A Graduation Gift

A heavy silence permeated the elevator. Cassandra glanced at the redness spreading over Rufus' hand, and felt her heart squeeze in pain.

She tried to keep the tears in her eyes from running down her face.

"Rufus… You… You asshole!"

The words burst from her. She struggled to get her emotions under control, barely noticing that her fingernails were dug into her palms. Her voice trembled with emotion.

Her reaction made Rufus's face soften.

He looked away from her, wanting to conceal the swirl of emotions in his nebulous eyes.

Each droplet of tears that escaped from her eyes splashed straight onto his heart.

His heart became heavier and heavier.

As soon as the lift doors opened, Cassandra rushed out. After a second Rufus realized that she was heading not toward the carpark, but towards the exit.

While he stood there stunned, Cassandra disappeared into the heavy rain.

He dashed to the main gate, but Cassandra was nowhere to be seen.

The swirling sky above him, was dark as ink. A traffic light stood out in the storm, a beacon in the night.

He stood for a second, and then spun back toward the carpark. Climbed into his car, he sped out of the building right away.

The car seared through the thundering weather; the wipers screeching hopelessly against the downpour. He peered through the rain, barely able to see the road. He had no idea how he would find Cassandra.

But Rufus was determined. Slowly, he circled around the block, driving back and forth for some time before finally spotting a bedraggled woman at the corner of the street.

She was huddled under a ledge outside of a darkened shop. The ledge barely kept the rain from her, with water lashing at her on either side.

As he parked the car and leapt out of the door, he saw her sitting on haunches and staring blankly at the rain.

He ripped his coat off and covered her with it.

He crouched down and put his arms around her, almost flinching as he felt how cold and drenched she was.

"What were you thinking? Do you know how severe this typhoon is?"

to keep the anger and fear out of his voice. The rain streamed across his face,

him. The tears streaming out of her eyes mingled with the rain pouring down her

the moment. She was almost knocked flat by

her eyes and mouth and entwining

cold had seeped deep into her flesh and

know where to turn. She needed to get away from Rufus, but she had nowhere to run

couldn't see a way forward. And she couldn't go back either. Cassandra

the rain, she tripped and fell to her knees. When she lifted her hands she found them covered

of how blue they were turning, and her body was trembling so much that she

how dangerous this weather would be. In desperation she ran to find some kind of shelter. This was when

but why did the sight of him not fill

he saw the frightened look on Cassandra's face.

you to tidy yourself up," the man ordered firmly.

Her eyes looked empty and unfocused, and she seemed to lack the strength

out a hand to wipe the water from her face, and nearly drew

you? I'm with you. Don't worry. It's okay,"

had never seen her look so much like a corpse, and the lifelessness in her eyes sent a chill down

close to him, he tried to use his body to

a little, and her eyes looked momentarily up

that he couldn't waste another second asking her how

arms, lifting her gently and cradling her head against his chest. He brought her carefully to the passenger seat of his car, buckled her in and brushed some of the hair out of her face. He wished

secret from his family, spending nights here at times instead of

simply but stylishly decorated, expensive but not luxurious. It was spacious, but tidy and well-maintained. Cassandra wondered why Rufus would have such a secret

dried on Cassandra's face, but her body still trembled all

that she had just recently come out of the hospital, and feared that her time in the rain would make her sick again. His heart hammered

run out in the rain like that? What, not even a typhoon could

could feel the warmth in the gentle way that he handled

not move, he respectfully helped her peel off

her; she gradually

'Oh no...' she

trickled some water over

to return to her face, and as the mirrors steamed up in the room, a blush rose to

spoke softly, "I

head back to look at the man behind her. Rufus just

firmly resist. He would definitely take the chance to

many women who would love this kind of treatment from him, but he