It turned out he had lost something before. Lia thought that men like him—successful, powerful—weren't the type to concern themselves with love. Love seemed like such a fleeting, fragile thing.
"Then pick it up and protect it well," she said softly, not daring to meet his intense gaze.
Cassius's eyes softened, his gaze never leaving her. "What I wanted to protect has come back," he said.
Lia's eyes widened slightly. His words made her feel exposed and vulnerable. She didn't know what he meant, but she knew she wasn't ready to find out. She averted her gaze, feeling the warmth of his fingers brush against her neck, tracing the light pink mark he'd left there.
"Let's go. It's time for dinner," he said, changing the subject with a tone of finality.
"Yeah," Lia agreed, relieved that they didn't have to continue down that path.
---
After dinner, instead of heading straight to the luxury tie shop, they stopped by a jewelry store.
"Cassius, are you planning to buy some jewelry?" Lia asked, surprised.
He turned to her, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Yes, it's for someone. I need your help choosing."
"Okay," Lia agreed, her mind instantly switching to her secretary training. "Does the person have a favorite animal or any specific preferences?"
Cassius paused for a moment, then said, "What if it were you? What would you choose?"
"Me?" she asked, a bit taken aback.
"Yes. What would you pick?" he pressed, studying her closely.
"Well..." she hesitated. If it were up to her, she'd go for something simple and affordable, but she doubted that's what he wanted to hear. "I suppose I'd choose something elegant, but not too expensive."
"Not too expensive?" He raised an eyebrow, amused by her practicality. "Let's go inside. We'll look together."
The sales clerk greeted them enthusiastically as they stepped inside. "Welcome, sir, ma'am. How can I assist you today?"
Lia glanced at Cassius, who gestured for her to take the lead. She felt a bit out of her depth, but she nodded.
"Cassius, how about a necklace?" she suggested.
He nodded. "Sure."
The clerk led them over to a display case. "May I recommend our exclusive piece, *Butterfly Love*? It's one of our most unique designs," the clerk said, holding up a delicate necklace featuring a butterfly pendant with small, sparkling stones set in the wings.
Lia's breath caught. It was beautiful, delicate, and somehow felt meaningful. But she hesitated, unsure if it was appropriate. This necklace looked like something a man would give to a woman he loved deeply.
"No, thank you," Lia said politely. "Could we see something else?"
The clerk nodded. "Of course. But I must say, this necklace suits you perfectly, miss."
Lia forced a polite smile. "I'm sure it's lovely, but it's not quite right."
Cassius, who had been observing quietly, suddenly asked, "Do you like this one?"
"It's... very pretty," she admitted. "But if it's a gift for someone special, I think you could find something more suitable."
"Wrap it up," he said without hesitation.
Lia blinked. "What?"
"I said, wrap it up," he repeated to the clerk.
"Right away, sir," the clerk said, eagerly moving to package the necklace.
Lia was stunned. He was buying it after all. Who was it for? She wondered if it was for someone very dear to him, someone special.
After the purchase, they moved on to the tie section.
"What do you think of this one?" Lia held up a light-colored tie, draping it gently against his chest. "I noticed you usually wear darker colors. Maybe a lighter one would be a nice change."
He looked at her with a warmth that made her heart skip a beat. "What style do you think I should try?"
"Honestly," she said, stepping back to assess the tie, "you're handsome enough to pull off anything. A lighter tie would look great on you."
Cassius's eyes crinkled with amusement, and he reached out to gently tweak her pink cheek. "You have a way of flattering, don't you?"
She shook her head, flustered. "I'm just being honest."
His arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her a little closer. "Then you should be honest more often," he said.
Lia's cheeks burned as she glanced around the store. She saw the curious eyes of the store clerk watching them.
"Someone is looking," she whispered, trying to put some distance between them.
"You two have such a wonderful connection," the clerk said with a smile. "It's nice to see couples who look so in love."
Lia opened her mouth to correct the clerk's assumption, but Cassius cut her off smoothly.
"Pack up this entire row of ties," he said casually.
The clerk's face lit up with delight. "Yes, sir, right away!"
Lia's jaw dropped. "Cassius, why are you buying so many? You have enough ties at home already."
He leaned closer, his tone playfully conspiratorial. "From now on, I want you to choose my ties."
"Alright," she agreed, though she couldn't hide the surprise in her voice.
With the ties purchased, Cassius seemed to be in a good mood. They wandered around the mall a bit longer before he led her to a women's boutique, which specialized in professional attire.
"Cassius, are you buying more gifts?" she asked, puzzled.
"Pick out a few suits," he said.
"For me?" she asked, genuinely taken aback.
"Yes. You're starting work at Ravencroft Group soon, and you'll need a professional wardrobe."
Lia shook her head. "I can buy them myself."
He gave her a serious look. "Is there a problem with me buying clothes for my woman?"
His woman?
She opened her mouth to object, but he cut her off with a teasing smile. "Or would you rather I pick them for you?"
Reluctantly, she nodded and allowed him to help her choose. In the end, he picked out five elegant, professional outfits.
...
Back at Edenbrook Manor, Lia still felt overwhelmed. She hadn't even started her job yet, but Cassius had already done so much for her. She watched him emerge from the bathroom, towel-drying his hair, and quickly stepped forward to take over.
He sat down on the sofa, and she stood behind him, gently rubbing the towel over his damp hair. Suddenly, he pulled her down onto his lap, facing him, and she gasped as his eyes locked onto hers.
"Your hair's still wet," she said nervously, avoiding his gaze.
"I don't care," he murmured, his eyes tracing her features. His gaze lingered on her neckline, and he reached out to lightly brush his fingertips over the fading pink marks on her neck.
"It's almost gone," he said softly.
"What is?" she asked, confused.
"The mark I left," he replied, his voice a low, seductive whisper.
Lia's face turned bright red, and before she could respond, he captured her lips with his. The kiss was slow, languid, and impossibly tender, as if he had all the time in the world.
Lia didn't resist. She let herself sink into the warmth of the moment. After a while, he lowered his head...