Episode # 9:- “Unspoken Connections”

"Ma'am, I'm leaving," Hailey heard Abria's voice. "Okay, take care," Hailey replied. "You too," Abria said and left. Hailey kept busy and later left the office after picking up her things. It was around midnight when she reached her penthouse.

She came inside and looked around. "You both are awake till now?" she asked when she found Cassian and Caleb sitting in the lounge, maybe fully engrossed in their office files.

"Yeah," Caleb replied normally, but Cassian didn't answer and kept his focus on his file. "What happened to this Psychopath?" Hailey asked, and Caleb shrugged his shoulders. "Whatever," Hailey murmured and went towards her room.

She lazily walked towards her bed and put her bag there. Taking a deep breath, she went to the dressing table, picked up a hair tie, and tied her hair in a bun. She went towards her wardrobe and opened it, but a hand came and closed the door. Gripping her arm, he turned her around.

"Wha..." Hailey's words were left incomplete when Cassian pushed her against the wardrobe, keeping his hands on each side to prevent her escape. "Are you mad?" Hailey asked, but Cassian stood there with a stern look on his face.

"Let me go," Hailey tried to push him, but he held her hands and gripped them above her head firmly, not too tight but not too soft either. "Don't you ever dare ignore my calls again," Cassian exclaimed through gritted teeth.

"I've told you the cell phone was in the car. Leave me," Hailey tried to free her hands, but Cassian pushed her closer, now so near that Hailey could feel his breath on her face.

"Never repeat this mistake ever again," Cassian said. Hailey looked at his face, just a few centimeters away from hers. There was something in his eyes. "Fear?" Hailey thought and gave him a confused look.

"Are you afraid?" she asked, and Cassian came to his senses and released her. "Freshen up, then I'll redo your dressing," Cassian said and left. Hailey stood there for a while, then went to take a shower.

After changing her clothes, she went to the kitchen. She opened the fridge to look for something and found food already prepared by Jack. She took out the food, put it on a plate, and heated it in the oven. She settled down at the table in the kitchen. She lifted the spoon to her mouth but suddenly lost her appetite.

She set the spoon down and, taking a deep breath, pushed the plate away. She placed her elbows on the table and bent her head low, fisting her hair in both hands. Her eyes were closed when she felt something touch her lips. She opened her eyes and saw a spoon filled with food near her lips. She looked to her side and found Cassian there.

"No," Hailey said and turned her face away. "Rose," Cassian said softly. Hailey looked at him with narrow eyes but surprisingly opened her mouth. Cassian fed her silently. "I'm full," Hailey exclaimed, and Cassian looked at the plate.

"She hasn't even eaten half," he thought but said nothing and nodded. "I'll be right back," Cassian said. Hailey kept sitting there and came to her senses when Cassian returned with a first aid box.

He rebandaged her wound and noticed Hailey gazing at him, though he knew her mind was elsewhere. "What are you thinking?" Cassian asked, cupping her face. "My mind won't stop thinking until I get answers," Hailey said.

"What answers do you want?" Cassian asked, removing his hand from her face. He turned towards the fridge to take out a water bottle.

"Who is Cassian Holt? Why is he interested in me? What does he want from me? Why does he act as if I'm precious to him, even though we just met yesterday? I've never seen you before. The world doesn't even know what you look like, and here you are, standing in my house. First, you kept me there, and now you're both here. Why? Why did you save me from Adam Steve? What are you afraid of? Or is it something else? Why were you angry today when I couldn't answer your calls? Why did you make a contract with my company and ask for such a small thing in return? Nobody can get a contract with the Holt Group easily, yet here I am, sitting with this opportunity without doing anything. Why me?" Hailey asked, watching him stand with his back to her.

Cassian, standing near the window and gazing out, sipped water from the glass he was holding and turned around to face her.

Cassian locked eyes with Hailey, his face unreadable. He took a deep breath before speaking. "You ask many questions, Rose."

Hailey's eyes narrowed at the use of the name 'Rose' again, but she said nothing, waiting for his answers.

