From Crush to Husband (complete)

1 - Ditched!

1 – Ditched

Working for my fathers’ company had always been a dream of mine, basically being my own boss. I had to work hard at University to get my accounts and business management degree. You could say I was a geek doing 2 courses at the same time, but I have an ability to retain information like a sponge does with water. Don’t get me wrong I still liked to have fun with my friends, but I was sensible, I studied hard and graduated a couple years ahead of others my age. I was always the quiet one among my small group of friends, they were the same age as me, I grew up with them from a young age and always kept in contact even when I was busy with my studies. They were always the ones to drag me to house parties or clubbing when we were old enough. I wasn’t a big drinker, I knew my limits and always stuck to the same drink on a night out, but I’m also one of those chicks that doesn’t need to have alcohol to have a good time.

We were on our way out tonight to celebrate my friends who just graduated from their university. Lana and Neve both graduated and are now in training at the local hospital, both nurses in ER. Not a job I could do, I hate the site if blood.

As we walk into the club, it’s busier than normal but I spot him standing in the corner with a bimbo wrapped around his neck. You can’t miss him, he’s tall and muscular and jet-black hair. Alexander Webster, god I hate him. I used to have a major crush on him growing up and all the way through University. His father and my father are kind of in business together. My father owns Calder Women’s wear a manufacturing business of women’s underwear, you know bras and panties. Alexander’s father owns Webster Men’s wear, the two businesses work together and share the manufacturing space, office space, advertisement and suppliers and shipments to other counties, helps keep costs down according to my father. It’s been that way for decades.

Anyway, back to our night out. We head straight to the bar to get drinks and then we’ll head to the dance floor. Neve and Lana are convinced that Alexander has a thing for me, so I’m not pointing out to then that he is here, Lana has been kind of dating one of his friends for the last 6 months or so, she probably knows they are here, but I will not entertain him at all. We soon get our drinks and head to find a seat a little away from the bar and closer to the dance floor. Just as I spot an empty table, a hand grabs my wrist, I look up and see Alex standing grinning at me.

“Cassie, what a nice surprise.” He shouts in my ear, making sure I hear him over the music. I wonder where the bimbo went.

“Alex" I say in an emotionless tone.

“Didn’t see you at the meeting this morning” he days as I tug my wrist from his grip.

“Was out meeting a potential new designer, why did you miss me?” I say as I walk away to find my friends.

He really is a pain in my ass. He knew where I was today, we work in the same bloody building. His father asked me to go to the meeting, Alex can’t be trusted meeting any potential new female employees, he flirts too much and ends up breaking their hearts, with his charm and sexy smile. You see, Alex is what we call a man w***e. He has a different girl on his arm at all the company functions, or weekends clubbing like tonight. He was with a bimbo there, but he’ll leave with a red head or brunette at the end of the night.

“Cassie" he shouts after me, but I just ignore him. Can’t be assed with his s**t tonight.  I find my friends and to my absolutely shock, note the sarcasm, they are sitting right beside Alex’s friends. I sit down at the end of the booth with my drink in hand, having a quick look at my surroundings. I know we’re here to celebrate the girls graduating but I know now that we are in the company of Alex’s friends I will end up alone most of the night.

Lana is dating Ryan, Alex’s friend since childhood. He works as a sales rep for the Webster side of the company and Neve well she has been flirting with Josh, another of Alex’s friends for months as well. The weekends they end up dragging me out clubbing and then within a couple of hours I’ll be left sitting myself and then I’ll get fed up and go home, wake up in the morning with a dozen messages from them saying sorry and that they won’t do it again. So, let’s see how long it takes this time. I check my watch, it’s just after 9pm, I say by 1130pm they’ll bump me off and I’ll be sitting myself in a cab going home.

