CASSANDRA

"Is there something wrong, my daughter?"

"Hmm?" I distractedly glanced at my father who was sitting next to me at the back of his luxurious car. We were on our way to the charity gala. I arrived home last night and so far it seemed that I was still suffering from jet lag my body clock was still used to New York time. "What makes you say that, Baba?"

"You appear to be distracted since we left home. Is there something that's bothering you tonight? You can tell me."

I laughed at my father's worried expression. "Oh, I'm fine, baba, you don't need to worry about me."

"You sure?" My father asked suspiciously.

"Yes!" I grinned at him merrily. I miss spending time with him like this, ever since I relocated to New York due to work I rarely went home after months of living abroad. This was probably the first time I was back here since I left.

"Tell me about your life in the US."

"Pardon?" I looked at him with curious eyes. I didn't expect that question from him. For a moment, I felt like a deer caught in the headlights. "What do you mean?"

His stern eyebrows drew together. "I'm interested to know what keeps you busy in America since you rarely called your baba since you moved to New York. I want to know how your life is far away from your family."

"Oh," for some reason I felt slightly uncomfortable with his question. I knew that he was not interrogating me but merely asking me but it felt like he was cross-examining me. Also, I slightly felt guilty for not calling him often these last few months. "It's fine, baba."

"Do you have a social life back there?"

I swallowed hard as I somewhat shifted in my seat at the back of the car. "Yes, I have gained a lot of friends in New York most of them are my coworkers at the gallery."

He nodded absorbing the information. "I see. Is there anything else I should know?"

"Huh? What do you mean, baba?" I asked oddly while fully aware of how my heart started beating so loudly in my chest but I tried to remain calm and collected. My father, Spiro Vitalis, was a very perceptive man any slight difference from your behavior he would immediately notice it.

"You made no mention of men," he gave me a sharp glance while there was a smile playing on his lips. "I'm sure there were more than a few who are after my daughter in the US. Are you currently dating, Cassie?"

"What?! No!" I denied it with a laugh but even in my ears, my laugh sounded off. I hoped that my father would not notice it. "I am not dating anyone, baba."

I hate lying and I never lie to my father, I always believed that you must always come clean to the people you love because if you love them you will not lie to them. Technically, I am not lying to my father right now since I was not dating anyone. But an image of a handsome Greek man flashed inside my head. I was sleeping with that man and I was not dating him.

I saw my father sigh deeply and shook his head in the process. "And here I was, hoping that's not the case."

"I don't understand..." I frowned at my father questioningly.

He sat back comfortably on the expensive leather of his car. "I thought that you would consider entering the dating scene once you arrived in New York and you'd give yourself a chance to meet other men. But I guess you are not still over with Loukas."

"Oh!" I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding. I didn't realize that my father was hoping that I would try going out with guys so I could forget Loukas as soon as possible. "I don't think I am ready for that, baba."

He gave me a worried glance. "Are you still not over with Loukas, sweetheart?"

I gave him a sad smile. "I'm getting there, baba, I believe I am not far away from my goal of finally forgetting my unrequited love for him." All thanks to his dedicated cousin who helps me forget Loukas with his knee-buckling seduction.

"Are you sure?" My father asked with a dubious expression on his face.

"Yes, Dad."

He gave me an apologetic smile while his expression considerably brightened. "Very well, I feared that's not the case that is why I didn't know how to tell you this."

Uneasiness sneaked into my spine. "Tell me what exactly?"

He briefly touched my hand that was resting on my lap. "Honey, Loukas, and his wife will also attend the charity gala so I want you to be prepared that you might bump with them at the party. Do you think you are ready for that?"

Anxiety kicked in. Was I ready to chat with them at the party as if everything was okay? The last time I saw them was on their honeymoon in Mykonos. Back then, I didn't have the heart to talk to them because everything was still raw. The pain in my heart was still unbearable now months have passed I think I can now be genuinely happy for them. As I said, I believed I was already more than halfway forgetting Loukas.

"Are you okay, sweetie?"

I smiled brightly at my father's concerned face. "Of course, baba. Don't worry, they are my friends. I will be happy to see them again."

"You sure?" He stated again while gauging my reaction. I think he didn't quite believe me not that I could blame him but what I told him was true. I consider Loukas and Sapphire as my friends.

"Yes, no worries, dad. I'll be fine." Or so, I thought because when I arrived at the party I intended to fully enjoy the event and admire the paintings that would be sold at the auction. When we arrived at the progressing party with my hand tucked in the crooked of my father's arm I stood dead in my place when I saw a familiar figure standing not far away from us.

You! I wanted to shout in disbelief but I couldn't or I would risk exposing our little secret back in New York. What was he doing here? I had to blink several times to make sure that my eyes were not just playing tricks on me.

From the look on his face, there was a wicked smile playing on his lips while looking at me and my father. He was probably feeling triumphant right now since he caught me off guard. Suddenly, I felt nervous for some reason. This man, why didn't he tell me that he would go back to Greece also? I will never forget the sadness I felt when he drove me to the airport and gave me a passionate kiss telling me that it was his parting gift so I could have something with me for the weekend. Why all the theatrics at the airport when he would also be here?

"I see that Calix is also here. I just saw him a few weeks ago." My father commented once he saw the subject of my thoughts.

"Huh?" I said since no rational thought wanted to come out of my mouth at the moment. Maybe because I wasn't prepared to see him here.

"You don't remember Calix? He's the cousin of Loukas. Your friend's older brother." My father supplied seeing the blank expression on my face.

