Chapter 3

  The scenes were fast after Cassandra and John met again. Robert still has no idea what could be going on between the two and they don't have the interest to tell him about it.

Robert said, " So as you can see, we need your help on this. My life and Cassandra's are in big trouble if we won't move now. 

John said, " What do you want me to do?

Robert said, " I want to know if you are willing to work for us first. I apologize if this was so sudden, I know that you are taking a break for a while from taking such cases.

John said, " It's okay, sir. You need my help and I'm more than willing to lend a hand.

  Cassandra was fidgeting with her fingers as she looked at the two gentlemen in front of her. 

Cassandra said, " Dad...

Robert said, " What now, Cassandra?

Cassandra said, " I just want to know... how did you meet him...

Robert said, " You shouldn't be afraid to call John by his first name, I'm sure he wouldn't mind. Right, detective?

John said, " Yes.

  Cassandra moves closer to his father and whispered to him.

Cassandra said, " Do you think that we could trust him?

Robert said, " Dont be like that, we should give him a chance.

Cassandra said, " Are you sure?

Robert said, " Yes. He is a professional let us give him a chance. If you are not comfortable with him. Then we would find another private detective.

Cassandra said, " Okay!

  The room fell into a deep silence as Robert released a heavy breath. He seriously gazed at the man on the office chair while he formulated some plans in his head. Cassandra just agreed with his father's decision.

Robert said, " John, since you agreed to work for us.  I want you to do me a favor.

John said, " Yes sir, whatever it is. 

Robert said, " I want you to take Cassandra to the countryside and live with her forever as I try to fix some matters here.

John said, " Oh sure! You can expect that I'd do my best to take care of your daughter--

Cassandra said, " What?! Dad, no!

Robert said, " It's for your safety, Cassandra.

Cassandra said, " There's no way that I would want to live with him.

  Robert raised his eyebrows as he heard his daughter's response. Cassandra immediately felt awkward when she noticed how her father didn't say anything.

Cassandra said, " I-I mean, I don't want to live with him because I don't want to leave you alone here. It's dangerous! Dad, if ever I'll leave, I want you to come with me--

Robert said, " No, you better save yourself, Cassandra.

Cassandra said, " But how about you?

Robert said, " I can manage. Besides, I still have some business to do here and I just can't leave them all that easy because everything will be going to be a mess.

Cassandra said, " Everything is already a mess Dad--

Robert said, " Cassandra, just listen to me. Alright? 

Robert said, " Go with John. Leave. Run. Hide. Do whatever it takes to get away from here. I'll be texting all the maids to get your stuff ready, you'll be living exactly tomorrow morning.

Cassandra said, " B-But--

Robert said, " I don't want to hear anymore. I've already made up my mind.

  Cassandra was devastated but in the end, she had no choice but to follow her father even if she did not trust the man his father choose.

  The next morning, she and John immediately drove to the countryside to stay in a remote area. 

John said, lightly, "Your face seems to be telling something."

"What?" Cassandra answered sharply, clearly irritated.

"Are you not excited to be in the countryside?" In an effort to lighten the situation, John inquired.

"How could I be excited if I am with you?" Sarcasm tinged Cassandra's response.

"Calm down!" In an attempt to diffuse the tension, John pleaded.

"I still don't understand why my father picked you to be a private investigator," Cassandra said, her annoyance evident.

"Perhaps because he recognized my potential," John optimistically said.

"Whatever!" Cassandra waved her hand dismissively at his explanation.

"Come on, just take in the view outside the car," John said, pointing to the passing landscape.

Cassandra fired back, her irritation obvious, "I won't be able to enjoy the nature of the countryside if the person next to me is irritating."

"My intention was not to cause you discomfort," John sincerely apologized.

"Just shut up!" Cassandra lost her temper and snapped.

  Cassandra just put on her AirPods and listen to some music while enjoying the view outside of the car. Until they reached a farm house that belongs to his family of John for years.

John said, " Here we are!"

Cassandra said, " I can't believe this is happening right now. My life's a living hell! I cannot!"

John said, " Well, but staying here is for your betterment. "

Cassandra said, " I-- well, I guess I could stay here but I never visioned that I would live with you.

John said, " That goes the same with me. It's not like I want to live with you under the same roof and pretend like we're married.

  Cassandra almost got choked with air when she heard what John had just said.

Cassandra said, " Ew! What'd you just say?"

John said, " Do you want me to repeat it? Don't worry, it also disgusts me as much as how it disgusts you."

Cassandra said, " Then why did you even say it?"

John said, " Your father, he told me that he wants us to act like a married couple for your safety.

Cassandra said, " What? How does that even connect to my messed-up situation right now? You're making that up, aren't you?"

  John clenched his jaw as he didn't hesitate to show Cassandra the message that Robert just texted him. 

Cassandra said, " But why? That's just nonsense!"

John said, " While you're here, we're going to slightly distort your identity, you might even start changing your style or your hair--

Cassandra said, " There's no way I'd cut my hair!"

John said, " I didn't say that you need to cut it. "

  John released a deep sigh.

John said, " Maybe try to wear a wig?"

Cassandra said, " Are you trying to be funny?"

John said, " I bet my face says otherwise."

Cassandra said, " Nevermind, I'm just wasting my time talking to you anyways, I don't even know why my dad accepted you to work for us."

  John didn't try to say anything and just focused on unpacking the things that they brought with them. It instantly made Cassandra angry.

Cassandra said, " I don't get why we need to put up an act when it was clear that no one knows me here. 

Cassandra said, " You know that we don't need to follow my dad sometimes, right?

John said, " We need to. I'm sure he knows what he's doing that's why he wants us to go and act that way. 

Cassandra said, " And you don't have any problem with that?

John questioned, " No?"

Cassandra said, " What do you mean no? You just can't answer my question with another question."

John said, " Working with you just screams a lot of benefits, Cassandra. That's why even though it's hard, I would just try to make myself numb from all your tantrums." 

Cassandra said, " W-What...

John said, " If I wasn't Sir loyal to Sir Robert as someone who works for him, I won't surely help and be with you now."