The five of us chat for a while, get a few more drinks in then us girls decide it’s time to dance. We head to the dance floor, Lana leading the way holding Neve's hand and me on the end trying to avoid the touches of the drunks around us. We are dancing nearly in the middle of the dance floor, where the guys can see us, Lana and Neve promising me they won’t leave me this time, I’m not holding my breath but still dance with my girls and try enjoy myself. After about half an hour or so, we head back to get drinks at the table. I nip to the bathroom on my way to our seats, just as I turn the corner, I see a couple up against the wall and not to be surprised, Alex and some brunette chick, see what I told you a different chick again, practically dry humping against the wall. Luckily, I don’t need to go to close to them, I slip into the bathroom without disturbing them.

Heading back out I noticed that they are still at it, I just shake my head and go back to the table to join the others. I’m not against hooking up or having a good time with the opposite s*x, but Alex just goes too far, I work with him, I have to socialise with him for business deals and such like. At every function or business dinner I’ve been to, he flirts his way through the staff or attendees and ends up with one of them in his bed and he isn’t shy about telling the guys at work about it.  His father has been at him to try settle down, but I can never see that happening anytime soon I’m just glad I didn’t fall into his trap, even though I used to fantasise about it. He is a good looking guy, tall, dark haired and muscles in all the right place, and I’ll admit, he is s*x on legs, but then I saw what he was really like, he just uses woman and then dumps them. My grandfather used to always say to me “You will marry that boy one day” I would just laugh at him.  I definitely dodged a bullet there.

As I reach the table, Lana and Ryan are busy making out in the corner of the booth and Neve and Josh well, they are practically eye raping each other. Is there any point in staying here, I say to myself as I contemplate leaving and going home. It’s been hour, will stay for a little while longer, I’ll get another drink and see what happens in the next hour. So, I head to the bar, ordering a southern comfort and coke, a nice looking guy tried to flirt with me, but he can hardly stand up straight. I walk way and I stand, a little away from our table, to see my friends as Lana and Ryan get up grab their jackets and leave, not once checking where I am. Ok, a little pissed at that but I’ll let it slide, Lana might have told Neve to wait for me. Just as I’m walking back to the table Neve and Josh get up and leave as well. Not one of them looking around for me or bothering that I wasn’t at the table. They both just got up and left. I get back to the table to make sure my jacket was still there and luckily it is. I sit down and sip my drink as I pull my phone from my back pocket, I rarely take a bag out with me, expecting to see a message from at least one of them, but nope, nothing.

I knock back my drink not caring for the burning in my throat, grab my jacket and leave. I storm out the club not caring for the people I bumped into and walk straight out the door. Once I’m outside, my anger just gets worse as I see Neve, Lana and both the guys climbing into a cab. I just stand and watch them, not one of them looking back. Gone. Just like that. Great f*****g friends. I again pull out my phone, contemplating which one of them to call first. I’m pissed now. I knew it would happen, but they told me not an hour ago that they would not leave. Oh, let’s go alphabetical, Lana. I press the call button, it rings 3 maybe 4 times before it’s sent to answer machine. Oh really, ok. Neve let’s see if she’ll answer. And oh my f*****g God the same thing 4 rings and sent to answer machine.

My anger just gets worse, I hail a cab jump in and practically scream my address to the driver. Poor guy, not a job I would like to do, dealing with drunks and angry women. My apartment is about half hour drive from the club and by halfway home, I realise that my friends are the worst, this is the third time they’ve done this in the last four times we’ve been out. Why? What the f**k have I done? I soon feel tears running down my face and the driver asks if I’m ok. I just nod, not able to speak as I choke back a sob. The cab soon pulls up outside my apartment building, I quickly pay and jump out and run to my place. I pull my keys out my back pocket and unlock the door quickly, slamming it shut and leaning my back against it and fall to the floor sobbing.

Beth, my flat mate, soon comes running to me, “Cassie? What the f**k happened?” she says as she falls to the floor and wraps her arms around me, I just sob and sob until I can’t breathe.

“Cassie, breath for me. Listen to my voice Cassie. Slow breaths, In and out, come on, slow breaths” she says as she soothes me from my slight panic attack.

