Cassie’s POV
I had already dressed up to go to work, but Kate still hadn’t come out of her room or even talked to me.
I made toasted bread for breakfast and left hers in the fridge. I was already late. Edward was waiting to take me to work.
I texted her about the bread and apologized, but I still got no response from her. I left to meet Edward, who was already waiting for me outside the gate.
As I entered the car, his cologne filled the air.
"You smell really nice," I complimented him.
He smiled. "Why do you always have a bun whenever you are going to work?"
"Damien insisted that his assistant should always wear a bun."
"That’s a bit weird, but maybe he has his reasons for it."
"I heard it has to do with his late mom, though I have no idea what really happened."
"Makes a little sense now," he said, almost laughing.
"I’d love to know how he’d react if he saw me with straight hair."
"Maybe he’d freak out."
I laughed. "I doubt he would freak out."
The rest of the ride was smooth. I got his coffee before getting to the building. I kissed Edward goodbye as I walked out of his car.
I walked into the office, and immediately, the coffee in my hand fell from what I saw.
Cece and Damien were kissing in his chair.
Is something going on between them? Why are they kissing of all places... his office. I thought he was over her.
Thousands of questions ran through my head. I forgot the coffee I was holding had already spilled onto the floor.
"What the hell!" Damien yelled. "What were you thinking that made you spill my coffee on my expensive floor?"
"I’m sorry," I said softly. "I’ll go get the cleaning lady."
He looked at me with his fiery eyes. "No. You made the mess, so you’ll be the one to clean it."
"Babe, pardon her. She’s dressed in white. You wouldn’t want to ruin her dress," Cece said, her hand rubbing his chest.
Babe?
Are they dating? Since when? These questions ran through my head. Just two days ago, he lied about her being sick and was annoyed when she joined the date. I saw the annoyance on his face. What the fuck is happening?
"I’m only letting this slide because Cece asked me to," his voice sharpened. "Go and get another coffee for me and Cece."
I looked at her, trying to figure out what was happening from her expression, but it was unreadable.
"How do you like your coffee, honey?" he asked her softly.
Honey?This is insane. He doesn’t even love her, so what is all this charade about?
"I prefer vanilla latte... slightly sweet, not too bitter," she said.
"Be fast. You have a lot to do today." His voice sounded different than before.
Was he angry about what happened at the dinner date? Or did he find out I drugged him? I asked myself these questions without knowing the answers.
But I knew for sure he was angry with me.
I got to the café. Thankfully, the line wasn’t long.
"You’re back again," the barista asked. "Your boss again?"
"Yes," I responded, without telling him I had accidentally spilled his drink because I saw him making out with my colleague and friend.
I got the coffees and headed back to the office, praying they were not making out this time around.
As I opened the door, he grabbed her neck and pulled her lips closer to his. I gently placed his coffee on his table. As I was about to go back to my seat, he called me back.
"There are these files that need to be sorted, organized, and arranged according to their date," he said, pointing to where the files were stored.
I carried them to my table, unable to concentrate because of the loud kisses and flirting.
"I need to go back to work," Cece said softly, her lips still on his.
"No... I can’t stay a minute without you."
I turned to see what was happening, but our eyes met. His eyes were locked onto mine. I hurriedly turned back to what I was doing.
"I’ll be back during lunch," Cece’s voice sounded softer than I’d ever heard it.
"Fine," he said, spanking her ass as she walked past him.
"Cass," she said with a little hand wave as she left the office.
My chest felt heavy. I don’t know why I felt jealous seeing them together. I’m with Edward, who loves and respects me, and he’s hot and sexy, but Damien still has a way of getting into my head.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked as I paused what I was doing, looking at the ceiling with my thoughts.
"I was trying to remember something," I replied.
There was no reason to tell him that I wanted whatever tension between us to go away. He was already with someone else.
I hated this so much. I hated how I felt about whatever was going on between them. I needed to ask Cece, but not now. He was still staring at me.
—
It was time for lunch. I was still sorting the emails when Cece came in, sat opposite Damien, and they started muttering to each other.
"Cassie, book lunch for me and Cece at Maison Noir now. She’s hungry."
I booked lunch for both of them. After they left for lunch, I went to the cafeteria, got my lunch, and came back to the office to eat.
I checked my phone. Still no response from Kate. I needed to talk about Damien with someone who understood what I was feeling.
I couldn’t tell Edward. He’d think I was jealous and that I was into my boss, which I kept trying to convince myself I wasn’t.
Minutes later, Damien came into the office alone without Cece. I just knew she had gone back to her office, and I really needed to know what was going on. I still had a few minutes before my break would be over.
I rushed to Cece’s office. She was sitting on her phone.
"You know sometimes you’d have to knock before entering my office."
"I’m sorry, but this is important." I sat down facing her. "Are you dating Damien?"
"Yes, he asked me to be his girlfriend yesterday," she said with a smile on her face.
Yesterday? That’s strange. I saw a car like his near the restaurant I was at with Edward. Did he by any means see us at the restaurant? Is he jealous? Is that why he asked her to be his girlfriend to get back at me?
"Are you okay?" she asked, snapping her fingers.
"Yeah, I’m just... really happy for you." I forced a smile. "I know how much you love him. I hope he appreciates it."
She smiled before finally saying what she had always wanted to ask.
"Do you think he’s using me to make someone jealous?"
My heart sank instantly. I couldn’t tell her what I thought. I’d sound like I didn’t want them together. I was with Edward now, and he made me very happy.
"No. Why do you think so?" I continued. "Is there someone else?"
She looked at me for a minute. Her eyes said a lot that her lips couldn’t.
"I don’t think so. It’s just my head." She chuckled. "He makes me really happy."
She held my hand. "Promise me that you won’t do anything to come between us."
I stared at her and burst into an awkward laugh. "Me? You don’t have to worry about me." I continued. "I’m in a relationship with Edward."
She paused. "Wait... flower guy?"
I nodded, smiling.
"Oh my... I’m happy for you."
"Thank you... I need to go back before he starts barking like a dog," I said, forgetting she was literally his girlfriend now.
"...Sorry. He doesn’t bark."
"It’s fine," she said as I left her office.
The tension in there was strange. I shouldn’t come between them? What does that even mean? I’m happy with Edward, but why am I jealous that Damien is with Cece?
I glanced at him at his desk, focused on working. My gaze remained fixed on him—the way he paid attention, moved his lips, and touched his hair.
Just then, his eyes locked onto mine. I immediately looked away. He continued with his work.
My heart flipped, pounding as if I were running a marathon.
I buried my face in the files I was organizing, barely doing anything but trying to cover my shame.
"Cassie..." he called out from his seat.
I pushed myself out of my seat and walked to his desk, trying to figure out why he’d called me. What had I done now?
"Take a seat." His voice deepened.
I barely looked at him, not knowing what to expect.
"I have a conference to attend this weekend at New York, and you’re coming with me," he continued. "I need you to pay attention and take notes of everything happening there."
New York? This weekend? Just two of us? Cece won’t be very happy about this.
"Okay, sir. I’ll clear my schedule for the conference," I continued. "How many days?"
"Three."
Three days alone with Damien. Cece would definitely not be okay with this.
"Sir, can’t Cece go with you instead? I mean, I don’t think she’d be okay with this."
"Are you trying to insinuate something here?"
"No, sir."
"Are you thinking something would happen between us?"
I froze.
Why would he say something like this... as if he doesn’t feel the tension between us too?