A Graduation Gift

"She's my wife!"

Lionel completely lost his temper as he saw that Rufus had saved Cassandra from embarrassment yet again.

He had borne a grudge against Rufus ever since the man came into the Tang Group. Lionel could not believe that this man - a bastard - had taken his place, and every intimacy between Rufus and Cassandra reminded him that he was being replaced. Rufus couldn't fool him. Lionel believed that his brother coveted his wife.

"Careful, Lionel. Don't forget where we are,"

said Rufus with a faint smile. Compared to his seething brother, Rufus radiated calm. Lionel understood the subtle warning.

This was in the Tang Group, and Rufus was his superior. The icy silence between them seeped through the office, as the brothers sat with their eyes locked on one another.

"Lionel, did you forget about our lunch date? Let's go before the cafe gets too busy!"

The tension was broken with the graceful appearance of the woman, who laid a hand on Lionel's shoulder. Her eyes grazed automatically over Rufus, and she smiled slyly.

Rufus met her gaze for a second. "I have some businesses to discuss with my subordinate," he said as he nodded to Cassandra, "so I'm afraid we'll have to leave now. Hope you have a good day, my vice president."

Rufus looked in Lionel's eyes as he accentuated the words 'vice president'. Then he turned his eyes to Cassandra.

left the room. Humiliated, Lionel

"How did I do?"

suddenly and turned to Cassandra. Still revelling in the pleasure of putting Lionel in an uncomfortable position, Cassandra didn't notice that Rufus had stopped walking. She nearly

Cassandra a moment to realize what he meant. When she realized, she turned

in the company knows the relationship

felt the urge to protect her. He

"I do."

up, Cassandra found that the grin was gone from Rufus' face, and he was gazing straight at her with an intensity that made her heart beat faster.

you know

could be honest with him. No one else knew the relationship between Lionel and her, so

and I have such

voice taking on a different tone. That faint smile was playing on his lips again, and Cassandra feared that if

were in the workplace, and took a few steps back, in case anyone

can't

had her backed up against the wall.

even deeper into her eyes. Then all of a sudden, the playful expression melted from his face. He reached past her to place one hand