by Dani René
Chapter 28
Lucien
As soon as I walk into the office, Stacy is at my heels. I have meetings upon meetings. A headache already threatening, and the day hasn’t even started. “Block out my morning, I have an important meeting at midday, I need time cleared before and after to get back to the office. Get the car ready.”
“Yes, sir. Can I get you a coffee?”
“No. Call Mr. Alexander and have him come up here.” She nods and leaves me to my morning conference call with the board members. So far they’ve been happy with me running the company. It’s confirmed I will take over Verán Industries. Now to get rid of Claudia. Robert has since taken the bug out of the office and his team have swept the rest of the area and found another two which they disposed of. Now that I am free to talk without worry of them hearing anything, it’s easier to be in the office.
As soon as I hang up the call, Jayce enters my office. “Hey man, what’s up?”
“I have a meeting at midday. I will get us what we need. It’s in Santa Monica and you need to keep an eye on Cassie. I will be back late. Maybe take her to lunch or something?”
I glance up at him and notice the confusion on his face. “You’re asking me to take your girlfriend to lunch?” He gives me a shit eating grin and I am ready to punch him.
“Jayce, don’t fuck with me. I am not in the mood.”
“Just kidding brother, what’s crawled up your ass?”
“I want this shit over now. My future needs to start now. Cassie and me need to move forward.” He nods. The last time Jayce Alexander fell in love was a long time ago. She was a blonde bombshell in college. They were inseparable until her folks moved them to another state and she changed schools.
“I know man. I can take care of her. Just get back here. We need to figure out what we’re going to do, the deadline is getting closer.”
“Yes, that’s the reason for my meeting today. There is a source, a reliable one, who can give me what I need.” Glancing at my wristwatch. “I need to get going. When I get back, we should have something we can use.” I make my way to reception and out to the waiting car. With a text to Cassie, letting her know I am out till late afternoon, I slide into the bench seat. Tonight I will have to tell her I met with her mother. This is not something I can keep from her. To say that I am nervous about telling her is an understatement. Her reaction could go either way. Will she be able to forgive me for keeping it from her for this long?
As the car speeds towards Santa Monica pier, I know my father and Cassie’s mom have a past, but that didn’t explain the will. My dad had been in contact with her adopted parents, but something wasn’t adding up here. When Robert pulls into the parking lot, I get out and take in my surroundings. Since it’s a weekday it’s quiet, which is what I was banking on, no interruptions. “Robert, wait here. This shouldn’t take long. At least, I don’t think it will.” With a swift nod, I make my way to the end of the pier.
When I reach the end, I find her standing there. Dressed in a pair of jeans and a blue jumper, she looks so much like Cassie it’s remarkable. “Ms. Winters.” She turns and offers me a smile, the same one that always brightens Cassie’s face.
“Luca. Please call me Deanna.” Her use of my nickname that so few people know stuns me and its evident when she looks away, staring out at the water. She shakes her head, deep in thought. “I am sorry to hear your father passed away. Claude Verán was a special man.”
“You knew my father.” It’s not a question, but she nods. “He told me he loved you.” She doesn’t reply, but motions for me to follow her off the pier and onto the beach. We’re walking towards the main promenade when she finally starts speaking.
“Did he give you the pendant? For Cassie?”
“Yes, well he gave it to her before he…” I can’t bring myself to say it.
“Okay, well… Did he tell you the history behind it?” She stops and turns, there is something in her expression I can’t place, but she looks so forlorn. Her dark eyes remind me of my girl. I shrug, I don’t know too much about it apart from what my father told Cassie and me at the house that day.
“Not much. He said that it was made for him and his soul mate. I always figured it was my mom.” When Deanna’s gaze falls on me, her eyes were alight with something, secrets. I hated secrets. Always there, just waiting to threaten my relationship with Cassie.
“I met your father when I was sixteen. He was only a year older. My family had taken me to the south of France, on holiday. The summer had moved too fast for our liking.” She stopped to watch the waves crashing before carrying on with her story. “We fell in love. There was nothing I could do, after the summer, I was going back to school and your father was coming back to LA.”
“Wait, you and my father didn’t…” I groaned in frustration. Please don’t tell me what I think she’s telling me. Because I feel a migraine threaten.
“No, no,” amusement on her face made me chuckle. “We were in love, too young for marriage, or… anything else. There was a jeweler down the road where we were staying who made the pendant for Claude. He paid with his allowance. Bought it for me. If you read the back of the pendant there’s a poem your father wrote engraved on it.” I don’t remember a poem. I make a mental note to take a careful look at it when I get home.
“Are mine and hers the same?” She cuts a glance at me and smiles.
“Yes, they’re meant to be two halves of a whole. Summer and Winter.”
“If you were so in love, why did you not seek each other out once you finished school?”
“Your father had married your mother, and you were on the way. I wasn’t going to interfere, we stayed friends. We always would, I knew that. After she left, I found him, but Claudia had wormed her way into his life. She was adamant she was pregnant and your father, being the good man married her. When she told him a couple of months later that she lost the baby he was furious, hence this…” She pulled out a folder, handing it to me. Before I opened it I knew exactly what it was. “It should get you the company and null any claim that Claudia has on any of your father’s assets. I hope they will accept the copy. The original, I am not sure what Claudia would have done with it.”
