10

•••

This is impossible, she thought.

"I'm supposed to be getting back with them on the site," she muttered in retort.

As soon as the affair in the warehouse had finally concluded after what seemed like an hour, they made preparations along with the crew to go back to the villa. Lyari was faced with a new predicament when it quickly became apparent her companion had something different in mind.

Cassian had insisted she take a short detour just as they were getting back to the car, clearly incognizant of what the consequences might be for her.

He'd virtually thrown her off balance again. This wasn't what she had signed up for, and she wasn't used to breaking routine.

But looking at him now, Lyari knew it was pointless to argue. Clearly, the man beside her was used to getting his own way.

Cassian, who was back on his seat in the passenger side wore an amused expression on his face. "You need to loosen up, Sage. Where's your sense of adventure?"

She glared at him. "I'm not your driver."

"Starting right now, you are. And I say you take me to the island cove before I lose my patience." His voice held a hint of steely threat in them when he spoke.

Silent, she stayed immobilized with indecision.

"You wouldn't want to lose a job right now, do you?" he prompted her.

"Y-you wouldn't dare!" She was beyond shocked at his words. But then, anything was possible with a billionaire. He may very well tarnish her reputations on his whim, and she would be done for good.

A corner of his chiseled lips turned up, as if taunting her. "Trust me, sweetheart. I can do worse." Then his eyes hardened. "Now do as I say."

Frustrated, she let out a breathe to calm herself.

Please, don't kill me Mr Chaves, she thought.

"Alright... Where is this island cove?"

"Good girl," he said then proceeded to give her the directions.

She followed his instructions, driving fast along the highway to get him there as soon as possible. Who knew if it was situated very far away in this remote island.

Cassian opened the car window on his side, then proceeded to light a cigarette. "Mind if I smoke," he asked as an afterthought.

Yes, she minded that, very much.

"Just open the window all the way down."

Soon, smoke was coming out of him in no time.

He seemed relaxed and very content in his position, looking every bit the guy who had the world at his feet.

The idea was pretty much plausible if you would take into account his wealth.

Although, lately she has also this idea that a lot of it comes from questionable dealings.

Fleetingly, Lyari pondered on his background and different upbringing.

Surely not all billionaires acted like him?

"I was just thinking, maybe it is a good thing you're here, Sage. You can be my driver anytime I want an escape."

"You have your men, why don't you let them do it for you?"

"I'll pay you extra, if that's what it takes," he said dismissively. "Consider this as a little sideline for you."

In response, she blurted out the words that had been circulating in her mind for sometime.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Hm, what's with the questions?"

"I think I deserve to know your reasons, if I'm going to be your chaperone from now on," she stated acidly.

He thought on it for a moment, then sighed before stating the obvious.

"My men are unreliable. They've been keeping me cocooned up there like I'm some kind of a fugitive, you see. I don't like being cooped up, and imagine my surprise when I realized I can't even get out without them breathing down my neck."

She couldn't relate to his sentiment, but there must be something going on with their group for him to say that.

"But what about Chase? Surely, he'd understand if you wanted to get out sometimes."

He tutted, his irritation rising just a few notches at the mention of the name. "Now what did I say?"

"I... well, I just think if-"

"I've already answered your other questions, that should be enough for you."

She didn't feign a reply, more than peeved by his assertiveness. She focused on the road instead, thinking about the fact that they couldn't just get there fast enough.

The coconut tree lined street ahead of them seemed endless.

"Chase is my father's puppet," he said wryly after sometime, resigned, and clearly more than annoyed at everything at this point. "He thinks he's responsible for me every time. You see, I can't fully depend on my men because they take orders from a person much higher than me."

•••

[Chase]

The villa was quiet on the outside in the afternoon, but inside, there was a different energy. The men prowled the rooms, already at the edge of their patience.

Meanwhile, Chase had been checking numerous times on the phone with Francisco Fabella from the club nearby for any signs of his friend, but the results were always the same.

He was just ending the call when Cain entered the lounge.

It's been three hours since Cassian's disappearance, and he wasn't even answering his calls.

Francisco had said he hadn't seen Cassian all day at the club, not even his shadow, so pretty much it was a dead end.

Maybe Cain had some luck with some information. Judging from the other man's calm expression, he was positive of it.

"Any luck, Cain?" He asked nonetheless.

Cain shrugged. "He's a grown up man, Chase. Why don't we let him blow off some steam for today?"

He shook his head. If Cassian was a grown up man, he wouldn't be putting on the immature act right now, especially being so reckless when his own safety was on the line.

"That's not a good idea, Cain, you know that."

"Well, I heard he's gone to the beach."

"What's the name of the beach? And what car did he use?"

"That's what's unclear to me," Cain said, frowning. "He didn't use any of his cars."

"What about the contractors? Are they back from the warehouse yet?"

"They should be on their way by now."

"Okay, notify me when they get back. Maybe he's gone out with one of them."

He held his phone and went out, dialing Lyari's number on the way.

Chase didn't quite believe what he was hearing. Of all things, he hadn't expected Cassian to go that far, even forcing Lyari to go on a ride with him.

He stared at the guy named Henry Gomez intently to see if the man was lying, but it seems he was too eager to stay on his good side.

