CHAPTER FOUR
CASSIE
Fuck.
I am totally fucked.
I’m sure of it at this point. I thought I had already burned the image from my mind out of pure embarrassment. But here it was, not in my head but in the flesh. The beautiful woman that I had crashed into while I was in the middle of a mental breakdown, was sitting less than four feet away from me.
This time though, she looked less pissed off and slightly... humored?
Her pitch-black hair looked like the women you saw in commercials; I had never seen anything like it in real life and if it weren't for our run-in earlier it probably would’ve been the first thing I complimented her on. Her smooth, dark olive-toned skin and her dark majestic eyes reminded me of black satin. I couldn't pick a favorite feature. Maybe it was the way her nose curved to a perfect point and how her cheekbones and chin seemed to do the same.
Even when she was mad, she looked like an ethereal fairy. Every inch of her face looked like someone took time sculpting it. I know I’d never get the chance, but I hope somebody thanks her parents for creating something so perfect to look at.
Earlier, my first instinct was to ramble. I couldn’t fathom what I had just done, so I did the only thing I knew how to do—talk. But for the first time, I couldn’t find the words to speak.
My expression must’ve looked like a joke because Manon’s lips could barely fight back her smile. She was walking on the edge of laughter—finding my embarrassment entertaining.
Her eyes shifted past me, “Thank you, Grace. You can close the door.”
I didn't move to see her face, but I heard the door softly close shut. After a few more seconds of silence, I stood there frozen in place.
Without batting an eye, Manon motioned her hand towards the empty seat that sat right in front of her cherry wooden desk. The chair was made of dark brown leather, tiny tufts lined the arms of it. I could tell it was expensive without even sitting on it.
“Are you going to take a seat or just stand there gawking?” Her gaze dropped from mine and back down to a small stack of papers she held.
Her tone wasn’t harsh, but still, I winced before scurrying to sit in my seat. I felt like I was back in high school, just letting my bag flop down into my lap. Instead of sliding gracefully into the upholstered chair like I’d wanted to, I nearly collapsed. Every charm, key, beaded bracelet, and miscellaneous change that I owned, flopped around inside my pocketless tote—creating its own chime.
In the four walls of her cold, motionless, small office, the sound broke through like an invasion. I froze again, hands gripping the arms of the chair as my legs spread out like a spider. I wished I was invisible.
When I got the courage to look up, a manilla folder covered half of her face; only revealing her narrow eyes squinting back at me. I could tell she was studying me. And by the looks of it, I wasn't passing her test.
Okay, maybe my outfit wasn’t the best choice for today, but I was in a rush. I had pulled two all-nighters in a row, just drowning myself in this mess. And the last thing on my mind was my outfit. I just wanted to get out of there as quickly as I could because I knew just sending in an inquiry wasn't enough. I needed help asap, and judging by the looks of her office I made the right choice. Who knows where I would’ve ended up in one of those piles? So, without overthinking it, I dressed how I normally would. No thoughts of how I may be perceived ever crossed my mind.
I shifted in my seat, the unsettling truth sinking in— I was well under-prepared for this meeting. Her gaze dropped back to the stack of papers she gripped tightly, and I realized this wasn’t going to be over quickly.
***
“So, you rented the car back in September?”
Manon had finally broken her hour-long streak of silence.
Quickly, I sat forward. “No, I booked my first rental on October 2nd, 2023. Does the report say something different?”
Her eyes raised above the folder, but her face didn't falter.
“No,” she said simply and matter-of-factly, before dropping her gaze—yet again.
I was about to lose my shit. I had already stripped myself free from my fur coat, starting to feel my sweaty skin stick to the inner lining. I was dripping in humiliation. I colored fiercely, blood beginning to pulse at my temples.
It was a humiliating, deflated feeling sitting here. For many different reasons, my mind didn't want to break down right now, because I was already embarrassed enough.
“And on December 12th, while driving, were you distracted in any way? Could you have gotten a text, or were you focused on reading the…directions...?”
The silence lingered; my eyes twitched as my cheeks became warm. I should’ve expected this. How could she believe that I was a victim when I had just crashed into her earlier?
“I was looking down reading the directions.”
Damn. I walked right into that one.
I couldn't see it, but I could feel the tiny smirk that sat on her face, both of her brows lifted as she waited for me to speak.
I took a breath, filling up my chest with as much air as I could before releasing it like a balloon that’d just been popped.
“I’m really, really sorry.” I blurted out. And for the first time since I sat down, Manon lowered the manilla folder.
She left one brow arched as she leaned back in her chair. Gesturing for me to continue. God, even when she was being judgmental, she looked beautiful.
“I swear I didn't see you coming. I know that sounds ridiculous and it doesn't help my image when it comes to this case, but I remember December 12th like the back of my hand. I could tell you every second of that day play-by-play; every word anyone spoke to me, every single piece of food I ate, even how I styled my hair. I may not seem like I have my shit together—”
My hand raised, “—Please excuse my language. But I was not at fault. I wasn't driving any passengers; I was clocked out of my rideshare app and was on my way home. So, I didn’t need directions, and I’ve had the ‘do not disturb when in motion’ setting turned on since I started doing rideshare—.”
I took another breath, feeling momentarily abashed.
“—I messed up. I didn't see the letter until a couple of days ago and as of right now, I don't have any money to my name or any other options. I am truly begging for your help.”
My voice cracked as my raw emotions began to break through. A long stretch of silence spread between us, and I watched as Manon’s face softened. She shifted in her seat, leaning forward and resting her elbows on her desk.
“I’m glad you have your facts straight because they’re not going to want to hear your sob story. What they will want is solid proof, and so do I. Just saying that you ‘didn’t need directions,’ won't hold up in any court.”
My lips parted. I stared at her completely baffled. “I’m sorry?” I questioned, my voice just barely above a whisper.
“As your new lawyer, I’m recommending you don’t say anything that is self-incriminating from this point moving forward. Is that understood?”
Her face was hard, my eyes scanned it rapidly searching for some sort of crack in it. Something that told me that she was joking, or that what she just said was meaningless. But her face never changed, it was inherently strong, holding a power that left you breathless.
I could feel the tears begin to well in my eyes as I felt relief pick me up and place me on cloud nine.
I quickly nodded my head in disbelief.