Once I’m calm enough, she helps me stand and walks me over to sofa, she sits me down and takes my heals off, she goes to the kitchen to get me a glass of water and sits with me until I’m fully calmed down. I eventually am calm enough to tell her what happened tonight.

“And they just left, not a word? Not even a text?” She asks as I pull out my phone to check if they called back or sent a message, again nothing. Just a message from my dad telling me to meet him tomorrow for dinner. I ignore his message and throw my phone down beside me on the sofa.

“I stood at the bar and watched them up and leave, not one of them looked around for me. I could have been in trouble or sick in the bathroom, they just left.” I tell her as I sip my water shaking my head.

“Babe, you need new friends. I told you after the last time not to go out. I know you wanted to celebrate with them, but they did the same thing at your graduation bash, didn’t they.” Beth says as she goes to the kitchen and comes back with 2 bottles of beer, she hands me one just as my phone starts to ring.

I don’t even bother looking at it, to pissed off to hear their excuses now. I will speak to them when I am calm enough, which at this rate will be never. Beth reaches for it and sees that its Lana, she lets it ring and ring until it stops. Then it starts ringing again and this time its Ryan that’s calling, I answer it this time.  “Hello” keeping my voice strong, not wanting them to know I’ve been sobbing my heart for the last hour, or however long its been.

“Cassie are you still at the club?” he asks, clearly being prompted by Lana.

“Why do you ask Ryan? clearly you and Lana left so does it matter if I’m still at the club?” I ask keeping my tone the same, Beth reaching for my hand as she can see I’m struggling to keep my s**t together.

“It’s just me and Lana left to go get something to eat and we didn’t know if you would still be there or not?” what the f**k is he saying, went to get something to eat, Lana ate a massive f*****g pizza 20 minutes before the cab came. I sit and shake my head, Beth ready to take over the conversation, it’s on speaker so she can hear the bullshit coming from him

“Listen Ryan, you’re a nice enough guy, but please do not give me your bullshit ok. I hope Lana enjoyed her time celebrating her graduation” and at that I hung up, tossed the phone on the sofa and drank the remaining of my beer.

“I need another” I say to Beth as I get up and get another beer from the fridge. I stand in the kitchen and down the bottle, not taking a breath. Yes, these beers will be my only friend tonight oh and Beth.

”Hey, slow it down, it will make you feel worse in the morning” Beth says as she tried to take the bottle from my hand, too late its finished. I throw the bottle into the bin at the side and grab another. This time I just take little mouthfuls and walk back to the sofa.

“Can you believe that bull. I said to myself I would give them til 1130pm, but they bet their own record and left me within an hour of arriving. God we were only there an hour. Alex was there as well, being his usual man w***e self. f**k. Why? I’m so fed up of this s**t. I’m heading to bed” I get up and make my way to my room. I say goodnight to Beth as she heads to her room. Sh really is the best though, always there for me.

I put my half-drunk bottle on my bedside table and start taking my clothes off. I take my makeup off and change into my comfy pyjamas. I try not to think about what happened tonight. I mean it’s not a new thing as I said, but why does it hurt when your so called best friends up and leave you without a word, this is the first time they both got up and left without saying anything, normally they tell me or at least one of them does. f**k this s**t. I finish my bottle and turn on my tv too angry to sleep yet.

I turn on the tv and some random chick flick movie that is playing, just as I settle down and get comfy my phone rings again. I ignore it, not in the mood to talk to anyone, it stops, then I get a notification that I have a voicemail, I leave that too. Then it rings again, fed up of people disturbing my peace, I grab my phone

“WHAT?” I shout

“Cassie, where are you?” Alex, f**k me. Why?

“WHY?” I yell again, clearly still pissed about this whole night

“Ryan called me, he’s totally freaking out. I’m searching the club for you, but I can’t find you. Where are you?” he tells me as the background noise eventually quietens down

“Alex, just leave me alone, ok? I’m fine. Tell your friend to f**k off and leave me alone as well” I tell him as I hung up.

