Who Is Hiram?

5. New Secrets

A/N: We finally see inside Hiram's mind. 😉 enjoy bbs.

HIRAM

That night Cassie's friend died was an...emotional rollercoaster ride. And how tables turned? Well, she should've known that I'd one day find out. Before you hire someone and take an interest into them, you use whatever it is you've ever known to your knowledge to do background checks. Since the day I met Cassie, I wondered how she could walk around every day, come to work everyday, knowing she did what she did.

When I asked her who she was, it was merely to see how loyal she was to me. I already knew the truth. I knew everything. I knew about her sudden move to a new city and I also knew about her change in identity.

I didn't get much sleep the nights after. All I could think about was her. I feared for her safety. She was brave for stepping into Mega Wind corp when she did. I wondered if she knew about me before that. If she had heard about me. It couldn't be. Despite her lying about her whole life, I knew she wasn't a liar. She was smart. Kind. All she probably wants was the same thing I wanted. A second chance to be understood. I did the bad things I once did and leaving riverdale was better. For me, Veronica, and Hermoine even. I don't know why I am so drawn to you, Cassie. But whatever it is, makes me go crazy. Crazy enough to be better.

We barely said anything to each other the past few days. And maybe she was cooling off. A couple of times, I wanted to go over and see how she was doing. Giving her time was the for the best. If she needed me, she'd talk to me again. I know she will. Yeah, she's still staying at my villa and working at the office.

I had to get to the office and do some work for the company. There were negotiations to be made on behalf of Mega Wind Corp. When I walked into the building, my receptionist, Wanda, snickered as I walked by.

"Something funny?" I asked her, stopping as I adjusted my tie.

She rolled her eyes and continued typing on her computer. "You gon' see why I'm laughing, Mr. Lodge. By the way, Morell corp wants to know if Mega Wind corp is interested in partnering for the green festival?"

I stared at her long and hard. Long enough for her to know that I wasn't in a happy mood. "I will give them a call. Thank you, Wanda..." I headed into the elevator and tried to collect the rest of my thoughts. It was hard to think of anything else at this point. She was on my mind. She had to get out of it. I had to focus on other things.

When I stepped into my office, there stood Cassie and Smithers. They were chuckling when suddenly the smiles on their faces disappeared. Smithers patted Cassie's back as he headed for the door.

"Good to have you back, Smithers." I told him as I take out my blazer and set my suit case down. He nodded in response before he closed the door shut. I adjust my cufflinks up before taking a seat at my desk to do some work. I had to...pretend that she wasn't there.

"Really?" Her voice gave me a chill and so did her eyes as they were cold like ice on me. "You're just going to pretend like I'm not here?"

I put my pen down and look up at her. "Had it made a difference if I acknowledged you? Would you have given me the time of day?"

She was stuck. Her arms were folded and she wrinkled her nose, nodding. I continued on with my work as I came here to do. And she watched me. She then began tapping her foot on the floor. She did it repeatedly for 8 minutes.

"I know now why you wanted to protect me, Hiram," she started saying. "I know that you know me. The real me..."

I raise my gaze up to hers and instantly felt locked into her eyes. "And who is the real you, Cassie? Or do you prefer I call you..." I wasn't trying to upset her. I didn't want to upset. This was how I was. Playing hard and hitting harder. Her loyalty right now depended on the story she gave me. Though I already had what I needed to know.