by Amber Heart
I took several calming breaths. It was none of my concern whom Aaron Maxfield called and whom he screwed. I had been a welcome distraction at the Bahamas, but now I was like any other employee. And whatever that was about to happen the other evening, it was a slip of passion. I was here to do my job and that was exactly what I was going to concentrate on. The rest could kiss my ass. I put my power panties on and stepped out of the cubicle and ran cold water on my face. I needed to come back here again to redo my make-up but there was no way I was going out to face everyone with a flustered expression. No one needed to see it.
I opened the door of the restroom and stepped out. “Cassandra.” Aaron was right there next to my desk. God, no please. I silently begged and then walked straight past him. “Cassandra, listen to me,” he began. “I apologize for my improper interruption, Mr. Maxfield.” I clicked print key on my computer and then handed him the document which I was supposed to give him. “Here are the first few minutes of the conference for your record. I’ll get back to you with the review presentation,” I said pulling back my chair. He caught me by elbow. “Listen to me, dammit! That wasn’t what you are thinking. I can explain, alright. Just hear me out,” he said in a sharp voice and my own temper burst.
“Whatever you do, Mr. Maxfield is none of my concern. Who you fuck, or who you don’t, I don’t give a shit about it and I don't fucking care. I am here to work and you are my boss. You don’t need to give me any justifications. Now just leave me the hell alone,” I hissed back at him. “Don’t use that tone with me, Cassandra,” he warned. I uncurled his fingers from my elbow and glared at him. “Nobody tells me what I do. I work for you and that doesn’t give you a right to tell me what tone I speak in or how I react to things which do not relate to work. Leave me alone and go back to whatever you were in middle of doing.” People were now beginning to watch.
“It wasn't what it looked like. She means nothing to me” He snarled. “And I do?” I scoffed acidly. This conversation was going nowhere. I just wanted him gone. I brought my face near to him so that no one else could hear what I was going to say to him. “You are pissed because I interrupted before she finished you off? Let’s call it even, Mr. Maxfield,” I looked him straight in the eyes and then turned to sit on my seat and focused blindly on the screen before me.
Aaron kept standing beside me. I could feel his eyes holing my back but I’d be damned if I moved an inch. A few stretched seconds later he walked away and I let go of my breath that I was holding for a long time. I was in serious trouble.
Chapter 8
Aaron
I can't believe what just happened. It was just a misunderstanding, but I couldn't explain it to her in the middle of that damn office! That woman is driving me crazy. Since that evening when I almost had her on my office couch, I was in state of lust. Her thoughts ruled my mind and I was on edge of going mad. I had planned on making things difficult for her to resist me, but here I was losing my sanity. You are pissed because I interrupted before she finished you off? Elsa was nothing to me. Cassandra doesn't even know what happened in there.
I had been putting off Elsa since I returned from the Bahamas, thanks to Cassandra ruining me for any other woman. But Elsa wasn’t good at taking no for an answer and that was beginning to piss me off and I had refused to take her calls. So she had chosen to give me a surprise visit – again. She fought first, asking me who I was seeing. She was angry that my other distraction had been affecting our relationship
“I don’t do relationships, Elsa, and you know this well. I am done with you acting like my girlfriend. We both know what this was about. I don’t need anything else,” I had said to her. “The point of the whole thing is, Aaron, that you are not giving me what we are in this for,” she had snapped back. I had tried to calm her down. “I don’t think this will be work between us anymore. Let’s give it a break, Elsa.” I had hoped she’d get the message and leave, but no, instead she had kissed me. “It’s working perfect, baby, you just need more attention from me, I know,” she said, while she sucked my lips. I hated it. All I could think of was Cassandra, and her lips on me. I pushed Elsa off me and she slid to the floor. “Maybe I'll just have to play with my favorite toy then?” she said as she tried to undo my belt. Just when I was about to shove her away, Cassandra had entered. Fuck my luck, she had assumed the worst and left.
