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.

his look, Cassandra followed Rufus as he left the room. Humiliated, Lionel slammed the door shut behind their retreating figures.

"How did I do?"

turned to Cassandra. Still revelling in the pleasure of putting Lionel in an uncomfortable position, Cassandra didn't

Cassandra a moment to realize what he meant. When she

the company knows the relationship between Lionel

the urge to protect

"I do."

gone from Rufus' face, and he was gazing straight at her

you

saved her from embarrassment, and for some reason she felt that she could be honest with him. No one else knew the relationship between Lionel and her, so

Since you and I

he said this, his voice taking on a different tone. That faint smile was playing on his lips again, and Cassandra feared that if he got any closer, he would be able to hear her

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

you can't do this

up at him as he had her backed up against

he gazed even deeper into her eyes. Then all of a sudden, the playful expression