Fate Has a Cruel Sense of Humor

Sometimes I think, the gods of fate really hate me.

My day actually started off pretty great. I got the job I was aiming for in New york. Marketing executive at Harte-Hanks, one of the top advertising companies in the country. I was going to be making six figures soon and the great thing about it was I'd actually be closer to home.

My sister and brother in law, my fiancee, and my mother all lived in the city, and I was already thinking about getting a place up there in the first place. Basically I was on top of the world.

I guess that's the catch about being on top of the world, is the only direction you could go was down.

When I got the phone call, I thought someone was playing a cruel joke. I refused to believe my older sister could be dead, My Layla, the one who took care of me when our parents were getting a divorce and tried to separate us. She was dead, It couldn't be true.

But it was. I rushed into the hospital like a mad-woman, shouting and demanding assistance, almost being dragged off by security until I shouted my name. Then, like obedient puppies they let me go and apologized profusely.

Normally I would have waved it off, but since the situation called for it, I used my name to get what I wanted. My father owned this hospital, actually he owned almost every hospital in Chicago, plus four other major cities in the Upper East Side. He was Garrett Dalton, billionaire extraordinaire. And I was his youngest daughter, Cassandra Dalton.

After some more shouting on my part and some groveling on the staff's part, I was finally led into a freezing cold room with a heavy heart.

I looked in horror as they peeled away the fabric that covered my sister and brother-in-law's body and nodded in confirmation, trying to swallow down my sobs. I took shuddering breaths and asked the question I'd been dreading.

"Where's Benjamin?" I whispered as they covered them again.

"Their son, a little boy, Sixteen months old, blonde hair, blue eyes."

I rattled of descriptions with a pleading look on my face. No... Benji had to be okay. He had to be. The morticians looked at each other and one they told me these were the only two involved in the car accident and almost collapsed in relief. I knew for a fact, They would want Benji to be okay.

Suddenly my mom rushed in with a wailing blonde bundle in her hands. She looked relieved to see me, sad, grief-stricken and disheveled all together. I could barely register my surprise that my mother was wearing sweats. Isabel Dalton never wore sweats, ever.

She nodded towards the covers and swallowed. "Is that.." She trailed off. I nodded and she handed me Benji, who was hiccuping with his tears.

Soon enough he was snoring softly against my shoulder as my mother cried for her first born. She had no idea how much I wanted to do the same, I wanted to cry so bad, to get it all out, but for some reason my tears would not come. But the grief did, I almost wanted to lay down and die with them, But I couldn't. I had to stay strong because I was no longer the 'little sister'.

I couldn't be anymore, I was now the only child. I had to be strong for my family.

After a while my father showed up, eyes shining with tears. I would have hugged him, but I had Benji in my arms. My mom actually stepped up to the plate. I guess a irreconcilable differences really couldn't compare to losing a child.

We sat in the private waiting room waiting for Layla and Aaron's lawyer to show up. It didn't surprise to see that it was Madeline or Maddie, Aaron's mother and she hugged and kissed all of us before she put her attorney hat back on.

"So, Aaron and Layla both had wills and they left all their assets Benjamin." She stated professionally. "The homes in both Chicago, and Connecticut, overseas vacation homes, the bank accounts, everything's going into a account for Benji when he turns twenty-one." She said and I nodded.

"What about his guardianship?" My father asked holding my mother close. She was weeping into his shoulder and I still couldn't shed a tear. Maddie scanned the documents and then looked up at me in surprise.

"Cassandra." She breathed. "They named Cassandra." I felt everyone turn to me and I gaped like a blow fish. "They also left you the apartment in new york, address 756 Park Avenue..." Maddie blabbed on but I could barely breathe.

"Me?" I whispered. Me? Me?

Me?

How was I going to take care of a baby? I felt my gaze going back to Benji, who was sleeping soundly, and found myself rubbing his rosy cheeks with my index fingers. How could I say no? Benji, my nephew. My love, He no longer had a mother or father.

I would do anything for him.

"Cassie?" My mom asked giving me a worried look.

I was just starting my job next week, so I made a good income, but I could barely keep an cactus alive, how was I supposed to take care of a one year old? I had to tell my assistant, Angie to stop the apartment deal with the Realtor.

"Okay." I whispered. I leveled my gaze with the others. They were surpised, I could see it on their faces, but I was making resolves in my mind. "I can do it." I took a deep breath, solidifying myself and looked down at Benji.

"I guess we're moving to New york."

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Okay, so this is just a trial run, and I will not upload if I don't get any positive feedback on this story. I need comments and at least FIVE votes on this chapter if you guys want this story to continue. Five votes it not a lot, right?.

There's more in store for Cassandra and Benji, I have a couple of more chapters already typed up, It only needs fove votes to be uploaded.

K. much love, Ciao

XOXO, Nesha