Yesterday & Forever Read online

Luca, as the majority shareholder and heir apparent was the next in line.

  She went to the funeral with him. Was by his side holding his hand as the board members offered their condolences on his loss with one hand, while congratulating him on becoming the youngest CEO with the other.

  She remembered the conversation straight after.

  The one that turned her world upside down.

  “Cass, this isn’t going to work”.

  They were sitting in his Grandfather’s house. Mansion would be a better word thought Cass.

  “I can’t come travelling with you. This isn’t going to work”.

  His eyes were dark and troubled.

  She laid her hand on his, “I know a lot is going on at the moment. I know you can’t come away with me. I wasn’t expecting you to. I get it”.

  He pulled his hand away and stood up, tugging at his tie. A gesture Cass knew he did when nervous or upset.

  “No, I don’t think you do. This changes everything. I’m the youngest CEO this company, hell, most companies have seen! They will expect me to be him. He worked hard to get the business where it is now. I can’t let them down”. The raw edge in his voice ran straight to her heart.

  “Right. So being with me is letting them down?” Cass whispered.

  Luca sighed, “I can’t be with anyone. Not right now and it wouldn’t be fair to ask you to wait for when things have settled down”.

  “No, it’s not fair,” Cass said quietly, “I guess I should thank you for being so honourable”.

  Grabbing her bag, she stood up. “I am sorry for your loss Luca, but more than that I’m sorry for your future. You are giving up the only person who really loved you for you and not for what you could give them”.

  She didn’t stop to look back, not even when he called her name.

  And the tears didn’t stop long after the hour it took her to reach home or when she was lying on her bed, her family murmuring comforting words.

  She had made the trip. She’d promised herself that she was going to live her dream. From the Taj Mahal in India to the Statue of Liberty in America, she’d seen it all. She’d been informed every now and then of what Luca was up to by mutual friends. Read in the financial sections of the newspapers how his company was going from strength to strength.

  At last it was time to head home. Only a year had passed but to Cass it may as well have been an eternity. As the plane touched down in London, she had made a vow to herself to forget Luca Drake once and for all, even though the small crinkled photo hidden in her back pack from the graduation day, mocked her otherwise.

  Chapter 6

  She shook her head, trying to clear memories that had no right being there. Especially today and especially now when she was standing smack bang in his office building.

  Cass examined the huge chocolate cake on the glass cake stand.

  It was her best piece yet. The small details of a marzipan calculator, tie, and pair of specs carefully put on. She was sure, Mr. Swans, the retiring accountant would love it.

  She heard a bevy of loud, excited voices coming down the hall way. Quickly stashing the box into her oversize carrier, she turned to leave, just as the mahogany door swung open.

  “Oh this looks amazing!”

  “Do you think he’ll like it?”

  “These flowers smell gorgeous Bex!”

  “Take a look at this cake! Wow!”

  A sea of people rushed in and headed towards the glass, oval table that was weighed down by all the food. The cake placed neatly in its centre.

  “Did you do this?” a pregnant woman asked Cass, jostling past the small group that had already taken up residence next to it.

  “Yeah, I did. I’m from ‘CC’s Bakery”, Cass replied, reaching into her pocket to retrieve a business card.

  “It’s delightful. Do you do baby shower cakes? I’ve still to throw this one a party”, she said softly, gently rubbing her bump.

  “Yeah, one for yours and one for Luca’s new addition, eh Liz?”

  She turned to see a portly gentleman in his mid-fifties approach the table.

  Thoughts as fast and mixed up as a whirlwind swept through Cass’s mind. Luca, a daddy! Her Luca. Now a father to someone else’s baby?!

  She felt bile rise up in her throat.

  “Excuse me”, she muttered, pushing past the throng of people.

  “Ssshhh. He’s coming in”, someone whispered loudly.

  Before she knew what was happening, all the blinds were pulled down and the lights shut off, swamping Cass into darkness.

  She managed to push past the people nearest her and bumped against a wall.

  “Phew”, she whispered to herself, sliding down and sitting on the floor.

  “The meeting is in here Henry”. The rich, deep timbre voice of Luca Drake carried through the closed door.

  Even though it’d been ten years, ten years of deliberately not listening to the voice tapes he’d made her at the start of University. Ten years of not watching the silly videos that they’d made of each other and their friends, Cass could recognise that voice anywhere. The goose-bumps now rising on her arms, reminded her of the effect he had on her all those years ago and still had on her now.

  “What...oh!” came the surprised voice of Mr. Swans as the doors were pushed open to a loud chorus of ‘Surprise!’

  Chapter 7

  From her position on the floor, Cass could get a glimpse past legs of an elderly man, in a dark brown suit. Very expensive shoes, Cass noted as they walked past her.

  Behind him stood the man Cass thought she’d never see again.

  His dark brown hair cut shorter than when they were at University, spiked up from where he had been running his hands through it. He had the same athletic build, now hidden under a black, designer pair of suit trousers and shirt rather than the favoured University outfit of jeans and Rugby top. He looked tired, she thought. A 5 o’clock shadow began to make an appearance where it would normally have been clean shaven.

