Loving Cassie Greene

Love. What exactly was it? Cassie Greene thought as lazily rolled out of her bed. She had watched her elder sister break down a couple of times after a breakup. And made her deduce that love meant pain. The first a guy confessed to her back in high school, she requested a transfer to a new school.

Done with her morning shower she dabbed her face with a little makeup before going down to meet her mom.

"Good morning". She greeted me as she sat on one of the kitchen chairs.

"Good morning sweetie, how was your night?". Her mom said as she dished Cassie's favorite pancakes.

"Same". Cassie dryly said and her mom rolled her eyes.

"You say that all the time". Her mom said turning to face the pancakes she was making.

"She's a boring Sadie". Verla her elder sister said as she walked into the kitchen.

"I'm not. I just don't have anything that interests me".

"Exactly, twenty-four, and you haven't ever brought a guy to the house," Verla said.

"I'm not ready for a relationship now ".

"Then when will you be ready? God, Cass you are twenty-four. Your mates are married with kids." Her mom said uncomfortable with the fact that her second daughter had never brought hope to a partner. She would be more terrified if she were gay.

"I not them, okay. Verla hasn't married and you are divorced so don't pressure me!". Cassie spited out without control earning a yell from her sister. Only when the words had come did she realize how hurt she had made her mom feel.

"Apologize, right now ". Verla scolded.

"Excuse me," Cassie said leaving the kitchen.

"I'm warning you, Cassie. If you won't apologize then don't bother coming back tonight!." Verla yelled after her.

If only they knew how their love life had been affected then maybe they wouldn't be as pressuring as they were. Cassie thought as she walked out of the front door. She was more than forty minutes early to work as she grumpily walked down the pathway.

She bet Josh her boss, would be very impressed by her earliness not that she usually came late.

She worked at a publishing company as the head editor. She loved her job, reading people's work was more comforting than having to face them in real life. To be honest she was a strong romantic but...

"Hey, Cassie. Good morning. I didn't know you took this boss to work."

Jeremy her co-editor said as he joined her at the bus stand.

"Good morning," Cassie said as she tried to lighten her mood.

"So there's this book I'm working on and I think it's very good. The author is a college student and...".

"What genre is the book?". Cassie asked.

"A sci-fi but it's a good thriller". Jeremy said.

"Sci-fi isn't what we need now Jeremy." Cassie dryly said as she stepped into the bus.

"I promise you, it's good..."

"Sci-fi's are good but they don't last in the market. No one wants to read a bunch of alien science dumb shit!". Cassie busted out without realizing it.

"I'm sorry Jeremy. I'm not myself right now." She said regretting her outburst.

"I noticed". He said taking a seat behind her.

Cassie sighed as she wished things didn't have to be snappy for her this morning.

"Jeremy...". Cassie tried to say as they walked into the office building.

"Seriously, Cassie I don't know what's wrong with you. Lately, you have been more aggressive. I know things can be a little messy but you should learn not to vent your anger on others." He said stopping her from apologizing any further.

She took the stairs instead of the elevator. She needed an immediate space from people right now.

By the time she got to her office, it was seven-thirty.

"Hey, Cassie". Her boss Josh said not to let her rest from her long exercise.

"You quite early." He said falling on the white sofa in her office.

"Yeah, how's your family?." Cassie asked making sure she was in her right mind.

"Ella's doing great. My two daughters are expecting a younger brother." He brightly announced.

"Oh my gosh! That's amazing. Josh, Ella is so wonderful." Cassie said forgetting her troubles for a while.

"Yeah, my darling is very wonderful. Anyway, I came to tell you about an event. I was invited but I don't think I will be free to attend. It's a very important event and I don't want to miss it. So please could you go in place of me?. The host would appreciate it."

He said.

"Sure, anything for you Josh. Gosh, I'm so happy for you guys."

"Yeah, I know. Thank you so much for agreeing. I will send you the address." He said getting up to leave.

"Anytime ". Cassie said before he disappeared from her office.

She didn't see herself in Josh's place. And even if she did, she knew it wouldn't last.

She thought. The ring of her phone draws her out of her delusional thoughts.

"Hello". She said as she heard a familiar voice reply, she froze.

"Dad?". She called out as she listened to him speak.

"How are you, Cassie?". He said.

"Dad, where are you?". She asked as a rush of guilt rushed over her. She always thought that her parent's separation was her fault. If only...

"Cassie, I'm sorry I left without giving you a heads up. I'm sorry... how's your mom." He asked and she felt another guilt wash over her. She had been terrible to her mom this morning yet her dad still cared about her.

"She's great". Cassie managed to say.

