A Graduation Gift

When his secretary finished, Lionel squinted his eyes, moping.

His secretary knew the relationship between Cassandra and Lionel. Lionel, who had stamped with rage, now suddenly became quiet. He stood there, pulling his vexed expression together. He didn't say a word because he seemed to have something on his mind.

"When, exactly?" he asked.

Lionel barely made it to the sofa by the French window, then plopped his tired body onto it. It was impossible to guess how he was feeling because his voice had gone soft.

"8 o'clock tonight,"

the secretary replied. Now she finally had the courage to lift her head to look at Lionel, but cautiously with fear.

Lionel asked no more. He stretched his arms to both sides of the sofa. He seemed to think deeply about something or even be contriving some sort of plot.

The night was especially dark. But as a white Bentley drove to the airport, neon lights lit up the roadways, and the whole city sparkled and dazzled with life.

Cassandra had been notified to get into Rufus's car when she got done with work. She got in and sat in the back seat with him. She didn't have time to change out of her business suit into something more casual.

On her lap was a mess of business files. She read them, straining her eyes, using the lights outside the car to help her read. She squinted a lot to catch key words. Rufus had fired the relevant staff. Since she was not involved in this project, she now had to fit herself in and get familiar with the case.

Rufus relaxed beside her, looking dashing as always. He fixed his gaze on Cassandra, who was quietly absorbed in the documents. He didn't disturb her. He just sat there, watching her quietly.

She seemed to sense his burning gaze, so she lifted her head. When their eyes met, she felt an immediate, irresistible palpitation of her heart.

To break the uncomfortable gaze, she darted her eyes to view the scenery outside the window. 'Why can't I focus when Rufus is sitting next to me?' she thought.

"Are you afraid to be with me on a business trip?" Rufus blurted out.

closer to her. His low, magnetic voice lingered in her mind, making her

at all. It's just a business

to make herself look fearless. Subconsciously, she started to

Just ask me anything you want to

in such a small car. Cassandra let out a long-held breath at

at its hypnotic rhythm. Rufus reveled in watching her obvious bliss and didn't say a word. Though

a woman were lying on a dark red king-size bed. The constant seductive groans and

You seem

Lionel's arms. Tonight, Lionel seemed especially agitated. He seemed to need to blow off some steam.

an affair with Rufus," Lionel

anger, Lionel remembered that Cassandra was going on a business trip with Rufus this evening. He suddenly broke out in a gust of anger

to brim with curious, radiating vigor. Then she said playfully, "Are you jealous? To be honest, Cassandra is really good at this kind of thing. Rufus just

Lionel's flames and his anger mounted. His raised his voice, "I refuse to be jealous for a woman like her. Even I won't lower myself to have sex with her, but that doesn't mean that she has any

in anger. He would never forgive Rufus for humiliating him at the meeting today. He would take his

He probably just does it to humiliate you on purpose, to make you frustrated in your business dealings. And perhaps he wants to use Cassandra to hurt

words had hidden meanings, which contrasted

Lionel

to think things through,

radiant smile, leaned toward him and opened her mouth to whisper into

pitch black, and thick as a tree shadow where there was no slight gap of light. A sudden whooshing of the wind brought faint flashes of city light, but soon the night turned as black as

flight, Cassandra and Rufus arrived at the hotel that had already been booked for them for this

dozed off on the way

mouth slightly open. He could hear and feel her feeble