Billionaire's Love Trap

CHAPTER 4

Keith followed behind Jackson Gray back to his office. “You can’t run away like that,” Keith said, clenching his jaw. Jackson Gray banged his palms onto the table. “What the hell was that for, Keith? Are you backing up against me this time?” He roared in anger.

Hell yeah. You’re the one who killed my dad with your decision. Keith wanted to say that, but he kept it hid inside. He took a deep breath before he confronted him.

“I only did what’s best for the company…” he replied, looking away from Mr. Gray’s glare. He took a step towards Keith and held his shoulders. “Don’t disappoint me, Keith.” He said with a serious expression.

The door suddenly went opened, and his secretary barge in. “Mr. Gray, your wife is asking for you on the phone.” He raised his hand, stopping her. “She could wait…We’re in the middle of a conversation here.” He replied.

But his secretary won’t move. “But I’m afraid this is urgent, sir.” She said, insisting. “Okay, fine…You may go now,” he said, dismissing her before he walked back towards his desk and grabbed the phone.

“Brooke, what’s the matter?” he asked. Mr. Gray’s eyes went wide, and for a brief moment, Keith was reminded of his dad’s shocked expression before he passed away. It was almost the same as the one that Mr. Gray had right now. A mixture of fear and pain.

“What did you just say? How come the security let her escape while they were guarding the house all night?” he said, suppressing his anger. Keith furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. Someone’s missing?

He heaved a defeated sigh. “Calm down, Brooke…I’ll find her.” He then said before he put down the phone. “What happened?...” Keith couldn’t help but ask.

Jackson Gray falls seated on his swivel chair. He rested his head on both hands. “My daughter…I think she just ran away from home. Her mother couldn’t find her this morning.” He said with a sad tone.

Keith almost can’t believe what he just heard. That damn woman can’t be missing right now. She needs to make a decision about the budget for this company.

He cleared his throat before he took a seat on the chair in front of Jackson Gray. “Do you have any idea about where she might be? Maybe her friend’s house?” Keith asked. Jackson dialed a number on his phone.

“Yes, she might be staying at Angela’s house….” He then waited until the other person accepts his calls. “Yes, this is me, Troy… I want you to find Angela Thompson’s address right now. No need to ask! Just do as I say.” He said sternly. He was nearly losing his mind right now.

Cassandra might be in danger. The thought of her being alone in the street was enough to make him go crazy. What if somebody kidnapped her? s**t! He shouldn’t punish her that hard yesterday. His poor baby girl must’ve been shocked.

“Where are you going?” Mr. Gray asked as he saw Keith getting up from the chair.

“I’m going to help you find her….” Keith said with determination.

************

The sound of the music blazing filled the bar. Keith saw his friend, William, sitting at the VIP seat with two women on both sides. “Hey, Keith!...” he called for him.

One of the women came up to him and pushed him to sit down on the chair to join them. Keith harshly swatted her hands away when she started to grope his thigh. Not tonight, girls. We have a bigger mission here. Looking slightly offended, she then finally turned away and clutched back into William’s arm.

“Show me what you’ve got?...” Keith said. “Our boss is getting a little bit impatient tonight…eh?” William said teasingly. Keith throws him an are you serious look, and it damn works to make him nervous.

William gave him the envelope. “For the start, this is her photo….” Keith quickly grabbed and pulled out a photo from it. His breath got caught as he looked at the woman in the photo.

He wasn’t expecting Cassandra Gray to be this beautiful and stunning. At first, he thought that Cassandra would look like a teenager. But she looked nothing like it.

She still looked innocent because she wore no makeup but yet her full lips adding a hint of sensuality to her beauty. Her eyes. Oh, it was the brightest shades of blue that he ever saw. He didn’t mind staring at it for the whole day. He can’t tear his eyes off her photo. She held this aura that silently sends a ‘don’t mess with me’ message.

But it only makes him even more curious about her. Curious about how far she could handle a temptation from him. Or maybe the other way? How far could he handle this tempting woman?

And those killer curves. Are you kidding me? His brain started to imagining a dirty scenario that he could do together with this woman. Damn, this will make it hard for him.

“Keith…You’re still here?” Willam snapped him out from his train of thoughts. “Oh yeah…” Keith replied awkwardly. “Stop eye-raping her photo, dude.” He then chuckled with amusement.

“No, I’m not….” Keith quickly retorted. “Whatever…So where is my money?” William then asked. “Not until you tell me her location.” Keith stood up from the chair. “Hey, that’s not the deal….” William complained, but Keith only gave him a smirk.

“You know where to find me….” Keith said before he left the bar.

He entered his car and took one last look at her photo. “Where should I start looking for you, Ms. Gray?” he didn’t realize that he was smiling to himself.

Okay, so maybe he couldn’t keep his promise. That night he found himself staring at her photo while lying on his bed. He was alone in his room, but strangely today, he didn’t feel as lonely. Is it because he was accompanied by her photo? That’s sounds absurd.

The only daughter of Jackson Gray, owner of Gray’s corp. Cassandra Gray. She was the key to his plan. “Can’t wait to see you…” he then murmured before he drifted to good sleep.

***********

Two weeks later…

Keith was having a meeting with the investors when his phone suddenly vibrated on top of the table. His heart started to race as he saw a text message from William. He’s been waiting for his news. He even started to consider asking another person to track Cassandra.

