The Secret Guardian

Chapter Three

THE knock on the door made Cassy feel uneasy and with full strength, she pushed him away. She heard a silent curse from him when she did that.

"Time's up!"

It's Nancy, standing at the door looking at them. They are like caught flat-footed until Nancy walked towards them and held Cassy's right hand.

"Thank you so much Mr. Dera for hiring her. You can still come back tomorrow for another thirty-minute private dance," Nancy said.

"Oh, that's his surname? I guess I heard it somewhere before?" she's talking to herself while looking at him.

"So what do I say?" Her mind keeps on asking this question before Nancy would drag her out of the room.

She can't even look at him straight in his eyes so she should tell something, at least.

"What now?" she asked herself again for the right words to tell.

"Thank you?"

"This was fun?"

"I enjoyed it?"

"So, what now?"

Nancy began to walk away while still holding Cassy as if dragging her outside the room through her strong grip on her right elbow.

"See you later, and this was nice," she finally said.

Cassy saw his eyes became rounder and became curious about the things she said.

"Yeah, this was nice. See you later, then."

"O-okay."

"Okay. Bye, Cassy." He waved his hand and before she wave back, Nancy closed the door.

"This isn't a dating room where you can meet guys of your interest, Cassy. Remember that." Nancy said and then started to walk along the hallway going to her office.

She looked back and then tried to wait if Mr. Dera would follow her and at least get her contact number. But she's hopeless when the door didn't open.

"Come on now, Cassy," Nancy called.

"Yeah. I am coming."

She followed Nancy until they reached her office.

"It's better if you'll change your clothes first before you get your pay and tips," Nancy said while fixing the papers on her table, then looked at the air condition opposite the table that seemed too strong to disarrange her documents.

"O-okay. Where will I put these costumes?"

"Just leave them in the laundry basket and my staff will let it be washed tomorrow."

"Okay, I'll be back."

Besides Nancy's office is the dressing room for the girls. Cassy immediately changed her costumes and while doing it, she saw two girls entered the room.

"Hi, Cassy. Congratulations on tonight. I guess you had an incredible experience and that would mean you'll go home with a big amount of tip," said the girl with red hair.

"Thanks. And congratulations, too."

She doesn't know if it's appropriate to say congratulations. She meant as if they won in the lottery by entering this work, with the kind of their job.

"So, see you around." She carried her bag with her and then bade them goodbye.

"Goodbye, pretty."

"I AM coming in tomorrow?"

She is a bit surprised by what Nancy said.

"Yeah. With your massive and audience drawing performance tonight, I guess, it's fair to let you come in tomorrow," Nancy gave her a proud look and then a thumbs up for a job well-done performance.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. We are open Thursday through Saturday. And I've got you in the center tomorrow night."

When she confirmed that she'll go back tomorrow night, Cassy immediately hugged Nancy.

"For what is that for, pretty?" with a curious face, Nancy asked.

"Well, that's a simple thanks for accepting me here." Cassy smiled genuinely.

"Oh, okay. Not a problem, indeed. Now, go home and get some rest. I bet you are tired of doing your best tonight."

"Not really tired but I feel sleepy."

"So, go home now and enjoy your pay. Don't forget to save, darling. It's for the rainy days," Nancy sounds like her mom.

"Thanks."

WHILE ON her way home, she can't help but smile and reminisce the things she's done tonight. She can't imagine herself doing that for the first time, but with Nancy's rules, she feels comfortable with that, so far.

Nate's parents are already sleeping when she got home. Nate is busy watching a Netflix series when she stepped inside the house.

"Finally!"

"Jesus, you scared me!" Nate exclaimed when she screamed.

"Thanks for today, sis. I love you for that." She hugged her best friend and then gave Nate her share for letting her find the job.

But Nate resisted.

"No, just keep it to yourself, Cassy. You'll need it."

"Thanks. And if Nancy would tell me I'll be regular, that would mean I could rent a place for myself."

"No, it's just okay that you stay here."

"Nate, you know me, right?"

"Well, I guess I can't really force you to stay. So, if that would make you happy then, fine."

"Thanks, Nate. Thanks a lot." She once again hugged Nate, tight.

THE NEXT DAY, as Nancy told her last time, she stayed center. Well, that would mean she's the center of attraction at Nancy's Gentlemen Club.

