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.

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

"How did I do?"

Cassandra. Still revelling in the pleasure of putting Lionel in an uncomfortable position, Cassandra didn't notice that Rufus had

When she realized,

in the company knows the relationship

insecurity, and Rufus suddenly felt the urge to protect her. He knew she must being going through a difficult time.

"I do."

he was

okay that you know about

not the first time that Rufus had saved her from embarrassment, and for some reason she felt that she could be honest with him. No one else knew the relationship

Since you and I have such a

a different tone. That faint smile was playing on his lips

the workplace, and took a few

can't do

he had

he gazed 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 against the wall,