FORBIDDEN ECSTASY: Step-Siblings

CHAPTER TWELVE - A face the past

Morning came too quickly.

Cassie barely remembered falling asleep, but she knew she had. Not deeply, not peacefully—just enough to rest her body while her mind stayed restless. By the time sunlight filtered through her curtains, she was already awake, staring at the ceiling with a quiet sigh.

For a moment, she didn’t move.

Then the memory hit.

The kitchen scene with Ronald, the way he had stood so close, like the space between them didn’t matter.

Cassie shut her eyes briefly and turned her head to the side.

“Not today,” she muttered under her breath, pushing herself up.

She wasn’t doing this again, not going to think about it, and not letting it distract her.

Today was going to be about one thing and it was work.

********

By the time she came downstairs, the house was already alive with quiet movement. Staff moved efficiently, breakfast set neatly across the table, the atmosphere calm but purposeful.

Mr Walton and her mother were already seated.

“There she is,” her mother said warmly, her smile soft but excited. “Good morning.”

Cassie returned the smile, taking her seat. “Morning.”

Mr Walton glanced up from his coffee. “Sleep well?”

Cassie paused for half a second. “Well enough.”

Her mother reached for her hand briefly. “We’ll be leaving shortly.”

Cassie nodded, her expression composed. “I know.”

“Don’t worry about anything here,” Mr Walton added. “Focus on work. Learn what you need to learn.”

Cassie almost smiled at that.

Of course, Everything always came back to work.

“I will,” she said.

Her mother studied her for a moment, then leaned in slightly. “And try not to overthink things.”

Cassie let out a soft breath. “I’ll try.”

She didn’t promise because she knew she wouldn’t succeed.

Ronald joined them shortly after.

Dressed, composed, already in that same controlled state she had seen the day before.

As if nothing had happened, as if last night didn’t exist.

Cassie didn’t look at him directly but he didn’t try to catch her attention either.

Breakfast passed with light conversation, her parents speaking about their trip, last-minute arrangements, small details that filled the space but didn’t quite distract Cassie from her own thoughts.

When it was time to leave, her mother hugged her tightly.

“Take care of yourself, okay?”

“I will,” Cassie replied softly.

Mr Walton gave her a firm nod. “Make the most of this opportunity.”

Then, just like that…..They were gone.

The house felt different immediately, it became quieter, larger and emptier

Cassie stood there for a second longer than necessary before turning away.

“Let’s go,” Ronald’s voice came, calm as ever.

She glanced at him briefly this time.

Just briefly.

Then nodded.

*******

The ride to work was silent.

Not the peaceful kind.

The kind that carried everything unspoken from the night before.

Cassie kept her eyes on the window, her expression neutral, while Ronald remained just as still beside her, his presence filling the space without effort.

Neither of them spoke.

Neither of them tried to.

The moment Cassie stepped into the building, it was like being pulled into motion she couldn’t control. Files were already waiting. Emails stacked. Schedules filled beyond what she expected.

“Mr Walton has three meetings this morning,” someone informed her quickly. “You’ll be sitting in on all of them.”

Cassie nodded once.

“Alright.”

There was no time to ease into it.

No time to breathe.

The first meeting started before she could fully settle.

Then the second and the third

Each one blurred slightly into the next—discussions about expansion projects, negotiations, numbers that required full attention, strategies that demanded quick understanding.

Cassie kept up.

Barely.

Her pen moved constantly across her notebook, her eyes shifting between speakers, her mind working overtime to connect pieces she was only just beginning to understand.

Ronald, on the other hand, didn’t miss a thing.

He moved through each meeting with precision, control, and an ease that made it clear this was his world.

Cassie noticed it.

Even when she didn’t want to.

By midday, her head was already starting to ache.

By afternoon….It was worse, Everything felt louder.

Cassie sat through yet another meeting, her focus slipping for just a second before she caught herself again. She straightened slightly, forcing her attention back to the conversation.

But it wasn’t easy.

Her mind was full of all the information, the pressure, the expectations, It was all stacked on top of each other until it became difficult to separate one thing from another.

When the meeting finally ended, she exhaled quietly, closing her notebook a little slower this time.

For the first time that day, she felt the weight.

*******

Back in the office, she dropped into her chair, pressing her fingers lightly against her temple.

