Adult Education

2. Into the lion's den.

The fact that the news about a third son almost had thrown her off guard made Cassie very uncomfortable. Why she even bothered to react she had no clue. Why should she care about that? She was happily married, right? Sure . . .

She had absolutely no reason to bother over a most possible handsome third son.

As Mr Hollander was the most handsome man she had ever seen, and his two known sons the runner ups, she assumed that this third one most likely would be a sight for the eyes as well.

"Well? Tell me!" Cassie hissed. She then gasped horrified when hearing herself. She sounded almost obsessed.

Lisa giggled softly at her stunned facial expression.

"Eager to know, huh?" she teased.

Cassie sighed and stared defiantly down in the floor.

"Yes, I am. Are you going to be a bitch about it now? Because if you are, I am going home, no matter what!" she said with a pout.

"No, I am not going to be 'that'. Calm down, because you ARE going to go with me to that party." Lisa told her sternly. "Okay, so this is it. Last week I overheard Mr. Hollander talking on the phone. He had the speakers on, so I could hear the other persons voice, And Cassie, I have to tell you . . . what a voice. Mr Hollander was walking back and forth in his office in deep conversation with the person on the other line, so he neither heard me knocking on the door, nor saw me entering his office. He repeatedly called the other person William as they spoke, and at, at least three or four times this William called Mr Hollander father or dad."

Lisa paused and gauged Cassie's reaction. It was like she expected. Cassie's jaw had dropped onto her lap.

Lisa continued.

"Hello, wake up girl! As you said, we all know none of the Hollander boys' names are William. So who is this William? It just has to be a son nobody knows about, right? And by the look on Mr Hollanders face when he saw me and realized I had heard everything, I knew I was right!"

Cassie nodded like in a daze.

"What did he say?"

Lisa grinned back at her, almost rubbing her hands with mirth.

"Well, you know how nosey I can be, and obviously Mr Hollander knows that too."

"It's nothing to be proud of," Cassie said sulkily.

Lisa ignored her obvious sneer and continued on like she hadn't heard her at all.

"When I asked about what I had overheard, especially the father and dad part, Mr Hollander almost had a nervous breakdown. Why he does not want anyone to know about this son, I have  no clue. . ." Lisa held up a finger to make a dramatic pause." Until he told me that is. After, everything made perfect sense. To say I suspected that even Mrs Hollander did not know is an understatement. I guess he can imagine the amount of trouble I can cause him if I should tell anyone what I overheard, like let's say . . . Mrs Hollander. So he and I made a deal."

Cassie's jaw dropped even further south.

"YOU made a deal with Mr Hollander?" she hissed.

"Yeah! Imagine that," Lisa said with a giggle. "I am surprised myself."

"My god! What did he tell you? Are you not ashamed at all?" Cassie asked.

"Not the slightest. . . ." Lisa now laughed out loud. "Should I be?"

Thinking about it, Cassie grinned and shook her head.

"NO! I suppose not."

Lisa eased her laughing and stared at Cassie.