lifted a single brow at Julian my thumb swiping absently through my phone screen. I was looking for a quiet, private spot to take Elvie out on a dinner tonight.
"Well, you playing hero, of course." Julian said narrowing his eyes at me.
I paused. "It’s my fault for actually looping you in"
I always knew better on telling Julian stuffs that he ended up teasing me for it yet I still do. What a mindset Cassian.
Julian let out a dry laugh, giving a slow, mocking clap of his hands. "Oh, of course. It’s definitely your fault for telling me. Though, if I’m being honest... seeing your face back there would have made my whole week."
I rolled my eyes, completely ignoring his teasing as my fingers zoomed in on a picture of an upscale restaurant. It was exactly the kind of privacy I wanted for Elvie—somewhere she could just let her guard down and breathe without feeling like anyone was watching her.
"But seriously," Julian continued. "Isn’t it a little suspicious that Norman didn’t let a single word of that drama get out? I mean, a scene like that in his own house? It should have been top of the news by now."
I tapped through the reservation details, securing a private booth for seven tonight. Once it went through, I opened my chat with Elvie and sent a quick text telling her to be ready before time.
Setting my phone down on the desk, I leaned back in the leather chair, letting out a heavy sigh as my eyes fixed on Julian. "There are two things involved, actually," I said folding my arms across my chest.
"Either he did that to save his precious reputation—which I honestly doubt was his only focus or he was trying to protect another person who was there that night."
The thought had been floating in the back of my mind since yesterday. What happened at the party took place right inside Norman’s home, but if the news had broken, the main focal points would have been either Elvie or me. He could easily spin the narrative, but Norman chose to lock the entire thing down instead. Yes, it was a private party with high-society guests, but people always talked.
Someone would have taken photos or recorded a quick video of the scene. Yet, there wasn’t a single whisper anywhere.
"Do you think it has something to do with that guy? I mean... you said he was at the party too, right? The same man Elvie accidentally spilled her champagne on?"
"I thought of that too," I said, running my finger absently along the edge of the smooth wooden desk.
Funny enough when the scene happened the man didn’t shout at Elvie or even raise his voice. He just went completely silent. A man like that—wealthy surrounded by security usually raised hell over the smallest inconvenience. But he had just stood there, watching the chaos unfold without saying a single word.
"What did you say he deals in again?" I asked, looking up at Julian.
"He’s the founder and CEO of Leadwyre Logistics. They handle heavy international shipping, maritime transport, and supply chain warehousing."
Leadwyre Logistics? What on earth did a global shipping conglomerate have to do with Norman’s company? Norman ran a corporate real estate and property management group. The two industries barely crossed paths.
Now that I got the idea of it, I am getting curious.
"Whatever it is they’re planning together," I muttered, "It’s fishy as hell. Dig more into his background and see what business deals Norman has been signing with him recently."
Julian burst out laughing, throwing his head back. "Wait... am I your private investigator now? I am a lawyer just so you know."
I glared at him, pulling my arm back. "Who brought up the whole thing from the start? You were the one who said you were suspecting him."
Julian held up his hands in surrender, though a knowing grin stayed on his face. "Yes, fine, I get it. Look, I’m doing all this so you can finally get your hands on what’s rightfully yours."
"If this is about the inheritance, then drop it, Julian,"
"How can I just drop it, Cassian?" Julian pushed, leaning forward over his desk, his tone growing serious. "I know deep down you want to take back what Norman took from you. You can’t just let him walk away with everything your father built."
His words sounded so much like Elvie. "Are you just going to leave him like that? You’re not going to fight for what’s yours?"
They simply didn’t understand. What Julian, Elvie, and everyone else failed to grasp was that I genuinely didn’t give a damn about the inheritance. I was living completely fine on my own terms.
"I don’t need his money, and I don’t need that inheritance. I’m not wasting my time playing family games over property I don’t care about." I said through clenched jaw.