"And Verla?".

"If you want to know about them, come down here and see for yourself." Cassie harshly said overwhelmed with mixed emotions.

"Cassie...".

"Don't call me if you won't come down to see for yourself." She said ending the call.

"Cassie". Someone said with a small knock.

"Not now, I'm not in a good mood. Please can you come back later? " Cassie said trying not to sound harsh.

Luckily, her request was granted and that was enough to bury her mind in the manuscripts on the desk.

After a few hours, a message notification popped up. It was the address and day the event was to be held.

Today was Thursday and the event was on a Saturday. She had plenty of time to prepare so, reading a couple of new manuscripts wasn't pressuring. She'd finish four manuscripts in a day.

"Cassie, you still here? Didn't Lily relay my message?." Josh said as he checked the time.

"Jeez, how long have you been working? Did you even have lunch?" He asked worried about her diligence without break.

"What time is it?". She asked cracking bones.

"It's 8 pm!." Josh exclaimed. "Close the damn book Cas." He ordered stamping his foot impatiently.

"Do you even care about your health? I don't want to see you at work tomorrow until you attend the event. I won't be the cause of your death, okay." He said.

"Ouch!, That's mean but thank you for the break." She said grabbing her purse and jacket.

"Yeah, I'm buying you dinner, and no disagreeing. Get ready to be stuck with food young lady." He said holding out the door for her to pass before closing it behind him.

Josh was a few years older than her. At the age of twenty-seven, he was already a millionaire, husband, and father. He is the perfect guy anyone would want from a novel. But too he's taken.

They drove to an exquisite restaurant, had a delicious steak, and drank a bit of wine before saying their goodbyes.

The next day, Cassie got up early, she had stayed at her place instead of her mom's. She couldn't bring herself to apologize yet. Today, was a work-free day for her, and getting a dress for the event was number one on her to-do- list. Cassie was a sucker for plans, she'd rather sleep all day than leave her door without having a plan for the day. It was a habit she had learned from her dad.

"Cassie, could you come over to my place ASAP!." Lilian a good friend of her's dropped a voicemail. Cassie rolled her eyes and took her car key from the table, exiting her apartment for the day.

Cassie rolled her eyes as she watched Lilian whine about her makeup kit that got damaged. At first, she thought it was something valuable but on arriving at her house, she was presented with a stupid makeup kit.

"Just buy a new one". Cassie said getting irritated.

"I can't". Lilian said with a sobbing voice.

"It's a gift I received from the cosmetic shoot I had last week. It has been launched yet and there are only two of it available in the country." She said sobbing harder. Lilian Gerfield's an A-list model. She was a sweet, slender woman sometimes, she could be dumb but Cassie loved anyway. They have been friends since childhood and their friendship was beyond normal.

"What do I do COCUO?." Lilian said calling Cassie a personal pet name only she could say.

"I will get you a new one". Cassie said with a sigh.

"Really?, It cost four hundred million dollars," Lilian said and Cassie froze. Four hundred million dollars?, Just for a dumb kit.

"It's a very exquisite kit." Lilian dumbly said showing the damaged kit to Cassie.

"How could you be so careless!!!". Cassie said after seeing the kit, it was very unique like Lilian said, and quite fancy.

"I know". Lilian sadly Moaned.

"Let's buy something lesser and I need you to help me pick a dress at the mall," Cassie said Lilian turned from gloom to delight. No one loved dressing up more than Lilian. Right from a kid she always played dress up. She is the princess and Cassie is her prince charming. Back then Cassie behaved like a guy scaring kids her age with her boldness.

"I love Cassie". Lilian said squeezing Cassie in a bear hug.

"I love you too. Can we go now?". Cassie said patting her hair, to her Lilian was a world she'd protect from whatever. She was fragile like a flower that could wither if plucked. She's the cheerful air Cassie breathed whenever she was troubled. And that's why Cassie cared about her a lot.

"I could love you to the very end." Cassie squeezed back and Lilian laughed.

Lilian grabbed some things and they both left.

Their drive was a forty-five-minute drive as a model, Lilian lived close to marketplaces to avoid being mugged by fans.

"Good day, Miss Lilian. How may we help you?." A store attendant said acknowledging Lilian as their regular customer.

"Good day too, I'd like to get new dresses for my friend". Lilian said then leaned closer and whispered sexy ones and the attendant smiled.

Cassie looked through the cloth racks, she was quite impressed with their designs.

"How about this? " The asked holding out a flowing dress with a heart neck.

"No, I want something hot". Lilian said disapproving but Cassie wasn't paying attention.

"What about this?". Cassie said pulling out a black dress from the rack.

