Chapter 38 It's Him
"Cassian." Evelyn stood from her chair, and gave him a side hug. "I'm glad you could make it."
"It's business, I had to," Cassian replied, his hand tucked in his pocket as she broke the hug.
"Should I assume I've hit the target?" she sat on the couch, and crossed her legs.
"What target?" Cassian's voice dropped low as he asked.
"Never mind," she picked up a whiskey, and pressed her lips to the edge.
Cassian gave her a blank expression as he sat on the couch opposite hers, his eyes darting around the place.
They were on top of her private balcony, the sides covered with shades to prevent sunlight from coming in. Light bulbs were on creating a soft ambiance. Two glasses sat on the table, and a bottle of branded whiskey stood tall.
"We shouldn't waste our time, because I understand the business world very well. Time is money." She got her laptop, stood from her side, and crossed to Cassian's side, her heels clicking softly on the tiles.
"I like how we both share the same interest."
Evelyn sat beside him, keeping some distance away from him as she placed the laptop on the glass table.
Punching the keys with her long, neat manicured nails, a building appeared. "Real-time investment," she started, explaining the business. Both the long and short term goals, the profit share, and every other thing she deemed necessary.
Cassian sat quietly, eyes locked on the screen, but his mind wandering off. Not the business—Lalissa.
He was wondering what she'd be doing now. It's been about two hours since he left her. He knew he had given her things to keep herself busy, but for how long.
His eyes were following the things Evelyn kept showing him, wishing it'd go faster, and end.
Getting his phone, he checked the screen. No call or text from her. His curiosity got bigger, a larger part of him wishing to say screw the partnership, and go to her.
Her no call or text could mean three things. Either she's sleeping, angry at him for going to Evelyn despite the faces she made, or she's found something to keep her busy.
The strong urge to check what she was doing kicked in, and he unlocked his phone.
"Is the idea boring?" Evelyn asked before he could even press anything.
Cassian's eyes left the phone screen. "Why?"
"You are on your phone. If you don't like the idea, I can stop. I don't want it feeling like I'm forcing my idea into what doesn't catch your interest."
"No." Cassian pocketed back his phone. "I think the idea is great. A few things need to be added—" he paused, his mind drifting off to Lalissa before he continued talking.
\--
"New Orleans is quite a beautiful city, ma'am. Any place is worth sight-seeing," the driver replied.
"Really? In that case pull over. The mall and restaurant is here. I can start from them both," Lalissa said.
The tires screeched, smoke curling out of the exhaust as the engine came off.
"I'll call you when I need you."
"Sir Cassian ordered me not to leave your sight."
Lalissa exhaled. "You can stay around. I'm not a kid. I'll be fine."
She got out of the car before the driver could say another thing, feeling the cold breeze brush her skin.
She closed her eyes, and spread her hands apart, enjoying the cold feeling of the breeze.
"This place is cool," she mumbled in a low tone, getting her phone to check the time.
"It's been two hours and he hasn't called. He must be having a great time with his partner. I'm just his secretary." She rolled her eyes, and kept her phone.
"I want him not his keep me busy stuff." She breathed, facing the mall.
She got bored staying in the room all day, and decided to step out. Besides, the things he bought couldn't keep her busy, instead it made her realize deep down she doesn't want him to go. Especially, not when he's alone with Evelyn. It's crazy but she doesn't like Evelyn one bit.
She stopped realizing she was thinking about him, and her tone had a voice she doesn't want to name. Jealousy.
"I'm not jealous. I just feel bad around Evelyn," she said nodding her head in a convincing way.
She had already gotten to the front door of the mall before she even realized it.
Cassian had left one of his debit cards for her before he left, and she's thanking him for doing that.
"Getting things from New Orleans will definitely be fun."
The automatic door opened on its own, and she went in.
Her eyes widened in astonishment, the mall causing greater wideness.
