02 | Being Kassidy Louis

Riri had only ever seen pictures of him. Kassidy had a couple of pictures taken at parties and she recognised him from those photos. In the diary, she found several pictures of him and Kassidy together, they looked like good friends on the outside but only a few knew how their relationship actually was.

She had decided to steer clear of him. She would die because of him and she didn't want that. Ergo, no Wang Lou, no death.

But seeing him in front of her made her jaw go slack. Every part of him seemed to have been chiseled to perfection- perfect high cheekbones, thin soft lips. He was towering over her despite her wearing heels, and mind you Kassidy was already tall.

Black orbs bore into her green ones, perhaps expecting her to initiate conversation. However, she just kept her head high and walked past him, as if she had never noticed him.

Well, that's what she tried to do anyway. A cold hand firmly clasped itself around her small one, holding her in place. Pausing, she turned around and raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Lou, you'll have to refrain being so physical with me or people might get the wrong impression."

He didn't say anything but let her hand free. He rolled up the sleeves of his pristine new suit and folded his hands in front of him. "Kassidy, I was hoping we could talk?"

What the heck? Did he just roll up his sleeves to seduce me with his arms? What was the point?

Clearing her throat, she shook her head. "No, I'm afraid I have somewhere to be. If it's really important, you could make an appointment. However, if it is regarding your deal in... " Oh, god. What was the place's name?I just read it in Kassidy's diary this morning... oh, got it! "Vivera, I'm afraid I cannot be of any help unless you hire me professionally." And we both you can't afford me, I'm too expensive for you.

Despite being the eldest son and quite capable, his resources were limited by his father who believed that limiting Wang Lou's resources would make him realise the effort that goes into making money. So, Wang Lou was actually quite poor in comparison to her.

A flash of surprise was seen in his eyes and before he could retaliate, she said goodbye and left the building.

She walked for a good ten minutes before stopping and looking behind- there was nobody. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she leaned against the wall, looking down at her hands.

They were trembling.

Weak. Pathetic.

Gritting her teeth, she fisted her hands and walked to the parking. She couldn't be so weak. Riri wasn't Kassidy to be a lovesick puppy behind Wang Lou, especially since she knew that he would be the cause of her death.

But she couldn't deny that the man had a strong effect on her. It wasn't love.

Unbeknownst to her, a figure was silently observing her as she got into the car and drove away.

So, that's the girl Wang Lou is behind.

He couldn't help but smile at the thought. Looks like the Brestige heiress didn't like him as much Wang Lou thought she did.

—

Living as Kassidy Louis for even half a day was horrible. She felt remorseful for every decision she had to take; a poisonous jab rested at the tip of her tongue every time someone tried to pull her down. She had to prove that everything she was doing would result in profit. Any sign of weakness would make her pathetic.

In short, it felt she was standing on top a bus which was being attacked by zombies.

By the end of the day, she had a severe headache, shoe bites from the annoying heels she wore, a back which hurt from being straight all the time.

Riri sighed, rubbing the temples of her head. There was only one last thing left on the agenda and that was to have dinner with her, no, Kassidy's mom.

Forcing herself to walk to the dining room, she planted herself on one of the comfortable chairs and waited.

Kassidy's mother arrived shortly with two secretaries in tow. She was listing off things and the secretaries were rapidly jotting them down in a book.

Evelynn Brestige was a beautiful woman- thick luscious black hair flowed down her back, her eyes were like the sky on a cloudy day yet so clear at the same time. Her red lips were hooked up in a smile that seemed venomous but at the same time added to her beauty.

Riri would have never guessed that Evelynn would be a mother, she looked younger than what she was. Besides, the woman could definitely wear heels better than she did anyway.

"That would be everything." Everlynn gracefully sat down all the while dismissing the two men behind her with a flick of her hand. When she turned to look at her daughter, her confident smile turned into a tired one, the tension in her shoulders released and she sighed.

"How was your day, darling?"

"It was good. How was yours?"

"As usual," she gulped down some wine. "I'm told that the young master of the Lou family approached you with a buisiness deal?"

"Yes, but I turned him down." She shrugged. "I still haven't properly announced my presence in the business world and it definetly will not be by doing the dirty work of the son of the bastard who climbed to the top by screwing others over." Riri surprised herself by saying what she did but she did mean it.

There was silence before Evelynn set down her wine glass. "If you were talking about anything else, I would have slapped you. But this is business, Kassy. And mind you, while others are allowed to think like that you most certainly are not. You are supposed to figure out how to twist it to your advantage. You are never to loose your morals."

Kassidy nodded. "As you say, mother."

"And be careful, darling." She put her hand on top of Kassidy's. "You have approached the age where generally you'll be traded into another family through marriage. Make no mistake, that will be your future- a marriage of convince but with a decent guy who at least knows how to treat a woman properly."

"Mother, I'm pretty sure father was the only one like that." It was true, she had looked it up and even the pictures in Evelynn's study, he seemed to have loved her a lot and spoiled her rotten.

Unfortunately, he is dead. And so I will be if I become too close with that bastard.

But she wondered why his pictures were only there in her study and no where else in the house.

"And there will be other men like him. There will also be predators waiting to take advantage, to fool you. Falling in love is a risk which you can't afford until you're absolutely sure it'll be safe."

"I know. You've been reminding me about that my entire life. It's sort of hard not to forget that." The words were spoken but Riri wasn't the one that thought them. It was as if her mouth had a mind of it's own. "But why are you suddenly bringing all this up?"

Sighing, she leaned back into the seat. "Mary, would you go bring the food please?"

The only person besides them in the room, the maid, bowed and left the room.

"Tomorrow onwards, you'll be working as the secretary to the eldest son of Gabriel Maren, Leo who also happens to be a CEO at his father's company. Nobody knows you're an heiress, nobody except Gabriel knows who you and why you are working there. Learn well, this will be the last time you're working under anyone. After this, you'll be your own boss."

Riri felt like crying. She didn't want to live like this another day. Sitting so straight, talking so proper, wearing shoes with tall heels that were like toothpicks. She wanted to lie down and wallow in a t-shirt.

Instead, she ate the delicious food that arrived shortly after and continued talking to Kassidy's mother.