"No honey, we are not playing black today," Cassie said taking the cloth from Lilian and replacing it on the rack.

"COCUO, what's the theme of the event?." Lilian asked.

"Josh didn't say much about it. I guess it's more of business than recreation."

She said.

"Okay, an unknown theme. For sure there will be hot guys. But for business, I don't think wealthy people are more of entertainment. They love to rub shoulders mean while playing nice." Lilian said picking out a golden dress from the rack.

"Check this." She said handing Cassie the dress.

While Lilian other dresses, Cassie went into the dressing room. She pulled off her clothes, staring at the mirror wearing a panties and bra. She blushed when she thought of something dirty. But the thought of her body being discovered by the opposite sex terrified her. Her body wasn't as perfect as that of Lilian whose body was slender. She hated the fact that her stomach bulged instead of being flat. But there was nothing she could do about it, she was a lover of food. After a while she laughed, remembering the first time she had tried a tummy exercise when she was sixteen. Her muscles cringed and she swore never to do it again.

"Are you having trouble with the dress?". Lilian asked.

"No, I'm fine". Cassie said zipping the dress up before stepping out of the dressing room.

When she reappeared again, Lilian and the store attendant had their jaws on the ground. The dress hugged her perfectly, showing the most captivating silhouette they had ever seen.

"If I were a guy COCUO, I would have married you at a spot," Lilian said tearing up while the store attendant blushed hard at Lilian's confession.

"Try these, my love," Lilian said handing her five more dresses.

She all of them and after the last one, they checked out. Moving over to the other sections. By the time they were done, noon had come. They offloaded the shopping bags into the trunk of the car. Then they went into a nearby restaurant to have lunch.

"You make me happy Cassie. I just don't know why you are single." Lilian said with a pout. "Live a little, COCUO. Go out drink, make out, do something crazy." Lilian gingered.

"Now I finally understand why your name is the most searched celebrity. You live carelessly causing scandals every time." Cassie said taking a seat at an empty table.

Lilian waved her hand for a waiter to attend to them.

"Well, if you were fun then maybe I would have stayed put," Lilian said.

"I said I love you. What's hard to understand". A young woman screamed at a man who was sitting opposite her. She was shaking and crying as she looked at him but he remained indifferent. She had caused a lot of attention and some people were recording.

"Jeez, why now? I don't want to be caught on camera. I already have a lot of scandals to my name." Lilian said hiding her face from the crowd.

"You can't do this to me. I have your child". The woman said and everyone gasped. Without a second, the media was buzzing with declaration.

Why can't people take their business private? Cassie thought as she began to gather her things.

"Let's leave Lily". She said put Lilian remained put.

While Cassie stood waiting for Lilian, the humiliated man walked up to her, without noticing he took her hand and proclaimed her his lover.

Everywhere went still, Cassie felt dizzy and Lilian froze with her mouth open.

"Love, a lot of women keep throwing themselves at me. Now this one claims to have my child. Would help me explain to her that she got the wrong person." The man said and Cassie went red with anger. She wanted to shun him and shout at him for humiliating her but the way he looked at her made her go numb.

"He mine, s-so stop this drama you are playing. And put away the damn cameras. Why don't you all mind your businesses? I came here to have a wonderful lunch and now you all have ruined it. Do guys think it's fun knowing people's personal life? They have traumas because of your stupid meddling!!!." Cassie screamed at the crowd with her head down in embarrassment. Lilian got up went towards the woman who had claimed to be pregnant and slapped her.

" You imposter. How dare you try to steal my best friend's man. You should be ashamed of yourself for proclaiming to have his child. Now tell me, is he the father of the child you claim!!!". Lilian said and the woman went down on her knees apologizing for her lie. When she did so, everyone went away deleting every video they had recorded.

"Thank you". The man said going away. But Cassie found herself chasing after him.

"Who do think you are? Humiliating people must be your thing." Cassie said. They were at an underground garage.

"I never asked you to comply". He said and Cassie felt more embarrassed. He never asked her for her help plus his love could have been anyone.

"If you want I could pay you for your service. A lot of women these days would do anything for money". He said writing out a cheque.

"Is that why you humiliated that woman? Because you felt she was after your money." Cassie said looking straight at him. "You will regret this."

Cassie said leaving him alone.

When re-entered the restaurant, she took her purse and left ignoring Lilian as she went across the room.

How could someone so easily pronounce love when they knew nothing about the other?

Love. She couldn't love anyone because love wasn't an easy emotion.

She stayed quietly throughout their drive, this time Lilian took the steering. Cassie didn't what to love If it was so easy to say it.