Killer Past

30 Days

****The Pizza Press****

Lucca takes a piece of pizza, giving Cassandra a small smile,

“So Cassandra, what are you going to do when you’re not around me?” Cassandra smiles at him,

“I have experience in business. Mary is in need of assistant, her regular one has retired.. So she hired me, so I’ll be close by.” Lucca tries to not grimace,

Poor Lane! I’ll need to warn him and Grace. He’s going to hate this.

“That’s nice.” Lucca’s thoughts race again…
This could be interesting.

“Yes, it is, Lane. I have a request if that’s alright?” Lucca arches his brow towards Cassandra,

“Well Cassandra, what would that be?” Cassandra beams a smile at him,

“I moved into my suite, it’s beautiful and all. Is there any suites closer to your private quarters?” Knowing from his conversation with Lane, Lucca had an idea how Lane would answer.

Lucca clears his throat uncomfortably,
“Cassandra, there’s mostly my private offices near my quarters, the only suite belongs to Grace and Tammy.” Cassandra softly coughs,

“Why is that?” Try to understand, the Board of Directors desire, plus encourage you to get close to me.” Lucca pretends to scoff at her, as their drinks are refilled.

“Why is that Cassandra? At the fact, I’m happy married man. What do you know?” Before responding, Cassandra takes a bite of pizza.

“What I know is that we were on a good path, until YOU RAN INTO GRACE!!! She’s bad for you. Don’t you see that? Because the Board sees it.” Cassandra looks at Lucca, who has a stoic expression.

“They came after her.” Lucca glares at her,
To get to my riches. She has been good to me.” Cassandra finally nods,

“I understand. But please know the Board is in support of us Lane, give me a chance to show you. How loving  me is what is best for you.” Lucca shakes his head,

“Yes, we all know she’s pregnant, you adopted her son. That can be cured by you two co-parenting, that’s all. Plus you’ll need to focus on our children, when we have them. Grace and her children will fade away. Better yet let Lex care for them. Grace will still be family to you, but NOT YOUR WIFE!” Lucca couldn’t believe his ears,

“Sounds like you have everything planned out.” Cassandra sneers at Lucca,

“Lane, yes, we are meant to be with each other. The thing is you need to let Grace go. She’s your past, even if it’s a recent past. I’m falling in love with you.” Before Lucca could respond, Dean and Sandra comes into view. Lucca lets out a breath of relief.

“Hey Lane, what’s up?” Oh, hello Cassandra?” Lucca smiles in relief,

“Having lunch. What are you two doing?” Lucca greets them cheerfully, as Cassandra sits there feeling frustrated from being ignored.

“Well Lane, I start in the Veterans Department as executive assistant to the director, until the junior executive director retires.” This perks Lucca’s interesting,

“That’s interesting. When do you start? What do you think, Cassandra?” Cassandra stands up abruptly with a huff,

“That’s nice, if you don’t mind a lowly job. I’m off to the ladies room. I start as Mary’s assistant tomorrow, maybe I’ll see you from time to time.” Cassandra states sarcastically,.

“Dean, what are you doing to celebrate Sandy’s new job?” Dean laugh at Lucca’s remark,

“We’re going to Sactown Family Fun Center to play mini golf. Would you like to join us?” Lane smiles, as Cassandra stops to listen.

“I love that place! I would love to go! Cassandra?” Would you love to continue our time doing something fun?” Cassandra appears thoughtful for a few moments,

“I would like to go. For this to work, we need to spend time together. The less time you’re with Grace. I really need to go to the ladies room, I’ll be right back.”*

Cassandra gets ready to leave, Sandra smiles at her.

“Cassandra, may I join you?” Cassandra nods smiling, as they leave for the bathroom. Lucca exhales looking at Dean,

“Wow! My brother was so right, she’s a real handful. If I’m careful, I believe She’ll fall in love with me” Dean chuckles,

“It’s mighty brave of you to stand in for Lane.” Lucca chuckles as he sends Lane a text,

Lucca: Hey bro, how’s things going?
Lane: Better now with me being away from Cassandra.

