CASSIE (AVERY).
THIS MEETING has to be perfect, just as Dexter wants. I needed to pull a good impression on the Wellingtons so I have to put my all into activating my polite style. I was still bugged with Jesse talking every now and then from the earbud just for this meeting to make sure it goes well.
I had gone shopping during the week and I was forced to opt for cottagecore and coquette fashion just to look more innocent. The profiles of each and everyone of the Wellingtons were given to me before hand plus their interesting backstory.
Harold, Luke and Henry Bradbury got married to Theresa, Heather and Evelyn Wellington some believe it was mainly for alliance since both parties are from powerful families but it was based on love.
Effie, the Wellington business empire was far more powerful that Bradbury's beverage company hence, the women maintained their last name and the men changed theirs.
The companies merged and Henry Bradbury the first born son and CEO passed two years after the birth of his daughter, Lily Jane Wellington.
Which left the administration of the company in the hands of Theresa Wellington until her son Logan Wellington came of age and took over.
Harold and Heather have a son called James who is married to Sarah, a lawyer and is blessed with twins; Gwen and Georgie. Evelyn the youngest Wellington sister is married to Luke and their union produced Penelope and Jesse.
I already have a decent amount of information about them, now all I needed was to meet them in person and live with them until Mr. Logan spills the truth about the fortune.
The drive is through a beautiful natural scenery with leagues of trees and natural endowments and finally, the car wheeled onto the driveway that led to the entrance of a chateau with modern day touches. I've seen things like this so there's nothing to be shocked about but to open the car door.
Unexpectedly, a group of people were waiting at the door. Theresa, Lily Jane, Lois and of course… Logan.
"Cassie!" Theresa screamed as she ran to hug me.
Well, this is new and unexpected. Of all the multiple things I despised, unnecessary body contact was number one on my list.
Her hug was so warm and her sweet perfume filled my nostrils momentarily after but the hug was lasting longer than I thought. I carefully pulled away.
Lily had already approached us and I'm glad she didn't get too touchy as well.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Cassie. Mom's told me all about you. I'm Lily-Jane, Lily for short," Lily giggled.
All about me? Interesting.
Fair enough because I've heard all about you as well.
"The pleasure's all mine, Lily," I said, forcing a smile.
"Come on dear, Lily help the guards organize the bags in her room, " Theresa requested and motioned me to start walking towards the house.
I could see Logan and his wife, Lois closely as we approached the entrance. Lois had probably dyed her hair blonde to match with her husband, because she was auburn headed in image on her profile.
Logan wasn't all that bad himself, he looked better than the photo in a way, he was a bit muscular and quite clean as well. His breads were properly trimmed and groomed, his properly structured face had a pair of clear green eyes that kept giving me unexplainable stares.
I noticed they were holding hands, cute. You can hold her hand but still keep a huge secret away from her. Lover boy.
When I came closer, Lois removed her hand from her husband's and offered a handshake. Professional but I only fancy that type of thing with people I have deals with, not a client's relation.
"Hello, I'm Lois. Lois Wellington," She introduced with a smile.
"Cassie Hugh," I said naturally, the name's slowly getting attached to my mouth.
"That sounded a bit cold," Jesse whispered from the bud..
What does he want from me?
"It's a pleasure meeting you, Cassie. I look forward to working with you. You're so beautiful," Lois complimented and I had to smile to act 'warmer'
"Thank you, you too,"
"I guess we're done here, let's have breakfast, shall we?" Logan finally spoke, dismissing the whole issue.
"Soften up, Avery, we need to win him over," Jesse urged.
I've dealt with punks like him before, I wouldn't break my back to please the dude.
If he wants to play stubborn and arrogant, I'll just extract the information I need with the help of a gun placed on his precious wife's head.
"Pardon my manners, I'm Logan Wellington,"
Good boy.
