Cassie (14 page)

18

I didn’t want to go to work the next day but I did. I worked on a few designs without really paying attention to what I was doing. The only thing I liked about being
there was the distraction. I didn’t think about Tony every second.

I kept my phone off just in case he tried to call me. When he saw the key on the table, he would know we were really over. He might chase me again, but he might give up too. I wasn’t sure what I wanted him to do. I grabbed the work phone and called Janet.

“Hello?”

“It’s Cassie.”

“Why are you calling me?” she snapped.

“I did it.”

She paused for a moment. “You broke up with my brother?”

My voice came out shaky. “Yeah…”

“You did the right thing.”

It didn’t feel like it. “Are you happy now?”

She sighed. “Cassie, I don’t blame you for wanting the security my brother has. Any girl would want it. And I don’t think you’re a bad person because of it. I just didn’t want that for my brother. It really wasn’t personal.”

“I wasn’t with him for his money,” I snapped. “I said that so many times now. The only reason why I ended the relationship was because he was miserable on his birthday. I know how much his family means to him. You were the one was being selfish by making him choose. And I know he wo
uld have picked me forever because you’re wrong, Janet. Totally wrong about me. But I did it for him. That’s it. There is no other reason.”

“Well, you made the right decision. And we can be friends again.”

“Janet, you’re a fucking bitch. I never want to be your friend again.” I slammed the phone down and hung up. When I felt the tears fall, I covered my face and let myself break down. None of this was fair. Tony shouldn’t have to choose between his girlfriend and his family, especially when I did nothing wrong.

The phone rang but I didn’t answer it. I took a moment to compose myself and control my voice.  “Hello?” I said when I answered.

“Turn on your fucking phone.”

I didn’t want to deal with this right now. “Don’t call me.”

“You’re my girlfriend. I’ll call you whenever I feel like it.”

“We broke up.”

He hung up.

I heard the line go dead. I must have really pissed him off. But that was okay because it’s exactly what I wanted. I got back to work and tried to stop thinking about Tony. Minutes later, my office door swung in. Tony stood there, looking angry and insane. He slammed the door and locked it.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” he snapped.

“What’s wrong with me? You’re the one who won’t accept the fact that we’re done.”

He slammed his hand on the desk. When he pulled away, I saw his key. “This belongs to you.”

“I don’t want it.”

“That’s too fucking bad. I gave it to you.”

“Why are you making this so difficult?” I yelled.

“Because you don’t want to break up. I can see it in your eyes.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Why are you doing this?” he snapped. “Why are you pushing me away?”

“Because that’s what people do when they break up!”

He came around the desk and grabbed me. “No.”

“Tony, you need to leave.”

He picked me up and placed me on the desk.

I knew what he was doing. “No!”

Tony held me down and pulled me to the end of the desk. “I’ll do this as many times as it takes.”

“Tony, stop this now!”

He pulled down his jeans then lifted up my dress. “I’ll stop when I know you want me to.” He pulled off my underwear then slipped inside me.

“Fuck you,” I said I rolled me head back.

He rocked into me slowly. “Do you want me to stop?”

I bit my lip while I felt him.

“Tell me you want me to stop.”

I grabbed his forearms and dug my nails into his skin.

Tony stopped moving.

I moaned in frustration.

“Tell me you want me to make love to you.”

I said nothing.

He didn’t move, just staring into my eyes.

I grabbed his hips and started to move against him. “Tony…”

“Yes?”

“Please.”

He moved inside me hard and fast.

I lied back and enjoyed it. The orgasm hit as soon as I let myself go. I knew Theresa and Orlando could hear us but I didn’t care. He bucked inside me when he reached the same threshold. His moaned while he made his final thrusts, coming inside me.

When he pulled out, he grabbed my face and kissed me. “You are mine.”

I said nothing, still breathing heavily.

Tony pulled on his clothes while he stared me down.

“Tony, I want to break up.”

“It didn’t seem like it a second ago.”

“We were just fucking. I would have screwed any other hot guy I saw.”

“I’m having a hard time believing that.”

I fixed my hair and pulled down my dress. “Tony, I mean it. We’re over.”

“I’ll pick you up at seven.”

“Are you even listening to me?”

“Yes, but I’m also ignoring you.”

