Billionaire's Love Trap

CHAPTER 8

Cassandra tried to put some distance with him as they entered the elevator, but his one hand reached for hers and pulled her closer into him. She looked down at their joined hand and saw him bruised his knuckles from the fight earlier.

She wanted to touch and examine it, but he squeezed her hand, stopping her.

“Don’t….” he said sternly, clenching his jaw. His eyes were still fixated on the number of the floor. The elevator dinged after they reached the lobby.

Cassandra almost stumbled to the floor as he yanked her out of the elevator.

What the hell is wrong with him? He looked pissed off. He’s supposed to be gentle instead of dragging her like a sack of potato.

“Get in…” He said, holding the car door open for her. She wanted to say something, but then she stopped when she saw him pursing his lips, and he gave her a threatening look. Cassandra reluctantly scooted into the passenger seat.

She was about to close the door, but she gasped in shock as she suddenly saw his face only an inches away from her.

Is he going to kiss her again? She clenched her fist on her sweat pants as she closed her eyes.

Click… After hearing the clicking sound, she just realized that he was only helping her to put on the seatbelt. “You can open your eyes,” he then said. By the time she opens her eyes, he raised an eyebrow at her. 

“Are you feeling sick somewhere? Your face is as white as a paper.” He asked. She can’t answer him. She’s not closing her eyes because she was sick.

She thought that he might want to do something that she can’t stop thinking about since last night…She thought that he was about to kiss her again.  

And at that awkward moment, she suddenly sneezed out loudly in front of him. “It seems like you catch a cold, and you had a fever. Have you take some meds?” he said after he put his hand on her forehead. She slowly shook her head.

He let out a defeated sigh before he closed the door then rushed towards the other side of the car.

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

He stopped his car in front of a house. “Why are we here? What is this place?” She asked. “It’s my new place.” He replied curtly then went towards her door.

Keith then suddenly scooped her in his arms without her permission. “I could walk…” she said. Keith closed the door behind with his feet. He then looked back at her. “Don’t be stubborn.” He replied, tightening his arms around her.

This man is very unpredictable. He’s sometimes gentle and flirty with her, then he could suddenly become this serious man at the next second. She was embarrassed, and her face must be blushing red by now.

The last time a man carried her was when she was six, and it was her dad. Not a handsome stranger like Keith.  

He then brings her to a room on the second floor. “You stay here first….” He said, leaving her on the bed.

The bed kind of reminds her of the one she had in her bedroom back in New York City. Even the interior is almost the same. She looked around the room, and there’s no picture of him at this place. He must’ve just moved in here.

She looked to the small table beside the bed and saw a gold picture frame sitting there nicely. She grabbed the frame and saw a picture of a woman in her thirties.

“Don’t touch my thing…” she almost dropped the frame when she suddenly heard his voice. “I’m sorry…” she quickly put the frame back. He realizes a sudden change in her expression as if she was afraid of him.  

Keith heaved a sigh before he took a step closer towards her.

“No, you don’t have to sorry… It was me who’s overreacting.” He said, putting the tray on the bed. His eyes softened as he handed her the medicine and a glass of water.

“Here… Drink this. You’ll feel better.” She reluctantly took the pills and downed them with a few sips of water. “Thanks…” she said after he helps her to lay on the bed.

Their eyes met, just like what happened yesterday before he kissed her. Thousands of butterflies started to form on her stomach. Come on, think of something to distract him.

“Is that your mother?...” she asked, switching the topic. He raised his eyebrows at her. “How did you know?” he asked back. “You both had the same eyes….It was beautiful.” It was a rare pair of gray eyes, and she could swear she saw him blushing.

“She died when I was five…” he said, looking away from her. She could tell that it still hit him deeply. “I’m sorry…I had no idea that she was gone already. I shouldn’t bring this topic.” She said apologetically.

His eyes started to fill with tears. He didn’t want to cry in front of her. He can’t show his weakness to other people and mostly… to her.

Keith suddenly got up and left. “You should rest.” He said before he closed the door.

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

After he left, Cassandra almost immediately falls to sleep. She wasn’t sure if it’s because of the meds or because she didn’t have any sleep last night.

She was awake by the sound of a roaring thunder from outside the window.

Cassandra stirred in her bed, but she can’t move because a firm hand draped around her waist. She turned around and was surprised to saw Keith lying next to her.   

“Keith…Hey, wake up.” She gently nudges his shoulder.

He was talking in his sleep, and he sweats a lot like he was running in a marathon.

“No, don’t leave me…”  he uttered. Cassandra wasn’t sure whether she heard him right. Does he have a bad dream? His breathing is ragged, and she started to get worried.