I have never felt the need to explain to anyone more than I have right right now. I had to tell her that I wasn’t interested in Elsa and I certainly wasn’t fucking her on the same couch where I had Cassandra almost climax on my hand a few evenings before. And when I had tried to follow her, Elsa had gotten in my way. “Leave her, Aaron. We have more exciting things to do.” she had pushed her breasts into my chest. “I won’t tell you again, Elsa, this is done between us. Leave right now and don’t come back,” I know I had been rude, but damned if I thought about anything except for the woman who had left thinking the worst of me.
When I tried to explain to her, she snapped at me. Who you fuck, or who you don’t, I don’t give a shit about it and I don't fucking care. As much I wanted to kiss her to shut her up, I understood why she was upset. But I couldn't explain with all these people here in the office. And now I was pissed about her professionalism, I was her boss, she can't speak to me like that in front of everyone. This foreplay was backfiring on me. She wanted to work here, I’d given her work. I picked up the phone and called my assistant. “Melinda, ask Ms. Levant to join the creative team at the shoot and tell her I need a detailed report of it by today along with the presentation she’s currently working on.” Before Melinda could ask anything, I slammed the phone shut. This would tell her what work is.
Hours ticked by and it was five thirty. She hadn’t shown her face. Isn’t she back yet? I wondered. Filming was to end by four thirty. I decided to pay Mark a visit. He was back from Manhattan. “Aren’t you done yet, Cass?” I heard Mark’s voice as I stepped out of the office. “No, Mr. Leonard. It’ll take me some time. I just returned from the shoot,” her voice echoed. “I am sure you can take that back home and send it in later,” Mark offered. “I need it today, Ms. Levant and I am staying here until I get that handout and presentation,” I said to her and then turned to my partner and greeted him, “Mark.” He was looking back and forth from me to Cassandra and then smirked. “Aaron, good to see you.” “Can we talk? I need to run down a couple of things with you,” I said to him and he gave me a nod before heading to his room. I looked at Cassandra who was now back on her computer. The rest of the office was almost empty. I followed Mark into his office.
Two hours later I was still in my office, working, and Cassandra was out there, pushing to finish off her task. I walked out to get myself another cup of coffee and also to get a glimpse of her. God, I really did that, didn’t I? I must have grown a vagina too if I was walking out just to get a look at a woman. There she was, her chin resting on her palms as she scrolled down the screen, her lips bulged in a small sexy pout. I had a sudden urge to go and give her a kiss. She looked appealing and too inviting. I walked past her in quiet steps.
“Oh Jesus!” she jumped up from her seat as she heard me and turned around with her hands on her chest. “Aaron, you scared me.” Her breath was hitched. I appeared not to notice. “How much is left?” I asked, looking down at her screen. “It’s done, almost.” “I want you back on filming tomorrow and Sunday. Coordinate with David and also send me the reports of both days,” I said. “But it’s the weekend,” she said hastily and I looked at her in a so–what–do–I–do expression. “I’ll see to it,” she backed down. “Good,” I said and then turned to go back into the office. Forty five minutes later she had slammed the report on my desk. Her eyes gave me murderous looks but that was what she asked for.
As she was about to leave I called her name “Cassandra. Let me explain about earlier.” She completely blanked me, as she slammed the door without looking back.
Chapter 9
Cassandra
My
legs hurt like a bitch and my head throbbed like someone was smashing it with a hammer. I finally stepped back into my apartment after a long tiring day filming. My crappy apartment hasn’t looked this welcoming since I first settled in after all the drama that happened at my old job. Falling onto the old couch I had bought from the second hand furniture shop, I closed my eyes. All I wanted to do was to get a good ten hours sleep. Spending the day on set was exciting and I loved every second of it. It would have been perfect if they let me have a break every now and then. David, the creative director of LeoField Ad Group was a dream to work with. He was so professional and polite. He made things look so easy, but only those who worked with him knew how detailed his work was. No wonder I was exhausted beyond description. But my work for the day hadn’t ended. I still needed to write that report and send it to Aaron. I kept myself distracted so that the thoughts won’t wander to him like they loved to do.
He kept trying to explain himself but I didn't want to hear his pathetic excuses. I showed weakness that I won't show again. I did not need him.
