by Amber Heart
And I am missing yours. I love
What is all this? I am losing my mind. She left me a note that said she didn’t want me but left her phone behind with a half written text that clearly showed her interest in me. Either she was playing with me or something was wrong. I went to my bedroom and looked around. That’s when I found her clothes from earlier. Even her wallet was right there. This was something ugly. Fear began to envelop me. I needed to find her. I took the elevator back to the ground floor.
“I need to know where Cassandra is. She was in my apartment this morning. But she left abruptly. I need to know if she called a cab or something.” The doorman looked at me like I was a maniac. Hell if I cared at that moment about myself. “I was calling you earlier to tell you that your guest left.” “Where did she go? Did she say something?” I held my breath, waiting for him to answer. “No, but your other lady friend was with her.” “My other lady friend?” “Yeah, she came here earlier as well. She asked about you but she didn’t go up or let me call you. She said she’d come back later. Then she came a couple of hours later and made me call up to your guest.” This was crazy. Who could have come here? Cassandra knew none of my associates. Hell I didn’t even have a lady friend who’d visit me at my home on a Monday morning. Except…
“What did she look like? The other one. Who took Cassandra, what did she look like?” “She was pretty. A brunette.” I pulled out my phone and showed him a picture. “Was it her?” The doorman smiled widely. “Yes, yes. She’s the one.”
I gritted my teeth and rushed towards my car. Elsa had stepped over every line today. Did she take her? Was this a kidnapping? Am I being absolutely crazy? Is this just a harmless day out between two girls? But why would they leave the door open and why would she leave her phone? So many questions and worries were flying through my head. I have no idea how serious this is!
If anything happens to Cassandra, I will be a broken man. Part of me is assuming the absolute worst and I think that’s fair considering how much of a psycho Elsa is.
Cassandra
“I don’t know what he finds attractive about you. We need to do something about it.” I was in the hands of Aaron’s psycho ex. I should have been alarmed and put my guard up when I was first called by Aaron’s doorman and he had told me that Elsa Marek wanted to meet me. But damn my curiosity, I wanted to know why she was here to see me. Aaron’s conversation with her earlier was in the back of my mind and I wondered what she had to say to me. After all, they both must have had a history together and I wanted to find out what that history was exactly. So I gave her permission to come up. Big mistake. Now I was bound to a chair in god knows where.
She forced me to come with her, at gun point. I don’t know why this psycho had a gun or if it was even real. But I was not willing to find out. The best thing I can do is just play along with her game.
My thoughts shifted to Aaron. What would he think when he’d find that note Elsa had made me leave for him? He must think that I ran away. It wasn’t like I had given him any impression to think otherwise. But after yesterday, I did want to take a leap with him. I did want to test the waters with him. His words from earlier came back to me. But with you, I want to try everything. I can only hope that you’ll be there with me to test the waters. And after that, he had given me the most priceless gift; time. Take all the time you need but always remember, Cassandra, if you run away from me, I’ll chase you down to the ends of earth. Would he come after me now? Even when he’d find out that I hadn’t had the decency to say goodbye to him in person. Probably not. And that thought made me want to cry. For the first time in years, I wanted to cry.
Elsa was back and she had something in her hands. “Where should we start from?” She raised a pair of scissors. “No, Elsa. Please don’t do this. We can sit and talk about all this. There is no need to do this.” I jerked my head away but she caught a lock of my hair and pulled. I yelped in pain. “Talk about what, Cass? That how he left me for you? Or how he dismissed me from his life because of you?” She was going hysteric. “I love him. I was content in giving him what he wanted from me. I was even okay when he went after that other bitch, Jasmine. Or his other one night stands with bimbos. It was alright. Because he always came back to me. But then you came out of nowhere and he stopped seeing me.” For a minute I thought she was going to cry. But then she glared at me.
“But not anymore. I’ll make you so ugly that he won’t even recognize you.” And then she snapped the scissors and strands of my hair fell down. Oh God, this was really happening. I closed my eyes shut and called that one name I could think of. Aaron. “He even jumped in that water to save you. I wished you would have died. It would have made things easier for me. And then when I tried to talk to him, he said he was done with me. And that is all because of you!” She threw away the scissors and looked around as if searching for something better. I dared not to think of the plans she had for me. I’ve gotten off easy so far, a bit of hair will grow back… But then she stopped and looked at me intently.
“Water. Yes. He saved you yesterday, but you’ll suffer today. I’m going to watch you drown in my own pool. Nice and easy, eh?” An evil smile appeared on Elsa’s face and I looked at her in horror. “No, please. Elsa, listen to me. Let me talk to Aaron and we’ll sort this out. I am sure he is not that into me like you are thinking.” I tried to settle her down. But this woman was totally nuts. “Since he returned from that wedding, he is avoiding me and that is exactly when you two hooked up, wasn’t it?” I gaped at her in surprise. How did she know? She laughed at my expression. “Yeah, surprised, huh? I keep a close eye on my man. I love him that much.”
