Beauty and The Beast

Twenty Six

She took me to Bryant Park Grill, she said it was her favorite place for lunch when she was still a New Yorker. Her eyes glint when she entered the restaurant. I couldn't believed she was here right now with me. Blush crept into her cheeks whenever i stared at her, long gone was the fearful and frighten Cassandra. I was on cloud nine to see her blushing and smiling shyly when i looked at her. I was going to take off my cufflinks, but she cut me.

"Here, let me." She offered a help.

I happily gave my hands to her. I watched her intensely whilst she took off my cufflinks and put them in her purse. I was in awe with this girl, she always take care of the people around her. I was always independent of my own, but with her, i let her taking care of me, i wanted her to take care of me.

The waiter brought our lunch and wine. We talked about my business. She was curious of what i do. I told her i run a shipping business all the world. How I built the empire of my own, and that as a shipping magnate i needed a power. Your money was useless if you didn't have the power to stabilize it, that's why i took the throne from my father. Being the most powerful mob made people feared me, giving me the power to control and run my shipping business.

She listened carefully and nodded sometimes. No argument, no judgement. She really was something. Then something hit me.

"Are you happy living with me ?" I asked.

She looked up at me and stared at me, like searching for something in my eyes.

"Of course. Why would you asked that ?" She smiled.

"I just want to make sure your happiness and well-being when you're with me."

I lied. That was not the reason. The only reason for me to ask her that question is that until today she hadn't told me about her feelings. Enough for scaring the hell out of me.

"James, you gave me more than a girl could dream of. The only thing that's keeping me from happiness is just me worrying about my father everyday."

My heart ached to see her like this. Of course she missed her father so much. How impossible i was can be, telling her that I loved her but separated her from her beloved father. But i couldn't take the risk to let her run away from me.

"You will meet him. I will take you to meet him."

There i said, finally found a part of me that's still have a heart. Her eyes sparkled instantly.

"Are you for real ?"

"Yes, doll. We just need to choose the date."

She smiled brightly. But our happy moment disturbed soon when a tall black hair girl approached me. I looked up to see Miranda Stella.

"Hello, James. What a surprise to see you here, not your kind of place."

"Miranda." I replied curtly.

Her jaw hardened by my reply. But she covered with a smile when she turned to Cassandra.

"Well well, who do we have here ?" She smiled devilishly.

I knew her purpose. She wanted to humiliate Cassandra. Miranda used to be my bed pet. I had clear to her that i won't take any relationship more than in bed, but she insisted on making me as her boyfriend. I ditched her as soon as she started to get clingy.

"Hi, i'm Cassandra. Nice to meet you."

She offered her hand to Miranda. But instead of taking it, Miranda just sneered at her and giving her a disapproving look. Cassandra retrieved her hand awkwardly.