Chasing Cassie

Chapter 3 -Stephen West

The moment I laid eyes on him, I knew.

I knew that he was no ordinary man.

It was noon and the restaurant was busy at the lunch hour, but that didn’t deter anyone from looking up and zeroing in on him as he entered.

He was on his phone as he walked in. All heads swerved as he reached our table. Beside me, I heard Crystal almost choke on her own spit.

I was frozen in my seat.

Mr. West didn’t even acknowledge our presence as he sat down and finished the call.

“I’m here now, don’t bother…” the deep voice said.

I quickly looked down at my hands.

Crystal, who reprimanded me for fidgeting, was now bouncing her knees in nervousness, making the folder on her lap fall to the ground on my side.

She pinched me and motioned to the floor.

I denied myself the satisfaction of grumbling and just picked up the papers.

A hand shot out and retrieved the rest of it.

“Thanks,” I mumbled. I don’t dare look at whom that hand belonged to.

Crystal cleared her throat and chirped right away, “Sorry for the clumsiness Mr. West. We’re glad to be here,” she said and introduced herself. She elbowed me, forcing me to say my name and look up.

“Alright,” he said. He wasn’t exactly rude, but he wasn’t friendly either. There’s just a tad of aloofness to his whole demeanor that’s somehow off-putting and, to be frank, frightening.

He was strange, to say the least. Crystal tried her hardest to engage him, but he just didn’t pay any mind to her. Focusing on the papers in his hand.

She chattered on and on. He ignored her.

Maybe that’s just how rich people are. They don’t like to pay attention to other things but business.

Curiosity overpowered my shyness and I took the opportunity to study him as he read my pitch. He was wearing casual clothes. Long black sleeves encased his arms and he donned black jeans. He looked every bit comfortable, and why wouldn’t he? He owns the hotel we’re currently sitting at.

He looked young for someone who owns several properties. His dark hair and black eyes give him an air of mystery. Something about his aura gives off a dangerous vibe.

He’s not particularly a huge towering man, nor is he massive. He’s lean, tall, and very imposing. Somehow, I can particularly picture him in a boxing ring. He has that body type. Or a martial artist. I’d bet my whole paycheck he could take down men double his size.

Crystal tried again, “If you want, Mr. West, I can tell you in detail about the marketing strategy we’d like to implement with your restaurants…”

“No need,” he said as he set aside the papers. Then he asked a question that wasn’t part of the presentation that left Crystal dumbfounded. Of course, that would be the case. She didn’t create it.

She tried to answer him the best she could, but his stern face indicated that he was losing interest. He picked up his phone and began typing. At a loss for words, Crystal finally shut her mouth.

“Sir, Mr. West. I uhm…” he looked up as I said this.

His piercing gaze was unsettling, but I pushed through because I was sure Mr. Cole would fire us if we didn’t get this client. “To answer your earlier question, we would be using…”

He lifted his hand, signaling me to stop. “You’re the copywriter, you did this.” He wasn’t asking me, he was stating it.

I nodded.

The corner of his lips lifted. Was that a smirk? Surely not.

“Thank you for your time. Enjoy your lunch,” he said directly to me. He grabbed the folder and left. Not even sparing a glance at Crystal who talked his ear off the whole time.

Crystal slowly glanced at me. “What the hell, Cassie?”

What the hell, indeed.

- - - -

I sat at the table while Crystal whined about Mr. West. I would have high-tailed it out of the restaurant if we weren’t informed by the chef himself that Mr. West took the time to tell him that the chef was to take care of us this lunch.

That meant I could devour course after course of five-star meals at the expense of Mr. West. What was I supposed to do? Let Crystal enjoy the free food by herself.

“He was so rude! He couldn’t even be bothered to talk to us…” Crystal said. “If he wasn’t so goddamn hot, I would have slapped him.”

“He was just serious about the proposal.”

“No, he barely listened to me. And what was that about when he questioned you?”

I shrugged. Beats me.

“Ugh. Ridiculous! But god, he was so attractive. If he stayed longer, I was going to melt right on this chair.”

Is this girl talk? Crystal must’ve realized that she was talking to me like I was her friend and quickly stopped.

“You know what, that was awful. And I don’t need the free food,” she turned up her nose at the delicious food.

“No one’s forcing you to eat.”

She scoffed and left.

More for me. I happily ate and when dessert came, I was so full that I leaned back on the chair and rubbed my stomach. Food coma at its finest.

“Good?”

I almost fell out of my chair as Mr. West himself stood beside me.

“Yeah, I mean yes. Thank you, Mr. West.” I stammered. I sat up straight.

“Relax,” his mouth said, but his stern face told otherwise.

“I’m going to accept your proposal.”

I forced my lips to not form a smile at the good news.

“But only if you worked with me. Not that one,” he pointed to Crystal’s chair.

“Sir, I’m not sure….about that.”

He inclined his head and scrunched his eyebrows. Okay, that’s the first time he’s shown any sign of emotion other than that hint of a smirk earlier.

