Addicted

Chapter 21: Promise

Ethan

"Ethan Shaw. It's been too long."

"It has been. How have you been Kurt?" Ethan asked as he took a seat in the chair across from Kurt's desk. Kurt Harrison was an old friend of Ethan's. They had countless memories in college, but Kurt was a good guy. Always the responsible one. Ethan wasn't surprised to learn that he became the admissions counselor at Harvard. It fit him and his personality well.

"I've been good, just learned I am going to be a father," Kurt answered with a huge grin on his face.

Ethan smiled before patting his shoulders. "Wow man, congratulations!" Ethan exclaimed.

"Thanks, man, we couldn't be happier. But what brings you in?" Kurt asked, getting straight to the point.

Ethan and Kurt were old friends but they didn't keep in touch after college. If they ran into each other, of course, they were friendly. But they didn't have the bond that he had with Nick and Jason. Kurt knew, that if Ethan came to see him, it was for a reason and not random.

"Jerrod O'Connor. Name ring a bell?" Ethan asked. Kurt glanced at nothing in particular as he racked his brain.

"Sounds familiar, but I'm not sure. Help me out."

Ethan leaned forward, placing his palms on the desk.

"Jerrod O'Connor graduated 5 years ago, majored in business." The tone in Ethan's voice was all Kurt needed to start looking through his files.

"It's been 5 years, so I could still have his paperwork here, otherwise I will need to check the database-oh got it!" Ethan stood to his feet and walked around Kurt's desk. Immediately he took the file from Kurt's hands causing Kurt to give him a pointed look.

"Sorry," Ethan said quickly before going through the papers. "He didn't actually attend here? He did everything online?" Ethan questioned. Kurt pulled the papers from Ethan's hand as he looked them over.

"Yes, I remember now, his case went all the way to the board. I wasn't told why he couldn't attend classes, but his dad is loaded and donated a lot of money to the school. So the board agreed to let him take all online classes."

"What do you know about his dad?" Ethan asked. He needed to know everything. It was clear Jerrod's dad was protecting him. He would have to go down too.

"He's a powerful man, I know he had a lot of oil plants in Texas, New Mexico, and Kansas. He has a lot of connections with lawyers and judges, many of who attended Harvard."

Ethan nodded as his frustration started to grow. Jerrod was a typical rich boy who got what he wanted and his dad protected him at all costs. That just wouldn't do for Ethan. Especially when it involved his sweet Cassie.

"That's nice, I guess."

Kurt looked at Ethan in contemplation. "He's hurt someone you love," Kurt stated. Ethan didn't answer, and that was all the answer Kurt needed.

"Just be careful okay, from what I've heard. Jerrod can get dangerous."

Ethan nodded as he snapped a quick photo of the files. He walked to the door before he stopped and turned to Kurt.

"Yea...I can too. Good seeing you Kurt."

Cassandra

Cassie woke up feeling drained and tired. She turned her head away from the bright sunlight coming through the window. She looked around, realizing she was not in her bed.

Her attention was brought to her phone as it begin to ring. She quickly grabbed it off the counter before answering.

"Hello?" Her tired voice rasped. She cleared her throat as she startled herself with the way she sounded.