“That is stalking. Not love.” The words came out of my mouth and her hand hit my face. “Bitch!” I was stunned by the sudden action. But then I didn’t care. “You are a crazy, dumb-headed bitch who doesn’t know the difference between obsession and love. Love is what he feels for me and I for him. He saved me because he loves me. He called you out because he didn’t want to sleep around with anyone except me because we share something special. That’s love. What you are talking about is stalking and obsession. You fucking psycho!” My words silenced her for a bit.
“You are right, Cass. I am obsessive. And you should know what obsession makes a person do.” She pulled out the gun from the back of her jeans’ waistband. “You are the thing that stands between me and Aaron. So I am going to keep him for myself and kill you right here. Story ends.” She loaded the gun and I closed my eyes. “What, not gonna see your death coming?” she laughed loudly and I whispered, “I love you, Aaron.” “No!” someone yelled and then there was a loud shot followed by shrieks and things falling and crashing. I waited for the pain to take over. But nothing hit me.
I dared to open my eyes and found Aaron disarming Elsa. Aaron was here. Relief flooded inside me. He was here. My love. He had chased me. He had found me. Tears welled in my eyes and I didn’t fight them. They were long due.
“I did this for you, Aaron. I love you so much. She doesn’t deserve you,” Elsa was pleading as Aaron shoved her aside and rushed towards me. “Cassandra, baby, are you alright?” he cupped my cheeks, his voice was hoarse. I leaned into his touch and nodded, unable to speak. He started to undo my ropes. “Aaron, please,” Elsa tried again but this time Aaron pointed the gun at her. “Stay the fuck there Elsa or I swear to God, I’ll shoot you!” She backed away. Aaron freed me from the restraints and then crushed me to his chest. This was home. Before I could even savor his touch there was a siren outside. It was the cops. Aaron must have called them on the way over here.
“I thought I’d never see you again,” I whispered into his neck. “I’ll chase after you, Cass, every time.” He looked down at me and then lowered his mouth to take mine in a kiss. The kiss was as soft as a feather, but it was still possessive. “I love you, Cassandra.” He pressed his forehead against mine as he confessed. “I love you too, Aaron, and I want to take every leap and test every water with you,” I said to hi
m through tears. He kissed away the wetness on my cheeks and then playfully smiled down at me. “I was looking forward to a little more cat and mouse. I like the chase.” “Aaron!” I smacked his chest and he laughed and hugged me again. Oh yeah, I was one lucky maid of honor to hitch the best man.
Chapter 12
Five months later
Cassandra
I stepped out of the elevator and stopped in my tracks. The office floor was pitch black. What the hell? I checked my phone. It was nine in the morning. Where was everybody? I was expecting to see quite some activity everywhere, given that Aaron has been crazy busy the past two days. I’m not going to lie it has been secretly annoying me. It meant I didn’t get to spend as much time with him as I’d like, but I knew I was being silly. He had some new client that I didn’t know about and he wasn’t even telling me who it was. He had stayed out late last night and then left quite early this morning saying he had a conference. But now there wasn’t even a single hint of activity.
The past five months with Aaron have been… heaven. I had never dreamed of finding a man who’d make me feel this alive, this happy. I love him with all my heart and I know that he feels the same for me because he shows it to me every single day. But this hiding and sneaking around wasn’t giving me a good feeling. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust him. I trusted him with my life, but I just wish he’d tell me what was going on.
I walked over to the switch board and turned on all the lights. And ta da… there were roses everywhere. My hand went to my mouth as I gasped. Just then a soft violin began playing Richard Marx’s tune of I will be right here waiting for you. That was my favorite song.
“Cassandra, you flipped my life upside down the moment I set my eyes on you.” It was Aaron’s voice. I turned around to see him but he was nowhere in sight. “You made me believe that I was capable of carrying a relationship – a monogamous one. Yeah, I am surprised too.” He chuckled. “You made me a better person, not that I wasn’t a good one before, but of course you think otherwise. I want my day to begin with you and end with you for the rest of my life. I want the sun to rise and set with you by my side every day. I love you, Cassandra, and I want to share your life with you. Laugh with you and cry with you. Alright that came out cheesy, didn’t it?” Tears began to fall down my cheek. “Will you just come and kiss me?” I said and there he stepped out from behind the wall to the left with a grin on his face.
“You went over the board.” I gestured at the roses and all the decorations. “I’m not finished yet, babe.” He stepped closer and then went down on his knee and grabbed my hand. “Be mine, Cassandra. Will you please marry me?” His eyes shimmered with love, desire and possessiveness. There would never be any other man in my life other than Aaron Maxfield. “I am yours, Aaron. Always and forever. Yes, I will marry you.” Aaron grinned at me and popped a velvet box out of his pocket and slipped a delicate princess cut diamond ring onto my finger and pressed a kiss on my knuckles. The air filled with people cheering and sobbing as the rest of the office people appeared from wherever they were hiding. Aaron stood up and took me into his arms and kissed me. “I love you.” With tears in my eyes I had to hear it one more time “Say that again.”
“I love you.”
