Celebrity CEO Scandal

Not your pawn anymore

Cassidy's POV

I shoot my eyes open knowing something is wrong. What room is this? Is this a hotel? My head spurns as I try to sit up.

"Ouch!" I groan and hold my head with both hands.

My eyes meet my Saint Vincent dress on the chair, and I remember suddenly. A wave of embarrassment flushes over my face as I look behind me at the man who's sleeping there. I cannot remember the details of everything that happened last night. Did we do it? Oh my gosh, I'm not ready to have a baby with the mess my life has become.

Standing up from the bed, I quietly search for my phone, trying not to wake him up. I grab it from the table, frowning at the broken screen. Last night, Richmond had framed me and tarnished my reputation. Last night I was too wasted to properly respond to this sham. It's a new day to destroy the Calloways. I wear my heels and leave.

In front of the hotel, I open my phone to order a ride.

"What the hell?!" I shout.

My account is frozen. What is the meaning of this nonsense? I flag down a cab and go to the Calloways mansion. On reaching there, I move to my room and retrieve some documents I've been holding for a while now.

Richmond is at the table eating with Claire when I approach them. Before they get a chance to interrogate me, I slam the documents on the table and drop a pen on it.

"Sign this now," I say to Richmond.

He drops his fork and picks up the document, too stunned to speak. Claire watches in curiosity.

"A divorce?" He laughs. "You're in the middle of a scandal and you want to add a divorce to your list?"

"You have the nerve to say this after framing me? You started all of this, how dare you!"

"You wanted to run, didn't you? I knew when you saw the headlines calling you a criminal you'd run back to me."

I scoff and fold my hands. "You think this is me coming back to you? I'm leaving! But mark my words, you will pay for what you've done."

Richmond shakes his head and pushes the papers away. "You cannot clear up your name on your own. And I'm not signing this. We have a conference in Australia next month and you're coming with me."

"Babe!" Cassidy exclaims. "She doesn't have to follow you when I'm here. Besides, why would you want to help this thief clear her name." She looks at me in disdain.

My mouth hangs open in shock. "I never expected this from you, Claire."

She stands up from her chair. "I also never expected you to steal from Calloway group. You seemed too innocent until now or rather, until I discovered your crime."

I narrow my eyes on Claire. "What do you mean? Did you?"

"Yes, I did. I was the one who reported you to the police and the media."

My blood runs cold at her revelation. My fists clench tight, digging into my flesh. "How dare you! I will sue you for this!" I rage.

"Have fun doing that from prison," Claire retorts.

"You witch!" I shout and slap her hard on her face.

She screams and holds her cheek. Richmond stands up immediately. "Enough of this madness, Cassidy!" he fumes.

"Stop it! Just stop already! I'm sick of keeping up with this insult. If you won't sign the papers, I'll drag you down to the court. I imagine how that will affect your image once this gets to the public."

"You do know your account is frozen, right? This stubbornness of yours will only drag you down the drain. Good luck thriving on your own."

"I'm done being your pawn, Richmond. You cannot keep using me to satisfy your social pursuits. Even if it means paying with my blood, I will end this marriage."

"Richmond, why don't you just sign the papers, we don't need her anyways," Claire urges him.

He stares at me angrily for some seconds, then he scoffs. "You will regret this. Do you think you can survive without me? How are you going to pay up the fifty million to start with?"

My rage multiplies in leaps as I glare at him with fiery eyes. I flare up at him, screaming and motioning angrily. "Don't you dare refer to me as a thief. Do you think you can push me down like this? Don't forget how you came begging me to marry you. Do you think framing me is enough to destroy the empire I've built for years? You and this snake! You are wrong. You and Calloway group will crumble at my feet."

"I like to see you try!" Richmond shouts suddenly, triggered by my threat. He angrily signs the documents and I drag them from the table.

Without looking back, I storm out of the dining. Claire laughs mockingly. "Just give her a few days, she will come back begging."

I pick up a few of my valuables, wear my sneakers, and leave the mansion in my car, never to return to the filthy place. On my way out, a maid rushes to me.

"Ma'am, please wait, it's important!" She runs after my car, and I stop. She catches up with me at my window. "Ma'am, the doctor came earlier to see you."

My heart skips a beat. "Did she drop any message?" I ask apprehensively.

"No, she just says you should visit her as soon as possible."

"Alright. Thanks for telling me, and Ella? Take care of yourself okay?"

Her pain is evident in her gaze as tears hang in her eyes. Ella is more like a friend to me than a maid. This might be the last time I see her due to the divorce. A wave of grief mixed with anger and the urge to cry hits me as I drive away from her and out of the compound.

My hand trembles over the steering as I drive to City State Hospital. What did Dr. Mina want to tell me? What was so important to make her rush down to the house so early in the morning?

My heart races in my chest as I drive into the hospital. I can feel it beating in my chest as I park and turn off my car. If any of those journalists see me at the hospital, it will spark another rumour. I can't handle seeing any more defamation of my character, especially one involving my inability to conceive a child.

My black facecap is in the back seat. Tieing up my hair, I put on the face cap and move into the hospital. I'm still wearing the sweatshirt from the stranger I met last night. I need to get back to him concerning our contract marriage before he changes his mind.

Dr Mina is the minister of health and the only gynaecologist I trust. If not for her, I wouldn't have accepted to register at the public hospital.

"Cassidy! How are you doing?" She comes to hug me when I enter her office. "I heard what happened, are you alright?"

"Yes, it's nothing I cannot handle."

She withdraws from me with an uneasy expression. "That's what I'm worried about. Please have a seat. We need to talk."

My heart falters at her words. What could be worse than telling a woman that she couldn't bear her children? Sitting down, I pay keen attention to her as she figures out a palatable way to share the news.

"Cassidy, I want to speak to you first as a friend."

Dr Mina shifts forward in her chair, looking dead serious.

I gulp down in fear and she continues with her speech after a brief pause.

"I carried out the test as you requested. And from what I found, picking a fight with Richmond right now could be, for you, a matter of life and death."