Chapter 31 Where Can Cassandra Be?

How is it that my heart is once again hurt by her actions? I do understand that she wants to be with her father, but can't she see that no matter what gets thrown in our way, that I shall always choose her. Without any doubt, in my heart, I shall keep on choosing her over and over again. Even now, while my heart is breaking, I shall, without fail, choose her again.
I have never had to come this far as to where I am standing on Lucy's doorstep with a heart that is breaking, and I know that even though I do not understand a thing about love, that she shall somehow in her own way make me feel better again. She has never had to face me with a broken heart, but she has surely always been there when I felt the need to break down.
And seeing her beautiful face is already making me feel a whole bunch better.
"Hey, sis, you are as chirpy as ever."
"Come on in, mom said you are coming over. Can I grab you a beer?"
"Yes, please, Lulu."
"Tell me, what is the matter? I can see it all over your face."
"Promise you are not going to laugh?"
"Why will I make fun of my big brother?"
"Yes, and that there just tells me that you are going to."
"I promise you I won't."
Even having to say these words feels as if a dagger is being driven straight through my heart. I am a mafia boss, and I cannot keep my emotions intact. It is not truly my emotions I am having the biggest problem with; it is my heart.
"I kind of have some girl problems, not like stupid girl problems but real girl problems."
"Hahaha. I did not even know you get two types of girl problems."
"See, you are already laughing at me."
"Promise you I am not laughing. Is it the girl from the club?"
"Should have known that mom will not keep it to herself. It is Cassandra."
"Such a pretty name; mom says that she is just as pretty too."
Just having to think of her beauty warms my heart. I can remember the first time I ever saw her. It was her first day she started at the club; she sat there close by Tammy and Jessie, looking like a lost and frightened puppy. But the moment she set that gorgeous body on the stage, she demanded your attention and captivated you every second that your eyes were glued onto her. I remember the soft rose pink panties she was wearing, and that is the only reason I still love pink until today.
"Lulu, I don't think pretty is the word; she is the most exquisite woman I have ever had the privilege to be with."
"Now, what is going on? I heard that she is Joseph's daughter?"
"Yes, and Joseph is now back from the dead."
"What? You are seriously shitting me?"
"No, and that is the reason why we are not speaking."
"Are you not speaking to her, or is she not speaking to you?"
Sometimes I think that Lucy knows me way too well. But this is not only me, or at least that is the way I see it.
"I am not speaking to her, but when I asked her to leave with me, then she said she was going to stay."
"It is understandable that she would, but I think you guys don't yet understand that if you want to be together, then you are going to have to make sacrifices."
"What are you talking about? What sacrifices?"
"She could have left with you and told her father she should come back in the morning and the same with you and dad. You have to meet each other halfway."
"Since when did you get so clever with things like this?"
"Hey, I was not expecting to take advice from a playboy, so I had to get smart myself."
Lucy only but chuckles at herself and quickly moves away before I can smack her playfully against the arm.
"So what do I do now?"
"Talk to her and tell her how you feel."
Tell her how I feel sounds far easier than actually doing it for real. I do not have a brave bone in my entire body to tell her that I love her. My greatest fear is that she does not feel the same or even far worse that she shall laugh in my face.
"You love her, don't you?"
"Yes, I do."
"Then tell her, Chris."
"Wait, I have not gotten to the best part yet."
...Cassandra POV...
Christian is not talking to me, and I know it is because he is hurting like mad, for I pushed him aside last night and told him I want to stay with my dad. I know now how he felt when he had to disobey his father so he could stay with me. And now, as I look back, I realize I should have been a bit more understanding. What I fail to take in between all the excitement was that between my mom and dad, they purposefully put me in a strip club so that I could meet Christian Caine.
That in itself should have made me furious, but the truth is that I was working at the club for months, and I never once bothered to go and even sit at their table. If I did not want to meet Christian, then it would not have happened. They might have put him in my path, but it was up to me if I wanted to walk with him. And I can almost for certain say that Christian would see it the same way as I do.
But somehow, I think that this time around, Christian is truly done with me, for Mason has just come to drop off my things. I shall be going over to my old place and collect the rest of what I have left behind there. I will now be moving back into my parent's house.
I get to my old place just as Tammy and Jessie are about to leave. I am going to miss these two girls; they are like family to me. I have no idea what is happening if I am still taking over or shall my dad carry on. I am sure he shall let me buy the club.
