Chapter 128
""I didn't want to interrupt your work,"" Cassie said, her cheeks coloring turning red with a tinge of embarrassment as she reflected on her past mistakes that nearly brought her to tears.
""Well, you did anyway,"" Joseph said, his arms crossed and his demeanor suggesting he was too busy for this interruption.
Walter, witnessing the exchange, felt his entire worldview shifting. Boss, you've been waiting around for days. Stop playing these games; you might actually scare her away.
Trying to lighten the mood, he asked with a smile, ""Is that a gift for Joseph that you're holding, Miss Brooks?""
""Uh, well, not exactly... I made him lunch,"" Cassie said quickly, presenting the lunchbox.
Joseph fiddled with a pen on the desk, his eyes carrying a mocking glint. ""But I recall someone saying they wouldn't pursue me anymore, and certainly had no obligation to cook for me.""
Cassie clenched her teeth, feeling the sting of contradiction. ""I was immature before, Joseph...""
""What did you just call me?"" Joseph asked, his tone turning cold as he tapped the pen against the desk.
""Joseph?"" Cassie replied, blinking in confusion.
Joseph scoffed, his displeasure evident.
Cassie struggled to understand this enigmatic man.
Walter was tempted to cover his eyes. The tension was palpable, even for a bystander like him. ""Miss Brooks, just call him whatever you used to. Anything goes.""
""Joey?"" Cassie said, her face brightening with the realization.
Joseph, however, snapped in a mix of embarrassment and annoyance, shooting Walter a glare. ""Don't you have work to do? Get out!""
""Sorry,"" Walter said, quickly leaving and closing the door behind him.
""It's not his fault,"" Cassie said, feeling the need to defend the kind-hearted assistant.
Joseph stood up abruptly, his frustration with Cassie clear. ""You're defending another man to me?""
Cassie was taken aback by his pettiness.
She bit her lip and said in a softer tone, ""He's your assistant. It's almost noon; are you hungry? The food's a bit cold, let me warm it up for you, okay?""
Her voice had a gentle quality, reminiscent of the charm she once used around him.
Joseph felt a wave of comfort; despite himself, he found her concern endearing, a stark contrast to the coldness she had shown before.
Yet, he remained unmoved by her words alone.
""Sorry, but I've lost my appetite for the food you cook,"" he said flatly.
Joey, I'm really sorry. I apologize,"" Cassie implored, with no room to retreat, she mustered her courage, stepping forward to gently tug at the hem of his sleeve.
""Can I just sign the contract? I really don't want to end up in jail. Besides, I'm your wife, at least in name. Imagine the talk if word got out that you wouldn't even fight for your own wife's case against the Anderson family's attorneys.""
Joseph caught a glimpse of the small hand tugging at his sleeve, her skin as pure and delicate as porcelainbamboo shoots, nearly irresistible to his touch.
""Oh, playing the provocateur now, are we?"" he remarked with a bit of a sneer.
""But it's the truth,"" Cassie countered, biting her lower lip, now a soft shade of pink. ""If you really don't want to sign it, that's okay. But I still hope you'll eat this meal I've made for you. It might be the last one I ever make for you. I'm truly grateful for the way you saved me last time.""
Her eyes were sincere; this time her words came from the heart.
Even though his biting sarcasm had hurt her in the past, she remained thankful for his presence, especially when she felt most vulnerable.
""You should be grateful,"" Joseph quipped. ""You think David and Arthur Lewis would have been any help?""
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