Chapter 288 – Beginning with a Daring Encounter

“I thought you knew me, Rachel.”

“I do, baby. I know you.”

“I don’t think so. If you did, you would know that I wouldn’t have ended things with you if I didn’t mean it. I’m not coming back to you, Rachel. It’s over. You can keep the house since you seem to want it. I’ll pick up my stuff when I get back. And please… Do not call either my parents or Celsie anymore. I already told them not to take your calls…”

“How can you do this to me after all I’ve done for you? I love you! You’re hurting me!” Rachel cried, and her mother took the phone from her.

“Lucas?” Her mother spoke into the phone, and Lucas took in a deep breath.

“You possibly can’t end things with Rachel over something as insignificant as this. You of all people know how much she loves you, and how much this family has supported you because of your relationship with her,” Rachel’s mother said in a tone that sounded more like a threat than a plea. He didn’t want to be married into a family like this either. They were the reason Rachel was the way she was.

“I appreciate your support thus far. However, marrying Rachel isn’t going to be a means of expressing my gratitude to you. I won’t subject myself to a lifetime of emotional torture just because I’m grateful to your family. I’m hanging up now,” Lucas said as he disconnected the call, and Rachel’s mother turned to her.

“Your father is going to be very cross with you when he finds out about the Millers’ relationship with the CEO of OmniGlobal. Do you know how such a connection would have been good for your father? How could you not have known that your fiance’s twin sister is in a relationship with someone as influential as Benedict Delgado?” She scolded, and Rachel broke into a sob.

“How was I supposed to know? Can’t we just threaten him with something? I could say I’m pregnant for him? He would come back to me if I say that, right?” Rachel asked hopefully.

“You think you can deceive a medical doctor with something like that? Seriously? Are you my daughter?” Her mother asked in a tone laced with disapproval.

“What about his job?” Rachel asked again wiping her tears with the back of her hands.

“His twin sister is in a relationship with the CEO of OmniGlobal. You think he wouldn’t get a job easily if he asked for help?” Her mother countered, and Rachel broke into a sob.

“I can’t lose him, mom. I love Lucas. I don’t want to lose him. Please help me,” she cried bitterly, and her mother went to sit beside her to console her.

“Then you shouldn’t have acted that way towards him.”

“I was only looking out for our relationship! I didn’t want his sister’s scandal to affect us,” Rachel said defensively.

“I don’t think he intends to get back with you. So let’s just go ahead and cancel all the wedding plans. Don’t worry, we will find you someone else,” Rachel’s mother suggested as she consoled her daughter who was weeping.

Rachel shook her head, “I can’t let him go, mom. I don’t want anyone else. I’m going to talk to Celsie.. I’m sure he will listen to her if she pleads on my behalf.”

“So you’re saying that you don’t want to hurt either of us?” Brandy asked uncertainly as she eyed Jero.

“Why would I want to hurt your sister? I love Candace. I love her with every part of me, and you know that,” Jero said, making Brandy roll her eyes.

“I don’t know anything. I don’t trust you. Especially not after everything you did to us. I’m not telling you anything. You’ve caused her enough pain,” Brandy said defiantly, while Cassidy watched her from the rim of his wine glass as he took a sip from wine.

“And I’m trying to make up for it…”

“No matter what you do she is never going to have anything to do with you. The mere sight of you repulses me!” Brandy spat out, more angry than scared now.

“I’m sorry for all I did to you. I just want to see her and Jamal. I owe them both an apology. I want to let her know that I am not mad that she testified against me.”

“We don’t need your apology, and trust me, she doesn’t care whether you’re mad at her or not. She did what she had to do to be rid of a monster like you!”

“You can trust him. He only wants to apologize to you and your sister,” Cassidy cut in making Brandy scoff.

“I don’t even trust you, so why should I listen to you and trust him?” She asked with a roll of her eyes.

“Because I’m the one who let him go to jail. I did that to punish him for hurting you. I’m also the one who helped him escape from jail just to keep you safe. I’m still punishing him even now,” Cassidy promised, making Brandy frown in confusion.

