Cute Tag Along

"Hello, Shawn."

"Cassandra, what are you? Not who I was expecting." He halted in front of her and scanned her for a while before proceeding to pour himself and her a glass of wine.

"Oh, cut me some slack. Some whore said no to you, and now you feel charmless and powerless?" She said, taking a sip of wine.

"How dare you speak of my fiancée in such a way, in my presence?!" His voice thundered across the room.

She laughed, "Barker. I'd be a liar if I said I didn't miss this. Come on, let's face the reality now. Have you put a ring on her finger? Has your fiancée said yes? Does she even know you? I mean, she's not better than I am." She chuckled.

"Yes, she is." Riele says, descending the stairs.

"Hello, mother." She rolled her eyes.

"I am not the mother of a weasel; most importantly, I am not your mother. How dare you step foot on my property, calling my daughter-in-law a whore while you're the perfect definition of it? You weasel. She is by far better than you; my son might not have put a ring on her, she might not know him, and she might not have said yes, even. I might not have met her, but I respect and trust his choice; she is better than what you've ever been and would ever be. I ask again, Cassandra Brown, what are you doing in my house?"

"I'm here for your son, oldie. Now if you would stick your nose somewhere else and step aside, I have business to do."

"Get out, now!" Shawn yelled, and his fists balled. "I will not have you disrespect my mother in my presence!" His voice thundered across the room.

"Shawn, are you really choosing her over me?" She eyed her.

"Don't force me to hit you, Cassandra. Get out!"

"Yes, he is. And you heard him right. Get out of my house before I rain hell on earth for you!"

She glared at them and said, "Fuck you two." She grabbed her things and left the room.

"Shawn, did you say your fiancée?" Riele asked after they had settled down.

"I…she hasn't accepted my proposal yet. I just met her today." He opened up.

"Bold step. Let's see if she accepts it then. I'm sure Ms. Ryder would make the perfect daughter-in-law for me." Riele teased.

"It sounds weird coming from you. Aren't you, Ms. Ryder?"

"Nah," She shrugged it off. "I'm retired and need me a daughter."

He smiled at her as he walked out of the room to meet Kevin on the balcony.

"Cassie. That bitch's got some nerve," Kevin sighed.

He settled down on the bench on the balcony. "Thanks, man," Shawn smiled and said; 'I'd have ended up with her if you didn't talk some sense into me.'

His phone vibrated in his pocket, interrupting their conversation. He took it out. "Hello," he started.

The room was quiet as he listened to the caller. "Speaking," he continued. "Oh, hey, Jazmyn." He smirked, looking at Kevin from the corner of his eye. "Sure, be there in ten." He hung up.

"So..." Kev asked.

He got off the bench, heading for his room. "I told you she was going to call; at least I haven't lost my charm." He did a three sixty degrees turn, while making some funny dance moves.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, Kev, I've got a date with Jazmyn. Oh, and please, don't tell my mother." He hummed a song on his way out.

He took out a black tuxedo from his wardrobe and stood in front of the mirror. He looked dissatisfied. He took out another tuxedo; it was metallic silver.

"Kevin!" He stood with the tuxedos, perplexed as to which to choose.

"I like the silver more. What would you do without me?" He said this, leaning against the door with his arms crossed. 'You can't even get dressed without me.'

"I was only perplexed. I can do stuff without you, man." He returned the black tuxedo to his wardrobe.

"What if she doesn't accept your proposal?"

He scoffed. "Why else would she call me for a date to talk about the proposal if she wasn't going to accept it?" He buttoned his jacket.

"Maybe, she wants to tell you something apart from that. Perhaps bring your hopes low; who knows?"

He adjusted his tie. "No, she probably intends to accept. How do I look?" He asked, checking himself out in the mirror before facing Kevin.

"Good, she'd be head over heels for you, in this."

He put on his Rolex watch, put on some cologne, and put on his ring. "Thanks, man." He slicked his hair back with mousse before leaving the mansion.

"Camilla's Carats." He relaxed on the seat, listening to his favorite song blaring in his ears when he got another call.

"Mr. Ryder. There's an urgent business meeting being held by the board. Your PA is currently unavailable, and your secretary is being hospitalized. Your presence is needed." The voice said over the phone.

"Thanks, Rushon." He hung up. "Alexis, call Tara."

'Calling Tara.' Alexis says over the speakers.

"Sir, good day," Tara started.

"Tara, where are you?"

"I traveled to Vietnam; it's a business trip." She said,

"And you don't think it's best to tell me before traveling?" His lips pressed into a firm line.

"I'm sorry, sir,"

"I booked a flight back to New York for you. I'll send the details to you. We have a board meeting with Sunbae. I'm currently unavailable and on my way to another business as well. Don't keep them waiting." He hung up.

The car pulled up in front of the store.

"Wait here." He said as he alighted the car.

He stood in front of the restaurant, smiling to himself, before walking in.

"Where's Jazmyn?" He asked a lady carrying boxes.

"Ms. Camilla? She left a couple of hours ago."

He took out his phone to call her.

"Shawn,"

He turned around to face her.

"Let's head out. Delacroix." She said, turning on her heels.

"Sure, you have a ride?" He asked.

"We can just book one." She pulled the door open and walked right through it.

He pulled her back. "I have a ride," He led her to his SUV, holding the door open for her to walk in.

"Are you always like this?" She asked after they settled into the car.

"Like how?"

"A loverboy." She said, looking out the window.

He chuckled. "A lover boy?" He gazed at her for a while. "Look at me."

"Why? Do your eyes have diamonds I can make into beautiful jewelry?"

He smirked. "They're more beautiful than diamonds, and you can make beyond beautiful jewelry from looking into them." He smiled.

"Your jewelry, your diamonds…they serve as memories; I mean, each one you make has a story, an unforgettable story of its own, right?"

"Yes, very memorable and peculiar. How many carats do those weigh?"

"Priceless. You can make your own stories and very peculiar moments from them, like you do your diamonds and jewelry."

"Incoming call from Tara." Alexis says over speakers.

"What?" He asked.

"Sir, I've gotten there, but they really need your presence here." Tara said.

"Tell them I'm on a business trip of my own, and you're representing me." He said.

"I did, sir, but they insisted."

He sighed. "I'll get back to you." He hung up.

"It seems pretty urgent. You should go."

"I'm so sorry, Jaz. Can we do this another time?" He asked.

"Sure, or we could still do it today. Why don't I follow you to your board meeting, I'm not going to enter, of course. I'll just stay in the waiting room, and once you're done, we could go out together for dinner." She said,

"Are you serious?" He asked.

"Shawn, you wanna do this or not?" She asked.

"You can't follow me to my board meeting, Jaz."

"I can! And I will. So you game or not?" She folded her arms.

"Jazmyn."

"Shawn! Do you want to do this or not?" She asked again. "Drive!" She yelled at the driver.

"You're not going to back down, are you?" He asked after failed attempts at dissuasion.

"You better get used to it." She crossed her legs, put on her earpods, and stared out the window as he stared at her.

There was a long, awkward moment of silence between them as they exchanged eye contact frequently. The car soon made a stop in front of the company. She took out the earphones and adjusted her dress before alighting the car. He offered to help her down, but she ignored him, leaving his extended hand hanging in midair as she made for the door.

"Where's the waiting room?" She asked, storming into the building like she owned it.

"Ms. Cooper," A man in his mid-fifties who appeared to be the CEO called out to her. She flashed him her cutest smile as she approached the receptionist.

"Mr. Ryder!" A voice thundered behind him. He smoothed his hair before turning around.