Chapter 23: Danger

Someone was shaking Edward. When he opened his eyes, he found himself looking into the most beautiful brown eyes. Cassandra was covering herself with the sheet, and when he went to take it off, she stopped him.

"Edward, you have to leave now," she pleaded.

"Why?" he asked as he sat up.

Cassandra explained, "Akia will be up soon; she can't see us like this."

He paused for a moment to consider it. "I believe Akia would enjoy it if we were together."

"No, it would confuse her, and I don't want her to get her hopes up that we're together."

He flashed her one of his sexy smiles, revealing his dimples. "But we're together, last night was incredible, and it doesn't have to end, so come over here and kiss me," Edward said.

Cassandra raised her hands to prevent him from taking her into his arms. "No, last night was a mistake; it should never have happened; I'm sorry; I just got lost in thought," she said, turning away.

Edward couldn't help but become enraged at her. What they had was wonderful, and now she was making it appear cheap and worthless when he knew she was simply too scared to admit her feelings for him. "Are you sure about that? Do you think we can stop what we started? I think not," Edward said as their eyes met.

He stormed out of the room, grabbing his clothes. She was sad and disappointed in herself for making love to Edward and giving him reason to believe they would be together.

He told Cassandra he was taking Akia fishing over breakfast. As a young girl, Akia was enthralled by the prospect of fishing, even though she had no idea what it entailed. All she wanted was to spend time with her father. "Mommy comes with us too," Akia exclaimed.

"Oh no, honey," Cassandra exclaimed, "Me fishing!"

No way, but you and daddy can go," She said as she smiled at Akia as she attempts to appear normal and infringed on Edward's rights.

"Honey, why don't you go and ask the cook to pack you and daddy a lunch?" Edward said.

"OK, daddy," Akia said as she trotted off to the kitchen.

"I need to talk to you, Edward," she said, looking at him.

"Go ahead, Cassandra, tell me what you want to talk about," he said.

She swallowed the lump in her throat as she heard the anger in his voice. If he was angry now, he'd be even more so after she spoke to him. "I think Akia and I should leave here as soon as possible," she explained.

"Is it because of last night that you feel compelled to leave so soon?"

"You're not repulsive; in fact, you're the opposite; what we did was unacceptable, and I blame myself for letting it get so far, but we come from different worlds, and I don't fit in."

"It didn't feel wrong to me, and you didn't think it was wrong when you had your legs around me," he said as She pushed him away as he approached her and attempted to take her in his arms.

"This is why I'm leaving; you won't stop making passes at me; will you prepare for us to return to Manila?" she asked.

"No," Edward replied, raising his voice. "I haven't found you a proper home yet, and we're going to give Akia a perfect family, and that's final."

She retaliated by raising her voice at him. "No! Why do you always decide on your own and do what you want!?" she exclaimed. "Perfect family? It will never happen, Edward."

"I thought things might be different after last night, that you might want to stay," Edward said as he grabbed his hat and snapped angrily at her. "Because you're so eager to get away from me, we're going to have our wedding as soon as possible."

"F*ck, we can't do that!" she exclaimed.

"Let's talk later," Edward said as he stormed out of the room. "You can't leave me, Cassandra; you're mine forever," he told himself.

~

When Edward and Akia went fishing together. Cassandra served Mrs. Consuelo tea and played the violin for her. The elderly lady stood up and cocked her head.

Cassandra was staring at her. "Are you sure you're the one?"

Cassandra then returned her gaze, puzzled. "I'm sorry, which one?" she inquired.

"The one who transformed my son from a wild child into a respectable and hardworking young man."

"I'm not sure what you're talking about," Cassandra said.

Mrs. Consuelo then sat back down, sipping her tea. "Edward was so wild, so out of control. He had a different woman in his bed every night. He treated people with no respect, especially women. He drank a lot back then." the old lady said as she tried to reach across the table and took Cassandra's hand in hers. "You changed him."

"How I change him?" Cassandra inquired.

"He was no longer the wild and disrespectful Edward in the past, he got right to work, but he seemed sad as if he was missing something, and now I know what that was, it was you."

"Me," she says, pointing to herself. "We only spent one night together, and I'm sure I had nothing to do with his changing."

"I know it was you. I'm certain of it," Mrs. Consuelo responded, "I see the way he looks at you, but just don't make him angry," the old lady said, Casandra was about to ask when Maria came in to tell Mrs. Consuelo it was time for her nap.

Cassandra was alone and bored, so she went for a walk, following the path behind the house and stopping to pick wildflowers along the way. She was glad she wore shorts instead of jeans and sneakers on such a warm day.

Cassandra was about halfway through the path when she heard a horse galloping behind her and turned around to see Greg approaching her.

"Good afternoon, Cassandra," he said as he approached.

"Oh, Greg, hello," she returned his smile.

He dismounted his horse. "What are you doing out here by yourself?" Greg inquired.

"I was just going for a walk," she explained.

Greg cocked his hat and looked around before speaking. "Come on up, I'll give you a ride."

"No, I should be returning," Cassandra said.

"Come on, we'll just go to the river and back," he said as he mounted the horse again and extended his hand "Grab my hand, and I'll help you up."

Grabbing Cassandra's hand, he drew her up behind him. "Wrap your arms around my waist and hold on tight; I don't want you to fall off."

"We're we going?" she asked when Greg suddenly became quiet.

"We're almost there to the river," he replied.

They were only a few miles away from home when they came to a halt. Greg helped Cassandra down as he dismounted his horse. "It's quiet here, having a drink."

Something about his demur made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. "Yes, it's really lovely," she said calmly, "but we have to get back now, Akia should be home by now."

Greg then chuckled and said, "No you don't." Taking her hand in his, he walks over to the river and sits on a rock. "Come sit," he says, patting the spot next to him.

She noticed that Greg's eyes appeared to be glazed over, and he acted as if he were drunk. She thought she detected the odor of alcohol on him. But then he took something out of his pocket that appeared to be a joint. He took a bottle of whiskey from his saddle and began drinking. She now understood why he was acting the way he was.

After a few drags, offer it to her along with the bottle. "No," she shakes her head and stands up, demanding, "I want to go back now."

Greg exhaled deeply on the cigarette. "You're just like the others."

Cassandra was becoming alarmed. She was backing away from him because of the way he was looking at her. "What others? What are you talking about?" She asked him. Greg then threw away the bottle of wine, turning to face Cassandra.

"I've seen that rich jerk bring one whore after another here, and none of them gave me a second glance, and why would they? What could I possibly provide for them?"

Cassandra began to back up slowly. "They were all bitches; I thought you were exceptional, but you're not; sure, you're gorgeous and polite, but you're still a bitch."

Greg tried to touch Cassandra.

He grabbed her roughly and drew her to him. She was able to push him away. "What are you thinking?" she screamed.

Greg licked his lips and smiled wickedly at her. It was obvious that he had been drunk. "You know what I'm up to; I'd like you to undress for me."

"I'm leaving Greg; keep a safe distance from me."

She attempted to leave, but he yanked her.

and attempted to kiss her She struggled, scratching his face with her fingernails as she tried to break free.

Releasing her, she touched his face, discovering that it was cursed and reaching for her. She took a step back. She lost her footing and tumbled down the riverbank, hitting her head on a rock and falling unconscious.

Greg noticed the blood and Cassandra's lifeless body. And because he thought she was dead, he jumped on his horse and rode away, leaving her for dead.