Husband for Hire Series: Luis Alvarez - The Street Hottie

2.

Cassie

Cassie just arrived at her house. She had gone to another party. She danced and drank the whole night like there was no tomorrow with her friends in MO2 Club. It was a well-known club in Bacolod City.

“Cassandra! Where have you been?” Her dad greeted her in a whisper yell. The whole living room was dark except for the lamp beside the chair in one corner.

She opened her eyes widely so she could see clearly. If the trip back home had lulled her to sleep. Her Dad's voice was enough to sober her up and bring her sanity back.

She saw him. He had a scrunched-up forehead and pouted lips. His brows looked like it was one line due to his wrinkled head.

She straightened her back and readied herself. “Daddy! How are you?” She said sweetly to her dad. Charming her way to ease up his anger.

“You're drunk again Cassandra! When will you learn? I thought you would stop when you get older but no, God, you are almost twenty-four years old yet you act like a teenager. We need you to help in our hacienda with your Mom. We are tired and want to retire soon.” He was full of disappointment and frustration.

“Dad … let’s go to sleep. Let’s talk tomorrow. You are tired and I am tired. Please let me help you get back to your room.” She tried to charm him again. Yet it did not work on her Dad. He walked by himself back to the master bedroom.

He looked back before he totally went inside. “I expect you to be up and ready to work tomorrow morning. We will discuss this at breakfast.” He then closed the door.

Cassie just sighed and went to her room as well. She looked at the clock and it displayed 2 AM. She immediately undressed herself and went to the bathroom to wash up her face. When she got back to her room, she laid in the bed and slept.

#

Cassie was still having a hangover but she had no choice. She had to get up and wear some farm clothes. She wore boots, an extra large shirt, and paired with jeans.

“Where are you going, Cassandra?” her mother asked. There was some confusion and worry in her eyes which said that her child had worn the wrong clothes.

“Good morning Mom! Just here on the farm. Dad asked me to help out.” Cassia replied to her as she kissed her cheeks.

It felt like an angel came by in between them as the eerily silence engulfed the atmosphere. Along with this was the sound of the footsteps of her dad going out of his office.

“Cassandra! It’s a good thing you listened. Let’s have breakfast first. After that, we need to talk to you in the office.” He said sternly. No objections were made from her or her mom. She knew very well that when he called her Cassandra he was still mad.

She just bowed her head and sat in front of her mother while her father took the main chair at the end of the table.

The breakfast was not a lively one. Only the forks and spoons clanking against the plate were heard. No one dared to talk even the servants were keeping their mouth shut while they served the food.

After everyone finished their meal, they immediately went to her father’s office.

“Dad what is it you want to talk? I thought I will help in the hacienda starting today.” She broke the silence once they were inside. Her Dad became mad once again with the tone of her voice as she was acting like a brat.

“Why are you in a rush? You seemed annoyed helping us out. Would you like to help or not?” Dad said with a serious tone. He was already upset early this morning but right now he was fuming with anger.

“Enrico calm down. We should tell her about our plans. Besides, she will be the one to accompany him not us.” She saw the worry in her mother’s face as she reminded her father. It was like there was a storm brewing underneath that message.

“Very well, as it seemed that you, my dear child are unwilling to help out in the hacienda. We both decided to have you married to one of our family friend’s son who happens to own a hacienda. In the fortnight your engagement party will be held here and by next month your wedding takes place. Tonight they will visit us so you two could get to know each other. ” Her father said with a no-bullshit tone.

“But Dad... Who is this guy? I’d rather help you than marry a stranger. Look at me... I even dressed the part.” She was using a bratty tone lined with a little sweetness.

She wasn’t able to dissuade her father’s decision. “Our decision is final. We gave you a lot of chances yet you did nothing. How many times have you helped us? The last time you gladly helped for a week but then you went back to your old ways. We are tired already. You never listen. Now, he will be in charge of you.” Her father reminded her of her past mistakes.

“Mom please help me. This time I am willing to help not for a week but the rest of my life. Just let me freely choose my own husband. I wanted to be like you and Dad. Your love story is my inspiration.” She faced her mother and pleaded. She was teary-eyed from the news. They were willing to let her go to a stranger without even taking her thoughts on the matter. She felt helpless and betrayed by her parents. She knelt and sob in front of her mother. On the other hand, her mother had no voice on the decision and so she just hugged her tightly.

“Shhh, now my darling. For now, you might not understand us but I know eventually you would thank us.” She tried her best to explain their side to her.

“NO! … Why don’t you get it? If you like him then you should be the one to marry him … don’t look for me as you would just get angry. I would rather til the soil in our hacienda than marry a stranger whom I never met and I do not love.” She stomped her feet as she walked away towards her horses. She rode her favorite horse until she calmed down. By then she went back and placed all her things in a suitcase. She just placed a few she thought she’d need and took some money from her safe.

As she was walking out of the house her mother stood at the door. “Cassie, please. Just give this guy a chance. He is very responsible and we are sure you will love him.” Tears dropped from her face as she spoke.

Cassie was fumed by the way she was being treated. She was no longer a child that they could decide on her behalf. She did not hive a second thought on her mother’s words and continued to go to the garage. She placed her luggage at the back and drove the car as fast as she can until she arrived at the airport.