Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty Five
Cassi
It’s been a week since Carly was arrested.
I’ve barely spoken to my parents since, but my dad did tell me that he posted bail for her.
She’s not allowed to leave the city of Boston until her trial which won’t be for a month or so.
The police reached out to me again and asked once more if I wanted to press charges.
Honestly, they more so encouraged it. With the cop she assaulted and Jake already doing the same, my testimony would only further drive a nail into her coffin.
I refused, though. I’m not going to let anyone paint me out like I’m the reason for her situation.
At least, no more than they already have.
I was honestly shocked that my parents were so…
is disappointed the right word? I mean, I guess I never really factored their reaction into things.
I was too worried about Carly blowing the fuck up on me, which she did, and my friends judging me, which they kinda did but dropped the judgment quickly.
Due to the state of my face and my mental health literally being a dumpster fire, Nico and I both agreed that I should at least take the week off classes and work and stay in Boston.
Though, with that week coming to an end, I think I’ll be stretching it to two.
I’ll probably lose my job at this rate and who knows what will happen with school, but is it bad that I no longer care?
The splint for my nose came off yesterday so I am starting to look a little less like I got into a nasty bar fight and lost.
It was a fight with my sister in a ballroom, and I never stood a chance with the rage she was wielding.
I’m currently on facetime with Naomi and Arianna as they ask me for the hundredth time when I’ll be coming back.
“I don’t know,” I sigh.
“What do you mean, you don’t know?” Arianna asks. “I mean, Cass, your whole life is here. You can’t just leave.”
I shrug my shoulders.
“I’m happy here, I feel like I finally…fit. If I was in your guys’ position, I’d be saying the same but can you just pretend to be happy for me?”
Ari puts her hands up in defeat as she shakes her head.
“You know what, done. Life is too short to not be with your person. Trust me,” she scoffs bitterly, shaking her head.
“Seriously, with all these hospital visits, I think we should wrap Nay in bubble wrap and keep her safe,” I say on a laugh.
“Something tells me our little Nay bay has someone overseeing all of those details,” Ari says.
I frown. “Why do you say that?”
“Because I don’t recognize that bedroom and she isn’t even paying attention to what we’re saying as she talks to someone out of camera.”
I look down at Naomi’s screen before my eyes widen. Ari is not wrong. Her lavender colored walls are not in sight and she has herself on mute as her mouth is moving quickly before she glances down at us and takes herself off mute.
“Sorry guys.”
We both stare at her and she looks from side to side.
“What?”
I shake my head. “We were just waiting to see if you were going to tell us a bullshit lie about whose bed you’re in or if you were going to play it off like you don’t know what we’re talking about.”
Guilt immediately etches across her face as she looks around nervously.
“What do you mean? I…I’m home.”
“The answer was B, Cass. Did anyone have B?” Arianna asks.
I smile as Naomi shakes her head, running her fingers through her hair.
“We’re just fucking with you. I mean, we’re curious what’s been going on with our virgin bestie, but you don’t have to tell us if you don’t want to.”
She opens her mouth like she wants to speak before putting herself on mute for another moment. Her mouth moves for a second before she looks to the camera.
“I gotta go. Talk soon.”
With that, her face disappears and I look to Arianna with furrowed brows.
“Okay, that was really weird, right?” I ask.
She nods. “Super weird. Let’s give her some space, but send the calvary if we don’t hear from her in forty eight hours?”
“Twenty four,” I counter.
She nods her head. “Deal. Love ya.”
“Love you too,” I say before we end the call.
Nico pokes his head into the bedroom with a shy smile like he’s been waiting to come in but didn’t want to interrupt.
“Sorry to bother you. I need to run into the office and wanted to know if you wanted to stay here or come with.”
I pause for a moment before sliding out of bed.
“I’ve only been to the doctor and here since the party. I’d love to get some fresh air…if you think it would be a good idea?”
I know that he’s lost some clients since the whole…incident. Huge ones. I overheard him on the phone and honestly, it didn’t even sound like he was trying to save the relationship. He basically told them to go to hell in business talk.
“It’s fine. You’re always welcome there. I can show you around a bit, show you off,” he says with a wink.