I glared at him. “Why won’t you accept what I said? If one person wants to break up, you break up. It doesn’t have to be mutual.”

“I’ll accept it when you give me a valid reason. Until then, I know you’re pulling shit out of your ass. I think you’re just scared that I’m going to hurt you so you’d rather be alone than have to deal with that possibility. We were apart for two days and it almost killed you. That’s not a reason to break up. That’s called fighting. All couples do it.”

“You aren’t listening to me,” I said. “I was using you so I could build my company. Now that I have what I want, I don’t need you anymore.”

“You’re a terrible liar.” He walked to the door. “I’ll see you tonight.”

“Tony!”

“What?”

“I mean it. We’re done.”

He stared at me. “We’re never done.” He left my office and shut the door behind him.

I sighed in frustration.
Tony was making this impossible.

When I got off work, I didn’t go to my apartment. Instead, I went out for a drink with Layla.

“I broke up with him,” I said.

“Are you okay?”

“No.”

“Why did you do it?”

“Because he’s lost his whole family,” I said. “I can’t let him pick me over them.”

“But he’s only picking because Janet made him.”

“She’s wrong but I can’t let Tony lose everything,” I said.

She shook her head. “I’m not talking
to Janet anymore.”

“What?”

“This is unacceptable. You two are in love and she’s ruining that. It’s wrong.”

I shrugged. “What else am I supposed to do?”

“Not give in.”

“It’s not about giving in,” I said. “It’s about what’s best for Tony. You didn’t see him on his birthday. He was totally miserable.”

“I’m surprised Tony accepted the break up.”

“He hasn’t,” I said. “He keep
s tracking me down and fucking my brains out, thinking that will change my mind.”

“It would change mine,” Layla said with a smile.

“Well, it isn’t working.”

“It’s because he won’t let Janet control his relationship.”

“I didn’t tell him the real reason,” I said. “I said I was using him for his company.”

“You did?”

“But he doesn’t believe me.”

“Because he knows you,” she said. “You wouldn’t do something like that.”

“I wish Janet thought that.”

“Fuck her,” she snapped. “I don’t care if Kyle is Scott’s brother. I’m done with her.”

“I don’t want that,” I said. “Please don’t ruin your relationship because of me.”

“How can I let my best friend be treated like this?” she said. “No, this bullshit has gone on long enough. “

I smiled. “Well, thank you.”

“I got your back.”

My phone rang and I looked at the screen. It was Tony. I ignored it. He called again. After I ignored it, he called again. I turned it off to avoid the calls altogether.

Layla smiled. “You think that’s going to stop him?”

“I have to get rid of him.”

“You can’t,” she said. “He’s madly in love with you. He’ll never let you go.”

Layla’s phone rang and she answered it. “Hey, babe.” She stirred her drink while she listened. “At Tully’s. Why?” She paused. “Yeah, she’s here.”

I narrowed my eyes in suspicion.

“Hello?” She looked at the phone. “Well, that was weird. He didn’t even say bye.”

I sighed. “Tony.”

She smiled. “I told you he would track you down.”

“I should go before he gets here.”

“And go where?” she asked. “Your apartment? He’ll break down the door.”

“Can I stay at you
r place?”

“I don’t want him to break down
my
door.”

I sighed. “I’ll figure it out.” I turned to leave the table and saw Tony walk inside. “Holy shit, he’s fast.”

Layla looked amused. “He should be in the CIA.”

When Tony saw me, his face lit up in a rage.

“Oh great,” I said sarcastically.

“I think I’m going to go…”

Tony marched to me then grabbed my hip. “Why does my sister think we’re broken up?” he said without preamble.

“Because we are.”

He narrowed his eyes. “That’s why you broke up with me. Because she’s making you.”

“She isn’t making me,” I said.

“It sounds like it.”

“Tony, you are totally miserable without your family.”

“I’m miserable that my sister, the person I held in the highest honor, is being a fucking bitch. That’s what I’m miserable about. Breaking up with me isn’t going to change that.”

“I can’t be the reason
you lose your family…I can’t.”

“You aren’t,” he said. “Janet is.”

“Tony, this isn’t working. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t give into her. I know she’s your friend—”

“She isn’t my friend,” I said. “And I never want to be her friend again.”

“Then don’t do this.”

“I have to. You can always find a new girlfriend. You can’t find another family.”