“This is insane…” she murmured.

And yet—

She knew she wasn’t allowed to fall behind.

Cassie reached for the Romano file again, flipping it open as her eyes scanned the pages.

The Numbers, their Strategies and Movements.

Her brows pulled together.

Something still didn’t add up.

She could feel it.

Right there—

Just out of reach.

Cassie leaned forward slightly, her focus sharpening despite the fatigue.

“Think…” she whispered to herself.

Because one thing was clear now—

This wasn’t just hectic or just work, it was something deeper.

Something she hadn’t fully uncovered yet.

And somehow—

She knew she was getting closer.

The clock had barely crossed into lunch when the pace of the office finally slowed.

Cassie stood near the reception desk, a tablet in hand as she went over Ronald’s afternoon schedule with the receptionist. Her tone was calm, controlled, though the slight tightness in her voice gave away the exhaustion she was trying to ignore.

“So move the 2:30pm meeting to tomorrow morning,” she said, scrolling through the list. “And confirm the 4:00pm appointment. He doesn’t like delays.”

The receptionist nodded quickly, already making the adjustments. “Noted.”

Cassie exhaled softly, her eyes scanning the screen one more time.

“Also, no walk-ins,” she added. “Unless it’s cleared first.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

For a moment, everything felt… manageable.

Structured.

Then—

The doors opened.

Cassie didn’t look up immediately.

Not until the shift in the atmosphere caught her attention.

It wasn’t loud or obvious either

But it was there……She lifted her gaze slowly.

And saw her.

The woman who had just walked in didn’t move like someone unfamiliar with the space. Her steps were steady, confident, each one measured as she belonged there—like she had every right to be.

She was elegant.

Striking.

Dressed in a way that didn’t try too hard but still commanded attention.

Cassie found herself watching before she even realised it.

The woman approached the reception desk, her expression composed, her eyes sharp.

“I’m here to see Ronald,” she said.

She didn't hesitate, there was no formality, just his name.

The receptionist stiffened slightly.

“Do you have an appointment, ma’am?”

The woman’s lips curved faintly—not quite a smile.

“I don’t need one.”

There was something in her tone.

Like she knew something others didn’t.

Cassie’s brows pulled together slightly, her attention sharpening now.

The receptionist hesitated. “I’m sorry, but Mr Walton’s schedule is fully booked today—”

“I’m aware of his schedule,” the woman cut in smoothly. “Tell him I’m here.”

A pause.

Then, softer—

“He’ll see me.”

The confidence in that statement settled into the air, quiet but heavy.

Cassie felt it.

That shift again.

The receptionist glanced briefly at Cassie, unsure.

Cassie didn’t respond immediately.

She was still watching.

Studying.

The woman didn’t look around nervously. Didn’t fidget. Didn’t check her phone.

She simply stood there.

Waiting.

Like time wasn’t something she worried about.

Then, without another word, she turned slightly, stepping away from the desk and taking a seat nearby, crossing her legs with effortless grace.

Like she had already been accepted.

Like the outcome was already decided.

Cassie blinked once, her thoughts catching up.

“Who is that?” she asked quietly.

The receptionist shook her head slightly. “I… I’m not sure. But she sounded like she knows him.”

Cassie’s gaze drifted back to the woman.

And somehow—That made it worse.

Because it wasn’t just familiarity, It was something else.

Something deeper….Something that didn’t need explanation.

Cassie straightened slightly, her grip tightening around the tablet.

The way she said his name.

The way she carried herself.

The way she didn’t ask—

She expected.

Cassie didn’t like that.

Not one bit.

Her eyes lingered for a moment longer before she turned back to the receptionist.

“Let me know if she’s cleared,” she said, her tone neutral.

But her mind—

Was no longer on schedules.

Because now—

She wanted to know.

Who exactly had just walked into Ronald’s world…

Like she already belonged there.

Ronald didn’t need to be told she was there.

He felt it before the door even opened.

A shift that was Subtle, but familiar.

The kind that didn’t belong to just anyone.

He didn’t look up immediately. His attention remained on the file in front of him, his expression unchanged, controlled as ever.

Then—

A soft knock.

Without waiting for permission, the door opened.

Ronald’s hand stilled.

Slowly, he lifted his gaze.

And there she was.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The silence wasn’t awkward.

It was loaded.