While dancing, she's hoping that Mr. Dera is around. And when the music faded out and done with her performance, there's no Mr. Dera that came out from the audience.

"Where is he?" She asked when she stepped down the stage.

Cassy is feeling something different now. She knew that last night was just a thirty-minute getting to know each other with Mr. Dera but she believed he'll be back for he replied to her when she said 'See you then.'

The heavens seemingly heard her disappointments when Nancy entered the dressing room to look for her.

"Where's Cassy?"

"I am here." She abruptly stood and found Nancy searching for her with the ten girls busy doing their make-ups for tonight's last performance.

"There you are. Come here, someone is looking for you," said Nancy.

With Nancy's smile, she can immediately read her thoughts. She has this feeling that Mr. Dera hired her once more for a private dance.

While walking along the hallway straight to the private rooms, she's hoping that Nancy should at least tell her about who is waiting for her.

But when they reached the door, the same door she entered last time, she knew it was him, Mr. Dera hired her once more.

"He came back to see you, pretty. But may I remind you..."

"Of the rules," I finished her sentence.

Nancy raised one eyebrow and looked at her with the eyes telling, 'don't try to ruin my business, pretty.'

"Okay, get inside now and dance. Break a leg." Nancy tapped her left shoulder and then closed the door when Cassy entered the room.

CASSY took a deep breath before walking towards the black sofa where Mr. Dera is sitting, waiting for her.

"Gosh, I missed him," she said with her low voice while getting closer to him.

"Hi," Mr. Dera stood and tried to initiate a handshake with her but she refused.

"The rules, Mr. Dera," she reminded him of the rules that she even despised.

"Ah okay. But I guess, no one would know that except us."

With Mr. Dera's voice, she can be melted now.

She looked around the room and tried to find a camera. Nancy might have installed something to check her and the customer.

"Well, I checked that before you came. So, don't worry."

She smiled and gave him a happy look.

"What's on your face, Cassy?" Mr. Dera asked with a curious face.

"I---I am just happy to see you again," she finally said with a brave heart.

"I--- guess I am...I am happy, too," he replied with a shy look.

She laughed and then took the opportunity to step forward and then without a word, she hugged him.

"Well, that's quick huh?" Mr. Dera said while looking for the right time to tap her back.

Cassandra is already mature. She knows it when she sees it. She knew what she felt when Fabio gave her an almost kissed last night. She is desperate, she wants someone to stand with her in this time that she feels alone.

And with this mature man that she is hugging now, she felt comforted, and most importantly, protected.

If this doesn't work, well, at least she tried. But if it works, then, thankfully she did her part.

TIME FLIES so fast. Fabio didn't let her dance anymore. Instead, she let Cassy sit beside him and talked about their lives. A bit of getting to know each other, again.

"Are you married?" Cassy asked with full of hope that he isn't.

"Almost a married man, fifteen years ago."

"Oh, what happened?" She asked while fixing her skirt so her thighs will not be revealed in front of him.

"My fiancee was found dead in her room in my mansion," there is a little sadness on Fabio's face when she told her about it.

"I am sorry." Cassy reached for Fabio's hands and begone it with her hands.

Fabio's hands are rough and warm. And she felt tiny sparks that runs through her veins because of that.

"No, it's okay. By the way, can I get your number?"

"Sure."

Fabio reached for his cellphone inside his pocket and then let Cassy type her number.

"Are you still living with your parents?" Fabio asked while she's typing.

"I will be living alone now. I am just saving enough money so I could rent a place for myself." Cassy gave back his phone to him.

"That's a kind of being independent woman huh? I like it."

"Oh, you do? Thanks," she replied.

They know that within five minutes, Nancy will enter again and will interrupt anything that is going on between them.

So, when they've paused talking, each of them is looking at each other's eyes.

Cassy swallowed when she saw his red kissable lips.

"I guess, I should call you tonight and talk to you more about anything," Fabio said while nodding and looking at her.

But before she gave her answer, Fabio gave him an unforgettable kiss that sealed the thirty-minute private talk that was originally expected to be a private dance only.

Now, she knew what's all of these. She is so sure. She can't be wrong.

Fabio is fallen for her.

Besides, her name on his phone is "My Future Wife."