“Thanks so much for agreeing to talk to me. I know it's difficult but please let me know of any way I can help you,”Cass said to the young woman beside her. She responded with a timid smile.

It had taken Cass three days to find someone willing to talk to her. Having walked into a nearby shelter the day after, Cass had realised she'd been overly optimistic. Her expectations had been brutally crushed by reality when her request had been rebuffed by more than ten women, distrust shooting from their eyes. The woman, Hailey, had agreed only because Cass had offered her lunch at a nearby park.

That was five days ago. Their first lunch had been silent, Hailey having inhaled her food as quickly as possible and leaving just as fast. Cass hadn't even spoken a word during, having wanted to respect her space. Flabbergasted, Cass had just continued on to the next shelter the next day.

But Hailey had found her. And she'd divulged her name during their second lunch. Every lunch since then had been a revelation of Hailey’s story. Much like peeling the layers of an onion.

Hailey was a teen runaway, barely past eighteen. Having broken up from her physically abusive boyfriend, she'd found life at her old neighbourhood difficult since her boyfriend lived in the area. Her parents had not been helpful but they'd never liked her boyfriend either. They'd seen her misery as penance.

But Hailey had stayed even then. She hadn't wanted to drop out of school, knowing how important the piece of paper was. Even though her boyfriend waited for her outside her classrooms and the gate, she'd found the strength to continue. It’d helped that her boyfriend had never shown his ugly side to the public.

The tipping point, though, had been the assault from the entire football team, which her ex was in. Having been caught alone after school one day, Hailey had been powerless. And once they were done, in came her boyfriend, ready to console her. Claiming not to know what the team had planned. She didn't belive him.

Realising she was never going to be safe, she'd run, going from shelter to shelter.

Now, she was sitting beside Cass on a bench. In the park. With a half-eaten sandwich in her hands.

And watching her chew slowly, Cass wished she could do anything to help her. But pride was a delicate thing. She didn't want to squash this budding girl. Life was doing that already. Stifling her need to force her help on her, she was surprised when Hailey spoke.

“I-I want to get my GED.” Head down, she continued. “I know I'm just some girl on the street but I don't want to continue being her. I want to show my parents and those boys that I can still rise even when people try to step on me. I already have a job, a cashier, but to go further, I need that paper.” Her voice had become defensive near the end but Cass didn't mind. She knew, sometimes, something small, like being a cashier or having a gun stashed under the pillow, was all that was needed to continue.

So, looking into that fierce baby blue eyes, she wasn't surprised by her next words.

“Why don't you move in with me?”

--------@@@@--------

Later that night, Cass smiled at Kendall and Hailey, wishing them good luck, before locking herself in her office. Or, better known as the empty room on the first floor that she didn't know what to do with. She'd stuffed it with a desk, her laptop, bookshelves and comfortable chairs.

Taking a seat at the aforementioned comfortably stuffed love seat by the window, Cass took out her phone and brought up Daniel's number. She just looked at it. Knowing she had to inform him about Hailey’s presence but something in her was hesitant in contacting him.

Maybe it had something to do with their last meeting. She still felt remnants of the burning rage that had engulfed her then. All the injustices, hurt and pain had left her in a rush of anger and she'd felt empty after. She'd been suppressing all these emotions while recovering. One reason being her unexpected breakdowns.

The other being the gentleness he treated her during her breakdowns. He'd never shouted at her. Told her to get over it. Ignored her. Instead, he'd held her. His endless support and presence made her feel churlish to harbor the negativity against him.

But her feelings were still there. Bubbling and churning beneath the ceiling she'd placed over it. And that day, she'd learned that just because his nice, remorseful side had calmed her, it didn't invalidate her feelings when she'd met his ruthless, cynical, vengeful side. It would not be soothed away by reason and sense of gratitude. Emotions did not follow the laws of logic.

But as much as avoiding him sounded like a good idea, she knew she had to let him know of Hailey. And it wasn't just a chance to hear his voice. They were done. Although some part of her missed him-

Enough!

Finally, after letting out a deep breath, she made the call.

---------@@@@@---------

Walking aimlessly around the room, Daniel had never felt as lonely as he did then. He was surrounded by opulence and glitz. The best of Society were mingling within the house, both to be seen and conduct business. Neither were an interest to him.

Absently swirling the wine in his glass, he wondered how long was a polite length of time before he could bade his goodbyes. It was just his luck that his hosts were treasured family friends and none of his family could attend. So he'd had to bite the bullet.

Although, with most people avoiding him, it wasn't that bad.  He could stew in his own mind and be miserable. All by his lonesome.

Except his hostess was trying to matchmake him. She'd gotten it into her head that he needed help getting a woman since he came alone. He'd been introduced to woman after woman and none of them interested him. Admittedly, they were beautiful but he'd always find fault.

Too tall. Too short. Too thin. Not the right shade of red. Not a redhead. Boobs were too small. Too big.

Not Cassandra.

Fingers tightening around the stem of his wine glass, he placed it on the tray of a passing waiter, eyes lazily scanning his surroundings. Spotting his hosress just then, with another candidate, Daniel made it out of the function room and to the balcony. Which, with the balmy weather, was filled with quite a few people. Finding a less crowded corner, having nodded to some acquaintances, he allowed himself to relax against the wall, facing the garden.

He'd still hadn't recovered from Cassandra’s last words to him. Her voice was beginning to haunt him in his dreams. The dreams always started out differently but Cassandra would always appear. Be it a boardroom, the beach or his office. She'd be there and upon saying those final words, he'd wake up.

And his days were consumed by her. Not just her last words. He thought of whether she was eating, what she was wearing, how beautiful and sexy she looked. Which was an oxymoron since what she wore at home could never be classified as beautiful nor sexy. But she never cared. Even when he'd had some important guests over for dinner.