  She pushed herself further against the wall as he walked past.

  She was clearly not the only one to have noticed him or how his lack of tie added to his appeal, judging from the sighs of the girls in front, as he moved past them.

  Congratulations and exclamations of how much Mr. Swans would be missed echoed around the room.

  “A party! You shouldn’t have”, she heard Mr. Swans say, “Especially with the project you’ve got on at the moment”.

  Project! That’s how he thought of parenthood! Cass thought disgustedly.

  “It’s no bother, really. You’ve been with this company a long time. All the employees will be sad to see you go. My Grandfather would have done exactly the same”, Luca replied. Cass rolled her eyes, remembering his grandfather the last time she saw him. That was highly doubtful! Thoughtful enough to throw a retirement party? Yeah right, who was he kidding!

  Seeing the crowd move forward towards the cake, she decided now was the time. Standing up with her giant pink bag would probably draw attention from the one person she was hoping to avoid, she reasoned.

  Taking up a pose she thought she had left behind her in her childhood days, Cass positioned herself on her hands and knees and prepared to shuffle across the floor to the open door.

  With just enough people to create a screen, she started her perilous journey. She gave a snort of disbelief. How could she, Cassandra Regence have gotten herself into this mess! She knew she should have let someone else do the delivery. What’s more, it didn’t help that she had the theme song from ‘The Great Escape’ playing in her head.

  If anyone noticed the delivery girl with the giant pink bag scuffling across the floor, they were too polite to say anything. That or they thought she was a few marbles short of a whole bag and thought better than to approach her.

  Not much further, Cass thought, breathing a sigh of relief.

  “Where are you going Luca?” a voice called across the din of the crowd.

  “Conference
call”, he shot back.

  Shit! Cass thought, shuffling at a faster pace.

  Nearly...there...

  “What the?!”

  Cass froze, knowing she’d been rumbled.

  What seemed like an eternity passed, then, “Do you need any help?”

  She could hear the smile in his voice. The cheek!

  She sat back on her knees and continued to stare at the door, “No thanks. I’m good”.

  “Do you always refuse help when it’s offered?” he asked. The smooth, familiar voice wrecking havoc with her senses.

  Taking a deep breath, Cass stood up and turned around, her chin jutting forward in defiance.

  She felt her heart skip a beat. The chant of ‘Don’t cry’ drummed steadily in her head.

  “That depends on who is offering. So no, not always”.

  From the way his mouth tightened and the muscle in his jaw twitched, Cass could see that hit the mark.

  “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get going. I hope you enjoy the cake”, she

  said using her best talking-to-the-customer voice. Turning swiftly on her heels, Cass part walked, part ran out of the room and down the short corridor.

  Chapter 8

  She heard heavy steps behind her. Reaching the lift, she began banging on the buttons. “Come on you stupid thing!” she begged, hoping the lift gods would see her plight and take mercy.

  “That one doesn’t work properly. I’m having it changed over the weekend”. She felt his breath on the top of her head and turning around she came face to chest, with Luca Drake.

  “Oh really? Well probably for the best”, her voice slightly muffled by her mouth’s close proximity to his shirt.

  Luca took a step back, allowing her a complete view of him from the top of his gorgeous brown hair to the tips of his polished shoes.

  “Cass”. Her name came out a breathless exhale. His eyes a warm, liquid chocolate.

  That was her undoing.

  “No! No! Don’t Cass me!” she cried, “I don’t want to hear anything you have to say to me”.

  She whizzed back around, pressing the buttons of the other lift with vigour.

  “Cass, please”, he began.

  Reflecting on her actions later, Cass thought this may not have been the most mature thing to do have done. Raising her hands up, she covered her ears and started to hum loudly.

  She felt his hands over hers, moving them slowly downwards. The butterflies in her stomach started their fluttering motions triple-time.

  “Really? That’s the best you can do?” His relaxed tone irritated her already shattered nerves.

  “No, that’s not the best I can do!” she snapped back, her voice rising. “I can say ‘Hi Luca. It’s been ages. Well done on the big takeovers! You must be ecstatic! Oh yeah and well done on the family too!”

  She pulled her hands free of his, the warmth and feel of them doing nothing to help her determination to stay angry at him.

  She turned around, her finger ready to jab him in his chest as she made her final point.

  What she saw made her freeze, finger suspended in mid-air.

  Luca’s face had gone from ash white to dull red flush.

  However, it was the view behind him that had made her stop, jaw dropping open.

  Everyone from the meeting room, and some who had made their way out of other offices, were now crowded into the lobby.

  Cass was mortified to see those same people she had only just met, having made the short journey up the corridor, now standing nearby gawping at them. The receptionist was leaning dangerously over the desk. The obnoxious man, who had told her about Luca’s baby, was grinning from ear to ear, swigging back his glass of champagne. Liz was carrying a plate in one hand whilst the other was holding a fork, suspended half way to her mouth. And poor Mr. Swans kept opening and shutting his mouth like a goldfish gasping for air, not knowing if he should say something or backtrack to the safety of the meeting room.

