Chapter 28 Daddy's Good Girl
Lalissa's lips stretched into a smirk as she stared directly at Evelyn's face. "You have quite a retentive memory. How may Reid's Global help you, Miss Evelyn?"
Evelyn chuckled, collecting a glass of whiskey from a passing waiter. "Is it weird to say that I don't like you?" she pressed her lips to the glass.
"No, it's not," Lalissa smiled. "We both have one unique quality in common."
Evelyn stopped gulping the drink, her grip increasing around the cup.
"We are better off not trying to build a friendship," Lalissa added.
Evelyn slammed the glass on the table behind her. "How dare you speak to me that way? You don't know who I am."
"Mr. Reid's business partner. What more do I need to know?" Lalissa raised her brow.
"You are staying in my hotel, Lalissa," she gritted her teeth. "I control half the quarter of New Orleans. I can get you fired from your job. Not only that, I can go the extra mile to ruin you. You are just an ordinary secretary. You should know your place."
Just before Lalissa could reply, Cassian appeared, glancing at the both of them.
"Cassian," Evelyn gave him a side hug. "I'm so glad to run into you. I saw you coming in, and I must say you look very handsome tonight."
"You're not exceptional, Evelyn," he replied, taking a step back as Evelyn broke the hug.
Lalissa looked at him and gulped down nothing.
"Let's—"
Claps echoed from the crowd as Mr. and Mrs. Orberto climbed the stage with grace. Their faces radiated beautifully as the spotlight followed them.
A huge cake was lowered from the air, and the cheers got louder. Cameras blinded the place with flashes while drones floated in the air capturing the heartwarming event.
The couple placed a hand on the other, slicing the knife through the cake as they cut it.
The husband fed the wife some pieces, and the wife did the same as heavy roars came from the crowd.
After the cake-cutting ceremony, the couple raised a big glass filled with Irish whiskey.
"Congratulations on our thirtieth anniversary."
The crowd raised their glasses in acknowledgment.
"Congratulations!"
They all drank at the same time, with the couple drinking from the same glass.
Lalissa had a large smile plastered on her face as she watched the couple display their public affection.
Her eyes travelled to Cassian, who was staring at them with close to zero emotion.
His face looked like one who was patiently waiting for the event to end. She knew somebody like him wouldn't have attended the event if not because Mr. Orberto was the one who would buy the Gia Soala company.
She noticed Evelyn standing too close to Cassian with a smile on her face.
"Let the dancefloor be open!" Mr. Orberto announced.
The MC changed the jazz music to a soft tone.
The couple took the floor, and soon other couples started joining them. Before one could tell what was happening, the floor was filled with couples dancing.
Cassian, with a blank expression, took out his phone since it was vibrating.
Natasha flashed on the screen.
He faced the two ladies. "I'll be right back."
Lalissa's eyes followed him, having made up her mind to talk to him. She felt if she delayed it, she would go mad. The silence was heavier than when he was chasing her, and even though she hated to admit it, she missed those moments. The cornering, the filthy talks, his words, his breath, the cologne. She was missing everything even if she shamelessly had to admit it.
Quickly, she stood from her chair, eyes still fixed on the route he had taken.
Clutching her bag to her waist, she hurried down the staircase.
"Excuse me." She slipped herself in between the dancing couples, urgency rushing through her as she was determined to settle the difference between her and Cassian.
She took the first step, second, and third step without looking in front of her.
"Look—"
But it was too late.
Crash!
Lalissa bumped into a waiter who was carrying a tray filled with wine glasses.
The glasses slipped from the waiter's hand and fell on the floor, landing with a loud clattering sound.
The wine spilled on both Lalissa and the waiter, ruining both their dresses.
The music stopped.
The dance stopped as all attention went to them.
Lalissa couldn't move. Shame coated her like a blanket as the colored wine trailed down her gown, dripping onto her shoes.
The cameras didn't stop either, capturing every single moment.
A huge smile spread across Evelyn's lips and her eyes shone with excitement.
"Miss, I'm sorry, I—"
"Isn't she the one who came in with Mr. Reid?"
"She's so clumsy."
"I won't blame her. It must be her first time attending a high-class society party."
Lalissa's heart sped tremendously as thousands of eyes were fixed on her.
She tried to move, but felt her legs glued to the floor.
How could she make a fool of herself at the very first important party she was attending? She took a step back, hands fisting on the wet side of her clothes.
Somehow, her eyes found Evelyn's, who had a mocking smile on her face.
"Enjoy," Evelyn mouthed.
Lalissa's eyes widened a bit as she stared down at the waiter who was picking up the broken glass. Realization hit her in ways she had expected.
It wasn't an accident. Evelyn—
"Move aside."
She heard a familiar deep voice say as he walked to her.
Lalissa's heart danced in excitement as Cassian stood before her.
Without saying a thing, he lowered himself to her height and lifted her up in his arms in bridal style.
Evelyn stood up in shock while the rest of the crowd stared speechlessly.
The spotlight stayed on them as Cassian looked down at the waiter.
"The bathroom?"
"U... Upstairs. S... second floor."
Cassian adjusted her in his arms and walked away, the spotlight following them until they went out of sight.
Everybody stared on. For the first few seconds, no one could swallow the shock.
Cassian Reid, carrying his secretary.
\--
Cassian used his leg to push the bathroom door open and went in, kicking the door shut with his back leg.
Lalissa had her eyes on him throughout the entire walk as he placed her on the sink, collected her purse, and kept it beside her.
"Stay still," he said, and darted his eyes around for a towel.
A white towel hung neatly on the hanger. He got a hold of the towel and soaked it with water from the tap.
He came back to her and blotted the towel on the side of her dress, trying to get rid of the stain. His movement was controlled, but his breathing was heavier than normal.
Lalissa's body grew tense each time he pressed the cloth from her cleavage down to her stomach.
Lalissa couldn't get her eyes off his face, neither could she ignore the tension coming from her body.
"Why are you ignoring me?" she asked almost in a whispered voice, her eyes searching his face.
Cassian didn't stop trying to get the stain off as he replied, his voice lower than normal.
"I'm not ignoring you. I'm only giving you what you wanted—space to be a good girl."
"I... I didn't mean that good girl," she bit her lip, voice cracking. "I meant Daddy's good girl."
The towel slipped from Cassian's hand and landed on the tiles.
His eyes sharply went to her face—studying her like she was a specific specimen he had never encountered.
Then, his control snapped. His hands grabbed her jaw and tilted her head backwards. His gaze locked on hers with pure hunger.
"You have no idea what you are giving yourself to."
"I do," she said with a smile. "I want to be your little good girl."
"Lissa." He growled and crushed his lips heavily on hers, taking her whole mouth into his.
Lalissa moaned into his mouth, closing her eyes as she gripped his shirt and pulled him closer, wrapping her arms around his neck as she reciprocated the intensifying, deep, desperate, hot kiss.