Alarmed that he might get mad, I quickly said, ” It’s just… I don’t control who works with which client.”

“Leave that to me,” he said.

That small smirk again. I’m pretty sure that’s deadly.

----

“Oh my god…”

“Who is that?”

“He’s so…”

The comments distracted me from my typing. Not enough to take my attention away from my work though. I’m almost finished, I just need more time before I turn this in. I tune back into my screen.

A few minutes passed, and I hit save with a huge sigh of satisfaction. Another pitch is done!

“Mr. West. Yes, that’s him…” Crystal confirmed.

My head popped up at this.

It was true, walking out of Mr. Cole’s office was Mr. West indeed. He headed straight to my desk while everyone stared at him in awe.

He was wearing a leather jacket with his jeans this time. Casual and oh-so attractive. The bad boy look suits him very well.

Not wanting to be caught staring, I shook my head and quickly started typing. Not knowing what to do with myself, I just keyed in random words until…

“I hope your gibberish words won’t reflect in your output in my project,” he said beside me as he looked at my screen.

Stunned. I was stunned. And so embarrassed.

Before I could stutter out an excuse for my idiotic behavior, he left.

Mr. Cole informed me later on that Mr. West specifically requested me to work with him. He also mentioned not wanting to see Crystal again, which made the woman hiss at me for the next few days.

----

Mr. Cole likes to have small parties at the office every other Friday after work. This one is no different.

Except this time, there was an announcement upfront.

“Everybody, we got Mr. West as our client! That’s right, that’s right, I got him!” Mr. Cole boasted. “And thanks to our Cassie for making it happen. Where are you, hun? C’mere.”

It would have been fine if I had been hidden in the back. But then Crystal, in her infinite bitchiness, grabbed my arms and thrust me out and onto Mr. Cole.

I stumbled forward. Mr. Cole caught my arms and clapped my back, congratulating both of us for making the deal with the client.

I withdrew my arm, but people couldn’t see he was caressing my back. He was about to sling his arm on my waist when I crouched down. Pretending to pick something up from the floor.

Yes, I would crawl out of there if it meant that man couldn’t get his hands on me.

Someone helped me up.

“You okay?”

“Yeah. Thanks, James.” I knew it was him before I looked up. The blonde hair and broad shoulders clued me in.

White Knight popped into my head. Always saving the girl.

“You’re always on the floor,” he mused. Then a shadow fell on his face. “I saw that.” His gaze went to Mr. Cole who was now busy gorging on the snacks on the table.

“I swear, it’s like nobody wants to help. Everybody can see what’s happening.” I grouched. “Or they’re just all refusing to see it. Nobody wants to be fired for standing up to the boss.”

“He does pay well,” James quipped.

“Oh my god, not you too,” I said. But then his smile clued me in. “Thanks again, by the way.”

“Hey,” he lowered his voice. “Why don’t you quit if he’s a pig?”

I bowed my head. “Like you said, the job pays well. And there’s no better Marketing company in town…”

He kept quiet. Then he asked, “Is he like that all the time?”

I nodded, ashamed. I know it’s not my fault, but I’m embarrassed that I couldn’t protect myself all the time and I don’t have the guts nor the means to survive without my job.

“You know what, I’ll make you a deal. I’ll be your bodyguard. Is that good?”

“Huh? Why? Why would you do that for me?”

“I don’t know… we can be friends? I’m new here, I don’t have friends yet.” With his boyish smile and charming personality, that’s hard to believe.

“Uh.. okay? But newsflash,” I point to our coworkers. “I don’t have friends either. So I’m not sure how good company I can be.”

----

I went to the restroom before leaving the party. I didn’t know that would be a mistake.

Crystal was washing her hands when I entered.

She glared at me and I scurried over to the stall.

I tried to prolong my pee but, alas, she was waiting for me.

Since I couldn’t stay in the stall forever, I slowly opened the door. She ripped it open and snarled at me. I’ve never seen her so mad. Maybe because it’s just the two of us here, but the girl was angry.

“Who do you think you are, huh? I bet you said something to Mr. West!”

“What? No…”

“And why are you hanging around with James?! You know what, you’re such a slut.”

The shock on my face must have been evident because she smiled.

“That’s it huh… You’re just out to get them. You’re just pretending to be all shy and timid but you’re just f*cking all the guys.”

I refrain from adding fuel to the fire. Her face is turning red by the minute and I’m scared she might rip my face off.

“You can’t have them!” she snarled when she couldn’t provoke me and gripped my arm. “Mr. West is married! And James will be mine, so don’t try anything!”

I snatched my arm back and ran out.

Back home, I walked into Hunter’s apartment without a word. I grabbed his arm, not unlike how Crystal grabbed me, and dragged him to my place.

I got out my frustrations that weekend with the help of Hunter.

Crystal didn’t have to threaten me.

I know I’m not worthy of them or anyone else.

I’m f****d up.