A Graduation Gift

The faint smile on Rufus's handsome face, gave him a more relaxed look.

Michelle didn't leave with the two, and was picked up by a deep green Land Rover.

Cassandra bit her lower lip as she got in the passenger seat, fumbling for the safety belt.

For some inexplicable reasons, she felt so nervous that she couldn't plug the belt in. Sweat was formed on the tip of her nose.

Rufus found it amusing, and the smile on his face widened to a glee. He turned towards Cassandra and lowered his head to help her with the belt. They were so close that Rufus's warmth made the little woman blush.

When he was upright again, he found the mild redness on Cassandra's face so alluring. Under the dim light of the car, her skin looked pure white. Her glow attracted him even more.

"Luckily Michelle was there. Or else I wouldn't even know how to deal with them," Cassandra started, breaking the romantic atmosphere.

As she remembered playing mahjong with the ladies in the high class, Cassandra pitied herself for she realized that she lacked skills in socializing.

"Michelle is older than you. Surely she is more experienced. She has lots of connections. If you make friend with her, you can learn from her in the future," Rufus stated.

He had arranged the session, especially for Cassandra. She could remind the ladies of the Tang Group and potentially build up the profile of the company. This was also a good chance to build her own connections and widen her network, which would most likely be useful for her career development.

There was no doubt in her technical skills. The four years of studying in Rome had definitely equipped her with the necessary knowledge to do her job well. The only problem that she had was that she didn't know many people in G City. Cassandra was not a people person, which was parallel in significance with skills when it came to business.

Now he purposely created the chance for her to establish more connections and associations so that her road to the higher level would be easier. After all, one more friend meant one more opportunity.

Cassandra's repeated rejections made him more determined to protect her, in a way that she would accept—the independent woman wouldn't want to rely on him.

Rufus wanted to protect her perseverance, her helplessness, and everything about her.

Abruptly, Cassandra's phone rang. It was from Edith. Curious at the rare call, she asked, "Mom, what happened?"

The person from the other end of the line couldn't stop herself from weeping. In a voice mixed with crying and shouting, she told Cassandra, "Cassandra! You dad has been whistle-blown! They say he bribed officials! He was taken away by the people from the prosecution for investigation!"

The words cast a gloomy shadow over Cassandra. She could see nothing except for darkness. With her entire body trembling, she muttered, "Mom… You… Just wait for me. I… I'm coming back now."

Barely able to control the shaking of her hands, she failed to grip the phone, which dropped onto the car floor with a loud thud.

"What happened?"

Rufus asked with so much worry and concern, as he sensed that something was wrong with Cassandra.

arrested for bribery," Cassandra

surge of hopelessness crept up from the bottom of her heart and diffused through her entire body.

be scared!" Rufus affirmed.

scooped the trembling woman and gave her

her back up and down,

ability to speak now. All she was left with was

the man slowly whispered in her ear to assure her.

an effort to show his determination, the cuddle became even

home," the absent-minded

her lungs and the bottom of her throat. When she finished the sentence, her brain felt like it was

go with you!" Rufus

engine and

the north. During the few hours of the journey, Cassandra sat up still with her

Vernon—when

his love to his

these huge sorrowful memories had shrunken into a tiny speck at this moment when her father was in a huge

could recall, at the age of five, she was sent to a small town by her parents, to live with an old granny.

leave me alone in this

the questions hovering in her mind every day. Cassandra had always wanted to dig out the answer. Yet every time she saw the unsmiling face of her father, she would bury

on her bed, feeling abandoned

no idea of how many times the little girl on the small bed right beside her had wetted her pillow in

mature; she was an introvert; and she refused to talk.

had drawn all her wishes on paper, which she hid

father didn't love her. That was why he was so indifferent to her. Only once in a while, her parents would come to visit her, and take her to the stores in town to buy her favorite

Her little hand was only able to grab on his

they walked on the narrow paths of the small town. Even though her father was not like other fathers who were really close to their kids, she still enjoyed his love at

waved, roared, and smashed her heart over and over

he would be gone, how could the company of the Qin family survive?

her life. If Vernon would be

to her father. Cassandra now felt that her soul had separated from her body and drifted away. She

tense as he focused on

to refuel his

want you to get all the needed information no matter what

face turned grim. 'The only asset Vernon has is an almost-broke company. Bribery? With what he possesses, who could