“Hurt me? What are you talking about?” Brandy asked, and Cassidy jerked his head, giving Jero the go-ahead to answer Brandy’s question.

Jero swallowed, “He found out that I forcefully gave you to other men.”

“And so? What has that got to do with anything when he was also one of the men who forcefully had me? It’s only okay when you’re the one doing it?” Brandy asked Cassidy, boiling with anger at the memory.

“Make no mistake, Andy. I’m your first, and you’re mine even though you may not admit it to yourself yet. I don’t like other people touching my stuff. I had to punish him for being greedy. I paid him a lot of money just so that he wouldn’t give you to anyone else in my absence.”

Brandy wanted to hiss at him and tell him that she wasn’t his. But her curiosity got the best of her so she ignored that and focused on something else, “You paid him not to give me out to other men?”

“Yes. He paid me,” Jero responded.

“You can imagine how furious I was when I found out that despite my instructions he went on to pass you around to the other lords like you were a slut,” Cassidy said in anger as he stood up and smashed the glass of wine in his hand against the wall.

“I am sorry,” Jero said with a bow, taking a step back when Cassidy stepped forward like he wanted to hit him. Brandy who was comfortably seated was surprised to see that Jero was actually scared of Cassidy. Who would have that the monster was capable of an emotion like fear?

“You gambled away all of the money I paid you and used her to generate more money to fund your dirty habit, and you say you are sorry?” Cassidy asked in a low tone.

Brandy cleared her throat, “First of all I’m not some sort of toy that you pay for…” The rest of her sentence trailed off when Cassidy turned to her and she noticed how his jaws were clenched in anger.

Cassidy took in a deep breath to calm himself “I will keep this simple. Just so you know, I’m aware that three persons are currently listening to this conversation” Cassidy said, making both Matt’s and Jade’s hearts skip beats as they looked out of the car to see if someone was watching them.

“Three people? What are you talking about?” Brandy asked in surprise, and Cassidy smiled.

“Matt, the lawyer girl, and her boyfriend. You should know that I’m not sloppy. I’m not like the other foolish lords,” Cassidy said with distaste as he approached Brandy.

Brandy tried not to flinch as he came close to her even though her heart was beating really fast as he stopped in front of her, “It would be an error to underestimate me, Andy,” Cassidy said as he reached for the pendant of her necklace, making her heart skip a beat.

“Do you know who owns Sodom & Gomorrah? The club where you and your sister have been working?” Cassidy asked with a slightly raised brow, and Brandy swallowed as she looked up into his intelligent blue eyes.

Since she worked at just one of the branches which were scattered all over the country, she never really concerned herself with the owner. All she knew was that the S&G club in each city was managed by different people.

Cassidy smiled once again, “Imagine my surprise when I learnt that you were a stripper at my club?”

“Your…club? You own the club?” Brandy asked in shock, and he chuckled softly.

“It’s a secret though. Many people do not know that. Especially the cartel. I like to keep my business private. I don’t want it tainted,” Cassidy explained.

“Anyway, that’s beside the point. I was at your apartment last night. I looked around and found this jewelry in a box in your drawer amongst other things. Also, while you were performing last night your phone was bugged, so I listened in on your phone call with someone called Matt,” Cassidy explained, and Brandy’s eyes widened in surprise, while Jade and Matt exchanged a surprised look.

“I don’t understand,” she said in a small voice.

“Yeah, you won’t. Although I don’t like talking too much, I will try to explain it all to you while Jero cleans up the mess,” Cassidy said, indirectly ordering Jero to take care of the shattered wine glass on the floor. Jero immediately went out to get the items he needed to clean the floor while Cassidy poured himself another glass of wine.

“After my father’s death five years ago, I was forced to take his place on the table. Hence I became the youngest amongst the lords of the cartel. Because I didn’t want to be involved in the production or distribution of the drugs, my major duty was to look out for anything that might bring trouble to the cartel, and clean it up. By this, I mean that my duty was to tie up every loose end. This is why until Jero’s case came up, the police had no evidence which they could use against the cartel.”

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