Guadalajara

"Perdón por dejar que vengas todo el camino hasta aquí, Cass." Señor Robles, Cassie's 58 year old client apologized as he was accompanying her to the door. Señor Robles is a reputable lawyer who is retiring due to his heart ailment. Cassie has been his private aid while he fulfills his responsibilities before he goes on full retirement. He is currently at Hotel Riu Plaza Quadalajara to work on his last case so she came in an hour ago to visit him.

"Lo entiendo Completamente, Señor Robles" Cassie responded stopping at the door and smiling sweetly at the kind attorney.

"Gracias por sus servicios" he said as he gave Cassie a peck on the cheek.

"De nada, Señor. Por favor cuídate." she said. He nodded and he close the door.

Señor Robles has been very kind to her like a father and she felt sad that she won't be seeing him again. But she is also happy as he and his wife have been planning their retirement for awhile now.

As Cassie turned to leave, she found herself face to face with a sweaty but the most handsome face she has ever seen.

He is wearing a running shirt. He was obviously been doing a night run.

Her eyes traveled from his face to his strong shoulders and chest. His muscles were perfectly toned.

An eye candy. she thought.

"Like what you see?" he said teasingly.

Their eyes met.

His gaze intensely traveled from her eyes to her nose then stopped at her lips sending tiny shivering sensation in her spine.

She doesn't easily get aroused. And no. She doesn't flirt either. But their mere visual foreplay has reminded her of her lack of sexual pleasure for God knows how long. She has been avoiding it. Denying herself of such wonderful pleasure.

Cassie felt his eyes traveling down her neck to her breast which intensified her arousal.

She imagined how it felt kissing him senseless there in that very hallway where they are currently standing.

"I don't know if I can afford your services as much as that lawyer but I'm sure as hell you'll have the best time of your life with me. " he said.

She found this intriguing yet confusing.

Despite that she smiled at him and decided not to say anything.

The man seem to be in good shape, deliciously in perfect shape at that.

"So what do you think?" he asked.

"It's not a matter of money, senyor. I just don't think you need my services." she replied honestly.

"Hmm. ¿Es eso así?" he said curiously

"Si." she responded. "Adiós, señor" she excused before he could say anything more.

She went down the stairs and out to the warm summer air of Guadalajara.

Cassie's mom died just after she finished her pre-med course and since then, she has been working her ass off to put herself through med school. And finally she's graduating in two months.

She only has two things in mind. To become a doctor no matter what and to find her biological father.

So far, she hasn't made progress with the latter.

Romance is out of the question. Casual dating or even flirting can be disastrous and that's what she wants to avoid.

I can't afford to get involved with someone like you. Not right now.

She let out a deep sigh.

Beautiful stranger.

She smiled to herself, thinking about the man she just met while on her way to her dorm.

*****

Cassie is now running late with her appointment with Professor Acosta. One of her clients whom she regularly visits to check his stats and monitor his condition. She opened the door when she heard the professor said "come in".

"lo siento por llegar tarde, profesor" Cassie apologized and as she approached the single sofa chair where the professor was sitting, she realized that he is not alone. The same man she met at Riu Plaza few weeks ago is sitting comfortably in the couch. He is now staring at her intensely just like the first time they met.

"Cassandra, it's not a big deal. I understand you are always swamped." the professor said smiling at her.

"Cassandra " the man said.

She doesn't know why but it felt good to hear him say her name. It's like a gentle caress that is starting to make her aroused again.

Shit! What is wrong with her?

"Yes, this is Cassandra. Cass, this is... "

"James Montgomery " the man said abruptly making the professor look at him. James just smiled and moved towards her and gave her a peck on the cheek. Cassie felt the strong current as his soft lips touched her cheek. For a moment she was unable to move and she got the feeling that he felt the same way, too.

They stared at each other.

"Well, James thanks again for seeing me. I'm sorry but since Cassandra here doesn't have all the time in the world, I have to dismiss you for now." professor Acosta jokingly said bringing both of them back to present.

James didn't say anything for a split second but he looked at the professor and nodded. Then he moved to look at her.

Cassie couldn't figure out what he was thinking but he seemed angry and disappointed.

She wondered if she interpreted him right.

After James left, it took her about 30 minutes to examine the professor's condition. He has been following her advice and is careful taking his medication which is a relief.

After giving some more advice and a little catching up, she left the professor's office.

She still has to get ready for an event that night which involves escorting her big time client, Señor Alejandro Zamora to a fundraiser he organizes annually.

Cassie has never been a big fan of such events but Señor Zamora insisted.

"What if i had a stroke again? It's better if you were there" he said.

Señor Zamora has been a good client. Not just a few times he offered to give her extra payment for her services which she firmly refused. He also has repeatedly expressed her liking to her. He even offered her full financial support and a house. Despite not utterly direct in his words, she got the message. He wanted her to be his mistress. And tonight is not any different from those previous conversations.