Cassian placed the glass on the counter and walked towards her. He stood in front of her. "I'll hide nothing from you, but I can't tell you right now," Cassian said, caressing her cheek. Hailey's face fell upon hearing this.

"At least one question you can answer," Hailey asked, and Cassian gave her a go-ahead look. "How did you manage to escape within seconds from the room in Caleb's house? It's not possible unless you're some kind of supernatural being," Hailey muttered, looking at him with a raised eyebrow.

"What if I say that I'm one of them?" Cassian asked in a teasing tone, and Hailey shot him a skeptical look. "Take it easy, tiger. The other room's balcony was attached to yours. You never came to that side, and every time you tried to look into the room first, so by that time, I always managed to escape from the other room," Cassian explained with a smirk. Hailey's mouth hung open in shock, processing his words.

"You mean to say, every time I was frantically searching for you, you were just slipping away through the balcony like some action movie hero?" she asked incredulously, still trying to wrap her head around it.

Cassian chuckled at her expression. "Something like that. It was amusing to watch you get so worked up," he admitted with a playful glint in his eyes.

"Okay, fine. Good night," she said angrily, slapping his hand away and storming off towards her room. Cassian chuckled at her antics, shaking his head with a fond smile. 

Hailey entered the room, took her medicine, and then went to the washroom to brush her teeth. She came out and frowned upon seeing Cassian on the bed, half-lying down with one hand behind his head and the other holding his cell phone.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Hailey exclaimed, crossing her arms over her chest.

"It's bedtime," Cassian replied nonchalantly.

"There are four other bedrooms in this penthouse. Go and sleep there," Hailey said, heading towards the dressing table.

"Nah, I'll sleep here in my Rose's room," Cassian replied, still engrossed in his cell phone. Hailey's mouth hung open in shock. She turned towards him abruptly, but he paid her no heed. She glared at him for a solid two minutes.

She flapped her hands in frustration but didn't have the energy left to argue. Cursing him under her breath, she came to her side of the bed, dimmed the light, and went under the covers, covering herself from head to toe.

"Your hands should be in your control," she said from under the covers.

"Can't promise," Cassian replied instantly. Hailey removed the cover from her face and threw the cushion lying beside her at him.

"Great, now I have to share my bed with a psychopath," she murmured, settling properly on her side. She had no mood to sleep on the couch, and she knew he wouldn't let her leave the room. So, it was better to sleep there.

Cassian came to his senses when the cushion hit his face. He was taken aback for a moment but then shook his head and eyed her, now fully covered. He got up and went to freshen up. After coming out, he went to switch off the light, but suddenly Hailey spoke.

"No," she said in a hurried tone. Cassian found her sitting on the bed, fidgeting with her fingers. "What happened?" Cassian asked.

"I...I," Hailey stopped, and Cassian gave her a questioning look.

"I'm afraid of the dark," she replied in a low, mostly embarrassed tone. Cassian frowned at this but then nodded.

"Don't be embarrassed. Everyone has some kind of fear," Cassian replied. Hailey didn't respond and just lay back down. He came and lay on his side, staring at the ceiling.

"When did you start having this fear of darkness?" Cassian asked.

Hailey stiffened but composed herself. "Don't know," she replied. Cassian knew she was lying but didn't push her further.

"Have you taken your medicines?" Cassian asked because she wasn't fully well.

"Yes," she replied.

Hailey's eyelids started getting heavy from tiredness. Cassian continued gazing at the ceiling, but suddenly he turned around and moved towards Hailey. He put his hand under the space between her neck and shoulder and encircled his arms fully around her body.

Hailey felt his movement but didn't have the energy to say anything and slipped into a deep slumber. Cassian pulled her closer, cocooning her fully with his body. Hailey, in her sleep, settled her head comfortably on his arm and slept.

Cassian kept his lips on her hair and gave her a chaste kiss. He took a deep breath and kept his properly over hers and closed his eyes.

To be continued...