  Seeing her expression, Luca turned slowly around and surveyed the crowd.

  “Yes?” His clipped tone sent everyone scurrying back to their offices. Cass had never seen people move so fast. The receptionist dropped behind the desk with a thud and the retirement party were actually getting jammed in the meeting room doorway as they were speedily trying to squeeze in en masse.

  She heard the ping of the lift. Stepping in, she felt a jerk on her bag.

  “Oh no you don’t! You are not running out on me again”, he growled, pulling her back and started walking towards, what Cass assumed was his office. She stumbled slightly.

  Walking backwards was never her forte.

  “You can’t tell me what to do!” She snapped back. “How dare you! I am not a sack of potatoes to be lifted and pulled around”.

  He stopped suddenly and Cass careered into his back.

  Luca smiled down at her, a dangerous twinkle in his eyes. “You know that’s not such a bad idea”.

  “What...what”, Cass began hastily, backing away, “No! Luca!” she squeaked, as he lifted her over his shoulder and carried her, exactly like a sack of potatoes into a large corner office.

  Hearing the squeaks, Cass saw heads popping out of office doors, jaws dropping in surprise at their boss’s behaviour.

  Chapter 9

  Oooof. Cass landed flat on her back on a large, black leather sofa.

  She sat up and looked around, just as Luca closed the thick wooded door. Not bad, she thought, surveying two black leather meeting chairs that sat opposite a huge oak desk, which itself carried the latest in IT equipment. The view outside the all glass wall took her breath away. The afternoon sun lighted up the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and The London Eye in its golden rays. A small room opposite caught her eye and Cass turned her head, just about able to make out a small sink and what looked to be a shower unit.

  “Coffee or tea?” Luca asked her, holding out a small, white china cup.

  She shook her head. “Neither thanks but feel free to have one yourself if you want”.

  Luca carried on looking at the cup.

  Cass clasped her fingers together tightly in her lap, then unclasped them, them clasped then together again.

  “You used to do that when you were nervous”, Luca finally said, breaking the silence. “Do I make you nervous Cassie?”

  Cass swallowed the lump that had now formed in her throat. Cassie. No-one else called her that except Luca. Even her own parents and siblings had only called her Cass.

  She felt the sting of tears prick at her eyelids and turned her face away as one solitary tear slid down her cheek, wiping away at it quickly with the back of her hand. Cass heard the clink of glassware before the sofa dipped as Luca sat down next to her.

  His fingers clasped her chin, moving her head gently round to face his. His thumb carefully and ever so gently, wiping the route that the tear had taken.

  She tried hard to focus on the sofa, but his eyes drew her like a magnet. She looked up meeting his gaze, the longing she felt, reflected in the dark brown depths of his.

  She couldn’t help it. The years melted away as he leaned his face towards her. His smell, that was still so familiar to her even after all the years, engulfed her senses. Cass closed her eyes, breathing him in. She felt her heart beat quicken as the soft, firm pressure of his lips met hers. Gently at first, then more insistent. Her bag dropped to the floor as she moved her arms up, pulling at his shirt. His hands moving onto her back, gathering her closer.

  All those nights she had dreamed of this, remembering what it was like. Sure there had been others. She wasn’t that pathetic, but never like this. Everyone had said that she’d get over him, if was young/first love. Of course she’d remember him with rose tinted glasses. But Cass knew it was different. That sometimes, just sometimes, you were lucky enough to hit the jackpot on the first try.

  Chapter 10

  The knocking at the door was like a bucket of ice water. They broke apart, breathing heavily.

 
; Cass looked at Luca. His shirt was crumpled and a few of the top buttons had come undone. When did that happen?! She thought, shocked by her own response.

  She moved backwards, hoping that by creating some space between them, it would stop the humming that was now coursing through her.

  His arm was locked solid.

  “Mr. Drake”, came the hesitant voice of the receptionist, “They are waiting for you on the conference call”.

  Luca exhaled loudly, his eyes moving from Cass to the door then back again.

  Cass self-consciously felt for her clip, trying to push back all the hair that had escaped during their...their...she wasn’t quite sure what it had been.

  Luca smiled. The same carefree smile she’d seen all those years ago in the University hall. Cass felt her heart skip a beat. On top of which, she swore she could hear bells. Though afterwards she realised those probably were from Big Ben.

  “Tell them... Tell them I’m not able to take it right now. Can we reschedule for another time”, he replied, his eyes fixed on Cass.

  There was a pregnant pause from the other side of the door.

  Then a croaking sound, which Cass assumed was the receptionist trying to digest this odd piece of information.

  “But Mr. Drake...” she sputtered.

  “That’s all thank you Mrs.Swithin. If they call back, re-direct them to Drew Frost’s number please”, Luca replied, his gaze fixed steadily on Cass.

  “Yes Mr. Drake. Anything else?” Mrs.Swithin’s asked tentatively, clearly unsure whether or not her boss had taken leave of his senses.

  “Actually there is. Get Jo to cover you in reception. You’ve worked here just as long as Henry. You should be at that party too.”