I fixed myself a strong cup of coffee and set to work. I hadn’t been able to get anything to eat all day and right now, I wanted to get rid of the work and then get a bite to eat.
By the end of the report, the only energy I could muster up was spent mailing the damn thing to Aaron and then stowing the laptop on the coffee table. That was it, I passed out on the couch right there in the next two minutes.
The loud radio alarm woke me up with a jolt. I looked at my phone to see it was seven thirty. “Shit!” I was late for the shoot. Today was the final sequence take and I had to reach the set by eight thirty. I called for the taxi and rushed into the washroom for a quick shower. I had no time for breakfast.
“Melinda, hi. This is Cass Levant,” I called Aaron’s assistant as I locked my apartment and climbed the stairs down to the taxi. “Good morning, Cass,” she sounded as if she was accustomed to waking up at six every Sunday morning. “I need to know where the shoots location is for today. David told me yesterday but it slipped my mind.” I couldn’t help the apologetic tone as I got into the taxi. “Oh it’s on Aaron’s yacht. You’ll need to come to Union Lake Park.” Yacht? Panic begin to raise inside me and I gulped. “Where to Miss?” The taxi driver asked in an irritated tone. “Are you there, Cass?” Melinda said through the speaker. “Uh yes. Thanks, Melinda.” I dropped the call and turned to the driver. “Union Lake Park Bridge, please,” I said to him, my voice barely louder than a whisper.
I could see a moderate sized yacht on the dock as I stepped out of the taxi and paid the impatient driver his fare. “Cass! Right here!” I heard Adrian, one of the creative department guy's waving at me enthusiastically from the deck of the yacht. I felt sick already. My head was spinning and my stomach was giving me ugly signals. Given I hadn’t eaten anything since yesterday morning. I boarded the yacht which was filled with people I had never met before. “You look sick,” Adrian commented as I joined him. “I‘m not a fan of water” I said looking at the water and he laughed at me. “Boy, you are so chicken. We’re perfectly safe on here.” David called to order and the shoot started. I stood at one corner end and observed everything, occasionally making notes on my iPad. Just then I felt the air around me change – more intense. I turned around to see Aaron walking towards my direction.
My throat dried at the sight of him. He was wearing a gray T-Shirt and khaki shorts paired with wayfarers. His usual gelled hair was now all tousled and messy, making me remember the night when we were together. Before I could ogle him any further, that brunette appeared from behind him, Elsa. Jealousy poured inside me and I looked away from that brooding man and his latest flavor whom he obviously didn’t count on his list of one timers.
They walked past me and Aaron didn't even glance at me. I tried not to care, not to look at him but if only my body and mind could be on the same page. I looked at him through the corner of my eye, he was looking straight ahead and the brunette was on the chair next to him. That was it. I couldn’t take it anymore. “I need to use the restroom,” I told the girl standing next to me and walked away. I didn’t know which direction I was walking in but I just kept going along the railing. The spinning in my head intensified and my eyes began to close. My knees threatened to stop working. I pushed and pushed but then darkness came before my eyes and everything spun around and next I knew my iPad slipped from my hand and I was hitting the low railing and then falling across it – into the water.
Aaron
“Take the hint, Elsa.” “Come on, Aaron, you promised to give me today. You are already breaking my heart. This is the least you can do for me,” she shifted on her chair and I wanted to groan in frustration. Getting involved with Elsa was the biggest mistake of my life and I had only realized it now. After the scene on Friday, she had spent all Saturday pleading to come on the yacht then she’d back off. I’d agreed just because I was irritated with her and later I had remembered that Cassandra would be there too. But it was too late. And now I had to not only tolerate Elsa but also see that expression on Cassandra’s face.
I know she was getting punished by this but I wanted her to be the first to come and tell me. I wanted her to come back to me and say that she wanted me. As much as I ached for her, I didn’t want to back down first. She had left me in the first place and I wanted it to be her to make the decision of returning. My ego would only be healed then.