"... before I saw them take the exit towards the highway."

"And they didn't tell you about the change of plans?"

"No, I certainly didn't know, sir. Your boss is quite intimidating, we didn't have the chance to ask where he might be headed," Mr Gomez said apologetically.

"Mr Romero, I believe you are the more sensible one of your group. Are you sure Miss Sage is going to be alright with him?" Mr Madrigal added.

He inclined his head in the man's direction, his mien oozing with incredulity. This man really thought he was doing himself a favor by insulting his group. He was also miffed by the implication that Cassian wasn't to be trusted but he reigned himself in from uttering a damaging retort. He had to stay professional after all.

"My boss is not an animal. Of course, she will be."

•••

Lyari felt as if she was struck in the chest with a sledgehammer when she first caught sight of the view in front of her.

The Southeastern edge of the island- and the popular Tagaytay Ridge stretched before their eyes in the distance, they were at a particular cove with it's small picnic grove on top of the rocky cliffs, while the majestic blue waters with it's strong currents creating a havoc below as they met the land- looked very deep and dangerous. Neighboring islands emerged in the horizon, tempering the harshness of nature. It was almost like a scene straight out of a movie.

"Wow, that's... It's beautiful," she couldn't help but say out loud. Lyari might not be a fan of beaches but the view was simply... picturesque.

The telltale sign of a smirk grazed Cassian's lips. He too, had a slightly glazed look in his eyes as he surveyed the surrounding. "It is, isn't it?"

She trudged along, following him up the hill from the edge of the road where they had parked. A studious distance was kept between them even as they sat down at the edge, with their feet dangling over the cliff.

It was in that spot that Cassian began to recall the tales of his childhood, the inflection in his mood was as swift as the crashing of the waves on the rocks below.

He told her how he'd always came down here to play as a kid with his old nanny, even up to the time when they'd do cliff diving with his friends in that very same spot in his adolescence, free and unmindful of the dangers the strong currents had posed. This place had also played a big part during the times he was rebelling against his father as a teenager, the nature of the ocean and riding along the ridge must have helped him a lot.

Then, when he was of the right age he was shipped off to go to an exclusive all-boys school in Brazil where his mother lived, and he had to say goodbye to his quiet island life.

That had been the end for his childhood here.

In Brazil, everything was foreign and different.

The life he came to describe seemed worlds away from hers.

He had a very privileged lifestyle, which was a courtesy to his mother who'd been a hotel heiress, and the private planes and yachts whisking him off for weekends away from school was just one of the perks.

"...I was sent helicopters to take me for the holidays, while my friends had limousines," he finished with a derisive snort.

He only came back to the country when he got his shares in the business, from then on, ironically he'd been living with the best of both worlds.

It seems Cassian Sandejas had caught up with his past, and Lyari was the only outlet he could vent to in those moments.

The way she didn't mind listening to him in the least had briefly surprised her. He was a great storyteller, as well as a very complex man.

This was a different side to the Cassian she met earlier.

"What about you?" He asked, out of the blue.

"Me?" She stared at him blankly.

"Yes, you. Tell me about yourself?"

His tone was a little callous, but then it must be how he speaks all the time.

Lyari shrugged. "There's not much to tell, really. My life is not that exciting like yours."

He chucked the stub of cigarette down the cliff, shaking his head at the same time. "Not fair. Where'd you grow up then?"

"I came from a small town in Kalinga, where there's lots of mountains and rice terraces, that sort of thing."

A low hum came from Cassian's side, but she was afraid to look at him, suddenly afraid his searching black eyes would see through her.

When he spoke, his voice held a hint of interest, almost as if he was motivated to know more.

"You came a long way, Sage."

"What's that supposed to mean? Coming a long way," she said in jest.

"If I'm right, that place is one of the furthest up North, I've seen the map."

"You're right. "

"Tell me, what's it like growing up there?"

A reluctant smile formed on her lips.

"It's a beautiful place to live, and the people are very hospitable."

"What do you do if you ever get bored?"

"Well, I would always go backpacking if that happens, being with nature helps a lot..."

On the ride back to the villa, Lyari was full of thoughts about her new knowledge of Cassian when he revealed bits of his life.

Here she was, having a light conversation with the most forbidding man of the household, and all she could think of was when did it all came down to this?

Then she found herself suddenly reevaluating her very harsh first impression of him.

God knows, she'd had some very unpleasant thoughts about him and his attitude.

As it turns out, he may not even be that bad- even for a self-centered bastard. But she wouldn't go as far as admitting that to anyone yet.

When they reached the villa at sundown, a solemn Pablo was already there waiting for them by the entrance corridor.

"Good evening, Pablo," Cassian spoke as they got closer.

"Mr Sandejas, I've been waiting for your arrival, sir." He then nodded at her in acknowledgement, "and Miss Sage. I believe Mr Romero told me to show you to dinner once you've arrived."

"Interesting. But I'll have to pass." Cassian raised an eyebrow at her in question. "Maybe Sage here won't mind."

"As you wish, sir."

Lyari eyed his retreating back until he disappeared at the corner, then it was just her and the keeper.

"Come, Miss Sage. We must get you to dinner."

"Alright, dinner it is..."

•••