Who wants to leave him? She patted his shoulder, and after a few more attempts, he finally sober from his dream.

“Keith, what’s wrong?” she asked as she sat up on the bed. He got up from the bed and suddenly hugged her.

“Can you please hug me back?” he asked. Cassandra was taken aback by his weird request, but after she heard him sobbed softly, she finally relented and circled her arms around him.

She stroked his back up and down to comfort him. “Is something bothering you? You can always tell me.” She said. He shook his head. “Not now, Cassandra…Can you just hug me without asking?” he replied, sighing deeply.

“Okay…But I’m a good listener, you know. At least that’s what my mom always told me.” She said, and it makes him chuckle.

“Thanks, Cassandra…” he said after he pulled away. “So we’re even now….” Cassandra smiled at him, making him frowned.

“You’d saved me from my creepy neighbor, and I hugged you back in return.” She then explained. Keith pinched her nose lightly.

“It will take more than just a hug from you….” his lips curved a naughty smirk. Her eyes went to his injured hand.

“Right, your hand…Let me help you put some ointment on it.” Keith doesn’t even bother to do something with it. He just let it bleed. “Don’t worry about it. How are you feeling? Still had a fever?” he retracted his hand back, hiding it from her.

She rolled her eyes back at him. “I’m feeling better now…You’ll get an infection. Where did you put the first aid kid box?” she asked.

Keith pointed towards a cupboard, and she proceeds to get them. Cassandra sat up in front of him with a crossed legs and started to clean his wounded knuckle. He winced a bit, but he tried his best to hold the pain.

“Is it hurt?” she asked, but he shook his head. “Only a bit... I can handle it,” he replied. She then continues to put some ointment before she carefully wrapped a bandage around his hand.

“How come you’re so good at this?” he suddenly asked while looking at her face intently. She looked down after their eyes met.

“My uncle Nicholas is a doctor. I used to see him doing this many times before. When I fell from my bicycle, he’s the one who cheered me up when I got injured.” She told him, smiling. Cassandra looked like she was very fond of her uncle.

“Stop smiling.” He suddenly said, and it confused her. “What? But why?” she asked him back confusedly.

“I don’t like it when you’re smiling because of another man.” He simply said, and she rolled back her eyes at him. He was unbelievable. He can’t be jealous because of her uncle.

She can’t stand a possessive man. Her dad was enough for her, she doesn’t need another one.

Keith then grabbed the first aid kit from her and put them back on the cupboard.

“What would you like to eat? I’ll make dinner for us.” He asked. Dinner? She looked outside the window, and it was dark. At first, she thought that it was because of the rain. She never thought that she already slept that long.

“No, your hands are injured. I’ll make dinner….” Cassandra said, offering her help. He looked doubtful at first, but then he let out an amused laugh.

Jackson Gray’s daughter is cooking for him? This could be the once in a lifetime opportunity. He wouldn’t miss it.

“Sure, if you insist…” he said, sitting back on the bed and leaning onto the headrest.

Cassandra then walked out of the room and tried to search for some ingredients inside the kitchen. But then she remembered that she can’t really cook anything other than instant noodles.

His dad never allows her to go near the kitchen, and sharp objects might hurt her.

After raiding his kitchen, she was happy to find a loaf of bread. She figured that she would make a sandwich. It couldn’t be that hard, right? You’re brilliant, Cassandra.

She took out some tomatoes from the fridge and was about to slice them when Keith suddenly startled her from behind.

“What are you making?” he asked. He’s right behind her, and she could feel his hot breath on her neck.

“I-I’m making a sandwich.” She said, stuttering. “Sandwich?” he turned her around and putting the knife down from her hand. “You don’t like sandwich?” she asked, and he shook his head.

“I could eat anything…I’m not picky with food.” He replied, running his hand on the side of her waist, and Damn, it felt good.

“Just sit there and wait…” she said, pushing him away while pointing towards the dining table.

Keith shook his head and smiled as he looked at her from behind. He never knew that chasing her could be this fun.

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

Jackson Gray was in a mess. It's been a month, and he still had no clue where is Cassandra. He even asked Nic because Cassandra might tell him where she’s going, but he also had no information about her.

Guess she really left without telling anybody. Jackson wasn’t able to focus on work, and his wife also started to worry that it might affect his health.

Just when he was about to call it a day and left his office earlier, his phone vibrated inside his pocket. It was Troy.

“Mr. Gray… Good news. I’ve finally found her.” He said with an excited tone. Jackson's eyes widened at that.

“You’ve found my daughter? Where is she?” he asked him back.

“She’s in Vermont…I will email you the details.” Troy then said before they ended the calls.

He then got an email from Troy about her detailed location.

My daughter, I’ll come to get you. Wait for me.