Players

16. He's Everywhere, Isn't He?

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"Seriously?"

Cassidy raised a brow at her partner in response to his reaction to her walking into their office. She looked around, feeling that something was quite different about the place but not being able to pinpoint what exactly the newness was.

"I know I abandoned you for a week but you know very well that I have too much going on right now." She said, feeling defensive. She hated it. She usually dealt with everything unbothered, but the slightest of things disgruntled her. And she dropped the entirety of the blame on Liam Montgomery. He had f****d with her equilibrium.

"I am not talking about that." Jeremy Reed got up from his chair and leaned against his desk, a hand on his hip. "You, my friend, know exactly what I am talking about." He raised a brow at her, mirroring her expression, willing her to spin the beans.

"Whatever you are talking about, Jim Jam." Cassidy moved to rile him up quickly so that she could extract whatever notion he was harboring in his head. She did not have the time or energy for mind games and she felt that enough people were playing with her brain, without her best friend and partner having to jump onto the bandwagon.

"Dominic Grant."

The two words were enough to set Cassidy's ears on fire. Her nostrils flared as she looked over at Jeremy, her eyes wide with astonishment and her grip on the strap of her handbag tight.

"Whatever you are talking about." She tried to act nonchalant but she was obviously failing miserably from the pure complacent look that Jeremy shot her.

"What about him?" She shrugged. "We had dinner...twice. Pleasantries were exchanged. We were completely civil."

"No no no." Jeremy stopped her cautious rant. "I will list it all out before you downplay this."

"I am not downplaying anything-" Cassidy started but Jeremy held a hand up.

"Save it." He said.

"Alright, let's see what has been going on. So until last week, he was trying to reach you with his notes and flowers and surprise visits but you were not giving him the time of your day, but then all of a sudden you took off from work and does not contact any of us but you have been going on dates with him?"

"They were not dates." She was tired of saying the same thing over and over again but neither Jeremy nor Sally were willing to listen to her on this matter. These two had wanted her to give whatever Dominic was planning a chance. They were being annoying brats about it, playing wing-man and wing-woman for Dominic last week. But now these two were getting on her nerves with it. It was obvious that the only thing they actually wanted from her was what they expected to be juicy details of their supposed dates.

But honestly, there was actually none of that. But it did not seem like the two of them were going to take anything less than that for an answer.

"Yeah, clearly midnight dinner with a completely unrelated man does not come under the category of a date." Jeremy rolled his eyes as he went back to his seat, taking out one of the needly placed torn pages of a magazine from his desk. He was in the mood to make more paper planes as usual.

"Jeremy..." Cassidy started but then gave up. There was no use. She sighed as she settled down into her chair and opened the first file she saw, raising a brow at the huge amount that Dominic Grant had given to the hospital as a donation.

"He's everywhere, isn't he?" Jeremy chuckled, his eyes on the file in her hand though his hands are expertly folding the paper.

"Why the donation though? Is he trying to launder money through our hospital or something?" She does not sound the least surprised as she said it. This was because one, she had seen a lot of things happen in the hospital administration during her career and she was actually at a point where nothing surprised her anymore, and secondly because she didn't put anything past Dominic Grant either. He was one nasty fellow and he could do anything to get what he wanted.

"That's what the administration is scared of as well. You know how scared the dean is about all of this, so he has asked us to look into this." He said and then shrugged.

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Sally's Café was bustling with activity on a sunny afternoon. The smell of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air as customers chatted and laughed over their cups of steaming goodness. Sally, the owner of the café, greeted her customers with a warm smile as she moved gracefully from table to table, ensuring everyone had what they needed.

At a corner table, Sally's dear friend Cassidy sat, sipping her cappuccino. Cassidy was a vibrant woman with a contagious smile, and today she had her six-year-old daughter, Maddie, sitting beside her. Maddie's big blue eyes sparkled with curiosity as she observed the bustling café.

Sally approached their table and placed a plate of freshly baked cookies in front of Maddie. "There you go, sweetheart," she said with a gentle smile. "Enjoy!"

Maddie's face lit up with excitement as she reached for a cookie. "Thank you, Aunt Sally!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with glee.

Cassidy leaned back in her chair, sipping her coffee. "You know, Sally," she began, "I can't believe how quickly Maddie is growing up. It feels like just yesterday she was a little baby in my arms."

Sally nodded, a hint of nostalgia in her eyes. "Time flies, doesn't it? It's incredible to see how much Maddie has grown and matured over the years."

Cassidy smiled, her gaze fondly fixed on her daughter. "She's such a bright and curious child. I'm proud of her every day."

Sally sat down across from Cassidy, her own cup of coffee in hand. "You should be proud, Cass. You've done an amazing job raising her."

Cassidy's smile widened. "Thank you, Sally. It hasn't always been easy, but it's all worth it. Maddie brings so much joy to my life."

Maddie, engrossed in her cookie, listened intently to the conversation between her mother and Aunt Sally. She looked up, her eyes shining with innocence. "Mommy, can I be a grown-up like you someday?"

Cassidy chuckled softly, ruffling Maddie's hair affectionately. "Oh, sweetheart, you have all the time in the world to grow up. Enjoy being a kid for now. Trust me, it's a special time."

Sally chimed in, her voice gentle. "Your mom is right, Maddie. Childhood is a magical phase of life, full of wonder and discovery. You should embrace it."

Maddie nodded, a touch of understanding in her eyes. "Okay, Aunt Sally. I'll make the most of being a kid."

The conversation took a lighter turn as Sally shared stories from the café and the interesting people she met every day. They laughed and enjoyed the warmth of their friendship amidst the cozy ambiance of the café.

As the afternoon wore on, Maddie's energy began to wane. Her eyes grew heavy, and she yawned wide. Cassidy noticed her daughter's tiredness and said, "Maddie, it's time for your nap. Say goodbye to Aunt Sally."

Maddie's sleepy eyes filled with reluctance, but she obeyed her mother. "Goodbye, Aunt Sally," she said, giving Sally a small hug.

Sally hugged Maddie back, a soft smile on her lips. "Goodbye, sweetie. Rest well and have sweet dreams."

With a wave, Maddie and Cassidy made their way towards the exit. Sally watched them leave, feeling a sense of warmth and contentment in her heart. The café was bustling as always, but it was moments like these, conversations with dear friends and witnessing the growth of the next generation, that made Sally's Café more than just a place to get a cup of coffee.

Sally returned to her work, energized by the conversation with Cassidy and filled with gratitude for the friendships that enriched her life. As the day continued, she continued to serve her customers with the same warmth and care that she shared with her dear friend and her daughter, cherishing the simple joys and connections that made life worthwhile.

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