I looked past Elsa towards where Cassandra was standing. Where’d she go? I gazed around. She was nowhere. I got up, ignoring Elsa’s protest and walked straight to where Cassandra was previously. “Where’s Cassandra?” I asked Hannah. “She left for the restroom. I don't think she was feeling well.” Wasn’t feeling well? I turned to walk towards the restroom and that’s when I caught a glimpse of her – falling off the railing and into the water. ”Cassandra!” My heart flinched at the sight and I, along with others, rushed to the deck.
There was no movement in the water. I was shocked still for a moment. Everybody was talking behind me, telling her to swim, telling her that the water wasn’t deep, throwing life jackets, shouting for a lifeguard. And then I remembered that day before Quinn’s wedding when Logan was about to throw her in the water. Her face was filled with fear. She was afraid of the pool – of water. She didn’t know how to swim. Holy Christ! I instantly pulled off my shoes and stripped out of my shirt and jumped into the water.
She was sinking down like a motionless body. Fear struck deep inside me. I couldn’t lose her. I swam to her and caught her by the wrist. She made no effort to hold me back. I tried not to think of the worst case scenario and swam back to the shore.
Let her be okay. Please, let her be okay. No more gameplay. I was blaming myself for all this. I had pushed her for too long. I laid Cassandra's back on the dry ground. She was pale and all white and lifeless. The rest of the crew was probably getting off the yacht but all I could see was Cassandra.
I pumped her chest and excess water spilled from her mouth. “Cassandra, wake up,” the pleading in my voice was raw. I checked her pulse, it was barely there. “God, no. Please,” I placed my finger under her nose and there was no sign of breathing. “Breath, damn it!” I cried and started CPR. My hands trembled as I pumped to bring her back to life. Thirty compressions after diving into that freezing water was so difficult, I wasn’t going to let life take her from me yet. I took a lungful of air and lowered my mouth to her purple lips and covered them with mine, pinching her nose closed. Come back to me, baby. I said to her silently and then gave five breaths and then started with the compressions again.
“911’s on way,” I heard someone calling from behind and another person started rubbing her foot to resume the blood flow. On the second cycle of chest compressions and rescue breathes, she finally jerked up and spat water from her mouth and coughed. Relief flooded inside me and I cradled her head in my hands. “Cassandra,” I whispered her name. Her eyes opened briefly and then closed again. But now she was breathing. I r
eached for her pulse, it was steadier than before but her body was now shivering. A few minutes later the siren of the ambulance rose in the air. They wrapped her in a large blanket and checked her vitals. “She needs to be shifted to the hospital. Can you please provide the necessary details?” one of the guys asked me but my eyes were frozen on the woman before me. She opened her eyelids and looked up at me. She was scared. Her usual strong headed and composed persona was all gone. She was vulnerable and weak in that moment. A fierce protectiveness rose inside me and in that moment I knew I could break legs and sprain necks for this woman. I would go to any length to keep her safe and sound by my side. I would conquer the world for her. I couldn’t let her go. Not anymore. I didn’t care if I had to back down first.
I followed them to the ER and stayed outside the room while the medical officer examined her. “How is Cassandra?” I asked as soon as the Doctor left her room. “She is fine. It was dizziness that made her faint and then her phobia of water that drove her to shock. But she is alright now. She needs someone to look over her for a couple of days to make sure she takes in proper meals and stays rested.” I thanked him and entered into the room. She was lying on the bed looking out of the window. I admired the sight for a few seconds. She was alive and alright.
“Hey.” I walked up to her. She turned her face to look at me. Her lips were back to rosy pink and her skin was gaining its color back. “You scared me to death there for a second.” She tried to get up. “Don’t move. What do you want? I’ll get it for you,” I caught her shoulders and made her lay back again. “I am fine. Thank you, Mr. Maxfield. I was told you saved my life,” she said and I frowned at her tone. “You do not have to thank me, Cassandra.” I sat on the stool beside her bed and reached for her hand. She fisted her hand and looked at me intently. “I am sorry, I ruined your shoot.” What was she doing? “Cassandra, you…” “You should join them. I mean they need you. You don’t have to sit here. I am fine,” she said and I got it. She was pushing me away.