"Cass, why don't you accept my offer. It'll be easier for you. You don't have to worry about money anymore. And you'll have plenty of time looking for your father." Señor Zamora was saying holding her hands tightly.

She arrived with him at the fundraiser event an hour ago. They are standing near the entrance to the ballroom where the event is being held. He greeted a few of his business partners in between their conversation.

"I know you mean well but I just can't. I'm sorry Señor." she said sincerely. "I have endorsed you to another private aid. She'll be in your office tomorrow Señor." she continued.

"I understand. I respect your honesty and I wish only the best for you." he said letting out a deep sigh. "Can I at least get a farewell hug? " he smiled innocently.

She truly appreciate his concern but this is not the way she wanted. She gave him a tight hug, "Gracias, Señor."

At that precise moment, James entered the ballroom looking smart in his perfectly pressed suit. He is staring straight at her hugging Señor Zamora.

She let go of Señor Zamora unceremoniously. He didn't seem to notice her reaction.

There was more anger in James' eyes than what she saw in the professor's office. He is now walking towards their direction.

"Señor Zamora? " he greeted Señor Zamora.

"Señor Montgomery. It's a pleasure you could come." Señor Zamora said extending his arm for a handshake. James took his hand but his eyes were on her. Señor Zamora noticed it.

"Ah Señor Montgomery, this is my... "

"Cassandra" James said cutting Señor Zamora.

There he goes again with cutting people mid-sentence.Does he know these people are reputable and influential? She thought. But it seems he is too.

"Ah i see. Hard to miss, isn't it. Such stunning beauty." Señor Zamora said proudly. James' stare even darkened at this compliment.

At that moment the host called upon Señor Zamora to give his speech.

"Are you really sure money isn't everything for you? Going out in a lavish event with a rich old man without a shame. First a lawyer, then a professor, now a business tycoon." he said mockingly in a low voice. His jaw was clenched as he was looking at Señor Zamora on the stage.

Cassie stared at his disbelievingly.

"Are implying I'm a hooker?"

"How much do they pay you to sleep with them? I'll double it or even triple it if that's what you want." he said instead as if it is just a normal conversation.

"I'm sorry Señor but you are certainly out of the line." Cassie replied.

Before he could respond, the host called for her name.

"Señorita Miller, will you come up stage, please?" the host said.

She didn't know what's happening but she just followed as she was ushered to the stage.

She soon discovered that they are organizing a bachelorette auction.

When it was Cassie's turn to be auctioned, she is still thinking about what James said. He thinks she's a prostitute and this auction won't certainly convince him otherwise.

"Please smile, señorita. It'll be fun." the host said.

"Yeah right!" she said.

Why is she so concerned about what that man thinks. She may be attracted to him but that's it. Nothing more.

He can think whatever he wants. She doesn't care. Or does she?

Cassie was asked to stand in the middle of the stage. The host told her to just stand there and smile.

The bid started at fifty thousand Mexican peso.

Then someone shouted sixty thousand.

Seventy.

It continued with a constant increment of ten thousand.

This people certainly has a lot of money at their disposable. She thought. Well, at least, it's for a good cause.

Then it reached a hundred and fifty.

For a split second, Cassie thought it was over.

"Three hundred thousand." she heard someone shouted. She wished she could be wrong but she wasn't. She was as surprised as the people around the ballroom. Their heads turned towards where the voice came from and Cassie saw James' triumphant grin.

When the auction ended, the winners of the auction were asked to approach the bachelorette they "won" so they can arrange a dinner date of their choice.

"May I have this dance?" James asked as he approached her. She hesitated at first.

"The hell are you playing at?" she muttered as soon as they were in the dance floor.

"I told you I'll pay double or even triple." he responded.

"Señor.."

"James. Call me James." he cut her.

"Fine." she glared at him. "James" she said.

He smiled which took her breath away. She is unusually too sensitive of his right hand carefully placed in her waist which is slowly pulling her towards him until their faces are just a few inches away. He was staring at her intensely once again.

She turned her face to the left which proved to be a wrong move. She can feel his labored breaths in her neck which spurted hot need right through her stomach.

"Are you by any chance, afraid of me?" he asked, his lips merely touching that most sensitive part of her neck. At this, she failed to suppress a moan.

She heard him chuckle.

"Hmm. I didn't know you were so responsive. We certainly will have fun together." he said before dragging her towards the exit of the ballroom. Out of the hotel and onto his car.

Author's Notes

Translations

Perdón por dejar que vengas todo el camino hasta aquí  > Sorry for letting you come all the way here

Lo Entiendo Completamente   >I understand completely

Gracias por sus servicios   >Thank you for your services

De nada, Señor. Por favor cuídate.   >You're welcome, Sir. Please take care

¿Es eso así?   >Is that so?

Si. Adiós, señor   >Yes. Goodbye Sir

lo siento por llegar tarde, profesor   >I'm sorry for being late, professor