Fool Me Once

ace darken. His characteristic self-assurance broke down under

ked away, taking th

to muted whispers. She caught bits of Jeffery's conversation-terms like "f

nutes later, his face pale.

sie asked, concer

nts-allegations against R.R Conglomerate Holdings.

persisted, justifia

s of his tone catching her off guard. "But if it's a

age appeared on her cell phone screen: a breaking news flash from a station that blew the story wide ope

rrived-that one f

vitation was lace

ge; now he was CEO of Titan Dynamics, a rival firm with an appetite for destruction. Cassi

t air, Ethan leaned against a sleek black car, a hu

ersely, folding her ar

," he replied breezily, although she d

o charge Jeffery

down." His eyes narrowed and he moved nearer. "Yo

e idea of helping him in

take sides," she

charisma. "This is not all business; it's personal a

sie could not dismiss the nagging feeling that Jeffery needed her now more than ever. Yet here

tly, cutting through her resolve

and ambition wrestled mightily as the

loomed over her like a thundercloud, bringing with it the memory of the love she believed got away and was lost years ago. He

iding a folder across the desk. "You'

The last thing she wanted to do was fall ba

ed her arms, unbudging. "You

felt cornered. She could

herself to the upcoming argument. He looked up from his disordered des

ghtly broken as he got up.

," she answered, holding

speration entering his v

not hide your mess. I'll tidy the trut

her words. "I did nothing

owly, picking her words. "But how am

w it appears awful. but it's all made up! Some

tions and skepticism. His desperation pulled at somet

ct more, there was a knock on

lf-assured smile lined his fac

ially before facing Cassi

rrival; the atmosphere was tense with

were friends meeting at a party. "I could

with a casual charm that twiste

s his face-a feeling mixed with vulnerability

fery bit out before he

ingly calm smile spreading across his lips

n two worlds-one of old flames and lost hopes and anothe

e was silence in the room except for the sound of the typing. She had worked through the lo

mbers didn't add up; expenses appeared padded in ways that made no sense. She leaned closer, her he

breath, her heart racing. The impli

ding her to somebody near Jeffery-an insider who was juggling numbers for perso

tending to lose all sense of time. But

doorframe of her office, arms crossed careless

idn't lift her eyes from her compute

oice dropping into the tone of threat disguised as charm. "Th

at could slice through

rial. "Because I see what's happeni

ntent. Cassie brushed off his influence and turned her attention back to

s she opened another file; a name jumped out at her: Miranda T

how Miranda used to defend Jeffery's decisions

the dots; Ethan's aggressive campaign to el

burst into Jeffery's office the next day, her

ger keep urgency in check a

is brow furrowe

t of this." Her voice tremb

slowly shaking his head in de

observing skepticism give way to astonishment on his fa

uld he look beyond thei

ts lit her way, yet shadows threatened the periphery of her vision. Her cell phone vibrated in her p

ng or you'l

ver her shoulder, but the sidewalk seemed to be clear. Fear scraped

re she pressed the elevator button and watched the doors swing open like a gateway to salvation

aused again, second thoughts creeping into her head. B

ssed hair evidence of too many late nights partying and workin

she demanded,

as thick with whiskey, evidence of recent partying

the room, hands trembling with adren

creasing further. "Who? Wh

th it," she bit out, anger

his arms, annoyance cle

them like electricity. The feelings seethed to the forefront-fear condensed into so

t from me?" Cass

t before hardening again wit

faces nearly touched. In a fierce, passionate gesture born of feeling and desperation, Jeff

him momentarily-then reality came crashing ba

h passion as need and d

omething long buried beneath pain and years-so

loom, papers scattered over the table. Their sc

ming on a falsified contract they had uncovered. "When

th anxiety. "But if they suspect

ing with determination. "I

nd them. She was holding her breath when the phone vibrated with a message from a

?" she asked, ext

read the message. "They'

d outside, disrupting their peaceful haven. Cassie

rest for fraud and conspiracy," on

e!" Jeffery cried out,

tearing at her throat. "You

uffing Jeffery's wrists. He glanced at Cas

me," he whispered as

olved around her as reality washed over her like a cold wave of water; despair took ove

threw changing shadows across Jeffery's face as he spun arou

new resolve. The memories flooded back-whispers of la

had left him thirteen year

he couldn't lose him twice. But where to start? Who would assist her in unraveling this knotted mess

her system as she came to a conclusion: Cassie