Lucca: She’s a real handful. I kind of like her. As long as she thinks it’s you, I’ll enjoy my time with her.

Lane: Come to the hotel, after the date. So we can talk.

Lucca: Will do. Enjoy your time with Grace.

Lane: I will when I see her, Grace is out with Oaklee. She heard from HR, I have my assistant back.

Lucca: I know you approved that. A secret way to keep close eyes on Grace.

Lane: Heard Cassandra wanted the position. I sent her name Mary’s way. Just hope Cassandra doesn’t get under Grace’s skin.

Lucca turns to Dean after reading Lane’s last text, he smiles.

“Everything is getting into place. I appreciate you and Sandy’s help.” Dean smiles back at Lucca,

“Dean, you might have Lane dig deep into who Cassandra truly is. I feel there’s more going on here than anyone realizes.”  Dean nods as he chuckles,

“I can’t wait to see what they come up with. Lane told me Barlow wants him with Cassandra. I remember that old fart growing up, he tried to control our father. I’m not surprise if the Board of Directors was his whole idea.” Dean smiles after being thoughtful,

“Hold on. I know Tanner’s PI Albert will find something. I have no doubt. We need to continue to find ways to keep Grace and Lane together.” Lucca sends Lane another text,

Lucca: Lane, have Tanner’s PI Albert discreetly do a deep dive on Cassandra.

Lane: Do you think there’s more going on than you we realize?

Lucca: I believe so. The more time I spend with her, I may find out.

Lane: Will do.

Lane closes out the text with Lucca, starts one with Tanner.

Lane: Tanner, I have a job for our PI Albert to discreetly handle.

Tanner: What is the assignment?

Lane: I ant an intense background check on Cassandra Vests. Contact Oaklee for personal information.

Tanner: We’ll get back to you ASAP.

At the Pizza Press, Sandy senses that Cassandra’s mood had lightened.

“How are you feeling now being out with Lane?” Cassandra beams with a big smile,

“It’s about time. Need to get Grace out their marriage. They can co-parent, final or…” Sandy turns to Cassandra,

“How are you going to get Lane to fall for you? He’s really in love with Grace.” Cassandra gets an evil grin on her face,

“Can you be my ears and eyes? I don’t know Grace? I need to find ways to turn Lane from her.” Sandra was thoughtful for a few moments,

“That will be very difficult, due to children being involved. Plus he’s deeply in love with Grace. Cassandra, if you want to win over Lane, you’ll need to love his children. Sure I’ll try to help.” Cassandra’s evil sneer grows bigger,

“I guess, but we’ll have children as well. Why can’t Lane just let Lex and Grace raise the  children, let us have our life. Grace doesn’t deserve Lane. I wish she would get that through her head.”  Sandra couldn’t believe her ears, just shrugs her shoulders.

“I don’t know. Let’s go. You have an uphill battle, because he really loves her. Please be careful. I’d hate to see you get hurt.” Cassandra chuckles wickedly at Sandra’s words.*

“Sandra the only one who’s going to get hurt is Grace. Lane needs to release her. Give her to Lex, then forget about Grace and the children. He’ll go further in life without her.” Sandra couldn’t help to smile when a idea came to her.

Wonder if I could become a double agent… For Grace and Lane. But make Cassandra thinks I’m on her side. Could Dean and Lane help me.

The ladies join Dean and Lucca, where they head to their respective cars. Lucca walks up to Joel and Joana,

“Let’s take my car Cassandra, for the next part of the date. Then when we finish, we’ll come back here. So Cassandra can head back to the mansion. While I have business to attend to.” Cassandra looks at Lucca confused,

“Why aren’t you staying at the mansion, Lane?” As Lucca assists Cassandra into the SUV, he speaks.

