Addicted

Chapter 29: Parents

Cassandra

Cassie sat back as the two pairs of eyes stared back at her. She didn't know why, but she didn't feel any warmth for them anymore, and oddly she didn't feel any warmth coming from them either.

Her parents...

They had been in New York for a week and were finally meeting up. The constant reschedules due to her dad's work schedule were the annoying excuse. Cassie couldn't help but feel Jerrod had gotten to her dad somehow. The moment they made eye contact, her dad quickly looked away, something he wouldn't normally do.

Her mom's resolve would sometimes crack, but after gaining a look from her dad, she simply put back on the mask. Sitting across from her, Cassie felt she didn't know these people.

The atmosphere was thick and uncomfortable. Ethan placed a hand on her leg under the table, trying to comfort her and to stop the insistent bouncing of her leg. Soon everyone's heads turned to the sound of a throat being cleared.

Matteo looked at Cassie before turning his sharp gaze to her parents. Cassie silently released a breath as her eyes swept to Moira briefly. Her bright blue eyes met Cassie's and there was no missing the worry in her eyes. She tried to mask it with a reassuring smile and Cassie tried to do the same.

"So, Mr and Mrs. Williams, thank you for joining us. Mr. Williams, you said you had a lot of business to tend to. What's your position? If you don't mind me asking." Matteo asked calmly. His dark eyes were laser-focused on Cassie's dad.

Cassies dad's eyes swept to her before looking back at Matteo. He leaned forward after adjusting his tie.

"I'm head of the finance department. I work directly under the CFO." He stated confidently.

Cassie's mouth dropped open. "W-When did that happen?" She asked shocked.

A sinking feeling filled her stomach. Jerrod was announced the CFO for his dad's company a few months ago. She saw it in an article before she crumbled it up and threw it in the trash bin.

"Daddy...you...you work under Jerrod?" Her voice broke at the end. She didn't understand how her dad could just easily work with him. After everything he had done to her. Was the money really that important? More important than her?

His eyes swept over to her, a small emotion of sadness swept over his face before it was gone again.

"It's a 7 figure position. I have been able to start a trust fund for you, got your mom the home she has always wanted and deserved. I'm doing this for my family. So you will never have to struggle like we did when you were child. So you will never struggle again."

Cassie heard him, but she knew Jerrod. He wasn't paying her dad this well for nothing.

"What's the catch?" She asked and her mom took in a sharp breath.

Her dad's eyes wavered before refocusing on her. The cramps in her stomach were becoming worse, she could sense her world was about to crumble.

"He asked for your hand."

And there it was. Her chest felt tight as her hand clasped her necklace. Her breathing increased as her eyes filled with tears. She felt like she couldn't breathe.

She couldn't hear anything, the fear taking over completely. She could feel Ethan turn her chair to him, his lips were moving but she couldn't hear a word. Suddenly a soft warm hand wrapped around hers. Ethan was no longer in her view, but Moira now took the place of Ethan.

Her soft, melodic voice slowly came through. "Come on Cassie, breathe with me." She spoke softly as she continued to do breathing exercises. Slowly Cassie began to breathe normal again.