Seduced by a SEAL

Chapter 19

Robert kept on looking at her with shocked expression. He was not expecting this kind of behavior or attitude at all from her end because if at all Robert had expected her to jump up at the offer. This was a lifetime dream of several people in her community.

“But I don’t understand Cassandra? Why? You are going to be the perfect fit for this…we want you,” said Robert in an earnest voice and Cassandra smiled at her.

“Let’s order first. Then I shall explain you in detail what the problem is, okay?” she nodded at him and then asked the waiter for a bottle of their reds from 80’s and one lasagna with extra cheese for her and Robert said that he would have the same without the olives. He was allergic to them, he added later on once the waiter had moved away.

“No problem at all Robert. So what is that you exactly want to know?” she asked in reply.

“I just want to know that why are you saying no to a chance like this? I mean, this has been your dream all along, isn’t it?” asked Robert with a curious expression on his face.

“Strange things, isn’t it? Actually human beings are all strange and fickle minded creatures who are going to change their minds at the bat of an eyelash and then you will have to go back upon your word. You will know about it, no? You always considered that you knew the subject better than me?” asked Cassandra with a teasing smile.

“You are evading my question. This is not at all what I am asking and you know that very well. Why?” asked Robert again and then she fell silent.

“I might consider answering your question if you first consider answering mine,” replied Cassandra and this time her face was cold and hard just like her gaze. There was no hint of playfulness of flirting in her tone at all.

“I can answer anything as long as you explain me the reason that you are saying no,” replied Robert without batting an eyelid. Either he was an exceptionally trained liar who knew what to do and how and did not even remember his ticks which normally formed on a human face when lying or the other option was really quiet simple. He was speaking the truth but Cassandra did not want to believe that at all.

“Who gave you the exact authority and audacity to think that you are capable enough of talking to me like I am your subordinate? Who considered this as a fact that I am going to jump at every single chance that I am thrown like a dog leaps for a piece of bone? Why do you think that I am going to be a communications specialist for a research project where you are going to exhibit me like a piece of meat amongst all the men who are going to come and see if this research which is originally made for helping people is going to be of their purpose or not? Huh?” asked Cassandra as her eyes were ablaze with anger. Robert was stunned and he could not say anything to all the accusations that she was flinging at his face.

After all, what could he even say? They needed her for exactly that purpose.

“All throughout the college life you were one year my senior and you still considered that you were somehow better than me even though it was not a proven fact. What do you think that you are going to do now? Is your inferiority complex so damned great that you cannot even look and accept that someone is better than you? You are yourself going to head the project while I am going to begging at the offices for cheques???? This is what exactly the job entails, isn’t it Robert?” asked Cassandra as her voice was cold and collected. It was as hard as flint and nothing was going to cut through it.

“You have mistaken in understanding me somehow Cassandra. That is not at all what I meant or even close to what I am trying to say,” said Robert as Cassandra raised a brow at him in challenge.

“Oh really? Now you are saying that I am the one who is making mistakes in diagnosing? Might be right…you have a giant sized ego and a massive superiority complex which has made your defenses so strong that you have forgotten to see things from the original point of view itself, isn’t that so?” asked Cassandra and this time Robert could not even say that she was not correct. Unfortunately she was absolutely bang on when it came to diagnosis and there was no doubt about the fact that she was a much better psychiatrist and counsellor than him.

“Look Robert, I would say that it was nice meeting you and all but it was not. So I am going to go home and have a quiet peaceful dinner all by myself. So if you will excuse me,” said Cassandra as she started rising from the chair when Robert said,” But we have already ordered!!”

“And I am taking it away and paying for it. Don’t bother. It will make for a nice leftover lunch for tomorrow. I hope that you have a better night than the evening that was spent. And moreover, if you ever consider that you need some help regarding all the issues that you have then you know that address to my chamber,” said Cassandra as she went down to the counter of the kitchen and asked to pack the lasagna and the wine she would take by bottle itself. They gave her the bill and she was opening the purse to pay for it when Robert said from beside her,” Let me pay. It is the least I can do after all that I have heard today evening.”

“I did not know that you had masochistic tendencies as well Robert…intriguing,…the more I look into you, the more my curiosity as a doctor arises,” said Cassandra as she took her bag of food and left the Knight’s bar without even glancing back at him.