“Yeah, with my bruised up face and swollen nose, I’m sure to win the hearts of every man, woman and child,” I snark with a laugh.
He shakes his head at me like I’m ridiculous before wrapping his arms around me and placing a kiss to my forehead.
“You’re perfect, as always.”
I can’t help but smile before he gives me a quick wink and laces our hands together, pulling me towards the door.
When we get to Nico’s office, all eyes are on us immediately.
Being the literal boss that he is, he makes eye contact with most, smiling and nodding in greeting as he holds his head high and moves to the back of the office.
I try to do the same, but I notice the curious stares to be drawn to me more than him… by a lot.
Uncomfortability creeps in as Nico gives me a short tour of everything. He introduces me to his CFO, a few of his senior executives before we pop our heads into HR where Jake is smiling.
“Hey you two. What brings you to my neck of the woods?”
“I have a meeting with Hamfield that I’ve been putting off. Can you keep Cassi company?”
“No problem, Cass and I are fast friends, right?” Jake smiles as he loops his arm through mine.
“The fastest,” I agree, matching his excitement.
Nico looks between us before letting out a laugh as he shakes his head. He leans forward, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek as his eyes come to me.
“I’ll just be in my office. If you need anything, have Virginia get me.”
I nod and smile as Nico walks away, looking over his shoulder to me a few times before he disappears around the corner.
“He’s worried about letting you out of his sight,” Jake says from behind me.
I turn and nod. “He’s always worried about something.”
Jake smiles in a way that I can’t quite decipher as he shakes his head.
“Not usually, just when it comes to you.”
I like that for some reason. I do my best to hide my grin at his words but it’s practically impossible.
“Want to grab a coffee or something?” Jake asks.
“Sure,” I say as I follow his lead.
He smiles and waves to a few people before we stop at the breakroom. Before us are three fancy espresso machines as well as a machine that will pre-make almost any coffee you ask for. We chat about where I grew up and where Nico and Jake grew up when a girl pops her head into the breakroom.
“Sorry to interrupt, Jake, can I borrow you really quick for this job posting?”
“Sure,” he says as he leans away from the counter. “Want to come with or chill in here?”
I tilt my head to the side, gesturing towards the boxes and boxes of donuts.
“I’ll hang with the snacks.”
He laughs and nods as he walks away with the girl. I lift the lid of one of the boxes, struggling to choose between a maple bar or a jelly filled donut before I go for the maple bar. A low chuckle sounds from a few feet away that startles me.
“Man, I was so sure you were going to go for the jelly filled. They were always your favorite,” Alec says as he begins sauntering towards me.
“Alec!” I say in surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“I work here now, started a bit ago now. Not like you’d know since you ghosted me.”
His tone is accusing and cold, but his face still has on that perfect smile. It unnerves me as he continues moving towards me, only stopping when we are literally toe to toe. Alec looks down at me, his head tilting like he’s waiting for me to disagree. Shit, this conversation is long overdue.
“Alec…I’m sorry. There isn’t much else I can say other than I am, truly.”
Alec’s eyes narrow slightly as if he were waiting for more before he lets out a bitter laugh.
“That’s all I get? Seriously? One lousy apology? I loved you for years. I thought we were going to have another chance! I made plans with you in mind.”
His tone grows more menacing with each word and by the end, his pleasant smile is gone, rage being the only thing left in sight.
“I’m sorry,” I say again, taking a step away from him.
He meets me, closing the distance once more. I back up again and again until my ass hits the counter. Shit.
“Sorry? For what, exactly? For leading me on? Or for being a fucking disappointing version of the girl I once knew?”
His words stab hurt inside me as he continues, resting his hands on either side of me against the counter.
“My grandma died, in case you were curious. Again, not like you were around for that. You’re never around for anything, now that I think about it. You’d float in and out of my life whenever it suited you.”
“Alec, I…”
My words trail off as his eyes widen with rage and his nostrils flare.
“You what? Can you just accept any kind of responsibility for what a shitty person you’ve been? Or are you hell bent on being the victim? I mean, look at what you did to your fucking sister!” he shouts.