"Nice meeting you," I said and turned to look at Theresa. I was literally starving, a dead man wouldn't be able to work, "Yeah, you were saying something about that breakfast,"
Theresa laughed, "Come with me dear, I'll introduce you to the rest of the family. All except Harold, my brother in-law. He's on a business trip,"
"Oh," I muttered. That's interesting, Dexter didn't say so.
We stepped into the house and a bright, warm and refreshing surge went through my body.
The place was brightly themed with white and neutral colors coating the walls, furniture and flooring. Contrary to my dark life at Cobra, I would have to adjust to this new fuzzy environment for three months straight.
Theresa led me down a short hallway that led to the dining room which was not surprisingly huge and themed white as well.
On the large, long table sat a league of foreign and local dishes which would definitely taste good as the aroma flooded the whole place.
"She's here! Heather Wellington announced excitedly.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Cassie Hugh, the new —"
"Surrogate, we're sort of aware. I'm Evelyn, " Evelyn opened the floor for introductions and I had to repeat the words, "Nice to meet you," for a couple of times until I took my seat next to Theresa and started eating.
They kept chatting over some topics, and one of the teen twins, specifically the boy called Jesse, kept winking at me. It's confusing that he shares a name with my colleague so I'll call him Jess for proper understanding.
"Are you into sports? I play basketball, " Jess said.
"Okay, that's awesome, " I answered with a smile.
I also played basketball at Cobra's HQ but that was an Avery Reigns thing but for Cassie Hugh? No.
The feeling of everyone's eyes on me gave me the chills and I had to readjust my sitting position for comfort.
Logan and Lois finally came in and didn't care to join the conversation but to eat in silence.
"Talk to them, Cassie, " Jesse buzzed into my ears, his voice laced with annoyedness.
Well, I am trying.
"The food is good by the way, thank you for letting me join you," I started hoping to contribute meaningfully.
"Our chef is also Mexican, he makes awesome food," Lily-Jane grinned.
Conversation start technique aside, the food was really good.
"It's really evident, you all are stunning," I added, discarding the fact that affluent skin care routines also aided the harmonious glow that they possessed.
"You're like a goddess sweetie," Heather squeaked.
Oh my, that's actually really nice.
"Thank you," I smiled.
"Ethereal beauty," added Evelyn.
"That's really sweet, thank you," I offered another set of words of gratitude.
"I'd marry you," Jess grinned.
"Do you always have to be a freak?" Penelope asked in visual disgust.
It's funny how she shuns immediately, must be the older twin.
Their compliments made me feel all warm and fuzzy in an unexplainable manner. I disregarded it and kept eating.
"Speaking of food, you should try out the salmon, Cassie. I hear that they're good for fertility enhancement," Heather suddenly advised out of the blue.
I couldn't hold myself together anymore as the bite I took in went through the wrong place.
"Oh dear," Theresa wailed, pouring out a cup of water and handing it to me.
"Thank you," I told her after gulping it down.
The amount of 'thank yous' I've uttered here today gives me this cringe feeling.
Fertility enhancement? Is being nice to me also good for my ovaries as well?
"I would like to be excused for a few minutes," Lois announced, standing from the table.
"Yeah sure, Cassie, are you alright?" Lily asked.
"I'm so sorry, if my statement caused harm. I…"
It caused extreme harm, lady.
"No, it's fine. I'm alright, I just don't like fish, sorry," I apologized with a small smile.
"I can't believe you'd ask the poor girl to eat what she doesn't like," Evelyn shunned.
"Yes, Heather. How could you? Cassie after this, you'll get me a list of all your likes and dislikes so I'd show that to the chef," Mom urged, rubbing Cassie's back.
Okay so this is new, Cobra's menu never really cared about my likes or dislikes. If you wanted something you had to fight for it and even kill someone in the process. This house, these people were messing with my head and that, I didn't like.
"You should say thank you, " Jesse reminded.
His constant buzzing in and out was getting annoying like a pesky inner voice.
"I will, thank you, " I said.