Letting out a soft laugh, Daniel was surprised when he heard footsteps. Straightening, he looked around the corner and had to force away the scowl. He'd hoped to avoid her but it looked like she was making her way to him.

Just as he decided to move away, she spoke.

“What are you doing here? All alone,”she purred, eyes half-lidded, a hand on her exposed hip.

“I understand that congratulations are in order,”he replied, ignoring her previous words. “Congratulations. I hope you can steer the company out of the deep sea.” Pleased by her glare, he finally moved away.

“How is my sister doing? Still living off you?”

He froze. As much as he didn't want to engage, there was this need to defend Cassandra against Victoria. Clenching his fists, he was about to turn to her but his phone rang. He wanted to ignore it but immediately walked away when he saw it was Cassandra. Victoria was a faint memory.

“Hunter,”he automatically barked and immediately wished he could take it back. Hoping she wouldn't take offense, he leaned on the railing facing the garden. Waited on tenterhooks for her greeting.

“Hey, Daniel. Or should I call you Hunter?”she teased, her smile evident in her voice. Relaxing, he felt his lips curve at the sound of her voice.

“Daniel is fine. That's my de facto greeting. Usually any calls on my phone is about work,”he said, needing to explain his brusque greeting.

“What if it was Kendall?”she asked, continuing to rag on him. He let a laugh out.

“Then he has to learn not to call me during work.”

“So you're at work now?” Her wry tone made his smile widen. He missed this. Just talking with each other. They never did that anymore. Not since-

Clenching his free fist, Daniel scowled into the distance. Not since she went with Bryan. Which made this call an anomaly.

Something was wrong.

“Why are you calling me? I'm sure it's not to ask about my whereabouts.” he was certain he was right when she started sputtering and her voice went up an octave. “Cassandra.”

“I don't know how to say this but, um, I did something I'm sure you won't like,”she muttered. He waited, having learned that she did not do well with silence. At least between them. And he was right when she rushed to fill in the silence. “I brought home a rape victim.”

Momentarily stunned, he recovered and demanded an explanation. And she did, her explanation concise and brief.

“Kendall likes her. They formed an immediate bond. He sees her like a sister or aunt and Hailey is very comfortable with him. I think this is a good idea,”she said, sounding thoughtful but he heard the thread of determination beneath. Sighing internally, Daniel forced himself to be the bad cop.

“But what do you know about her? Are you sure she's even telling the truth?”he asked, ruthlessly throttling his anger, worry and frustration.

“That's why I'm hiring an investigator tomorrow. I'll wait until they either confirm or provide information otherwise.” When he started to point out the folly of her plan, she spoke over him. “In the meantime, I'll hide all the valuables. I mean, my most important ones are in the safety deposit box but who knows what else she could take?”

Gritting his teeth, he wondered why he was so drawn to her. He knew she was poking fun at his expense but he was just worried. He'd pass the point of questioning his feelings; he needed to know why.

“It's going to be fine, Daniel,”she said soothingly. “If there's any discrepancy or anything missing, you're the first person I'll call.”

“I wish you'd just set up a shelter or charity. At least you don't have to walk around the worst parts of town to speak with these women,”he grumbled but was less worried. He knew she'd never compromise Kendall's safety. He'd just needed the implicit reminder.

“I don't know,”she responded skeptically.”Don't rich people who set up shelters and charities just sit about and try to get more money?”

“That's what you have me for.”

“You'd help me?”

Why did she sound so incredulous?

Suddenly, he heard a crash from her background. It had to be loud if even he could hear it. He heard a few words but they were muffled.

“Cassandra?”

“I'm going to check on it. Talk to you later” was her harried response. The last he heard was her muttering, “What are those two doing?”

Sighing and missing her, Daniel stayed where he was, loathe to surround himself with artificiality. As much as he resented the amount of time he thought of her, he wished he was with her now. Often, to get through a function he'd think about their next meeting, no matter the brevity.

“Who was that?”

Startled, he turned to his right and found his hostess. She was alone and wore a wide smile. Wary, he answered. That's when he realised that they were alone out on the balcony.

“How is she? I heard about what happened.”

“She's… coping.” That was all he could say. He knew she still had nightmares. She'd call him at odd hours just to talk and he knew. But it was getting more infrequent so he knew she was healing. He did miss their late nights conversation.

“I can see now that you don't need a date. You've already decided on her,”she suddenly said. His eyes shot to her and her smile widened. “You have your dad's eyes. So expressive. You should have told me you're not interested. I wouldn't have made a fool of myself setting you up.”

“I did but you didn't listen,”he shot back wryly. Then, as if he couldn't help himself, “This, us, we're a bit messed up. I don't think there's even an us. Also, she doesn't trust me. How can there be anything without trust?”

She placed her hand on his shoulder and rubbed it. He couldn't look at her. His pride was rearing its head.

“Trust is one of the most precious commodity in a relationship. And I don't think she's the only person who doesn't trust easily. I know what you've been through so I don't blame you. But you have to keep in mind that trust is a two-way street. As much as you want her to trust you, you have to find a way to belive in her. It could just be something small.”

Moving back into the function room, she left Daniel to absorb her words. He knew she was right. And he would start tonight.

By trusting her judgement on Hailey.

AN: Hey guys. This is another chapter and I kept my promise. Barely. By the skin of my teeth.

What do you think? Hailey, yes or no? Hailey pregnant, yes or no? Just looking for some inputs and opinions.

The book is ending soon. I'm left with 1 chapter, maybe 2, before the epilogue. So look out for them. It'll be out in 2 weeks or so. Please bear with me.

Anyways, please VOTE & COMMENT if you like this chapter.

Follow me on Twitter @wpsaiidah to get any updates.

And, as always, enjoy!!