"It’s not about the money, Cassian, it’s about justice!" Julian argued, waving a hand in the air. "He cheated you! You’re just letting him get away with a crime!"
"I don’t care, Julian!" I snapped. "My life is set. I don’t answer to Norman, and I don’t need anything that belonged to the family. End of story."
Julian stared at me, searching my eyes maybe for any sign of hesitation, but obviously he found none.
He let out a loud, dramatic sigh and threw his hands up in defeat. "Alright, alright! Do whatever the hell you like," He grumbled, shaking his head as he leaned back into his chair. "I think my focus should be on my pregnant wife rather than trying to convince a grown-up, stubborn man like you."
I stood up, grabbing my suit jacket off the back of the chair, slinging it over my shoulder. "Smartest thing you’ve said all day. Go home to your wife, Julian."
"Yeah, yeah, get out of here," Julian muttered, waving a hand at me as he picked up a pen, though the corners of his mouth twitched with a familiar, amused grin. "Try not to corrupt the girl too much tonight."
I didn’t bother dignifying that with an answer. I just offered a dismissive wave knowing exactly the things I planned to do to her tonight.
**
I leaned back against the leather seat of my car, glancing down at my wristwatch before fixing my eyes on the entrance door of the house.
Since we were going out for dinner, I hadn’t bothered going in. I had simply texted Elvie to meet me outside. It had been five minutes now, and she still wasn’t out. I tapped my fingers against the steering wheel, wondering what on earth was taking her so long.
Right on cue, the large front door swung open. A pair of long, gorgeous legs greeted my eyes first followed by her breathtaking face as she stepped down the porch stairs.
From the second she emerged down to the moment she crossed the driveway, I didn’t take my eyes off her for a single frame. She looked utterly captivating.
She reached the car and opened the passenger door and slid in. The soft, sweet scent of her instantly enveloped the quiet space of the car, hitting my senses like a drug.
Before she could grab her seatbelt, I reached across, holding her face securely with one hand, and pulled her face over to me, capturing her lips in a deep, hungry kiss.
It lasted for several breathless seconds because I had to forced myself to pull back just enough to keep my sanity intact.
If it were up to the beast throbbing furiously between my legs, I would have parted those legs right here on the leather seat and fucked her senseless. But dinner first.
I let my thumb rub lazily over her lower lip, my gaze pinned to hers. "I was pissed that you took time to show up," I mumbled softly. "But I can’t even be angry anymore when you’re looking this beautiful and appetizing."
A pink flush crept up to her cheeks and she bit down gently on her bottom lip—the exact lip my thumb hovered over giving me a small look that made my blood run hot.
"I didn’t take that long," she murmured softly, her fingers reaching up to rest lightly against my wrist where my hand held her jaw. "I just wanted to make sure I look nice."
"You look more than nice, little birdie," I growled, running my thumb over her cheekbone one last time before forcing myself to pull my hand away and grip the leather of the steering wheel. "You’re a dangerous distraction."
A soft, shy laugh escaped her lips, the musical sound vibrating through the small space of the car.
I turned my head slightly, my eyes taking her in properly now. She was wearing a burgundy dress that hugged her curves. My gaze immediately dropped lower, caught by the low-cut neckline. The soft fabric dipped just enough to expose a mouthwatering view of her cleavage, glowing softly under the dim dashboard lights.
A sharp pulse shot straight down to my groin, making my erection twitch hard against my trousers.
Fuck, she really has no idea what she does to me.
She pulled the seatbelt across her chest, the strap nestling right between her breasts and accentuating her shape even more. She clicked it into place, turning her head to look at me oblivious to the state she nearly put me into. "Where are we going?" she asked in her sinfully soft voice.
Instead of answering right away, I shifted the car into drive and reached over. My hand landed on her bare, exposed thigh, unable to resist giving the soft flesh a tight, possessive squeeze. "Somewhere nice and quiet for just the two of us , little birdie,"