"You know what honey? I'm sure you'd be better off without her. I mean, she's not even up to your standard. As a matter of fact, I should be grateful she left you so you can go for other beautiful women with more class. Ladies who are rich and independent not those bloodsuckers who are only interested in your money" Ms. Sarah said.
Carl sighed and shook his head in disbelief.
"Well, since it's all about the class and money I don't think you're gonna like this girl I'm going out with?" he said.
"Why? Is she also from a poor background?" she asked, frowning already because she can't stand poor people.
"I don't know much about her background but she's my substitute secretary, she's not her own boss like you," He said.
"hmm… well, at least she has a decent job that pays well so I can manage. I'm satisfied to know you're going out with your employee instead of a roadside baker," Ms. Sarah said and Carl inhaled sharply.
"so, tell me about her. Is she pretty? I want to have beautiful grandchildren and I…"
"…mom, she's actually a liar and a fraud," Carl cuts in to shut his mother up. The word 'grandchildren' from her mouth stung his ears like a needle.
Carl is going out on a date with Cassandra with no strings attached and now his mother has already started talking about grandchildren. That word irked him to the extent that he didn't know when he blurted those words out.
"What!? What do you mean she's a liar and a FRAUD!?" Ms. Sarah said in a high-pitched voice and that was Carl realized what he said.
"Never mind, forget I said anything," he said. He didn't see the need to start explaining to his mother how he found out that Cassandra was a liar and a fraud.
Carl knew that there was something fishy about Cassandra from the day drove her to her house. He saw that she was living in the same environment with gangsters who would make any random girl shiver at the sight of them but Cassandra was carefree.
When Carl asked her why she chose to live in that neighborhood, Cassandra told him it was because the guys there are no longer strangers to her, in fact, they were like family to her because she has lived there for so many years.
Cassandra said that forgetting that she had lied to Carl once that her house caught fire and she lost everything. Yes, she lied. She also tried to cover it up when Carl became suspicious of her. She told him that it was one of those guys who recommended the house for her and she tried her possible best to make Carl believe that it was a new house.
The truth is that Cassandra's house never caught fire in the first place. The day she was crying like a baby, lamenting to Carl about how she lost everything due to the fire was all an act. Cassandra only did that because she was desperate not to lose her job. She had overslept and she knew she'll be in trouble for coming late to work because Carl doesn't tolerate lateness.
Because of that, Cassandra had to come up with a convincing story of why she came late to work, and fortunately for her, Carl believed her. Carl didn't just believe Cassandra's fake story, he also gave her a huge sum of money so she could find herself a new suitable apartment.
The only reason Carl got to find out that Cassandra was lying was because he did a background check on her. Carl has had his suspicion for a while now so he decided to do a little digging and he was informed that Cassandra has been living in that apartment for years now and it never got caught fire.
Another thing that blew Carl's mind was when he got to find out that Cassandra used the money he gave her for a new apartment to help her get cosmetic surgery and to enhance her boobs and her booty. That was what she usually invests her money for.
When Carl found out, he was disappointed in himself for believing such a phony but at the end of the day, he never confronted her. He knew how soft-hearted Cassandra was and she might collapse again if he confronts her just like the last time he fired her for kissing him.
Being the good man Carl was, he already forgave her and he let it go. Besides, Cassandra used the money to make herself pretty, she didn't use it to gamble or do other illegal stuff with it so Carl let it slide.
"Whatever, I'm not surprised that the girl you're going out with is a fraud. You usually go for girls who are worthless just like that cheap baker and that gold digger Aurora who cheated on you," Ms. Sarah said to her son with crossed arms around her chest.
Carl swallowed hard. He was hurt by his mother's harsh words but he still tried to maintain a stoic look.
Ms. Sarah's mouth has no filter and it's pretty hard for her to have a good conversation with anyone asides Richie.
"Good night Mom," Carl said and was about to leave.
"Carl wait!" Ms. Sarah called and Carl turned to face her thinking she was going to apologize to him.
"I wanted to let you know that I'm traveling to Spain first thing tomorrow morning," she said.
"Cool, have a safe trip," Carl said and was about to leave again.
"You're not going to say 'aww, I'll miss you mommy" Ms. Sarah pouted, making cute faces.
"What am I? An eight-year-old? You can go to India and come back in ten years that's your problem. We're all used to it including Richie and it upsets me but what can I do? How can you leave for five good months and now that you're back, you wanna leave so soon? What about Richie? Don't you realize that sometimes Richie needs his mother?" Carl snapped.