Chapter 13
Kenneth James
Wait, she’s getting married? How can she be getting married? It’s been six fucking months, that bitch was supposed to be mine! After everything I did for her she does this to return the favor? I gave her a wage. I gave her a car. I gave her a fucking apartment. And I have to find out she’s getting married over fucking Facebook? It’s a good job her profile isn’t set to private otherwise I’d never see what this bitch is up to. Why hasn’t she uploaded any pictures of the asshole she’s marrying? She could have at least posted his name. He’s probably made up so she can feel better about her pathetic little life now that I’m not in the picture.
I will never forget that night she stood me up. I had planned it all out meticulously. She walks upstairs to do her duty as an excellent employee and sleep with an excellent business prospect. Then surprise! It’s me. Her boss who has given her the life she has. She owed it to me. But she never turned up, did she? The fucking bitch. Why would she do this to me? Without hesitation I fired her ass the next day and took everything away from her. She deserved it.
I need to know who the hell she is marrying! I need to show him who’s boss and put him in his place. He needs to know that she is mine and nobody can take her away from me. I took her into my company when she was nothing. I made her what she is today. She is my property and I will get her back. I need more information.
It looks like she’s working at the LeoField Ad Agency. Perfect. Mark is an old acquaintance of mine. I’ll pretend I’m looking to collaborate business with him and then do some snooping around to find out as much information as I can. I haven’t seen Mark in years and I know he’s not an imbecile. I’ll have to be careful around him. I’d heard rumors about him partnering up with some one as well. It doesn’t sound like Mark’s character at all. He must really respect this guy to share half his business with him.
Chapter 14
Aaron
I lay awake next to my gorgeous fiancée who was fast asleep. The last few months with Cass have been the best of my life. Proposing to her last week was the best thing I’ve ever done with my life. I know I will never regret this decision. She is my world and she is my everything.
We have decided to host the wedding relatively soon. We don’t want a long engagement, we both just want to get on with it. Funny how similar we are, we can’t be doing with lying about waiting. You’ve got to live your life to the fullest every day because you never know when it will all blow up in your face. I am going to savor every moment with this beautiful goddess.
I rolled over and faced my princess. The way her hair landed and her face relaxed when she slept was adorable. If I died right now I would be happy if this was my last memory.
The last five months have been filled with work and Cass. I couldn’t be happier. We’ve got a routine down that fits us perfect. She’s always the first up and she gets the coffee running. The aroma drags me out of bed and I whip up breakfast while we share our plans for the day or lounge around and watch TV. I think we’ll have pancakes and fruit tomorrow. I know she loves that combo. I went out of my way yesterday to snatch up some fresh blueberries because I know they’re her favorite.
After breakfast she’ll take the first shower or we’ll both take the first shower depending on how we’re feeling. She always leaves a cute message on the mirror, all the soppy sayings you can think of. I love it. Cass has her own car now so if she needs to shoot off to a separate location for work she can do. Most days we share my car when we know we’re going to be in the office all day. We play games in the car to speed up the journey and sing a long to our favorite songs on full blast with no care in the world.
Cass is an incredible worker, hiring her was one of the best things I could have done for this company. She’s worked her way up the ranks quickly and runs the media department and is head of the team. Mark and I still have the final say and handle everything else. We’ve turned into quite a trio, kicking butt and taking names.
Being the boss has its perks, I can drag Cass off to dinners and outings whenever I like and I can just blame it on business. People probably bitch about it behind our backs, but fuck them. We’re happy and we do what we want. We are living the dream and no one can take that away from us.
After work we usually hit the gym. I stick to the weights while Cass jumps between workouts. She likes to swap it up all the time so she doesn’t get bored. I on the other hand like to see the progression. I like seeing my numbers go up and that only comes with consistency.
When we get home we don't really stick to a routine. Some times we go out together, some times one of us goes out while the other stays in. It depends on the day and how we're both feeling. It's nice having the freedom to do what I want. If I'm
not in the mood to hang out she can keep herself busy without clawing at me for attention. I respect that. She can bring herself happiness and doesn't rely on me for it.
The bedroom is where the real action happens. We've started to experiment with all sorts of fun activities, nothing is off the table. We'll try anything once and decide if we like it or dislike it. This has lead to some... interesting nights, but they've all been fun and we've grown as individuals and as a couple.
This past five months we have connected on a deep emotional level. We're still finding little intricacies out about each other and we will do for a few years. You can't fully know some one in less than six month, but every time we learn something new our love for each other grows. This helps me sleep like a baby. I still have loads more to look forward to with this amazing goddess.
It's getting late, I should probably go to bed soon. I love when Cass subconsciously reaches out for me when she's asleep for a cuddle. It puts me to sleep faster than anything knowing I get to protect her. Her feeling safe around me is the greatest gift I could ever ask for. I snuggle up to her and put my arms around her, pulling her tightly into me. As I close my eyes all I can look forward to is waking up tomorrow and eating breakfast with my angel.
Cassandra
The next morning
The sun shining in through the window woke me up earlier than usual today. The one tiny gap in the curtain had to beam the sun directly over my eyes. Typical! My life is just full of tragedy, I'm kidding of course. I rolled over and saw my love laying there. His messy hair and his chiseled face caught my attention first. God, he's gorgeous. How am I this lucky?