“But—”
“Your father was an intriguing man, with many secrets, but he loved you more than life itself.” When she places a hand on my shoulder, I felt love in her touch. A mother’s love. Something I have never had and my breath caught. Something still tugged at me though.
“Why did you not find Cassie or try and talk to her?” As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I want to stuff them back. The hurt in her eyes tells me she didn’t leave because she wanted to, she left because she was forced to and that made me sad. Not only for her, but for the love of my life.
“I was young Luca. After your father left, I was devastated. I went on to date an older boy. Cassie’s father. He… He left me. My parents told me I had to give my baby away.” Deanna swipes a tear from her face.
“But, my father said he saw Cassie as a child.” Once again it’s a statement not a question, but she nods.
“We kept in touch, I told him I had the baby, named her Cassandra. He promised me he would watch over her. A silent guardian, I suppose you could say. That’s when you met her, you were both so young. Do you remember that day?”
“I do. Apparently that was the day I told my dad I was going to marry her.” I chuckle and she cuts a glance at me.
“Do you want to?” Her face is serious and for the first time in a long time I realize I do. There’s no question about it. I don’t want anyone else in my life.
“Yes, I do.” She nods and smiles.
“I am happy that our families will finally be one. Keep an invitation for me.” She hands me a small black velvet box. “Your father has a jewel box, a vintage one. There are two letters in there. One for you and one for Cassie. When you’re both ready, I want you to read them. I have to go now.”
“Wait… Why is Claudia so
adamant to destroy our relationship?” She stares at me for a long time, and I wonder if she will answer me.
“Claudia is jealous; she always has been. She shattered my relationship with your father. Now she’s trying to do it to you and Cassie. You see, Luca, she has a daughter. One she believes should be running Verán Industries with you.” I frown, Claudia never mentioned a daughter.
“Daughter?”
She nods a quick assent. “Yes, Isabel.” The words send ice through me. I remember Isabel from a long time ago, her parents ran a bed & breakfast. Her mother wasn’t Claudia. As if reading my mind, Deanna carries on. “Claudia is Isabel’s mother. Her sister and husband ran a holiday home where Isabel spent her vacations.” I nod, everything is falling into place. “Read the letter’s when you’re ready, Luca. I must go now.”
“How will I know we’re ready?”
“Oh, Luca, you will in here.” She places her hand flat on my chest, right where my heart is. “Trust me.” She gives me a conspiratorial wink and walks off into the crowd. I glance down and open the box she handed me, inside is the most beautiful ring I have ever seen. A platinum band with a princess cut diamond surrounded by smaller intricate rose colored diamonds. And as I stand there on the beach, I know what my plan is.
When I reach the car, Robert gives me an inquiring stare, but I am still in shock. Cassie’s mother has given me so much to think about. To find out about my father, and his life is something I can never thank her enough for. I open the folder and I want to sing. Inside is an original copy of the will my father had written up and signed. This is it! We can do this. “Robert. Have the team meet at my office, I have it.”
“Sir.” That’s all acknowledgement I need. I glance up and I can see the smile in his eyes. “Cassandra’s mother?” I nod.
“Wait. How did you know?” Our eyes meet in the rear-view mirror briefly.
“Sir, you do realize I have been driving you around for most of your life?”
My nod confirms this, and he continues to explain. “I met your father when you were only nine years old. I have known Ms. Winters for a long time. Although I didn’t realize she may have had a copy of your father’s last will and testament.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“You didn’t ask.” I chuckle. He always had a smart ass answer for everything.
Cassandra
The office was too quiet, an anxious feeling knotted my stomach. I needed to work late, but this was eerie. Last night Lucien spent the night and there was something different about him. Something shifted between us. I know he’s been stressed about our situation, but that’s not it. We had connected on such a deep level, my soul with his. Whenever he touched me, it was like he was touching something inside me long forgotten. His kisses last night heated me in a way that scorched deeper than I thought was possible. This man owned every part of me and there was no walking away now. It was all Kenna’s fault for putting the idea of marriage in my head. I wasn’t ready for it, and neither was he. Surely I was reading too much into it. My office phone interrupts my thoughts. I had a sinking suspicion of who it could be, but I am no longer hiding. When I glance at the time, I notice it’s almost 7 pm. I pick up the phone with a shaky hand. “Cassandra Winters, hello.” My voice sounds low, nervous.
“Ms. Winters. I trust you are well?” Claudia’s voice is smooth and sends an icy shiver through my body, sliding down my spine. Her dislike for me hits me as if she were in the room, choking me.
“Yes.” Grabbing my mobile, I text Lucien an SOS.
“Good. My call is to discuss you leaving Verán Publishers, and subsequently leaving LA. I have certain requirements for my son, and you’re not one of them. You need a new job which I will gladly help you with. There are numerous publishing companies in New York, it’s time for you to go back home, Cassandra. Time for you to face your demons you so easily forgot about.”