Lana must be feeling guilty to get Alex involved, and Ryan, why would he even care? We have never been that close, we only ever speak at work or in passing. I just want this night to end, try enjoy the rest of my weekend, after dinner with my dad tomorrow, everything will be fine.

My dad always makes me feel better. We are really close, since my mum died a few years ago, we made sure that we spend at least 1 day of the weekend together, sometimes we would go away to our log cabin for a few days. I was always a daddies girl. Being the only child and a daughter as well, he spoiled me with gifts, but I worked my ass off to prove I can eventually take over his side of the company and I know he is proud of me.

I eventually switch of the tv and curl up in my bed. Just as I’m getting settled and slowly going into a nice deep slumber, there is a knock at the door. Who the hell?

I grab my robe, fling it on and stomp towards the door, I know Beth wont get up for the door, she is a deep sleeper, she would sleep through a thunder storm if I let her, I’m scared of thunder so I normally climb in beside her if it’s bad.

I reach the door, checking the peep hole first and to my utter shock, Alex is on the other side of the door.  I slowly open the door, just a little, I’m in my pyjamas, he does not need to see me in my pyjamas.

“What are you doing here?” I whisper yell at him

“f**k Cassie, you have got everyone worried, why did you leave the club and not tell anyone?” he asks with concern over his face

“I left the club, because they left the club.” I tell him as I open the door wider to let him in. I don’t need the neighbours hearing this conversation or seeing a guy at my door this late at night.

“What do you mean they left the club? They told me they went to dance and came back and you weren’t there?” I laugh at that, what a load of s**t they have told him

“Who told you they went to dance?” I ask, as he looks at me.

“Lana” he says as he makes himself comfortable on my sofa.

“And you believed her?” I ask as I sit on the other couch with my feet underneath me

“I have no reason not to believe her. What actually happened then? And do you have any coffee I’ve got a banging headache with all this drama” he says as he rubs his temples.

“I’ll make you coffee” I huff as I make my way through to the kitchen.  Waiting on the kettle boiling, I get the coffee cups ready. Alex followed me through and is sitting at the small breakfast bar, well, it looks small with him sitting at it. It sits both me and Beth and there is still plenty space, but with his body, it looks tiny with his bulky, sexy body. Stop it girl.

“So? what happened then?” He asks as I hand him his cup and pull out the milk and sugar

So I tell him, from going to dance with the girls, to me going to the bathroom, seeing the four of them all cosy, me going to the bar to get and drink and standing at the bar watching them leave and not look back and then seeing the four of them climb into a cab together. I never mentioned once seeing him dry humping in the corridor.

“I’ll f*****g kill Ryan. He told me that they had done this s**t before, but he always made sure they told you to that you at least got home ok. Lana never seemed to give a f**k. Sorry Cassie.” He says as he sees my tears.

“You don’t need to apologise Alex, its not like you forced them. I really thought tonight would have been different you know. They said more people were coming from their course, so they would hang out with me and not the guys. Why would you care anyways?” I say to him as I finish my coffee and rinse my cup in the sink

“Yeah, either way. I’ll have words with Ryan when I see him next. Might be Monday before I see him, got a dinner tomorrow with my folks and they don’t normally end well” he chuckles as he heads to the door.  “ I just wanted to make sure you were alright, I’ll see you Monday at work” he says as he waves bye and I close the door behind him. Making sure its locked, I head straight to my room, turning of lights as I go. I cant believe Alex just came to my house to check if I was alright. I mean, if his mum found out he was at the club the same time as me, she always tells him to keep and eye on me. I mean I’m not a kid, I live on my own, with Beth but you know what I mean. I don’t need a babysitter.  I climb into bed and let sleep take over, even though I just had a coffee, I suddenly feel really tired.

Will see what tomorrow brings.