Her jaw dropped open, eyes still going wide as she stared at the astonishing mall her eyes couldn't believe.
This was classic, beautiful, almost looking like what even the president himself built. There was no word to describe it. Clothing lines were arranged in spectacular lines, different colors of light creating magnificent hues at every angle. No doubt it was one of the best malls in New Orleans.
Few people were present, making the place less noisy, and Lalissa loved the silent ambiance. Exactly the type of thing she needed for this shopping.
"Let's get started," she giggled happily, tiptoeing until she got to the center of the mall and confusion swirled in.
She had never thought she'd visit the mall, particularly not today.
"Shopping with no plans, let's see how it goes." She got her cart, and held the edge.
Reaching the clothing section, she left the cart, and began going through the clothes. Eyes marveling at each one she came across.
"Miss McKenzie."
She heard a familiar voice call out to her. She froze at first, trying to recall where she had heard the voice before turning around.
Her eyes widened in surprise. "Alex!"
"What are you doing here?"
Alex smiled. "Same thing as you. I just got back from the States, remember?"
"Ahh, right. I just didn't expect to run into you."
"The world is definitely a big place."
"True," she nodded with slightly pouted lips, and wanted to walk to him when she remembered Cassian's punishment.
He had to punish her because she smiled at his business partner's son—she could still feel the pain of his belt on her butt.
He should have also thought about the punishment before going to meet his Evelyn.
She rolled her eyes at the thought of him and Evelyn together.
Who knows what they were discussing that he had no time to check up on her. Even a single text would do.
Daddy my foot.
Alex snapped his finger in her face. "You seem lost, Miss McKenzie. What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing," she shook her head. "And what's with the formality? It makes me look older. My name is Lalissa. Feel free to call me that."
"Oh, I just thought... Since you're Mr. Reid's secretary, you'll prefer it as work ethics."
"This is a mall, not the office or any business deal."
Alex stared at her for a while before bursting into laughter. "I didn't know you're this funny."
"There are so many things you don't know about me. We just met."
"Right." He eyed the mall. "Did you come alone? I don't see your boss anywhere."
"Oh, about that... he's meeting an important partner of his," she said, stopping herself from stretching the important partner.
"Cool then. He'd have acted like he owns you and controls who you should and shouldn't talk to."
Lalissa batted her lashes, heart racing a little as she listened to him state her exact relationship with Cassian.
He doesn't own her. She submitted herself to him.
She bit her inner cheek at the thought, wondering what his reaction would be seeing her with Alex. He had said she shouldn't smile at strangers, be it work, or casually, and now, she's standing here with the same man, and even asked him to drop the formality.
"Are you done, or about starting?" she asked, turning to the clothing line as she continued her search.
"About starting." He faced the line as well, fingers pushing hangers left and right.
"So, how many days do you plan staying here before leaving?"
"I don't know, but I think we're traveling back tomorrow. It was supposed to be a five days trip, but things went faster than expected...this is just what I think. My boss has the final say."
She giggled inwardly at the way she called him her boss. Thinking about it, it does sound sexy when she calls him boss. Crazy that he's her superior in every aspect of her life.
"Oh," Alex said. "I thought you'd stay a little longer. I want to know you."
"But, we're discussing. That's like knowing each other. You know my name, what else do you want to know?"
"I don't mean that type of knowing, Lalissa."
"Then... What type do you mean?"
Before Alex could reply, her driver came to them, bowing to Alex before turning to Lalissa.
"Miss, he's here."
She exchanged glances with both men. "W... who's here?" she asked, her heart suddenly palpitating at the name that appeared on her guest list.
"Mr. Reid."
"What do you mean he's here? He's on a business meeting with his partner."
"Am I?"
She heard his voice, and froze instantly. Her palpitating heart became worse as everybody turned to the entrance.
Tall, built body, dangerous posture in tailored suit, grey eyes that were stripping Lalissa bare, and a smirk that screamed more than his eyes said.
It's him!