"Carl you're right. You're not an eight-year-old and you should know that I'm a very busy woman. You don't expect me to stay at home 24/7 just because I'm a mother. Besides, your grandma is there to look after Richie okay?" Ms. Sarah said sternly.
Carl heaved an exasperated sigh. He already regrets expressing how he felt because it was a total waste of time. It upsets him that his mother barely stays at home. It's either she's in Europe, France, or Canada. Although, it's no longer Carl's business but it bothers Richie a lot because he always misses his mom.
Ms. Sarah saw that Carl was getting pissed off and she didn't want to ruin his mood before he goes on his date. Deep down she knew that Carl was right but her trips will always come first.
"I'll be gone for only a few weeks and I'll be back. I promise to make it up to Richie… and you. Have fun on your date okay?" She said in a soft tone, stroking his strong jaw.
*******
The time was past 7 pm and Carl was standing in front of his Maybach waiting for Cassandra to show up ready.
"Why are women always fashionably late," he muttered to himself staring at his Rolex. His phone beeped and he brought it from his pocket to check who was texting him.
'Hey boss, which restaurant are you taking your secretary'
Carl saw the text from Noah and he wondered why he was asking.
'why are you asking?' Carl replied to the text and after two minutes he saw another text from Noah.
'I just wanna know if you're taking her to one of the best restaurants. I don't want you to take her to a low-budget restaurant since you don't really like her'
Carl rolled his eyes before answering the text. He has never been to a low-budget restaurant to talk more about taking a lady on a date there.
'Haha very funny. I'm taking her to Jean-Georges,' he replied to Noah and that restaurant is one of the most expensive restaurants in New York City.
'kk' Noah replied.
Carl lifted his head and he saw Cassandra coming out from her house. She was in a red bodycon sleeveless dress that had a little sleet at the front. She was wearing red pencil heels and her brunette hair was packed in a smooth ponytail. Cassandra looked her finest tonight. The red dress she chose really suited her and it also showed off her sexy curves.
Also, Cassandra couldn't stop smiling as soon as she saw Carl in front of her house. He looked effortlessly handsome and she still couldn't believe that she was going out on a date with this man.
"You look really handsome Mr. McAlester" Cassandra complimented Carl with a shy smile on her face.
Meanwhile, Carl's phone beeped again and he saw another text from Noah.
'Don't forget to compliment her'
Carl read the text in his head and mentally groaned. Noah's text was becoming a nuisance. He already knows how to treat a lady so Noah should stop bothering him.
Carl kept his phone back in his pocket and stared at Cassandra's pretty face which has nice smoky makeup on. "you look good too" he said and Cassandra smiled.
Even though Carl complimented her, she still wasn't satisfied with those simple words from Carl after she has spend a lot of time looking this good for him. She wanted more praise but what could she do?
Carl ushered Cassandra into the shotgun seat of his car and then he turned around to sit at the driver's seat of the car. He started wearing his seat belt when Cassandra spoke up.
"Um Mr. McAlester, can I ask you something?"
"Sure what is it?" Carl asked.
"Did you ask me to go out on a date with you because you like me or… is there something else?" she asked because she wanted to be sure
"Is there a reason why you're asking?" Carl said.
"Because I know you're not the kind of man who randomly takes a lady out on a date except it's something serious," Cassandra said confidently, staring deep into Carl's eyes. She was lost in those sexy eyes and for the first time, she wasn't nervous around him rather she was calm but her heart kept pounding.
"so what do you think?" He asked.
"I don't know what to think that's why I'm asking. But if this is just a dinner date for you, please don't hesitate to tell me so I wouldn't have false hopes. I don't want to be dumped afterward, I want to be taken seriously.
I know what I'm about to say wouldn't be appropriate since you're my boss but it's something that has been in my chest for a while now... I like you a lot Mr. McAlester" Cassandra confessed and she meant exactly every word she said.
Meanwhile, Carl was dumbfounded. He couldn't say a word. Where is all this coming from? He thought.
Even though Noah had told him that Cassandra was interested in him, he never believed him because Noah jokes all the time. Also, he never expected Cassandra to boldly confess such to him.
Seeing Carl still in shock, Cassandra continued "I like you a lot and I wanna know if you like me too," she said with a smile, waiting for his response.