Christian

It was funny that he threatened me and pointed his index finger at me like that. Cassandra had a great character, but she didn't scare me. Her father had told me several times that she could be a little complicated when she put her mind to it and that she was quite a competitive girl and clung to one thing a lot when she wanted it, but she was not someone aggressive, or anything like that. Cassandra didn't have a single idea how much I knew about her from what her parents told me, not because of something special, but because they were both delighted with the daughter they had and she was the pride of both of them.

I noticed someone at the entrance of the kitchen. He was on his back, but I could hear his footsteps behind us. It was one advantage I had for having practiced so much self-defense in the exclusive training that the mafia did with me. My reflexes were impressive and so were my intuition and senses.

"No, Cass, he's right," said a man behind my back. I noticed Cassandra looking up to see who it was, and her angry face became much more enraged. She was outraged by what she had learned. At a certain point, I could understand it, because I think that if I were in her place if I knew nothing about what my parents did, I would feel just as bad and disappointed. After all, I would also expect to be the new CEO of my parents' company and I couldn't stand anyone else coming to fill my job. But Cassandra did not know that it was better for things to be this way, for me to be the CEO, just in case, to protect her. Cassandra, now that she was alone, was in great danger.

The enemies of her parents and the Italian mafia did not know Cassandra's existence in this world, as Mr. and Mrs. Oxford told me in the past. My parents, in fact, before traveling to the United States, told me the same thing, which was an advantage to protect Cassandra, but we always had to tread carefully. This life gave you thousands of impressive luxuries, but there was also a price to this kind of thing, and that was the danger we were surrounded by. Fortunately, we had many people working for us and many people watching our backs, people who were qualified to have the position of bodyguard and thugs, but you couldn't rest easy. You always had to have eyes on your back and you should never let your guard down. It is one of the first rules of the mafia.

"What do you say? Did you know about this?" Cassandra's breathing was getting heavier. I imagine that, between the pain of loss, the anguish, the sadness, and the anger and disappointment that was now added to her body, Cassandra was having a harder time this day. I didn't intend to ruin the moment any more than I was already fucked up, but this talk was necessary between the two of us. Maybe, she was going to hate me for a while, but I wanted to earn her trust and affection over the months. I know we didn't know each other, but to me she was important. “How is this possible?! This man cannot be the CEO of companies. I am my parents' daughter! It's up to me to be the new CEO!”

His assistant came to us. I talked to him about what happened to Cassandra's parents. We had both known each other for years because he was Mr. and Mrs. Oxford's assistant.

"I'm so sorry, Miss Cassandra. I did not want to tell you anything because it was a very delicate moment, but Mr. Christian Cassano is the new CEO of the company by order of his parents, miss. That contract will have been made for years," he explained. That was a lie. It's not that he didn't want to tell her anything before, it's that I asked him not to say anything because I wanted to be the one in person who told him what was going to happen from now on.

I noticed that Cassandra's eyes were getting a little bright. I think it was because of tears. I felt bad for her for causing her more pain than I had.

"This can't be!”

"Miss, starting Monday, you will have your position in the company, but the CEO will be him. I'm so sorry, seriously," his assistant grimaced.

Cassandra's parents knew she would not be happy with the decision for me to be the new CEO, but they were very clear to me that, beyond her getting angry, reproaching, or saying anything, and even if she threatened me, I had to stand firm and continue playing my role. Cassandra could complain all she wanted, but she did not know that we were doing her a great favor by taking away the responsibility of leading such an important company.

It was going to sound ugly what I was going to say, and I thought about it with all the respect in the world, but Mr. and Mrs. Oxford was not the people your daughter thought they were. They were not saints. There was a lot of darkness in this family. "Don't worry. I will listen to all your opinions, and we will work very well together," I replied, because of course I was going to consider all her opinions and that she was going to have a part of the decision in the company. Just because I was the new CEO and the one who made the final decisions, didn't mean I would not take her into account.

The hatred that Cassandra reflected in his eyes was breathtaking.

"You and I will never work together in life!” she refused, raising his voice. I think it was better for me to leave.

"The contract says yes unless you don't want to use your position, Cassandra. In that case, I'll have to find someone else” I shrugged, but it was a lie. Well, I was going to have to find someone else to take care of Cassandra's job, but that was going to be temporary.

"Don't even think about it, damn it...!" He shut his mouth so as not to insult me. But it left me intrigued by what I was going to say.”

"Then I'll see you early Monday," I said simply.

I got up from the chair after patiently closing my briefcase. I walked to the exit to leave his assistant and Cassandra alone.

"Wait a minute," her voice stopped me.

"Yes, tell me."

"How did you tell me your name?" he asked.

“Christian Cassano. But you can call me Chris if you like.”

Not many people called me by the abbreviation of my name, only people I considered being close to me. The rest always used my full name. But it didn't bother me if Cassandra felt like calling me by my abbreviation. I would like her to call me by my short name.

"No, thank you, I'd rather call you Christian," he refused.

It took away a smile from me.

She meant to offend me and make me uncomfortable and angry, but she would not get it. I came to this city beforehand knowing what Cassandra was like; I knew her personality, and her way of attacking, and it didn't bother me she called me an idiot if that's what I wanted to do.

"You can call me whatever you please," I said, keeping my smile.

Cassandra did not expect that reaction from me. His attempted offense went wrong. She was scared and angry, so I could understand.

I turned around again and left the dining room.

The room of the mansion was full of people tucked there, some sitting, others standing, a couple looking at the photographs of the deceased, and the others eating the snacks. I wasn't going to, but my feet just walked to the largest photographs of Mr. and Mrs. Oxford.

"Excuse me," I said to some people looking at the photo, so they would give me some space to do the same as them. The people, all dressed elegantly and in designer clothes, walked away from me and left me there alone, which was just what I wanted them to do.

Mr. and Mrs. Oxford's smile looked splendid in that photograph. It didn't seem to be a photograph that was taken a long time ago, so I couldn't help but think that they couldn't imagine what would happen to them in a short time when they traveled to Italy last time. It made me sad because I appreciated both of them and I was going to miss them very much. I stood there for a few minutes, remembering a few moments with them and thinking about the promise I made to them: I would protect Cassandra with my life and keep her always out of danger.

When I left the mansion, I went straight to my car. I would not leave the place until the organization was over in a few hours, because I didn't want to leave Cassandra unprotected. People who work in the mafia for me surrounded Cassandra's mansion, making sure nothing happened to her, but, this time, I wanted to stay too.

I called my mom.

"Chris?" Mom asked, worried.

"Mom.”

"Has something happened?"

“No, I wanted to tell you that I have told Cassandra about the company. About that, I am the new CEO of Oxford companies.”

"Oh... and what did he tell you?" She wanted to know. "Tell me, have she taken it well?”

"He's taken it horribly. He hates me. I must be one of their least favorite people for her right now.”