“Cassandra, I’m on vacation. So I will not be around.” Cassandra frowns, though she tries to smirk.

“So we have to stay at mansion, while you’re away?” Lucca looks at his phone for a moment,

“I need time to breath from all of this mess. I just wanted my wife, everyone should just leave my family alone.” Cassandra quietly nods,

“I’m glad that it’s putting me and Grace on a level playing ground. That’s a good thing.” Lucca shakes his head,

“If that’s what you want to think. Don’t worry about Grace right now. Let’s enjoy our time.” Minutes later they pull up to Sactown Family Fun Center.

“We’re here. Have a good time sir and Miss Cassandra.” Joel states, as they get out of the car. Lucca puts his hand on the small of Cassandra’s back, as they walked up to the mini golf.

“Are you two ready to be defeated by the golf king?” Dean exclaims, as everyone starts laughing,

“I’ll put $20.00 on Dean, saying he’ll beat us all.” Sandy announces, as everyone puts $20.00 down into the pool as Sandy continues.

“If Dean wins, I get the money, if Lane wins Cassandra gets the money. Now if by the chance one of us ladies win, our dates get the money.”

The two couples start out playing, while Dean and Sandy quietly agreed to allow Lucca and Cassandra win. Cassandra was very bad at the game, and was getting very frustrated. Lucca ended up winning the 18 hole game. So Cassandra wins the money.

“Thanks for winning, Babe. Not that I really needed the money. But this great and fun.” Everyone quietly rolls  their eyes,

The two couples part ways, where Lucca and Cassandra head back to the Pizza Press. Where Cassandra and Joana go to their car,

“Lane, when do I get to see you again? It’s getting more difficult not being around you more. I want to see you again. When that be?” Lucca glares at her, then he closes his eyes. Then Lucca glances back at her,

“I will see you next week. You seem to forget that I’m a busy man. I’ll see you when you’re on the schedule. I need to go. Have a nice weekend.”

Lucca assists Cassandra into her car, when she grabs him laying a passionate kiss on him. A little stunned Lucca smiles as he closes her door. After getting into his car, Joel speaks up.

“Joana has been debriefed about the situation, you and Lane have her loyalty and support.” Lucca smiles as he looks out the window,

“Good. I need to speak with Lane and Grace. That Cassandra is a real handful.”

“Sir, I understand. Joana will be giving us daily reports, she knows what Dane looks like. She believes by the way Cassandra is speaking, he might be meeting her. Joana will let me and Bronte know.” Lucca expression was of shocked and surprised,

“Does Cassandra know Dane?” Joel arches his brow,

“Not sure, sir.”

“That’s fine. We’ll find out quickly.” Lucca texts Lane that he was on his way to see Him and Grace.

****Cassandra’s Car****

As Joana starts to drive away, as Cassandra speaks up.

“Please take me to the Dive Bar, that we went before.” Joana chuckles,

“You know towards the evening, they have mermaids swimming in the pool by the bar area.” Cassandra smiles,

“That sounds like more fun, while you’re drinking. I really need to relax. I’m trying to get Gov. Lane to see things  my way. He’ll be better off if he would.” Joana looks through the rear view mirror, before she speaks.

“What is better, Cassandra?” This makes Cassandra chuckle,

“Gov. Lane is better off loving me, than Grace and her baggage. I can say that he’s in for a big surprise at the end of the thirty days.” Joana looks surprised,

“What kind of surprise?” Cassandra laughs evilly,

“He’ll not see the divorce papers that will be coming for him and Grace. These thirty days are to prepare them to say good bye.”

“We’re here” Cassandra gets out of the car, heading towards the Dive Bar. Joana follows discreetly behind her. Cassandra sits down at the bar, where moments later a man sits down beside her.

“May I buy you a drink, Miss?”

“Yes, thank you. I’m Cassandra.”

“Hello, I’m Dane.”