Escaping to the CEO

Chapter 9

Cassandra’s POV

"Cass?"

"hmm?"

"You ok?"

“I honestly don’t know Anna. I have a thousand feeling running through me right now. I’m so happy that I’m away from Joe, I’m scared he’s going to find me. I’m nervous as to what’s will happen to me if and when he does. Not to mention the feeling that I’m having for Eric. I feel like I know him. But I couldn’t possibly know him. He reminds me of my first love but It couldn’t possibly be the same person. I mean for one My Eric had thick glasses and he had the scar from when the neighbors dog attacked him. But Your boss he doesn’t have thick glasses and he’s fit. Like really fit. And Like I wanted to say yes I wanted to stay at his home but I don’t know him like that and I also feel more comfortable with you. You’re my cousin and I reached out to you for help. And he’s helped so much already and I don’t want to take advantage of him at all. I also need to figure out how I’m going to divorce my husband. I don’t want to be married to him anymore. I want to be free and enjoy being single and live my life for the first time since I was fourteen. Do you know what I mean? God I feel like my head is on a lazy Susan and it’s just spinning faster and faster.”

“I do get it. You’ve gone through so much in the last twenty four hours and right now you just want to get your feet on the ground. So lets start with the stuff we can help with. I know you said you wanted to take a shower so lets start with that. I’ve got some clean clothes for you. They might be a little big but they’ll fit you better than what you have on now.”

We walked into the bathroom and she showed me how to work the shower. I placed the clothes she gave me on the sink and stepped into the shower. The hot water running over my body. I forgot how short my hair cut is. I had startled moment and than remembered that it was pixie cut short. I started crying I couldn’t explain why but tears were pouring down my face. My back leaned against the wall and I slowly started sinking to the floor of the tub. My knees automatically pulled to my chest and the sobbing started.

Banging on the door started. I heard Anna’s voice than Eric’s voice

“Cass? Cass? Are you OK? I’m coming in.”

“CD? You ok?”

“no”

The door banged open and Anna walked in. She turned the water off and Eric handed her a towel. She helped wrap the towel around my body and knelt next to me.

“Hey sweetie wanna tell me whats going on?”

“I don’t know.”

“That’s ok. Hey lets get you dressed and into bed ok?”

I slightly nodded my head up and down.

“Eric can you hand me her clothes they’re on the sink there.”

“Here you go.”

“OK Honey, lets stand up and go and sit on the toilet so I can help dress you.”

She helped me stand and I slowly made my way out of the tub. I could feel my emotions all over the place I was unsteady mentally and emotionally. I felt like my whole world was crashing around me. I felt like my body was on a roller coaster and there were no breaks on this superman ride.

Anna helped me put on the fuzzy sweatpants and a tank top. Eric handed me a sweatshirt that smelled like him.

“Thank you.”

I pulled the sweatshirt over my head and my nose went into the side and I smelled him. MY body started relaxing. I started to feel better. My brain started to calm down and slowly silence.

“I need some wine. Eric?”

“Do you have any beer?”

“Like you even have to ask. Cass what do you say you want a glass before lying down?”

I nodded my head. A glass of wine sounded amazing. I went to stand and my legs were wobbly once again. Eric scooped me up and carried me once again. He sat at me at her counter in the kitchen and I finally got a chance to look around. Her house was gorgeous. A giant fireplace stood in the living room, and she had comfortable furniture, and it had such a homey feeling. She walked over to her fridge and pulled out two tall cans with a weird-looking scientist guy on them. Reaching into her cabinet, she grabbed two tall glasses and poured the cans into them, being careful not to cause foam. She placed one of the glasses in front of me.

Eric made himself comfortable on one of the other stools. He was leaning back on one arm all relaxed and his beer had a layer of foam at the top.

"What kind is this?"

"Craft beer. Made up in Stowe. I have a few friends who work there. We did some construction work a few years back, and they hook us up with free beer once in a while.”

"That's really cool. Stowe is a nice town. Good skiing”

"It is. I haven’t had a chance yet to go skiing. Maybe this winter I’ll take a weekend and go.”

“Could make it a company retreat.”

“Ohhh I like that Idea.”

“Of course you would its me spending money.”

He gave a deep chuckle at his comment. I kept staring at him my mind was still reeling at everything that happened in the last 24 hours. I had one thought stuck in my head. Why did he keep calling me CD. There was only one person to ever call me that. My voice wasn’t very loud but it was clear enough to be heard.