“You are my family,” he said.

My eyes softened. “Don’t make this harder for me.”

“No, I’m going
to. This is a stupid reason to break up. It changes nothing.”

“Tony, I love you. I have to do what’s best for you.”

“Losing you isn’t what’s best for me.”

I averted my gaze.

“So this is it?” he asked sadly.

“Yes.”

His eyes lost their light. His jaw was tense. He ran his fingers through his hair then took a deep breath, his eyes starting to turn red. “Okay.”

That caught me by surprise. “Okay?”

“You told me the real reason. If that’s what you want, I have to accept it.” He didn’t look at me.

I wasn’t expecting him to give up.

“Goodbye, Cassie.” He turned around and left, leaving me standing in the bar alone.

19

This was the hardest breakup I’d ever endured. Even when Danny cheated on me, it was nothing compared to this. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t move. I went to work but hardly got anything done. Orlando and Theresa were sympathetic and gave me space. I didn’t speak to anyone because I didn’t have anything to say.

Tony hadn’t contact me in any way. A part of me hoped he would break down my door and take me on my kitchen
table, saying he would never let me go. I never hated anyone in my life, but I was starting to hate Janet. Tony was the best thing that ever happened to me. I lost him due to no fault of my own.

The days
went by but it didn’t get better. I almost called him a few times but I stayed strong and didn’t make the call. I wondered what he was doing. I wondered if he was seeing anyone. The thought made me sick to my stomach. It was hard to sleep in my bed because it still smelled like him. Instead of bringing me comfort, it brought me tears. I would wash them but I was afraid to let him go. I wasn’t ready to.

Layla came over and comforted me as much as she could. Kyle was there too. They were the only friends I had that understood my pain. We never spoke about Tony
, and Janet was never mentioned. There was a huge elephant in the room that no one addressed.

Tony still did work for my company but everything was relayed through Victoria. She comforted me about the breakup. I knew she wanted him but she seemed genuinely sympathetic. Perhaps it was because Tony had rejected her completely.

I took a cab by his building on the way to work and on the way home. I hoped I would get a glimpse of him on the sidewalk or getting into a cab. It was pathetic but I missed him so much. I would do anything just to hold him again.

That weekend, I stayed home and did nothing. I hadn’
t been grocery shopping in a long time. I had lost so much weight that I really could be a model if I wanted to. My clothes didn’t fit anymore. They were baggy and unflattering. I felt weak all the time. The only comfort I had was knowing Tony had his family back. His sister was his closest friend. I knew he couldn’t live without her.

When there was a knock on the door, I didn’t know what to do. No one visited me. I didn’t have any friends at the moment. I had been shutting everyone out. I wondered if I ordered a pizza but just forgot about it.

When I reached the peephole, I saw Janet on the other side. I stilled when I recognized her. I had no idea what she wanted. I opened the door and stared at her.

“I broke up with him. I did as you asked,” I said. “So if you came here to harass me, go fuck yourself.”

She averted her gaze, seeming frightened and on the verge of tears. “Can I talk to you for a second?”

“No.”

“Please.”

“I’ve never been miserable in my entire life. And that’s
all because of you. I don’t owe you anything. Get the fuck away from me.”

“It’s about Tony.”

“Is he okay?” I blurted. “What’s wrong?”

“Can I come in?”

“No. You aren’t welcome here. Now tell me about him.”

“He—he won’t talk to me,” she said. “He has a restraining order against me. He’s isolated himself from my sister and my parents. He wants nothing to do with us.”

I didn’t know what to say to that. I broke up with him so he’d have his family back. If he was ignoring them, why didn’t he just come back to me?”

“Layla to
ld me you slept with him before you even knew he had money,” she said. “And I saw the check you wrote him on the kitchen table.”

“What’s your point?”

“I—I know you weren’t using him.”

“I’ve been saying that this entire time.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t believe you,” she whispered.

That didn’t mean anything to me. “If that’s why you came here, you can go.”

“I need your help,” she said with a trembling lip.

“I’m not going to do anything for you.”

“Please listen to me.” A tear fell down her cheek. “Tony said he wants nothing to do with me. He’ll only make an exception if you and I become friends again and I get you to take him back. If I don’t do that, I’ll never see him again.”

“He said that?”

She nodded.

