Chapter 14: 12

Cassie awoke to the sound of knocking—loud, insistent, and utterly unrelenting. She groaned, burying her face into the pillow in a futile attempt to drown it out. The knocking only grew louder.

“Wake up, Sleeping Beauty!” Lucien’s voice boomed from the other side of the door, his tone dripping with impatience.

Cassie groaned again, forcing herself to sit up. “Alright, I’m up!” she called back, her voice hoarse with sleep.

The door opened without warning, and Lucien poked his head inside, his silver hair slightly tousled. “Good. You’ve got ten minutes to get dressed. Breakfast is ready, and Phoenix isn’t going to keep it warm for you.”

Cassie rolled her eyes. “Thanks for the wake-up call, drill sergeant,” she muttered under her breath.

Lucien smirked. “You’re welcome. Don’t keep us waiting.”

Once he disappeared, Cassie sighed and swung her legs over the side of the bed, careful not to disturb Baby, who was still curled up at the foot of the bed. She took a moment to stretch before getting dressed and heading downstairs.

In the kitchen, the smell of coffee, bacon, and maple syrup greeted her like a warm hug. Phoenix was at the stove, expertly flipping pancakes while humming along to a jazz tune playing softly in the background. His bright blue eyes sparkled with a rare softness as he glanced over his shoulder at her.

“Morning, sunshine,” he greeted. “Grab a plate. Everything’s ready.”

Cassie offered a small smile. “Thanks, Phoenix.”

Lucien was already seated at the table, digging into his plate with the enthusiasm of someone who hadn’t eaten in days. Aleksander sat nearby, scrolling through his phone, his expression neutral but focused. Nicco entered the room moments later, looking impeccably put together despite the early hour.

As Cassie took her seat, Nicco cleared his throat. “Let’s talk about today’s plan.”

She glanced around the table, suddenly feeling like a student about to be scolded by her teachers. “Okay…?”

“Aleks is taking you to work with him today,” Nicco explained. “You’ll shadow him, stay in his office, and stay out of trouble.” His dark eyes pinned her with a meaningful look.

Cassie bristled but nodded reluctantly. “Fine.”

Phoenix leaned back in his chair, his expression turning serious. “We still haven’t heard from Kai. He’s not answering calls or texts, which is... unusual, even for him.”

Aleksander set his phone down, his brow furrowing. “He mentioned his father yesterday. Maybe he got dragged into something.”

Lucien scoffed, his amber eyes flashing with frustration. “If that’s the case, we should’ve heard from him by now. You know how bad things can get with his old man.”

“I’ll go look for him,” Nicco offered, his tone calm but resolute. “I know where to start.”

The others nodded in agreement, though the tension in the room was palpable.

Phoenix turned to Cassie, his usual playful demeanor replaced by a rare seriousness. “While Nicco handles that, Aleks is in charge of keeping you out of harm’s way. Understood?”

Cassie frowned but nodded again. “Yeah, I got it.”

---

By midmorning, Cassie found herself walking into the sleek, glass-walled offices of Starz Entertainment. The space was bustling with energy, with employees darting from one desk to another, phones ringing, and the faint hum of printers in the background.

“This is where the magic happens,” Aleksander said, gesturing to the open floor plan. He looked every bit the CEO, dressed in a tailored suit that accentuated his sharp features and commanding presence.

Cassie couldn’t help but be impressed. “It’s... overwhelming,” she admitted.

“You’ll get used to it,” Aleksander said with a faint smirk. “For now, you’ll stay in my office. Don’t leave unless I say so.”

Cassie followed him to his corner office, which was just as sleek and modern as the rest of the building. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a stunning view of the city, and the minimalist décor exuded power and sophistication.

“This is where you’ll stay,” Aleks said, his tone brooking no argument. “I have a meeting in an hour. Stay put while I’m gone. Understand?”

Cassie sighed but nodded. “Got it, boss.”

Aleksander raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, but he left without another word.

For the first few minutes, Cassie did as she was told, idly flipping through magazines and scrolling on her phone. But boredom quickly set in, and her curiosity got the better of her.

“I’m not a child,” she muttered to herself. “I can explore a little.”

Slipping out of the office, she wandered through the maze of cubicles, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible. She was admiring a row of framed movie posters when a stern voice interrupted her.

“Hey, you! Intern!”

Cassie turned to see a sharply dressed woman glaring at her.

“I, uh—”

“Don’t just stand there,” the woman snapped, shoving a list into her hands. “Go to the deli down the street and pick up lunch for the team. And hurry up—we don’t have all day.”

Cassie blinked, momentarily stunned. “But I—”

“Now!”

Too flustered to argue, Cassie found herself outside with the list in hand. She walked to the nearby deli, placed the order, and waited impatiently as the staff prepared the food.

On her way back, a prickling sensation crept up her spine. She glanced over her shoulder but saw nothing unusual. Still, the feeling of being watched persisted, and she quickened her pace, clutching the bags of food tightly.

By the time she returned to the office, her heart was racing.

Aleksander was waiting for her, his arms crossed and his expression thunderous.

“Where the hell have you been?” he demanded.

Cassie flinched. “I—someone thought I was an intern, and they sent me to get lunch, and—”

“I told you to stay in my office,” Aleksander interrupted, his voice dangerously low.

“I know, but—”

“No buts,” he snapped, stepping closer. “Do you have any idea how reckless that was? You could’ve been hurt—or worse.”

Cassie’s temper flared. “I’m not a child, Aleksander. I can take care of myself!”

He scoffed, his dark green eyes blazing. “Clearly, you can’t. If something had happened to you, it would’ve been on me.”

Their heated exchange brought them inches apart, the tension between them thick and electric. Cassie’s breath hitched as she met his gaze, her heart pounding for an entirely different reason now.

Aleksander’s jaw clenched, his eyes flicking to her lips before he abruptly stepped back, running a hand through his hair.

“Just... don’t do that again,” he said, his voice softer now.

Cassie nodded, her cheeks flushing. “Okay.”

The rest of the afternoon passed in awkward silence, but the memory of their near-kiss lingered, leaving Cassie both flustered and confused.