I still as another humorless laugh rips through him as he lower his face to mine.
“You think I haven’t heard? The entire east coast heard about her meltdown to your affair. Tell me, were you fucking us both at the same time, or did I at least get to hit before he had his turn?”
My eyes dart around for an exit, but Alec just leans in further. I try to lean away but I’m trapped and he practically lays his chest against mine as he snarls into my face.
“You’re not even worth a second of the time I wasted on you. You’re selfish, cold and the only good thing about you is this,” he says as he roughly cups my pussy.
I shove him away roughly, hoping that will give me enough of an opening. He’s like a brick wall, though. I push him again and again, smacking his arm before I finally smack his face.
“Get OFF of me!” I shout.
His head whips to the side with a crack of my hand before he turns back, a crazed look in his eyes as he rears his hand back and delivers a smack that has me seeing stars. I cry out in pain as the sting burns my cheek before his hand buries into my hair, yanking roughly.
“I fucking hate you! You are hell! You’re the worst thing that ever fucking happened to me. Why did so many good people around me die when you are sitting. RIGHT. HERE.” He shouts, shaking me with each word.
Another slap comes across my cheek as he screams into my face.
“ANSWER ME!”
In the next moment, a force hits us. Alec is being ripped away from me as I look and see him pinned on the ground beneath Nico.
I watch as Nico’s arm winds back before punching Alec in the face.
Over and over again he delivers blow after blow as a crowd quickly rushes into the breakroom.
A woman comes to me, asking me if I’m okay but I can’t answer.
All I can focus on is Nico beating Alec to a pulp while Alec laughs almost maniacally.
Jake pushes into the room through the crowd, shouting at everyone to get back before he hauls Nico up and away from Alec.
No one really goes to check on Alec for a solid thirty seconds before a guy reluctantly kicks his shoe and asks if he’ll live.
Based on the looks he’s receiving, I take it more than a few people were listening to our… argument. Awesome.
Jake has Nico in a hold, his arms pinned back behind him as he rages like a bull.
His breathing is rough and ragged, his face beet red with anger as he stares as he keeps trying to lunge for Alec like he’s not nearly finished with him yet.
I don’t know how he could do more damage, though.
Alec is a bleeding mess on the floor as he cups his nose, attempting to open his rapidly swelling eyes.
“Calm the fuck down! Now! Focus on her, look at your girl. She’s okay, she’s okay,” Jake says into Nico’s ear.
Reluctantly, his eyes move to mine, his anger easing for a moment. Nico’s gaze runs over me from top to bottom before he shrugs Jake away. Jake lets him go, standing back a few feet as he keeps an eye on both guys before clearing out the break room.
Nico’s hands gently cup my face as his eyes frantically search mine.
“Are you okay?”
I didn’t realize it until now, but I’m shaking, like uncontrollably shaking. I think Alec shook me up more than I wanted to admit and now I’m sitting here shaking like a fucking leaf.
“C-can we go?” I ask.
Nico nods, pushing his way through the few remaining people as we head for the door.
He shouts at someone behind him to have his schedule cleared for the day before we are to the elevator and stepping inside.
Jake has been following us and stops as he looks to us from the door.
Nico tucks me into his chest, wrapping his arms around me protectively as he looks at Jake.
“That little fuck is fired! Call the police because we will be pressing charges.”
“Get the police involved and he could press charges against you,” Jake points out.
Nico lets out a hollow laugh as he shakes his head.
“I wish he fucking would.”
Jake raises his hands in defense before looking to me.
He mouths ‘call me if you need me’ and I nod in thanks as the elevator doors close.
It’s not like I have Jake’s number, nor have I ever reached out to him for anything, but I think he means in case Nico needs help.
I’m not sure many others could reign him in like that.
Not when he was so far…removed from his own body it seemed.
Pulling back, I look at Nico’s hands, several of his knuckles are split open and bleeding. I frown as I inspect them carefully.
“We need to get you cleaned up.”
He shakes his head, smoothing out my hair as he presses a kiss to my temple.
“I’m fine, babygirl. If you’re safe, I’m fine.”