CHAPTER 7

  There was a brawl, the craziness of it all adding to the stress and danger in the air.

"Be careful. Cassandra sounded an urgent warning, "They might shoot you."

"Keep your back in mind. "They could potentially murder you as well," John retorted, his intuition keen as he looked around them.

John and Cassandra were in the center of the fighting, watching out for each other's security in the midst of the mayhem.

"On your back!" With a roar that broke through the fighting clamor, Cassandra spoke.

"Nice shot!" John exclaimed, his attention fixed firmly.

"Thank me later," Cassandra chuckled, her resolve clear in her tone.

"There is someone on your back," John said in an agitated voice.

"What?" When Cassandra turned and realized she was in grave danger, her uncertainty was evident.

Before Cassandra could respond, John drew her into him, protecting her from the impending bullet.

"What the hell?" As Cassandra was drawn into John's protective hug, her shock was clear.

John said calmly, "You can also thank me later," in spite of the turmoil all around them.

"Don't touch me!" Cassandra resisted, pushing against John's embrace and making it clear that she was uncomfortable.

With a calm yet firm tone, John pleaded, "Just come closer," their relationship solidified in the heat of combat.

Cassandra tried to resist by being pulled closer to John. She could not do anything. When Cassandra was almost shot in the arm, John pulled her even closer. Resulting to that them kissing accidentally.

  With a voice full of shock and bewilderment, Cassandra spoke. "What the hell?"

"I'm sorry!" John quickly apologized, his voice full of regret.

"I apologize. You just gave me a fucking kiss," Cassandra's voice rose in outrage as she spoke, her words tinged with rage.

John reacted, "I did not mean that to happen," his voice strained with earnestness.

"Do you think it would just accidentally happen?" Cassandra's tone was accusing, belying her seeming doubt.

"Yes!" John answered right away, his voice laced with annoyance.

"Stop your nonsense! With her rage erupting, Cassandra charged, "You did that on purpose."

"Look, I apologize. It happened by mistake. My intention was not to kiss you. John pleaded for understanding in the midst of the pandemonium, saying, "I just pulled you closer because you were about to get shot in the arm."Kevin heard some noise so he immediately rushed to see who was it.

Kevin said, " What is that noise?

   " He came and see who was it. But there is no one, but only John and Cassandra were kissing.

Kevin said, " What the?

John said, " You were almost shot to death. That is why I pulled you closer to me. It does mean that I wanted to kiss you, I can't let you get shot and died.

Cassandra said, " Next time. Dont do it again, or else I would kill you in an instant.

Kevin said, " What is happening in here?

John said, " Wha-t?

Kevin said, " Why the two of you is kissing?

John said, " I pulled her closer to me so that she won't get shot in the shoulders. But I accidentally kissed her when I pushed her too hard toward me.

Kevin said, " Think before you do it, John!

John said, " Im sorry! I did not mean to do it.

Cassandra said, " Next time think!

   The situation between the two of them is awkward since it is seen by Kevin. But they still react normally around him.

John sighed heavily , " We need to kill the assassins.”

Kevin said, " Who?

Cassandra said, " They already retreat!”

 " What?”John looked around to see if the assassins had retreated.

John uttered, "What caused the retreat?

"That is exactly what I wanted to ask," Cassandra remarked.

"Perhaps they got scared or they got another order," Kevin remarked.

But they wanted us dead earlier," Cassandra remarked. However, they are now departing as though they had not nearly killed us.

"They won't easily back out," John remarked. if someone failed to give them instructions.

"But what is the reason they might retreat?" Cassandra said. Why would their master or their employer order them to back off in the middle of a fight?

John remarked, "They nearly killed us." Their mission was nearly accomplished. But while everything was still unfinished, they would depart right away. 

  When they were sure that the assassins were no longer in there. They quickly left the place. On the way, John keeps apologizing.

John's regret was evident as his apology lingered in the air. "I'm sorry."

"Please don't tell me that. The person you kissed is not me." Kevin answered sharply, his unease evident in his tone.

"I have apologized to her numerous times," John asserted, clearly displaying his annoyance.

"Just give her repeated apology after apology. It was not my fault; it was yours. And you didn't do anything to me, but you did something to Cassandra," Kevin shot back, breaking the ice.

"I apologize. John said, "I did not mean for that to happen," and he was truly sorry.

"Next time, you can just push me away from you. But don't pull me closer to you next time. I don't want our lips to collide again," Cassandra interjected, her voice firm as she asserted her boundaries.

"Once we reach the place, I would immediately tell everything to Robert and find a new private investigator. Because it seems like the private investigator that he found was taking advantage of his daughter," Kevin declared, his resolve unwavering as he planned their next steps.

John said, " What? I did not take advantage of Cassandra. It was just an accident.

Kevin said, " Just tell Robert the time that we reached the place.

John said, " No.

Kevin said, " I would tell him, and you can stop me from telling Robert.

John said, " I did not even do something bad. It was just an accident. Why are you even making that such a big deal?

Kevin said, " That is a big deal because you had taken advantage of Robert's daughter.

John said, " How many times do I have to tell you that it was just all an accident?

Kevin said, " Then tell that to Robert, not me. Because Cassandra is Robert's daughter, not mine.

John said, " Just dont tell him. Then we won't need to discuss this topic further.

Kevin said, " You can not stop me from telling Robert.

 John behaves unusually when disagreeing with Kevin. While Cassandra could not handle them fighting together so she cut them out.

Cassandra said, " We would keep you under two conditions.

Kevin said, " Cassandra, we should find another private investigator. Your father won't be happy if he knows that you are being taken advantage of.

Cassandra said, " It was all an accident. Because he wanted to save my life. But I did not want what he did, but we can't change the fact that it was all an accident.

Kevin said, " But---.

Cassandra said, " Shut up! John if you wanted us to keep you as our private investigator. We would have two conditions.

John said, " What is it?

Cassandra said, " One, tell us everything about your findings. Second, why are so smitten about this case?

John became silent after hearing the conditions.

 Is that how you're feeling? I had assumed he would be very far away from you. In order to prevent him from exploiting you once more," Kevin said, his worry palpable in his voice.

Indeed! Never challenge my rules. I am not under your authority. You are also only employed by my father," Cassandra shot out, clearly frustrated.

Kevin firmly reminded her, "Your father ordered me to keep you safe."

"Does that include telling me what I should do?" Cassandra posed a problem.

"No, Ma'am," Kevin quickly answered.

"Then please keep your mouth shut," Cassandra ordered, establishing her dominance.

"Noted! Ma'am," Kevin nodded in agreement.

"Alright, John. Do you think the two requirements are acceptable, or should we look for another private investigator?" Unwavering in her stance, Cassandra turned to face John.

"Can you change your condition?" John asked, seeming hesitant.

Cassandra firmly said, "No," her determination unwavering.

 John took a deep breath and tried to think carefully. If he would reveal everything to Cassandra about his findings.

Cassandra's tone was stern as she pressed John for answers. "Would you tell me everything you know or not? I could just call my father now and tell him everything you did to me. That is taking advantage of me."

"But I do not take advantage of you," John defended himself, his tone earnest.

"Then tell me?" Cassandra implored, her voice softening slightly as she sought the truth.

"If that is the condition, I found out that there is a mole on Mr. Robert's side, a trusted one. That is also the reason why I was so curious about this case," John confessed, his words laden with significance.