Cassiopeia Forbes has spent years distancing herself from Mystic Falls-a town steeped in memories of her younger sister, Caroline, and the mother she never truly connected with. Leaving at just nine year old to live with her father, Cassie vowed nev...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
*Cassie pov
The next morning, the blare of my alarm felt like a cruel jest, given the sleepless night I’d endured. I dragged myself out of bed, my movements stiff and robotic, and went through the motions of getting ready. Maya and I made our way to college, her presence a small comfort amidst the chaos. As I braced myself for the start of my shift at the café, my phone rang, and Nik's name flashed on the screen. I answered with a mix of dread and curiosity, wondering what news awaited.
“Hello, love.”
“Hey, Nik.”
“Are you good, love?” he asked.
I wasn’t, but I didn’t want him to know that. “Yeah, never better,” I replied, forcing a smile even though he couldn’t see it. There was a pause on the line.
“Love, I wanted to meet you today, but I got another inevitable call. So I’m heading out of town for a few days.”
I was surprised that he felt the need to inform me he was leaving. We weren’t that close. Were we? “Love,” he said again.
“Yeah. It’s okay; we can catch up later. No issues,” I said, trying to sound casual.
“I’m sorry. But I’ll be back, sure,” he promised before ending the call. I wasn’t sure what was going on between us. We’d only met twice, yet I felt something lingering in the air. Maybe I was overthinking things.
As the library neared closing time, a latecomer walked in. I approached him, saying, “Sorry for the inconvenience, but we’re about to close now.” I didn’t see the person's face at first, busy with the computer, checking the booklist. He stood in front of me, unmoving. A shiver of unease crept over me. I looked up, and there he was—the man in the suit. I smiled, and he returned it. But his eyes locked onto mine, and I felt rooted to the spot, unable to speak. My heartbeat quickened as the silence stretched.
“Hello, Miss,” he finally said, waiting for my response.
“Forbes,” I replied hesitantly.
“Are you afraid of me?” he asked out of nowhere, catching me off guard.
“No, of course not. Why should I be?” I stammered, trying to compose myself.
He nodded, his gaze never wavering, but remained silent. His eyes roved from my face to my lips, then to my neck. My heart pounded in my chest, so loud I was sure he could hear it. I tried to calm myself by pressing my nails into my palms. “Sorry, we’re closing,” I said, my voice barely steady.
“I hope you haven’t forgotten me this soon,” he said, his voice laced with amusement.
“Of course not. I remember you clearly,” I managed to say. “Actually, I wanted to thank you for yesterday, but I didn’t get the chance. I’m sorry.”
He smiled, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Wow, thank you and sorry at once. Quite the combination.”
I couldn’t help but take in his striking presence. His deep brown eyes held a calm intensity, like he could see right through me, unraveling my thoughts with a single glance. His dark hair was perfectly groomed, and his accent was smooth and cultured, every word rolling off his tongue with an elegance that hinted at centuries of experience. And then there was the suit—immaculate. Everything about him, from the way he spoke to the way he carried himself, exuded an effortless charm that made it impossible not to be captivated.
