Christian

When I finally found her, I found her in the kitchen, in an uncomfortable position, but I knew what was happening to her. Cassandra was crying, or, perhaps, taking a break from how exhausting her day was because of all the emotional exhaustion she was going through. I knew she would not like the fact that I told her how we were going to manage from now on in her family business, much less hear that I was now the new CEO of the Oxford companies, but it was the best thing I told her now, instead of keeping the secret. I wasn't sure that Cassandra would go to the company the following Monday because she surely wanted to take some time before joining the company, but, anyway; I had to talk to her about what would happen from now on in the company.

I approached Cassandra, but she didn't notice my presence until I spoke to her.

"Hello," I broke the silence.

"Ohhh!” He was startled, moving from the chair abruptly because of the fright I gave him. She almost fell out of her chair at her abruptness, but I was quick enough to grab her waist firmly so that she wouldn't end up slumped on the floor.

Cassandra grabbed me tightly by my shoulders to hold on and not fall. Our actions caused us both to be too close, to where I could feel his breath on my face. From the moment I saw her, I knew she was beautiful, but being so close to her, confirmed it to me much more. And the beauty that Cassandra had was impressive. She was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.

The beautiful girl watched me with some curiosity and distrust but analyzed me almost full-length.

"I'm sorry," I apologized, as I felt her discomfort and let go of her, and then walked away from her. I didn't intend to scare you, Cassandra.

He looked at me with doubt in his eyes, probably wondering who I was and how he knew his name.

"How do you know my name?" He wanted to know.

"Because I've known your parents since I was little."

I didn't mean to lie to him about that. One of my intentions in coming here and having the mission of taking care of Cassandra was to talk to her as honestly as possible. Of course, there were things, like the mafia, like the fact that his parents were the former bosses of the Italian Mafia, and that the company had many strong enemies wanting to defeat us, that he could not mention even in a million years. Nor could I mention that her parents, before she passed away, imposed on me the most important task of protecting Cassandra in case something happened to them.

Cassandra raised her eyebrows.

"Whose son are you?"

"My parents have done a lot of negotiations with yours. They are very close partners," I replied and realized that I made a mistake, one that she realized immediately because it made some noise to her.

"They were, you mean," he corrected me. I saw the pain in Cassandra's eyes and wanted to give her a big hug, because, although she did not believe me, her parents were also important to me. I didn't see him for a while ago, but the affection I had for them was always inside me and I missed them. It was a pity that I had killed them.

Cassandra's parents did not die from the crash of their plane while traveling to Italy but died because they killed them in a car on the road on their way to see my parents there in Italy. My people said that they died on a plane because it coincided that, just and unfortunately, a plane heading to Italy collapsed on the same day of the trip. It was the perfect excuse not to give the bodies of Cassandra's parents to her, as her father was also very clear to me and my parents that he did not want Cassandra to see them dead. Until now, all we were doing was doing his bidding. I may have been the boss now, but Mr. Oxford, for me, always was and would be the real boss of the Oxford companies and the Italian mafia.

"I'm sorry, you're right. My name is Christian Cassano, Cassandra. Your parents have told me a lot about you” I apologized to her and introduced myself. I have long wanted to meet Cassandra in person.

Cassandra raised her eyebrows as if she believed she was lying to her. At first glance, I could tell what her parents warned me about her: "She is a reserved and suspicious girl, earn their trust if you have to take care of everything." It would not be an easy task to gain Cassandra's trust, because firsthand you could tell that she was not a person you could reach easily.

"Why?”

"Let's say you were their pride," I explained. In that, she did not lie to her either, because her parents spoke wonders of her. Cassandra was the light of his eyes, the princess of Mom and Dad. Have they told you about me?"

Her parents never told me they told her about me.

He grimaced.

She was uncomfortable in my presence.

"No, not really," he denied.

Cassandra was watching me in that uncomfortable, sad and tired. I don't think she wanted to be rude to me and misbehave and look at me that way, but her pain was blinding her and taking away what little patience she surely had, which I understood. I think, if my mother and father died, I would find myself exactly like her and wouldn't want to talk to anyone during all my grief.

"I'll be the new CEO of your parents' companies, Cassandra," I said in a calm voice. My tone wasn't one of a smug or anything like that. The last thing he wanted was to dislike Cassandra.

If I told her so directly, it's because I knew Cassandra didn't feel like chatting with me anymore. His eyes were screaming at him. As curious as I was about the way he looked at me, that didn't mean she was happy with my presence. She came to the kitchen, a place that was deserted surely to be at peace, and I took that away from her.

Cassandra was puzzled for a moment, staring at me, scanning me, as if she was looking for her answer in my eyes.

You didn't have to be a fortune teller to know that Cassandra didn't agree with this. Rather, I don't think he could believe it.

"What are you telling me?" His eyebrows rose. I noticed a line of worried expressions on his face.

"What? Haven't you been told?" I ignored it. I knew they hadn't told him, because I was the one who asked to tell him before anyone else. I wanted to do it in person.

I know this wasn't the best time to talk to Cassandra about being the new CEO of Oxford Companies, but then it was going to be worse. I couldn't wait long for me to tell him because she was going to get a big surprise sometime later when she found out on his own and starting this Monday, I had to fill the position.

"Excuse me, I don't know how much you've been drinking, but you're very wrong if you think you'll be the new CEO of my company. This makes little sense," he refused. His eyes glared at me. I believe that, from the first moment, I have become their enemy.

It would not be easy to take care of her, keep her safe, earn her trust, and work with her. I already understand why it was such a complicated mission. But I didn't plan to give up.

I took my briefcase and took out some important papers inside it. The contract I signed with her parents a few years ago was in there and I had it ready to show Cassandra. I know she was going to be very disappointed to read what the papers said; I know she was going to get upset with her parents and she was going to feel helpless to find out that I wasn't lying to her and that her parents preferred me to be the new CEO and not her. But Cassandra did not know all the danger behind this. That's why I had to be the one to show my face all the time, and that's why I had to be the one in charge of the Oxford companies. For Cassandra, this could be something simple, or, perhaps, complicated, but something very normal, but these companies had things hidden under the table.

I gave him the papers to look at. He took them with suspicion.

"What is this?"

"They are the papers in which your parents leave me in writing that I would be the boss if they died. This is the contract your parents, and I signed when I turned twenty.”

He read some of what he said. I could see in slow motion how Cassandra's face was transformed with rage.

"No, your parents haven't taken everything from you, if that's what you think. You will still have all the money you want and you will have a high position in companies, but I will be the one who leads everything," I wanted to clarify.

Cassandra supported the papers sharply on the countertop.

She had character.

"Who do you think you are, Christian? You can't be the new boss. These papers are rubbish, they are a fraud. I swear I'll report you for wanting to scam me out of something like this," she threatened me, pointing his index finger at me. I thought it was very tender.