Page 44 of One of Those Amnesia Stories

“Naija.” I said her name with enough weight to turn it into a command. “Tell me everything. Start at the beginning, and don’t you dare edit anything to protect my feelings.”

And she did.

She told me how he’d blown off the party, how I’d left afterward with my anger and disappointment eating me alive, and how the accident had happened just moments later.

This was the fight he’d mentioned. This was what had pushed me behind the wheel that night.

That piece of shit hadn’t appreciated the one time I’d gone all in for him, and he still had the audacity to ask for another chance?

I bit down on the inside of my cheek, the sharp sting doing nothing to cool the fury racing through me. I demanded Cassian’s home address from Naija and ended the call. My hand shot toward the gearshift, and I shoved the car into drive, pulling away with a little more force than necessary.

The drive was a blur.

Every passing mile poured more fuel onto the fire inside me. The rage that had been boiling over slowly narrowed into pure resolve, every thought falling into place until there was only one thing left on my mind.

Forget Plan B.

It was time for Plan A.

By the time I reached Cassian’s house, my hands were practically itching to wrap themselves around his throat. I marched to the front door with murder on my mind and knocked hard enough to make my knuckles sting.

The second that door opened, I was ready.

Except it wasn’t Cassian standing there.

The woman’s face was unfamiliar, but Naija’s dossier had been thorough enough that I recognized her immediately.

Cassandra.

Chapter 7

Cassandra Hartley.

Confident. Poised. Independent.

Long legs in silk trousers and nude pumps, chestnut hair in a loose bun, eyes so sharp they made themselves difficult to look away from. Having graduated from one of the country’s most elite universities, holding a prestigious degree in Business Administration, she had stepped in when Cassian and Liam were drowning. Short on staff, short on time, short on sanity. She became their assistant, a lifeline until the situation stabilized. Then Rohan took over as Cassian’s executive assistant, while Cassandra remained Liam’s assistant, though she was still often spotted hovering at Cassian’s side.

Liam’s sister.

Cassian’s friend.

And a complete stranger to me.

Those were the facts Naija had given me, nothing more than a handful of details about a woman I’d never expected to cross paths with.

Yet there she stood in my doorway, surprise flickering across her face the moment she saw me.

She was surprised?

Wasn’t this supposed to be my house?

A polished smile quickly replaced the surprise on her face. “Alessia, it’s so good to see you!” she said brightly, stepping forward with her arms opening for a hug.

I didn’t move. Arms hanging at my sides, I watched her approach until she had no choice but to wrap them around a very unresponsive statue. After a brief, awkward second, she let go and took a small step back. The warmth vanished from her expression instantly, replaced by a perfectly arranged look of sorrow.

“I heard about the accident,” she murmured, her voice softening into practiced sympathy. “I’m so sorry. I wanted to visit, but Cassian said someone had to stay at work and hold down the fort.” Her lashes lowered, and when she looked at me again, her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “I was so devastated for you. I’m just so glad you’re okay now.”

Under different circumstances, I might have hugged her back. I might have smiled politely. I might even have believed her.