Chapter 221
"Within the confines of the villa.
Having just wrapped up a video conference in the solitude of his home office, Joseph became aware of the distinctive sound of a car pulling up outside. Rising from his chair, he declared, ""This proposal is inadequate. It needs revising."" With a swift click, he ended the call and made his way downstairs.
Cassie burst through the front door, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts, so distracted she forgot to even remove her shoes.
Joseph's eyes narrowed at her disheveled appearance, her black dress revealing her bare arms and calves. Without a moment's hesitation, he draped his jacket over her shoulders. His gaze then fell upon a tear in the hem of her dress.
""What happened to your dress?"" Joseph inquired, his voice laced with concern.
She glanced down, only now realizing the damage likely inflicted during her hasty escape through the window. ""I must have torn it accidentally,"" Cassie mumbled, avoiding his gaze, unwilling to divulge her recent encounter with Richard, a member of the formidable Hernandez family, a force she, a mere lawyer, could hardly compete with.
""You always avoid my gaze when you're lying,"" Joseph pointed out, his grip on her waist tightening, his dark eyes burning with intensity. ""You were at the anniversary celebration tonight, weren't you? Who's been causing you trouble?""
""Nobody's bothering me, I'm the CEO for goodness sake. Who could? Quit joking around, I need to shower,"" Cassie retorted, brushing past him as she ascended the stairs.
""Cassie, don't provoke me,"" Joseph warned, pulling her back, his tone stern. ""Look at the state of you, you're a mess. If you see me as your man, then be honest with me.""
Cassie bit her lip, her eyes welling up with tears, ""I've managed to cross the one person you don't want to upset in Madison, Joey. If something happens... if he comes after me, promise me you won't intervene, just stay out of it.""
Joseph quirked an eyebrow, ""Who are we talking about?""
""The Hernandezes, Richard.""
Intriguing. When did Richard, that goofball, become untouchable in Madison, akin to some sort of godfather?
""Were you terrified?"" Noticing Joseph's silence, Cassie hastily reassured, ""But don't worry, he tried something in the restroom, but luckily, I had my taser with me. I zapped him until he passed out, then I gave him a beating and... stripped him to take photos.""
""You stripped him?""
A dark shadow flitted across Joseph's eyes, the atmosphere around them becoming frigid.
""Uh... It was only to intimidate him,"" Cassie stuttered over her words, ""I didn't know what else to do. You have to admit it was a clever move, right?""
Clever?
Joseph inhaled deeply, suppressing his rising anger, ""Did you see everything?""
Under his penetrating gaze, Cassie scratched her head and coughed lightly, ""No, it was revolting. He's as thin as a rake. He's nowhere near as attractive as you. You're fit, tall, and authoritative... a sight that could make anyone's heart capitulate, especially mine...""
""You're contemplating surrendering to me?"" A mischievous sparkle lit up Joseph's dark eyes, a half-smile playing on his lips.
Cassie wished she could retract her words, holding back tears of frustration, ""Now's not the time to discuss that.""
""Hand me your phone."" He extended his hand towards her.
She promptly complied, and as Joseph scrolled through the photos, his expression grew increasingly somber. After a moment, he forwarded the photos to himself, then deleted them from her device.
""Hey, why did you do that...?"" Cassie felt a pang of unease.
""Do you find it fitting for a lady to keep photos of some other man on her phone?"" Joseph shot her a frosty glare, ""Besides, you took quite a detailed look with these shots.""
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