From: William

I got her location… She’s somewhere in Vermont.  

He mentally rolled back his eyes after reading the text. Keith then quickly typed a reply.

To: William

Can you be more specific? I need more detail.

He then pressed send. Keith quickly resumed his conversation with the investors while he was waiting for William’s reply.

From: William

I’m sorry, dude…It was out of my territory. That’s as far as I could help.

“So Keith, are you coming with us to Bali next week?” One of them suddenly asked. They were all waiting for his answer. This project is important, but finding Cassandra was his top priority now.

“I’m afraid I can’t, gentleman…I need to go somewhere.” Keith replied with a thin smile. They were all nod at him. “I see…Maybe next time then.” Mr. James replied.

After Keith sends them out from the company, he then books a flight ticket and hotel to Vermont. He smiled in content after he got the email notification for his booking.  

************

Cassandra pretty much enjoying the new life that she had in Vermont. She had made a big decision to leave his parents, but she never regretted this. Vermont is a beautiful city, out of the bustling city noise, unlike New York.

She likes the tranquility of this place. Cassandra was able to land a job as an architect there. It wasn’t a fancy company, and it’s nowhere as big as Gray’s corp, but it could do for now. She just wanted to start fresh.

Strolling by the bricks of the streets, she inhaled the fresh morning air of Vermont. She grabbed a coffee from a café nearby on her way to the office. It was now becoming her morning routine. The owner was a kind old lady named Judy. She always packed some extra pastries for her to bring to the office.

“Cassandra, You’re late….” Carol, her boss said in a cold tone as she saw her stood by the entrance door. “I’m sorry, Carol…It took forever for me to get my coffee this morning. I promise it won’t happen again.” She replied with guilt.

“That’s a very lame excuse, Cassandra.” She said before she took a step closer towards Cassandra. “This isn’t your dad’s company. You have to follow the rules if you want to survive here.”

Carol was in her forty and haven’t got married. Maybe that’s what makes her so insensitive. Cassandra swallowed a lump in her throat before she nodded at her. “I understand…I’m sorry, Carol.”

“So, have you finished the drawing that I asked you last week?” She asked, raising one eyebrow. “I have, actually….” Cassandra said, smiling victoriously. Carol looked a bit shock, but she was good at hiding it.

“Bring it to my office, now…” she then turned around, walking back to her room.

“Hang in there… Thank God this is Friday.” Nicole, her workmates, tried to cheer her up. Cassandra chuckled lowly as she put down her bag. “It’s fine, actually…I’m used to it,” she replied.

Today went pretty bad for Cassandra. The drawings that she made earned a lot of harsh comments from Carol. Maybe she just hasn’t used to other people’s critique before? She always got praised for her design, even when she was having an assignment at the university.

Or maybe they got a different taste here in Vermont? She had to adjust to this city more than she could admit. “Let me guess, she reject your design again?” Nicole asked, leaning onto her desk. Cassandra buried her face in her palms and groans in anger.

“I don’t know what’s gotten into me? Maybe my skill got a bit dull here…” she desperately said. Nicole shook her head disapprovingly. “I just think you need some time to refresh and get loose…How about some fun night out tonight?” she wriggled her eyebrow suggestively.

Cassandra looked up at her. This could be a new experience for her. Her dad is not here to forbid her from doing anything. No more night curfews. “I think that would be great….” She said, smiling widely at Nicole.

“Great..I’ll pick you up at eight,” Nicole said with a wink before she swayed her hips back to her cubicle.

*********

Cassandra just finished applying some lipstick to her lips when she got a call from Nicole. “I’m here outside of your place.” She said, giggling. Cassandra could faintly hear a man’s voice behind her.

“You’re not alone?” she asked with a frown after she got into the car. “Oh s**t! I forgot to tell you… I hope you don’t mind if I bring Elijah tonight?” Nicole said from the back seat.

Elijah waved at her from the passenger seat while throwing her a smile. She had met Elijah before. Cassandra knew that Nicole had a major crush on this man. “Get in…” Nicole said, opening the door for her.

Next to Elijah, was another man. And she could tell that he wasn’t bad-looking, but he’s somehow unfriendly. From his clothes, she could tell that it was an expensive piece of clothing. She knew about that because his father used to wear those kinds of attire.

Wait a minute, is Nicole trying to set her up with this stranger? Cassandra throws a questioning look at Nicole, but she pretends that she didn’t understand.  

The line in front of the bar was ridiculously long, but they got lucky because Elijah was the VIP customer there. They cut the line and enter the bar after talking to the man at the entrance door.

The loud deafening music and the crowd make her feel slightly uncomfortable. She started to regret her decision to come here. Moreover, the intense stare from Elijah’s friend on her. Isn’t doing her any favor. What is his problem? He looked at her like she was the only thing that worth looking for here.

Nicole was about to pull her onto the dance floor when Cassandra suddenly felt an arm stopped her from behind. It was Elijah’s friend. “That’s enough. Let’s get out from here.” He said. His voice was deep and husky. Even in a noisy place like this, she could felt a tingle running down her spine.

Nicole throws her a knowing smirk before she pushed Cassandra to that man. What a good friend she was?!

“Take care of her….” Nicole told the man before she walked towards the dance floor. Leaving Cassandra alone with the cold man. He then guides her towards the exit door back to the car. 

Oh, God! Please give her strength.