“I forgot nothing Claudia, and I don’t intend running away from a bully.” Her cackle over the phone is loud and unladylike, especially with the persona she avidly portrays.
“I understand my son has already kicked you to the curb. So, at the Verán Industries Christmas ball next week, he will make a public announcement about his engagement to Isabel. You can stay, witness it, when midnight strikes you will leave Los Angeles, for good. Those aren’t suggestions Ms. Winters, those are orders.” Immediately the line goes dead. I am left sitting with nothing but ice coursing through my veins. What did she mean engagement? Lucien didn’t tell me anything about the progress he’s made. Cassie, you need to heed the warning. No! I am not running away from him, or her for that matter. I am not a fucking child! I need to stay and fight for the man I love!
My office door flies open, my gaze flits up to blazing green eyes. I should just get my door taken down. “What happened?” I frown at him. How did he get here so fast?
“Were you upstairs?”
“Yes, I was working late. Robert and his team had something for me to check out. What did she say to you? Why are you still here? Alone?” He rounds my desk, perching on the edge and I watch the concern flicker over his handsome features in the dim light.
“I am not alone, clearly. And I was working. Even if I had gone home I would be alone, Kenna had an assignment to work on.” I roll back in my chair and try to get some distance between me and Lucien, I can’t think straight when he’s this close and I need to talk to him about Claudia. “She said you were announcing an engagement at the Christmas ball. She told me I had until midnight in LA, after the ball I am meant to leave, back to New York, she will help me find a job.” I turn to face the night sky. It’s darker than normal because it’s winter. Matching my mood more than I am letting on, and it frustrates me that she has this effect on me.
“Baby, you know that she is trying to make you angry. She’s trying to scare you off and I don’t want her to. I am not getting engaged. Look at me Cassandra!” When I turn, the pain in my chest at the idea of him being with anyone but me leaves me breathless.
“There’s nothing we can do Luke; she’s will win this. We’re never going to find your father’s original will. It’s just gone. You will marry Isabel.” I blink and the tears spill, not able to stop them anymore. I love this man more than I have ever loved anyone before. He’s taken my soul. Owns every part of me, I can’t be complete without him.
“She will not win, fuck it, Cassie! I am not losing you. I will give up my father’s company before I lose you! Trust me. I have a plan. The details need to be ironed out, but I need your trust.” My gaze falls on him and I nod.
“You’re not giving up what your father built. Not for me. Luke, I am not worth it.” Lucien, grabs me by the shoulders, his eyes blazing with intensity.
“You are worth everything to me! I wish you can see that. My life is not complete without you. I can rebuild the company, but I can’t rebuild us. Give me a chance?”
I nod again. “Fine, but I can’t have my heart broken again Luke. I can’t be without you either. It seems like the universe is against us. Every time we find each other something comes into play and forces us apart.” The ache in my chest rips into me, more than I ever thought possible. If Lucien and I were ever apart now, I wouldn’t survive. He’s become my anchor in the rough sea that we’re wading through. After the hurt of losing my parents and my ex fiancé, the pain that I may have to walk away from Lucien, ignites the agony.
“Not this time sweetness, remember what my father said. We are destined to be together. Summer and Winter, polar opposites.” I giggle through my tears. I never took him to believe in that fairytale stuff, but hearing the words from his mouth makes me smile. “Is something funny, Cassie?” His tone light and playful as I cuddle into his embrace.
“Definitely not, Mr. Verán.”
“Do not even tease me right now, Cassandra,” his tone is serious, but I hear a drip of lust and smile to myself. The fact that this man can still be affected by something so minor is beyond me.
; “Why? Will there be consequences?” I giggle.
“As always and you will be screaming when I am done with you!” Gasping at his words, I glance up and see the devilish smirk on his lips. His dimples are deep and I am so tempted to run my fingers over them. “I need to go baby. Will you please pack up? I will have Robert take you home. I don’t want you here alone.” He leans toward me and plants a quick kiss on my forehead, then he flops into one of the armchairs in my office. Powering off my laptop, I slide it into my bag. Moments later I shoulder my bag and round the desk, making sure I have everything.
“So, will you be visiting me again tonight?”
“I would love to darling, but I have a few things I need to finish. The Christmas ball is next week; we have time. You will stay with me, Robert will escort you to work and back. If she’s intelligent enough to have eyes on you, we can set up a decoy, somehow I doubt she’s that bright. I plan to make an announcement on that night. And it wont be an engagement to Isabel that you can be sure of.” My heart soars, but then sinks. Did you want him to propose to you? Do you think he would? Not so soon after everything that’s happened between us. No, I shouldn’t let myself get that serious. I mean, what do you think Cassie, he’s just going to give you a ring? Yes! He will, we’re just not ready yet. “Baby?” I peer into Lucien’s green orbs and the concern flashes in them. There is no way I can tell him that I want a ring, or what I was thinking about.
“Yes, yea, sure. Okay, let’s go.”
“Were you even listening?”