"Ah, yes..." I managed to say without faltering when deep inside I was still reeling at the thought that he never even mentioned to me that he would also go back to Greece this weekend. He was even attending the same event!

He gave me a secretive smile while he was standing several feet away from me and my father. He was in deep conversation with his sister and Loukas from time to time he was glancing in my direction discreetly. I pretended not to notice those stares he was giving me. We agreed to pretend not to know each other while in public especially here in Greece where people knew us and my history with his cousin. Tonight, we were just practically strangers to one another when back in New York we were often spending the night between sheets.

I was still standing next to my father when someone approached my father and they went into a conversation about business in which I didn't have any interest. I used this opportunity to study the man I had least expected to see at this party inconspicuously.

He was still in a deep conversation with his cousin, Loukas, and his sister Dionne. I used this opportunity to study him from afar. It was not frequent that I had the chance to look at him from a distance. Right now, he was looking like every inch of the powerful Spiridakou of Greece. Dressed in a fine tuxedo suit with a champagne glass in his hand, he even styled his hair in a slick back it was different from his preferred disheveled hairstyle daily.

My heart jumped into my throat when I caught his eye all of a sudden. I frowned to myself when I noticed that he was giving me a dark glare from where he was standing. Why he was glaring at me like that? Did he realize that I was staring at him? What's with the thunderous look he was giving me right now?

I also scowled in his direction. Moments ago, he still had that signature playful expression on his face when he first saw me arrive with my father so why he had those daggered looks on his face right now while looking at me?

I couldn't understand this man. I thought I would enjoy the party but I was starting to feel gloomy because of him. What was his problem? I was starting to feel irritated not knowing what was wrong with him so I decided to give him a snoot look and glance away from him.

I pretended to amuse myself anywhere refusing to look at him anymore. But once in a while, I couldn't help but glance in his direction, it was as if my eyes were being magnetized in his direction. And as always I would catch him staring blatantly at me with those disapproving dark blue eyes.

Unbelievable. I was taken aback by the sheer fury I could see on his face. What did I do to this man to give me such a look? As far as I was concerned I didn't do anything to earn such vehemence from him. I think he was gone listening to Loukas which made his cousin need to get his attention to get an answer from him.

When he finally released me from his magnetic gaze that was the only time I felt had the chance to breathe again. But even if I was no longer looking at him I could still feel those gazes he was throwing in my direction. I convinced myself that I would no longer look in his direction and I would just ignore him throughout the night. Yep. I didn't know what his problem with me was and I would not care! I even planned to avoid him for the rest of the night so I wouldn't need to talk to him even exchanging a few pleasantries. Nope. I would not do that.

Thankfully, we were ushered to the main hall where the auction would be held. I hooked my arm around my father's arm as we went inside the hall. We sat near the stage and one of the organizers gave me and my father each number that we could use if we wanted to bid on something later.

I didn't know where Mr. Cranky sat and I have reminded myself I didn't care. I even forced myself not to glance around in case I could see his face again.

When the auction started, I was not even paying attention to the auctioneer at the podium as I was just staring blankly ahead. I lost interest in this event. After a moment, my phone beeped with a text message inside my small purse. I glanced at my father who was busy bidding at the painting. I carefully took out my phone to glance at the message, a scowl forming on my forehead when I saw whom the chat came from. It came from Mr. Cranky. Because I was annoyed with him I placed back my phone inside my purse and focused on the auction.

It beeped once again. I couldn't resist peeking at my phone once again. He sent me the same message he sent earlier.

Let's meet later. He chats to me.

I typed a quick reply. No.

I want to see you. He messaged again.

I don't want to see you. 😠

Meet me at the Artemis Hotel, Presidential Suite. I will wait for you tonight.

I scoffed silently. When did he become so pushy? I chose not to reply to his text message anymore and turned off my and just focused my attention on the auction. I couldn't concentrate on anything since my mind was at war on whether to meet him in his hotel room or not. Part of me didn't want to go but there was also a part of me that was pushing me to go despite my annoyance at him earlier.

I didn't know what wrong with him before the event and I wanted to know what was his problem was. Called me weak but I decided to meet him at his hotel suite.

Once the auction ended my father was in a happy mood because of the painting he secured at this charity gala. "Can you drop me at the Artemis Hotel, baba?"

"Why?" My father asked while we were on our way back.

"I don't want to go to my apartment tonight. I think I will just spend the night in the Artemis Hotel."

Since he was in a good mood he never questioned me even further and just instructed his driver to drop me off at the hotel owned by the Spiridakou family. I didn't know if I should be thankful that he didn't press the matter more so I didn't need to lie to him.

Thirty-five minutes later we were outside the luxurious hotel. I kissed my father on his cheek. "Goodnight, take care. I'll see you tomorrow."

I watched his car drive off before coming inside the hotel still wearing my evening gown. Since I knew my destination I immediately went to the elevator to come to his suite. I just made sure to cover my face discreetly while walking in the lobby to avoid being seen on the CCTV.

I was aware of how my heart was pounding so loudly in my chest while the elevator brought me to the top floor. I didn't know what to expect from this and I knew I was being reckless here but I didn't care at the moment.

When I arrived at the floor where the Presidential Suite was located before I had the chance to knock at the door, the door burst open and a firm hand grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me inside. I gasped when he pushed me to the back of the door and trapped me with his body.

"I thought you were not coming," he said while his eyes were filled with anxiousness and relief at the same time. "You're finally here."  Calix surprised me when he suddenly pulled me into his arms and felt like trying to squeeze every air on my body with his tight embrace.