Chapter 47: Good–Bye, Mr. Smith
Cassandra’s POV
I could tell by Jordyn’s expression that he genuinely had no clue about Ellie’s engagement dress. Heck, he didn’t even seem to know about the engagement, let alone the dress!
This surprised me. I honestly believed that Jordyn had deep feelings for Ellie. Ellie was lils first love. It seemed natural to me that marriage was the next step.
“I had no idea she ordered a dress. I mean, don’t get me wrong. I think I want to marry her, it’s just…” Jordyn started, but I held up my hand to stop him.
What was he doing? Did he really think I wanted to stand here and listen to him confide in me? About his wavering feelings for Ellie? I wanted to remind him that he’d cheated on me with lier. I’d shattered my heart in a hundred pieces with his betrayal. If he didn’t intend on marrying Ellie, then what had all this been for?
I wished I hadn’t tried to help. I regretted this entire conversation had thought I was the right thing to do, to let him know that maybe Ellie couldn’t be trusted. Bu but now I realized it wasn’t.
“When did she order the dress?” He looked lost, forlorn. For a moment, my heart twitched. He was clearly struggling with the news about the dress. I still found that hard to believe. There was obviously a pretty major communication break–down between Ellie and Jordyn. In her mind, they were already engaged. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was already planning her wedding invitations. Jordyn, on the other hand, seemed reluctant to be engaged, let alone married.
I got the feeling that maybe things weren’t so perfect in Jordyn’s life right now. Perhaps he was learning the hard way that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
But this wasn’t my problem. The way Jordyn felt, or didn’t feel, about Ellie was none of my business. I had to put an end to this conversation and separate myself all of this. The divorce papers were signed. I needed to focus on myself and my company. I didn’t need to be embroiled in Jordyn’s personal life any longer.
“This is a conversation you should be having with Ellie. Not me,” said firmly. He looked shocked for a moment. He studied my face. My expression was resolute. Then he nodded. I was shutting down this conversation and he could tell. “I have somewhere else to be,” I said. “As I’m sure you do, too. Good bye, Mr. Smith.‘
My voice was cold and I knew it. But what choice did I have? I wasn’t about to become Jordyn’s sounding board while he hashed out all his conflicted feelings over the woman he’d cheated on me with.
Besides, any minute now Ellie was going to walk in to the boardroom, and I didn’t want to be there when she did.
I left the boardroom and passed Ellie in the hall. She tossed me a look full of daggers. I ignored her and went straight for the elevator. But as I waited for the elevator, I couldn’t help but notice Jordyn and Ellie in the boardroom. Their body language told me they were in some sort of heated debate. It was probably about the engagement dress. Whatever. I didn’t want to be a part of their drama anymore.
My phone rang. It was Stella.
“I’m on my way down,” I said, figuring she was calling me to ask where I was. “I’m sorry I’m taking so long. I had to…”
“Cass?” She cut me off. Her voice was high and tight. I knew immediately that something was wrong. “It’s my mom. She’s fallen ill. I just found out. I…I have to go.”
My heart sunk. I could hear the panic in Stella’s voice. I didn’t know what was wrong with her mom, but it didn’t sound good. It took a lot to rattle Stella.
“Of course,” I said. “Go. I’ll take care of everything here. Don’t worry about a thing. Just focus on your mom.” The timing couldn’t have been worse. We had so much to do at Hot House Flower with the up–coming fashion show. But famil
es first
– always. I didn’t want Stella to worry about the company. She needed to be with her mom. “Honestly,” I told her. “I can handle the company.”
1/2
Chapter 47: Good Bye, Mr. Smith
+15 BONUS
“Thanks,” Stella said softly.
Text me when you get there, okay? And please drive safely,” I urged. Stella’s driving was sketchy at the best of times. I didn’t want her driving like a crazy person and getting in an accident.
“I will,” Stella said.
“Promise?” I asked.
“Promise,” she replied.
“Good. I’ll come see you both soon, okay? I love you. Go be with your mom.”
“Love you too, Cass. Talk soon.” Then she hung up.
I waited for the elevator, clutching my phone. Her mother had fallen ill? Poor Cassandra, I thought to myself. I sent out a little prayer that everything would be okay. The elevator doors opened and I was surprised to find the elevator empty. It was a large building and a busy time of day. The elevator was usually fairly full 417
I punched the lobby button and watched the elevator doors close. My mind was in a hundred different places. I never should have intervened in Jordyn’s personal life. I had to send out a notice to designers about our fashion show competition. And I was also really worried about Stella and her mother.
I started running ‘to do‘ lists through my head. But just then, the lights in the elevator flickered.
“That’s odd,” I thought to myself, but I’d barely finished the thought when the lights went out, plunging me into darkness.
