Chapter 9
NICHOLAS
“Cassandra, but you can call me Cassy.” Cassy smiles at Nick, her smile drawing him in further.
“I don’t think I need to introduce myself, you already know me, but I’m Nicholas, and you can call me Nick. Now that we know each other, can we go to your new home?” He says, and she laughs, as he leads her to where his car is parked. He opens the front-seat for her, and when she enters, rushes to the driver’s seat, and starts to drive towards his mansion.
He glances at her for a brief moment, and returns his gaze to the road ahead. He has no idea what it is but something about her makes him want to help her. She was homeless and poor and yet she refused his offer, and held onto her pride and dignity, and that makes him want to help her more.
“Tell me about yourself Cassandra.” He says as he drives on, his eyes not leaving the road.
She is quiet for a while, as if not wanting to talk, “Well I am an only child. My mother died when I was young, and my dad died when I was fourteen leaving me with a lot of fortune, but my step-mum claimed it and fled, leaving me with only the house I was living in, and that too is gone since it was used as a collateral for a loan my step-mum had collected…” She trails off, her voice cracking as she fights back tears. He continues driving and soon they reach the gate of a huge mansion. He takes a remote from his car, and presses a button that makes the gate slide open, and Cassy’s eyes go wide open in amazement.
“I want to help you.” He says before turning the car into the huge compound.
“You’re already helping me, and besides, I can’t receive any more from you. You took me to the hospital and now, you’re allowing me to stay under your roof, it would be too selfish of me to want more Nicholas.” She says sweetly. The way she called his name sounds so soothing in his ear, making him want her to keep calling out his name., and he wondered how it would feel to hear her moan out his name too. He mentally slaps himself. What the hell are you saying?
“Oh it’s nothing, I just want to help you. Please don’t say no.” He says and she frowns, and he quickly adds, “Take it as payment for almost getting running into you.”
“That was also my fault, I wasn’t paying attention in your way and you stopped yourself from hitting me, took me to the hospital and now I’m here at your house. I think you have done more than enough for me.” She says.
“Okay, how about you work for me then? That way you can have your own source of income, and won’t have to rely on me for everything.” He asks.
She thinks about it for a while, and although it is rather tempting, she refuses. “I know nothing about business matters so there is nothing I can do for you in that aspect.”
“This might sound weird, but how about working as my house keeper then.” He says, “You get a roof over your head, you get food to eat and you get a pay every month.” He adds.
She starts to laugh, leaning her head against the car dashboard as tears fill her eyes. Nicholas is confused, wondering why she was laughing. “Is everything okay…” He trails off, not knowing what to say.
She stops laughing, “I’m so sorry I laughed. It’s just you said the exact same thing at the hospital, about me cleaning your house.”
“Yes, except I didn’t talk about paying you then, but now I’m paying you, if you take the offer?”
“Why are you so bent on helping me anyway.”
“To be very honest, I don’t know. I just feel inclined to help you, and that’s all, but if you refuse my offer, it’s okay, I can’t force you to do what you don’t want after all.”
“It’s fine, I will come work for you as your house keeper.” She says and he smiles in satisfaction, feeling he has achieved something.
“We are here.” He gets down from the car and then walks over to her side to open the door for her.This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.
“The doctor said I didn’t get hurt, so why are you overreacting and besides, I’m still a stranger to you.” She says softly.
“I’m sorry, I’ll try to stop myself from being so helpful.” He says and she smiles, shaking her head as she gets out of the car without his help.
“Wow! This is a very huge house. Do you live here with your wife and children? Or your family members?” She asks him, still in awe of his mansion.
“I don’t have a wife nor children. Even if I had a wife and children, I wouldn’t have brought you over here, but to a guest house.” He says and then he steps forward, leading her into the house.
“Do you think you can manage this whole house on your own?” He asks her as soon as they are inside the house.
“I can, after all it’s what you will be paying me to do.” She says smiling.
“Okay let me show you around.” He says, but just as he’s about to take her round, his phone rings. “Excuse me.” He says to Cassy, who just nods still awestruck by how well furnished his house is.
“Hello… Yes, I am home… Not now… If it’s not urgent, then cancel it Laura… It is? How many minutes do I have to get there?… Okay, I will be there very soon, just try to hold them for me till I get there… Okay, bye.” He hangs up and then walks up to Cassandra.
“You’re leaving?” She asks, turning to face him.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t know I had something this important on my schedule today, because are usually my free days, but my Secretary just called to tell me that I have an urgent meeting so I will have to leave you here, I’m so sorry.” He says.
She smiles, “Why do you keep apologizing for no reason? You do not have to apologize to me. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Thank you for understanding Cassandra. Umm… the bathroom is on the left on this floor, so you can take a bath or shower or whatever, and the house keeper’s dress is in the closet and you can pick any bedroom you want in the house, except mine of course.” He says and she nods her head. “If you need anything, there is a mobile phone on the wall, it calls my office directly so I will be there to answer your calls, just make yourself comfortable.” He says and she chuckles.
“Go Nicholas, your meeting can’t wait forever, I will be fine.” She assures him. The sound of his name on her lips makes him want to grab her and do nasty things to her.
“Should I have said Mr. Bennett? I am so sorry I’m not used to it yet but I promise it won’t happen again.” She says
“It’s nothing… You can call me anything you want Cassy.” He says and his phone rings again. “I better be on my way now before something happens. I will see you at night and I will give you the tour around the house.” He adds before answering his call
“Hello” He says and then leaves the house.
“Goodbye.” She screams after him.