“You’re hard to get to these days,” she said lightly, stepping into the office like she had done it a hundred times before.

Ronald leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable.

“You weren’t expected.”

She smiled faintly, closing the door behind her. “Since when do I need an invitation?”

Ronald didn’t return the smile.

“That depends on the situation.”

She walked closer, her heels soft against the floor, her eyes fixed on him in a way that suggested familiarity—too much of it.

“I heard you took over completely,” she said. “Impressive.”

“I didn’t do it for praise.”

“I know,” she replied softly. “You never did.”

A brief pause settled between them.

Not empty.

Just… unfinished.

Her gaze drifted slightly around the office before returning to him. “You’ve changed things.”

Ronald didn’t respond.

Instead, he watched her.

Carefully.

“Why are you here?” he asked finally.

She tilted her head slightly, as if considering the question.

“Can’t I come see you?”

“No.”

The answer was immediate.

Flat.

That made her smile widen—just a little.

“I missed that,” she said quietly. “You’ve always been straight to the point.”

Ronald’s expression didn’t shift.

“If you have something to say, say it.”

Her eyes softened slightly, but there was something calculated beneath it.

“I’m back,” she said simply.

Silence.

Ronald didn’t react.

Didn’t ask questions.

Didn’t show interest.

And somehow—

That made the statement heavier.

She studied him for a moment, then stepped a little closer, her voice lowering.

“And I’m not done with you.”

The words lingered in the air.

Sharp.

Intentional.

Ronald’s gaze hardened slightly.

“That sounds like a problem,” he said.

Her lips curved again.

“It doesn’t have to be.”

A knock at the door interrupted them.

Ronald didn’t look away from her.

“Come in.”

The door opened briefly—one of the staff members stepping in just enough to speak.

“Sir, your next meeting is in ten minutes.”

“I’ll be there.”

The door closed again.

The moment shifted.

Slightly.

But not completely.

Ronald stood this time, adjusting his sleeve with calm precision.

“This conversation is over.”

She didn’t move.

“Is it?”

He met her gaze fully now.

“Yes.”

A pause.

Then she let out a soft breath, stepping back slightly.

“Fine,” she said, though her tone suggested anything but defeat. “For now.”

She turned, heading toward the door before stopping briefly.

“You always did hate unfinished business,” she added without looking back.

Then she left.

Back outside—

Cassie was no longer pretending to focus.

She had tried.

For a whole five minutes.

It didn’t work.

Her eyes drifted again, almost unconsciously, toward where the woman had been seated earlier.

She was gone now.

And that somehow made it worse.

“Okay…” Cassie muttered under her breath, tapping her pen lightly against the desk.

She needed answers.

And there was only one person who might have them.

Maddie didn’t look surprised to see her.

“If that look means what I think it means,” she said, leaning back slightly in her chair, “then you’ve seen her.”

Cassie didn’t bother pretending.

“You know who she is.”

Maddie gave a small, knowing smile.

“Yeah.”

Cassie folded her arms slightly.

“And?”

Maddie studied her for a second, like she was deciding how much to say.

Then—

“That’s his ex.”

Cassie stilled.

Her expression didn’t change immediately.

But something in her eyes did.

“…His ex?” she repeated.

Maddie nodded.

“They were… serious,” she added carefully. “At least from what people say.”

Cassie let out a quiet breath, turning her gaze slightly.

“That explains the confidence.”

Maddie huffed a soft laugh. “Yeah. She’s not exactly subtle.”

Cassie’s fingers tightened slightly against her arm.

“She walked in like she owns the place.”

“Not the place,” Maddie corrected gently. “Just him.”

That landed.

Cassie didn’t respond right away.

Her thoughts moved quickly now, connecting things she hadn’t planned to think about.

The way the woman spoke.

The way she didn’t ask.

The way she knew.

“…And she just showed up?” Cassie asked.

Maddie nodded. “That’s her style.”

A brief pause.

Then, more quietly—

“And if she’s here…”

Cassie looked at her.

Maddie’s expression shifted slightly.

“She’s not done with him.”

Cassie looked away Back toward Ronald’s office.

Her jaw tightened just slightly not out of anger, not even fully out of irritation, but something else.

Something she didn’t quite want to name.

“…Interesting,” she said finally, her tone calm again.

But her mind?

Far from it.