“Why do you keep calling me CD?”

He froze. His glass mid-raise and jaw slightly opened. I didn’t mean to blurt it out like I did but I needed to know.

“No one calls me CD, Only one person ever called me that. So why do you?”

He started stumbling over his words and staring at me.

“Just spill it. I don’t need to be lied to.”

“I don’t know how to explain this and I don’t want you mad at me for it. It’s me CD. Eric.”

“Yes your name is Eric. I know that. Why are you calling me CD?”

He rubbed his hand across his face and looked exhausted. He got off of his stool and walked over to the stool I was sitting on and spun me towards him. His hands were on either side of me his face was close to mine.

“I gave you your nickname shortly after I moved in next to you. I told you it was for your name Cassandra Diana. CD. But it’s also because when I would hear your voice it sounded like music to my ears.”

“It’s you?”

“It’s me.”

He whispered into my ear. I felt the tears forming in the base of my eyes. My vision blurred and I couldn’t stop them. I didn’t want to stop them. I wrapped my arms around his body and held him close to me. My head laying on his chest his hand stroked my hair. Anna Announced that she was stepping out to give us some space.

He tilted my head up and using his thumbs wiped the tears away.

“I told you in the letter I wrote you that I would always come for you. You asked I came. I’m not letting you go. I will protect you till my last breath CD. You are my everything.”

“You came for me. You’re here and you didn’t forget me.”

“I could never forget you.”

We stayed holding each other for awhile till my tears stopped. He picked me up and carried me upstairs to the bedroom and laid me on the bed. I gripped his hand and looked at him with a pleading to not leave me. Holding my hand he walked to the end of the bed and climbed in over my feet and up behind me. He wrapped his arm around my stomach and pulled me in close. I felt so relaxed in his arms enough to fall into a true safe deep sleep.

The next morning I woke up Eric was still snuggled behind me. I really needed to use the bathroom. I slowly made my way out of his grip. He grunted and rolled over. I got out of bed and did want I needed to do. I smelled syrup and headed down stairs. There was Anna making Pancakes.

“I thought you were Vegan?”

“I am these are eggless.”

She plated me up a couple and added the syrup on top. They were actually really good. We go to talking and I finally decided to ask her how she met Eric again.

“So how did you meet up with Eric again?”

“Well That’s a long story. Here have some coffee. And let me figure out how to begin.”

She handed me a steaming hot much of coffee and the sugar and Creamer were on the table already. She wrapped her hands around her cup and stared at it for a few minutes before she began.

“As you know I was disowned from the family about five years ago. Eric’s friend Michael found me. I was almost beaten half to death. He took care of me then brought me up here to Eric. Eric Remembered me from when we were kids. He took me in and helped me finish my law degree. I got into a really good school here in Vermont and I was able to finish top of my class. He was sitting in my families section and cheering for me. His company gave me a job working in the legal department and once I passed the bar I was given my own office and clients. Last year the company was falsely sued over a contract and I won the case and they received a billion dollars.

Eric helped me build this house and gave me a huge raise and bonus to boot. He also told me if I ever needed anything to let him know and he would drop everything to help me at a moments notice.

One afternoon I walked in and I saw an article about you on his desk. I asked him about it. He asked if I remembered him from childhood and my head totally drew a blank. I couldn’t remember anyone who looked like him from childhood. That’s when he told me that he was your neighbor and that we would hang out all the time when my sister and I would come visit. I was in total shock because he didn’t look like the same Eric from ten plus years ago.

He started asking questions about you and your life. I told him how awful you husband was. How I had heard from my sister that she had seen you covered in bruises and with a cast. How you told her that Joe beats you regularly. You should have seen his hands, Cass. They turned into tight fists, so tight his fingernails pierced his skin. His face, though he remained neutral. He said if you were to ever contact me, we would get to you as soon as humanly possible. And that is what we did. I got your letter 4 days ago. It was late, and I had just thrown my mail on my desk before leaving for the night. I didn't see your letter till the next day. I got to the office, had just placed my freshly made only took a sip out of coffee and I was going through the mail. When I saw your letter with no return address and addressed directly to me I was a little nervous. We’ve had people in the past who became stalkers. After I read the letter I raced over to Eric’s office and I showed him the letter. He canceled the rest of his day. We got on his plane and were there in the early hours of the following morning.”