AROUSED FEARS

CHAPTER 2

Cassie strolled to her mother's room beaming with smiles. Her left hand was holding unto her phone while her right hand dangled aimlessly. She was speaking to Cassandra, her elder sister.

"Give me a minute. I'll be there shortly," she assured Cassandra. Cassie got to her mother's room and gave a slight knock on the wooden door.

"Come in," Matilda responded from the inside.

Cassie pushed the door open and walked into her mother's room. Matilda was relaxed on her bed, reading a fashion magazine.

Matilda lowered the magazine to her chest and demanded. "Is that Cassandra you are speaking with?

Cassie nodded in agreement and handed the phone to her mother. She then sat beside her.

" Cassandra!" Matilda called out excitedly.

" Hi mom!" came Cassandra's voice.

Matilda smiled. "How are you doing my child?" She didn't give Cassandra the chance to speak before asking again. "When are you coming home?"

"Next weekend," Cassandra replied. "I'll wrap up my clearance soon."

Matilda sighed in relief. "I can't wait. She turned to look at Cassie and continued. We all can't wait to have you here."

"Especially dad," Cassie screamed from her sitting position.

Cassandra was silent and her mother went on speaking. "Your father can't wait to have you around Cassandra. I want him to retire. The business needs you."

"How is he? How is his health? I texted him this morning but I didn't get a reply." said Cassandra.

Matilda sighed. "Uhmmm, I guess he's busy at work. He left very early this morning but I'm certain he'll get back to you."

Cassie snatched the phone from her mother without notice and blurted to Cassandra. "Dad watched the business news last night. He learnt about the investors that pulled out," she told Cassandra.

"You are such a gossip!" her mother declared and shook her head.

"Cassandra, dad is so eager to see you. I heard him telling uncle Jack yesterday during his homecoming party that Cassandra is coming to turn his business around. He spoke as if you studied magic not business."

There was a silence from Cassandra's end.

"Hey sis, are you there?"

Cassie took the phone away from her ear and looked at the screen. She noticed that the call was still on.

"I'm here Cassie. "

"You stopped responding a while ago."

"How's Liam? Hope he is reaching out to you guys," demanded Cassandra.

"Uhmm. I guess he is good. We spoke last week. He'll be home this summer."

"I need to go now. We will keep in touch." Cassandra said.

"And we will see you soon. Please don't forget to come with the stuff I requested. I dropped the samples on Instagram for you."

"I'll do my best Cassie. Send my love to mom and dad." Cassandra said and hung up.

Matilda turned to Cassie. "And what list are you talking about? she dropped the magazine on the bed.

Cassie adjusted her top and ran her left hand through her hair. "Just some clothes, shoes and bags mom."

"Grow up!" her mother almost yelled

Cassie jumped out of the bed. "I'll see you later mom," she said and headed back to her room.

.........................

In London, Cassandra sat on the bed, her legs stretched forth. She was looking up at the ceiling and was hugging her phone tightly. The tears she had been holding up while conversing with her mother began to stream down her cheeks.

She hugged her knees with her chest as more tears rolled down her cheeks. The door to the room was pushed open and Cassandra quickly dried her tears with the edge of her palms.

Ruby, her best friend and roommate walked into the room and saw Cassandra at the corner of the bed, facing the wall.

Ruby rushed to the bed and forced Cassandra to turn around. "Are you okay?"

Cassandra faked a smile. "I'm good. I just have a slight headache." she sniffled.

Ruby held Cassandra's face in her palms and turned her face from left to right. "Have you been crying?"

Cassandra lowered her head. "I wasn't crying."

"Stop lying to me," Ruby warned while pointing a finger at her. Ruby then placed her left palm on Cassandra's jaw and tilted her head up. "Look at your eyes, it's all swollen."

Cassandra sighed and busted into tears. Ruby immediately immersed her in a hug.

"Please don't cry." Ruby consoled and patted her back tenderly.

Cassandra placed her head on Ruby's chest and wept like a lost child. Ruby didn't stop her. She allowed the tears to flow ceaselessly. After a few minutes, Cassandra spoke.

"I was on the phone with my mother earlier. Everyone is expecting my homecoming, Ruby. The day I feared the most is around the corner."

Ruby sighed and continued stroking Cassandra's back tenderly. "I understand how you feel."

Cassandra immediately stood up and began to pace. "You don't understand me, Ruby. This shit is messed up." she cried out.

"Well, you have to tell them the truth sooner or later. You chose this path so you must fight for it and the day has come." Ruby replied.

Cassandra palmed her forehead with her left hand. "My mother just told me that the company needs me." she turned to Ruby. "They are counting on me and I let them down, Ruby.

Ruby stood up and moved closer to her. "You did what's best for you?"

Cassandra shook her head. "I don't think I did the right thing, Ruby. I'm so selfish and now, I don't want to think about coming home."

"Stay calm Cassandra. We've talked about this."

"I can't do this Ruby," Cassandra concluded. "I can't just look my parents in the eye and tell them what I've done. They'll be disappointed and the business....." she sighed and sank onto the bed.

Ruby didn't know what to tell her best friend. She just sat beside her without a word.

"Did I tell you that my fate was decided from the moment I turned fourteen?" Cassandra said, breaking the silence between them.

She continued. "On my fourteenth birthday, my father took me to his company and introduced me to everyone as his heiress. He said I will get a degree from the London School of Business and take over the company." She broke into a dry laugh and nodded repeatedly. "He said Cassandra will make me proud."

"But you made him proud though in your way." Ruby interrupted. "You topped the class, Cassandra. Everyone is envious of you. You are the best the department has ever had in the last decade and you know it."

Cassandra turned to Ruby. "You expect me to go home, smiling victoriously with a law certificate when I should be presenting a business certificate instead? Huh? Tell me Ruby?" she screamed and pushed the pillows away.