Chapter 4

"Sylvia, can you prepare all the files on the SCB deal and have it on my desk by tomorrow?", Cassie asked her secretary over the phone.

"Of course, Miss Cassie. It will be on your desk by tomorrow morning", Sylvia answered.

"Ok, thank you. Also,for the Under 30 gala tomorrow can you prepare a dress for me? I know it's short notice but is it possible?", Cassie asked her.

"Of course, It'll all be arranged by early tomorrow morning", Sylvia answered.

"Alright, thank you Sylvia", Cassie said and ended the call.

She let out a deep breath as she replayed the conversation with her father in her head. She was anxious about undertaking a task as big as this. She was a competent worker, everyone knew that. She had undertaken and accomplished big tasks, cinched big deals for the company before, and won over even the toughest of partners but still, she had never done something as huge as this before. A small part of her mentally slapped herself for agreeing to this at all, what if she couldn't pull it off? She might have been losing her father's favor a little now because of the broken engagement to Carter but if she failed at this or worse the deal ended up in the hands of Turner Enterprises, everything she had been working for all these years would come to nothing because she would lose her father's favor completely.

That's why you shouldn't fail, she whispered to herself.

The Iveas project was hers, she had worked so hard on it over the last few years and she refused to hand it over on a platter to Elizabeth who everyone knew didn't even take her work seriously just because she was no longer engaged to a cheating scum of a man.

"What are you doing?", a high-pitched feminine voice asked and Cassie groaned inwardly.

She turned around to see Elizabeth standing there.

"What do you want?", Cassie asked.

"Are you here to steal something from me again? I don't think I have anything else you can take from me, you've already taken my father and now my fiance" " she told her spitefully, all the anger she felt bubbling to the surface again.

"Unless of course, you want to take my life, I think that's the only thing of mine you have yet to steal", she said as she turned around to leave.

"You should just give up", Elizabeth said, causing Cassie to pause.

"The Iveas project, you should just give it up", she clarified and Cassie turned to look at her.

Elizabeth scoffed.

"I mean what are you trying to prove? Taking on the SCB deal? Don't you think you are being over confident?", she said snidely.

"Maybe", Cassie shrugged.

"But I don't see how it's any of your business. I'll either succeed or fail but the one thing I refuse to do is hand over a project I have worked so hard on without a fight", Cassie said firmly.

"I liked him first, you know", Elizabeth said and Cassie blinked at her, confused.

"Carter, I liked him first. But then you went ahead and dated him, do you know how utterly frustrating it was?", she asked Cassie spitefully.

Cassie looked at her with an incredulous expression.

"So you liked him first? Did you ever tell him? Did you ever make a move? You seethed with this jealousy for years. And what? You thought it was alright to have an affair with your sister's fiance because you think you have some rights to him because you liked him first?", Cassie asked her then scoffed.

"You are sicker in the head than I gave you credit for", she told her.

"I feel sorry for you", Cassie whispered before turning around and leaving Elizabeth seething in her anger and throwing a tantrum.

The Next Day

45 minutes before the Under 30 gala.

Cassie looked at herself in the mirror and nodded in approval. It was short notice but Sylvia had done an excellent job with the dress. It was a long evening gown in red color with a slit on the side. The red of the dress contrasted beautifully with her pale skin. She paired it off with an emerald necklace and a pair of emerald earrings that complemented her eyes and made them sparkle somewhat. She had her chocolate brown hair down in long waves past her shoulder and she finished the entire look with a green designer purse. She looked stunning if she could say so herself. She took a deep breath and as she stared at herself in the mirror, she repeated the words,

"You can do it. You are a success"

It was her words of affirmations to calm down her anxiety. Satisfied, she headed downstairs, her driver was already waiting for her with the car parked at the entrance. She slid in and they were off to the gala.

At the gala, Cassie walked the red carpet first, posing for pictures and then answering a few questions from the press before going inside to the main event. She looked around the ballroom, businessmen, and women of different caliber all gathered, but all of them were under 30. Despite the dancing music that was being played, the dance floor was practically empty. Almost everyone was on the sidelines, talking and networking in general. That was why Cassie herself had come. Most of the attendees for this event would all be vying for the SCB deal as well. This was the perfect opportunity to scope out the competition. Although Turned Enterprises was her main problem, it wouldn't hurt to know about the others to avoid any surprises. So putting on her most professional and pleasant smile, Cassie picked up a glass of champagne and walked over to a small circle on the left side of the room. She recognized one of their business partners, Mr. Sealey, in the group.

"Miss Monroe", Mr. Sealey called when he noticed Cassie.

"Mr. Sealey, good evening", Cassie greeted with a pleasant smile before greeting the other men as well, they all responded with a smile as well.

"What a lovely surprise. You're present here, apart from the fact you're under 30, you must be vying for the SCB deal, that's why you're here, isn't it? Otherwise, why else would we be blessed by your", he teased and the other men chuckled.

"Aren't we all?", Cassie replied with a courteous smile.

"Indeed", Mr. Sealey agreed with a smile.

"Ninety percent of the people here have come to scope out their competition for the deal. I would have loved to try for it as well but alas my company could not handle a deal that big", he said.

"Is that?", one of the men suddenly exclaimed in surprise and everyone turned to him.

Mr. Sealey followed his gaze.

"What a surprise, it is", Mr. Sealey said.

"Damon Turner, I can't believe he attended", another man said and Cassie's ears pricked up at the name.

She immediately followed their gaze. She had never really seen Damon Turner, he was a very private person who hardly granted interviews. Her eyes fell on the man who had now completely captured the attention of everyone in the room. When she saw his face, images from two nights ago suddenly flashed in her head and her eyes widened in shock.

What in the actual fuck?