I felt my heart start to beat again. He still wanted me. He still loved me.

“Please get back together with my brother. Please.”

“You don’t need to beg me,” I said. “I want him for the rest of my life.”

“Then please accept my apology and be my friend again.”

“That I can’t do…”

She wiped her tears away. “I’ll do anything, Cassie.”

“I can’t just forget what you did to me
. Stuff like that doesn’t just happen overnight.”

“Cassie, I was a total and complete bitch. I know I was. I regret everything I said and everything I did. I was so convinced that you wanted to hurt my brother that I went overboard. I was out of my mind. When it comes to my family, I can’t see straight. You know that better than anyone.”

I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Cassie, please just consider it.”

“That’s all I can give you.”

She nodded. “Thank you.”

I walked inside and grabbed my purse.

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“To get my boyfriend back.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“We’ll probably be taking each other’s clothes off. You might not want to do that,” I said.

“I just want to talk to him.”

“I can’t guarantee that he will.”

“I have to try,” she said.

We left my apartment and walked to his, neither one of us speaking. When I got to his floor, I ran to his door then banged my fists, unable to wait until he answered it. When he did, his eyes looked dark and sad. He looked thin, like he hadn’t been eating. And his hair was messy. He took a deep breath when he saw me.

The tears fell before I could even stop them. I jumped into his arms and held him as tight as I could. His arms wrapped around me and he sniffed, letting the emotion overcome him.

“I’m so glad you’re back,” he whispered.

I pulled away and kissed him. “Why didn’t you come get me?”

“You said I had to get my family back first. So that’s what I did. I gave Janet the same ultimatum she gave me. I’m glad it worked.”

I kissed his tears away and pressed my face close to his. “I’m sorry about everything. I should have just listened to you.”

“We’re together now. It doesn’t matter anymore.”

I closed my eyes and held onto him.

“Tony?” Janet asked.

He pulled away and looked at her. “What?”

“I held my end of the deal.”

Tony turned to me. “Do you forgive her?”

Janet took a deep breath and stared at me, silently begging me with her eyes. I shouldn’t forgive Janet for what she did to me, even if she had good intentions, but I had to do what was best for Tony. “Yes.”

Janet released the air in her lungs.

“I want to see you apologize to her,” Tony said. “And our relationship will never be the same. You have to earn my trust and friendship before we can put ourselves back together.”

She nodded. “Cassie, I’m sorry I put you through this. It was wrong. I was totally wrong about you.”

“It’s okay,” I said.

Tony looked at his sister. “You’re lucky Cassie is such a compassionate person.”

“I know I am,” she said. “I hope I can get my best friend back one day.”

I didn’t respond.

Tony placed his arm around my waist then rubbed his nose against mine. “We’ll talk to you later, Janet.”
              “Okay,” she said. “Can we get lunch tomorrow?”

Tony looked at her.

“All of us?’

“Cassie and I are going to be busy this week.”

“Oh…”

“But we’ll do something next week.”

She smiled. “Okay. I’ll see you later.” She left the apartment and closed the door behind her.

Tony turned back to me. “I’m sorry about everything.”

“I’m sorry too.”

“So, we’re both sorry?” he asked with a smile.

“I shouldn’t have given in to Janet.”

“No, you were right. Everything worked out in the end. Now I got my sister back, you got your friend back, and everything is okay.”

I sniffed and wiped my tears away. “It’s been hell without you.”

“Believe me. I know.”

I pressed my face against his chest and held it there.

“Move in with me.”

I felt my heart stop. “What?” I asked as I pulled away.

“Move in with me,” he repeated. “You’re the one. I know you are.”

“Are you sure?”

He smiled at me. “I can tell that your answer is yes just by looking into your eyes.”

I wiped my tears away. “I would love to live with you.”

He pulled me to his chest. “And I don’t care if my sister objects.”

“I’ll slap her if she does.”

He chuckled. “I don’t think she will. She knows she was wrong. And I know she’ll regret it for the rest of her life. This doesn’t justify what she did, but she was trying to protect me.”

“I know…”

“I’m glad you’re willing to forgive her. That must be hard for you.”

“It was,” I said. “But I would do anything for you.”

He grabbed my hips and pressed his face close to mine. “Let’s go in the bedroom.”

“And not come out for a week.”

“Or ever.”