"What are you doing here?" Carl asked Cassandra with furrowed brows. He was a little upset to see her staring at him like she has been watching him for a while now.
'What am I doing here? What kind of a question is that? Am I not his secretary?' Cassandra asked herself in her head.
"I came to drop some files to you. Some of the files contain the list of alleged criminals you're meant to prosecute" she said to Carl.
"Oh, just drop them on the table," he muttered, stroking his forehead. He was having a headache because he hasn't been sleeping well for the past few days. One of the reasons was that he has been overthinking lately.
Cassandra dropped the files on the desk, staring at Carl who looked like he was going through a lot. He had a dull face, not the usual angry look that gets her nervous whenever she sees him. This time around, Carl looked gloomy.
"What is it?" Carl questioned her because of how she kept staring at him.
"No, it's nothing… I... I was only wondering if you're okay" Cassandra said.
Carl sighed deeply sitting down erect. He was trying his best to look like he was okay but somehow, Cassandra managed to see that something wasn't right with him. He still feels sad ever since Anne made it clear she no longer wants him. Carl has reached the fourth stage of grief which is depression.
"of course I'm okay," he said.
"I'm sorry sir but I don't think you're okay," Cassandra said to Carl.
Carl paused for a while, looking at Cassandra "Why are you so concerned about me?" he asked her.
"umm… it's umm... It's because you're my boss and I don't think it'd be fair if I see you looking unhappy and not ask you if you're okay" she said.
Carl clicked his tongue trying to pull a positive expression "Well, I told you I'm fine. You shouldn't worry about me, rather you should focus more on your work" he said.
Cassandra took a deep breath. She wished in her heart that Carl wasn't so hard on her but a little open to her because she knows that deep down, Carl isn't okay. She wanted to ask him who Anastasia was but she didn't have the courage to ask. When she got inside Carl's office she overheard Carl muttering the name 'Anastasia' and it made her very curious to know who this Anastasia was.
Although, something in her kept telling her that it was the lady with silver color eyes that Carl was referring to. She wondered to herself what their relationship is about. Are they in a complicated relationship or is Anastasia his ex-girlfriend who is making him miserable?
"Alright Mr. McAlester," Cassandra said and turned her back to leave Carl's office. She was somewhat sad because she doesn't know how to make Carl reciprocate her love for her.
"Wait!" Carl said and Cassandra turned to face him with a hundred percent attention.
"Why did you choose to live in that environment filled with gangsters? Aren't you scared that they might wanna rob you or harm you?" he said.
"Oh, not at all. I've known those guys for so many years and they're now like family to me. We're no longer strangers so I have nothing to worry about" she said, feeling very happy inside of her that Carl asked her such a question like he was worried about her.
Carl gave Cassandra a suspicious look. "I thought you got yourself a new apartment since your old house caught fire. And how come you've known those neighbors of yours for so many years if you recently moved in?"
Cassandra's heart skipped. She became very frightened all of a sudden.
"uh.. umm… Wh.. What I meant was I've known those guys for a while now that's why I chose to live in that environment. It's pretty hard looking for a vacant house so… so one of the guys recommended that house to me. It's a new house." She said feeling very nervous. She kept twitching her fingers and Carl noticed it.
"Oh," Carl said with raised brows finding it very hard to believe her.
"Yes sir," Cassandra said.
Cassandra left Carl's office and heaved a huge sigh of relief like she just escaped a lion's den.
*******
It was past 5 o'clock in the evening and Dexter could be seen inside an ice cream parlor which looked very nice and spacious. He was sitting down on a chair with a round table in front of him. He looked like he was waiting for someone and that someone was Treasure. There were a few people at the ice cream parlor who seemed to be having a great time with their friends or couples as they were busy licking their delicious ice cream.
A few minutes later, Treasure came to the ice cream parlor immediately after she left school. She had agreed to see Dexter in the ice cream parlor toward the evening. Her eyes roved around the place searching for Dexter till she finally saw him seriously waving at her to come sit with him.
There was a huge smile on Dexter's face as soon as he saw Treasure. He was very happy to see her like he missed her so much even though they were together last night.
Treasure walked to where Dexter was and sat down on the chair opposite him. She had a bright smile on her face like she was also very happy to see him. In fact, she was happy and excited at the same time.
"wow, you look so pretty," Dexter complimented her.
"Thanks," Treasure smiled.
"Is it me or your lips are shinier than usual?" he said.
Treasure laughed. "hum... It's a girl's secret" she said. Dexter was the guy she wanted to impress that was why she took her time to appear this beautiful.
