Chapter 410
"Refrain from intervening, Cassie. This matter concerns Laura and myself," Benjamin retorted, his anger palpable. "Don't presume that your relationship with Joseph affords you any superiority."
"So, this is your perception of Laura's friends? You've never held genuine respect for her. She's deserving of someone far superior to you." With these words, Cassie rose, coffee in hand, preparing to exit the scene.
"Cassie, I intend to remain in New York for some time," Benjamin insisted, "I won't depart until I've seen Laura."
His voice, tinged with frustration, trailed after her, but Cassie paid it no heed.
——————
Upon her return to the office.
Her phone began to ring—Joseph was on the other end. She sipped her coffee as she picked up the call.
"I've been informed of your clandestine meetings with an unidentified man at a café..."
Cassie choked on her coffee in surprise, her annoyance evident, "Did Joe betray my secret to you?"
"No, he did not," Joseph responded, his fingers tapping rhythmically on his desk, "You're now my wife, constantly under the public's scrutiny, akin to a celebrity. I narrowly avoided a paparazzi encounter, but I managed. Who's this man? He seems decent, though he pales in comparison to me."
Cassie sighed, longing for a semblance of privacy, "He's Laura's former lover, seeking information about her. I didn't disclose anything."
"Good. Refrain from meeting unfamiliar men henceforth."
"Aren't you swamped with the impending chip release? How do you find the time to spare?"
Joseph's authoritative tone was beginning to grate on her nerves. "There's work to be done, indeed, but I must keep a vigilant eye on my wife," he stated in a low voice, "There are plenty of men out there, biding their time."
"You're being overly suspicious. I'm hardly a prize at this point."
"That's your perspective. To me, you're stunning from every angle."
Cassie found herself defenseless against his flattery, her heart pounding; he was on the verge of winning her over. "Have you been consuming honey recently?" she queried, her voice a blend of sarcasm and affection.
"If your lamb chops are as sweet as your words, I might just have to hire you as my personal chef," Joseph's laughter echoed warmly, reminiscent of a rich cello melody.
Cassie's cheeks flushed a deep crimson. Enough of this foolishness, she thought; a simple dish of lamb chops shouldn't provoke such suggestive conversation. "Sure," she conceded with a playful smile, "but first, you must introduce Laura to some respectable men. She could benefit from a new romantic interest to help her move on from her dreadful ex."
"...I don't have anyone suitable," Joseph confessed after a moment's contemplation. "Michael lacks intelligence, Lucas is a womanizer, and Noah Collins... well, let's just say his ethical standards are somewhat questionable."
Cassie found herself in agreement with his evaluation of Michael and Lucas.
"I believe Mr. Collins is quite an eligible bachelor," Cassie commented. "He possesses strong values, a cheerful demeanor, a great sense of humor... and he's rather handsome..."
"So, he meets many of your criteria, does he?" Joseph teased, a smirk playing on his lips. "What about me? Do you have any compliments to offer?"
Cassie massaged her temples, "At this moment? I'm..."
"Out with it." His tone was firm, suggesting he would settle for nothing less than a comprehensive response.
After a moment's consideration, Cassie began, "Handsome... attractive... affluent... physically fit..."
She found it challenging to add to the list. In truth, she would have found it easier to enumerate Joseph's shortcomings than his virtues.
"Could you refrain from stating the obvious?" Joseph chuckled, though his irritation was apparent. "Cassie, you haven't changed since Madison. You certainly have a knack for storytelling. I must admit, I'm disappointed. You don't pay nearly as much attention to me as I do to you."
With that, he ended the call.
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