Healing hearts

Chapter twenty one

Cassie's pov

"We kissed, and then... it just felt different," I told my therapist. "I don't know how to explain it."

I was in my therapist's office for my last session. I had been seeing her for a few months, and we had been working through my trauma.

I told her how Xander took me out for dinner and tried to kiss me but I panicked and pushed him away and then later kissed him.

"Tell me more," she said, her voice soothing and calm. "What made it different from the other kisses you've shared?"

" well it's just different from the other kisses I have shared with guys in the past" I confessed.

"Is it a good different or a bad different?" my therapist asked, her eyes full of curiosity.

"It was good, actually," I said. "It was amazing, actually. I've never felt this way before. It wasn't too long or intense, but it was so... wonderful." My cheeks flushed as I spoke, and I looked down at my hands, my heart pounding in my chest.

"That's wonderful, Cassie," she said. "It sounds like you're really making progress. You've conquered your fears and you're ready to move forward with your husband. Congratulations!"

I couldn't help but smile. I left her office and I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I felt lighter, happier, and more hopeful about my future with Xander. I was ready to face my marriage with open arms.

I drove to the office, I was surprised to see him standing in front of my door. He was waiting for me.

"Hey, babe," I said, giving him a quick kiss on the lips. He looked surprised, but pleased.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I was waiting for you," he said. "Your father and brother refused to work on this with me, so I was hoping to do it with you."

I nodded, "Of course," I said.

We went inside my office and sat down at my desk.

"How was your session today?" he asked, a curious look on his face.

I smiled mischievously. "I'm not telling," I said. "It's a surprise."

He looked confused, but I just smiled and waited for him to continue.

"So what did you want to discuss?" I asked.

He pulled out a stack of documents from his briefcase and handed them to me. "We need to go over the construction plans for the hotel," he said.

I submitted his plans to my father, who agreed to them and gave the go-ahead to start construction. I returned to my office, and Xander told me he had to leave. He asked if he could pick me up later, and I agreed. I gave him a kiss, and he returned it. He looked happier than I had ever seen him, and I felt my heart swell with love for him.

"I'll be back later," he said, and then he left. I sat down at my desk and started working, a smile on my face.

Brian's pov

I watched my sister and that bastard, smiling and being sweet with each other, and it made me sick to my stomach. I couldn't believe that she had accepted him into her life. Just then,  Noah, came into my office.

"Your father has given the go-ahead for the hotel construction," he said. "We'll need to go over there soon."

I nodded, my mind still on my sister and Xander. I hated the idea of them being together.

"Are you okay?" he asked, looking at me with concern. "You seem distracted."

I looked at him, my mind still on my sister and Xander. "What's wrong?" he asked again.

I took a deep breath and gathered my thoughts. "Have you thought about what I asked you to do about seducing my sister?" I asked.

He sighed and shook his head. "Dude, I'm telling you, it won't work," he said. "She's already trying to start a relationship with her husband. I can't make her unhappy just to make myself happy."

"You're forgetting that this guy isn't a saint," I said. "He raped her, for goodness sake. Do you want her to be stuck with a guy like that for the rest of her life?" I was getting frustrated, and I knew I needed to make him understand.

"She's being childish," i continued , "But I know this marriage is doomed, that's why I am begging you to take her out of it."

"What do you want me to do?" he asked.

I smiled. "I have a plan," I said.

Cassie's pov

It had been a long day, and I was exhausted. I had been working hard all day, and I was ready to go home. But as I neared the end of my shift, I began to feel a sense of excitement. I wanted to go home and be with Xander. I wanted to surprise him and seduce him .

Yes, this was my plan to test the waters and see if I was truly ready to be with him . A smile spread across my face, thinking about my plan.

My phone buzzed, and I saw that it was a text from Xander. He was here to pick me up. I texted back, telling him I was on my way down.

As I walked out of my office, I heard a familiar voice. "Hey, Cass," my brother said. I turned to see him standing there, holding a bag of files. "I need you to take this to the storage room upstairs," he said.

"It's late, Brian," I said. "Can't this wait until tomorrow?" I don't want to go all the way up to the storage room." I had someone waiting for me".

"It's really important, Cass," he said. "Please, just take it there and then you can leave."

I sighed again, but I took the bag from him and asked him to hold my purse and phone. Then I made my way to the storage room.

I reached the storage room and dropped the files where they needed to go. As I turned to leave, I heard a noise from the corner of the room. I approached the corner and found Noah, sitting there with his laptop. He was watching a movie.

"Hey," I said, and he looked up at me. "What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I love the solitude here," he said. "I came to stay a while before I head home." He paused the movie and looked at me. "Want to join me?" he asked. "This movie is really good."

I shook my head, no. "Maybe some other time," I said. "I really have to go now." He nodded and I went to the door and tried to open it , but the door still wouldn't open. I tried to shake it and knock, but nothing worked.

I thought to call someone but then I remembered my  phone was still in my brother's possession, I sighed.

I went back to Noah, trying to stay calm. "Hey," I said, "Can I borrow your phone?"

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"The door is locked," I said. "I need to call someone and let them know we're here."

"I'm sorry, Cass," he said, "but my phone is dead and I don't have the charger." I sighed, feeling a sense of panic rising within me. I didn't want Xander to worry.

"Come and sit with me," he said. "Maybe someone will come by later. Don't worry about it." I sighed and sat down. This shouldn't be happening tonight i thought.