"Girl's secret? Not to me 'cause I have a sister." Dexter said.
"You don't know how lucky you are," Treasure said. She has always wished she had a sister.
"Well, that shiny thing on your lips really suits you," he said and Treasure smiled.
Dexter ordered a bowl of vanilla ice cream while Treasure ordered a bowl of chocolate ice cream. They both started licking their ice cream while Treasure's eyes were fixed on Dexter as she was licking hers.
She had a cute smile on her face as she was staring at Dexter. She couldn't be more happy that she has a friend like Dexter. He was someone she could easily talk to and cry her heart to without feeling any shame or fear that he would judge her.
She thought about how she was ready to let go of Dexter the moment he learned about her stalker because she didn't want to lose him like the way she lost Mason her former best friend who is now dead. But luckily, Dexter was able to hold on to her regardless of his life being in danger.
Treasure chuckled softly as she remembered when Dexter came to her house to see her.
"What's so funny?" Dexter said looking at Treasure who couldn't stop smiling.
"Oh. I was just thinking… umm.. by the way, you were absolutely right about this place. I think they literally make the best ice cream" Treasure said, changing the topic.
"Told you so," He said.
"so how was school today?" he asked her as he was licking his ice cream.
"suffocating as usual. I honestly can't wait to graduate" she said and Dexter laughed.
"Take your time cause once you graduate from college, you'll miss your school days just like me," he said.
"how about your brother? How is he? Did he find out that you weren't at home last night?" He said concernedly.
"Nah I don't think so. I told you that my brother wouldn't notice if I was at home or not" Treasure said.
"Okay, then I guess you're right," he said.
"What about you, how's work and how's your sister?" she asked him as she was scooping a spoon of her ice cream.
"Work is good and as for my sister, she still regrets why she chose to run away from love in the first place. Well, everything is her fault actually. She pushed the man that was head over heels for her and now she wants him back now that he has moved on with someone else" Dexter said.
"What if Prosecutor Carl hasn't moved on and he still loves her? What if he was only using his secretary to make your sister jealous," Treasure said.
"I don't think Carl has that time for that," he said certainly.
Dexter thinks that Carl is a little interested in Cassandra because of how close they are at work. He doesn't know that it was one-sided. Carl definitely does not have feelings for Cassandra.
"Well, as for me, I think your sister and Mr. McAlester are the perfect match for each other," she said.
"Exactly…"
"Here, have a taste of my ice cream," Dexter said, stretching forth his hand for Treasure to have a spoon of his ice cream.
Meanwhile, Treasure became extremely shy as Dexter was trying to feed her and as a matter of fact, they were in public.
"My arm is getting tired," Dexter said with a cute wink.
Treasure chuckled and she took a spoon from Dexter.
"My flavor tastes better than yours right?" Dexter asked.
"mmm… well… I think mine tastes better" Treasure said, sucking her tongue.
"That's impossible vanilla flavor always tastes better than chocolate" Dexter argued.
"you think so?" she said and he nodded.
"Oh okay. Here, taste mine" Treasure said and scooped a spoon of her ice cream for Dexter to have a taste of it. She had no idea that Dexter just tricked her into feeding him.
Dexter opened his mouth for Treasure to feed him but instead of feeding him, she touched the ice cream on the tip of his nose on purpose which made her burst into laughter.
"oh my God you look so funny right now," She said amid her laugh.
Dexter's nose was covered in ice cream and he looked really funny.
"you think you're funny huh?" he said and put some of the ice cream on her cheeks. Now it was Dexter's turn to laugh.
They both had an amazing time like they were couples in the ice cream parlor.
..
After a while, Dexter and Treasure left the ice cream parlor. They were strolling outside in an open field where there were not many people around.
"I want you to wear this," Dexter said to Treasure wrapping a slim bracelet on her wrist.
"Wow, it's so pretty" Treasure was amazed "But why are you giving this to me"
"you'll find out later," Dexter said.
Suddenly, Treasure delivered a long gasp with fear.
"Treasure, what is it? Are you okay?" he said worriedly because of how frightened she looked all of a sudden.
"He.. He's here… Shawn is watching us right now." She said anxiously.
"Where is he?" Dexter curiously asked. He didn't want to start looking around the place so Shawn wouldn't notice that they have seen him.
"he's behind you but very far away," Treasure said.
"Good" Dexter muttered, nodding his head.
"Detective Noah, can you hear me?" Dexter said touching the tactical earpiece that was in one of his ears.
"Sure kid, I can hear you loud and clear,"
Dexter could hear Noah's voice from the wire he was wearing. "we've lured him into our trap" He said.