Chapter 82
The dinner didn’t go anywhere, and the main purpose of the meeting wasn’t going to happen. It wasn’t long before everyone said their goodbyes.
Ryan accompanied the Brooks family out, holding Cassandra’s hand the whole time. The two of them looked exactly like a young couple politely seeing their elders off.
The moment they were out of sight, Cassandra yanked her hand out of his.
Ryan stared at his now–empty palm, a little disappointed.
“Cassie!”
Someone called Cassandra’s name.
She looked up and realized that it was Roxanne. She immediately waved in greeting.
Ryan asked, “Your friend?”
“Yeah.”
“She looks kind of familiar,” Ryan said, narrowing his eyes. “She was the one hiding outside, taking pictures when you came to talk to me about the divorce agreement, right?”
Cassandra immediately looked guilty. “How do you know everything? Did you plant a camera
on me?”
Ryan chuckled. “I’m a lawyer. I don’t go around violating people’s privacy. Go on and chat with your friend. I’ll settle the bill.”
“Okay.”
“Wait,” Ryan said. “Take the dogs.”
Cassandra had no choice but to take the dogs over to Roxanne’s car.
Roxanne looked completely stunned. “Cassie, was that guy just now your boyfriend? The one you had me secretly photograph last time?”
“No, no,” Cassandra said quickly. “He’s my-
“Your husband? Oh my god, you got married? Wait, did you already get divorced from
Cameron? That fast?”
Cassandra replied, “Let me finish. I said boss, not husband. I’m working at his hotel now as the manager. Today, he brought me along to meet a special guest.”
She figured that Thomas and Madison could be considered special guests, too.
Roxanne finally nodded a little. “So it was just a business dinner with a client.”
lly nodded a
Chapter 82
“Something like that. Anyway, what brings you to Stokelle?”
Roxanne looked drained. “Don’t even ask. I took a job photographing a couple here for their destination wedding.”
“Got it. Let’s grab a meal sometime if you’re free. Oh, Daisy’s here in Stokelle too. We should all meet up.”
Ryan had finished paying and wandered out of the restaurant with nothing better to do.
Of course,
he knew who Roxanne was. She and Cassandra had been deskmates from middle school to high school, and she was one of Cassandra’s closest friends. They even went to the bathroom together between classes. It wasn’t until college that they went their separate ways. Roxanne’s parents ran a small shop, and her boyfriend worked at Everdrop Technologies in a leadership role. She had started her own wedding photography business–it wasn’t bad overall, though her skills still needed polishing. Definitely not as professional as the people he usually hired.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have taken such a bad shot of his and Cassandra’s first real interaction.
Half his face had been blocked by a plant. Sure, it was clearly him in the picture, but it ruined the moment.
Thankfully, she had captured Cassandra beautifully.
She’d looked graceful, lovely, and full of charm, especially when she fell into hirms. There was a kind of delicate vulnerability that stirred something in him.
Over the years, he’d kept tabs on almost everyone around Cassandra.
Roxanne and Daisy were her closest friends. How could he not know about them?
His phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and smiled as he answered it. “Avery?“,
“Ryan, your girlfriend is seriously gorgeous!”
“Told you, didn’t I?”
Chapter 83