"Girl, what did I tell you about that botox?" Jessie asks. "I don't think Mr. Caine wants a barbie doll."
"Christian does not even want me when I am real."
"He is just hurt Cassie, give the man some space so he can find himself again."
"Yes, and if I give him for too long, then I might just lose him. We already know that he is with another girl."
"You are not sure; his dad might even have said it to upset you."
That is something I have not given much thought to. Perhaps Foster is saying it just to upset me.
"Maybe you are right; I must give him some time."
"So what are you going to do now?"
"I am going to hang around here a bit and pack up my things."
"Well, let me know that you are safely back at your mom's."
"Promise I will."
With that, the girls leave, and I am all alone, left with just me and my thoughts. I shall do what Jessie said, I shall give him time, and in the meantime, I shall figure out what it is that I want to do. One thing I have never given any thought is just to be on my own. I know that being with the girls, I have my freedom, but what if I do it completely on my own.
Do I truly want to live with my parents again? From what I do remember is that my mom and my dad do have their arguments more often than really is necessary. I shall sit with my father and see what is now going to happen now that he is back home again.
And in saying this, I need to start getting ready to gather my things and start loading them all into the car. So I grab a box and throw it all in, and soon I find myself standing downstairs, ready to pack it into the car.
But then I hear a scuffle behind me as I am just about to close the back door. As I spin on my heels, I am very surprised at whom is standing behind me.
"What are you doing here?"
...Christian POV...
When I woke up this morning, apart from a throbbing head, I do feel like a completely different man. Apart from crying on Lucy's shoulder, I got everything off my chest, and I think I am now at a point where I can tell Cassandra that I love her. So the first thing I am doing this morning is going home to change and then make my way over to her mom's house. I will not be leaving until I have all of her belongings in my car, and that includes her.
As I hit the road on a beautiful morning, with the sun shining over my shoulder and the wind blowing through my hair, I cannot help but smile at how absolutely amazing I feel. I am in love with the woman that I love more than life itself. I do not know what exactly the future holds for her, but I do know what the future holds for us. I am burning in anticipation just to get to her.
When I am finally back home, I catch up with my father, that is having his morning coffee with my mom in the kitchen.
"So, how is your crazy sister doing?"
"Her usual old bubbly person that she is. She did give me a lot to think about. Hopefully, I can catch up to Cassandra this morning."
"Talking of which, she came looking for you yesterday."
"Why did you not phone me? What did she say?"
"Only came to ask to see you."
I truly hate when my father does this; he knows how I feel about her; he should have told me immediately. I rush to finish my coffee and turn to make my leave, but not before I whisper into my mom's ear.
"I will immediately start looking for you."
With that, I am out of the door and leave, speeding in a newfound urgency out of the driveway to Giselle's house.
I make the thirty-minute drive in less than twenty. The car hardly comes to a complete stop, and my feet are already out the door. I am greeted by Joseph at the front door.
"Morning, Christian."
"Morning, Mr. Cummings. Is Cassandra here?"
"No, she went up to her old place."
"Thank you, I shall see you later again."
I make my way through the city to where Tammy and Jessie stay; as I pull up to the apartment and make my way upstairs, I find no one to answer the door. After several moments of buzzing, I give up and assume that she must be at the club with the girls.
Another twenty minutes later, I am walking down the stairs into the club. I find Tammy sitting at one of the tables as Jessie is busy with a show up on the stage.
"Hey, Tammy."
"Hey, Christian. Glad to see you again. You boys have not been here in a while."
"No, it is only me. Is Cassandra here?"
"No, she is at our place, packing up her stuff."
"I just came from there; she is not there and not at her mom's either."
"Maybe you just missed her then; she said she would let me know when she is home."
"Thanks, I will you let me know when you hear from her. I am going to head back there."
I am now slightly starting to get nervous, where Cassandra can be. She is not one that goes anywhere without at least anyone knowing where she is.
In even less time than before, I once again stop my car in the driveway of Giselle's home. I am met with both Giselle and Joseph as they are preparing to leave themselves
"Sorry, but is Cassandra back?"
"No, she was supposed to fetch her things and come right back."
"She is not there and neither at the club."
"Are you telling me you cannot find Cassandra?"
"I don't know where Cassandra is."