Recap

Cassie and Natalia help with the dishes after everyone is finished. Jackson excuses himself to take a call leaving Keith to watch the girls. A few minutes go by and Jackson returns looking troubled.

"Cassie?" All eyes turn to him. "We have to head to the label.. now."

**********************************

Natalia's brows furrow at him. He doesn't look to her however keeps his gazed locked on Cass. Her eyes drifting to her best friend who wears the same expression as her. Keith stands up walking over to her before turning to Jackson. 

"What is it?" Keith asks the question they were all thinking. 

"Everyone can come but we need to go."

He doesn't say anything else earning a bunch of confused looks. Natalia steps away from the sink going over to him. He takes her hand giving a head nod to the other couple before taking Natalia back to their room. She follows not saying anything as he guides her down the hall. Once the door is closed she tugs his hand. 

"Hey... talk to me." She says softly making him sigh lowly. 

"Her parents are at the label and refuse to leave before speaking with her."

Hearing this Natalia inhales sharply before releasing it slowly. Nodding her head he takes her to the closet pulling out his suit followed by Nat walking in to grab her blue jeans and a white tank top before reaching for the familiar leather jacket. Her fingers working through her dark locks. Once she feels satisfied she turns to find Jackson just watching her intently. He slow steps sauntering to her. He grips the sides of her leather jacket jerking her forward. Her body now pinned to his front while his gaze remains heated. 

"I love this jacket" his emphasis on the jacket making her smile coyly. He leans down with his lips hovering over her ear. "I preferred it last night."

She blushed remembering the events of last night. It was very hot and very electric. It wasn't like anything before. They have always had very heated, very passionate encounters but last night... it was slow and sensual. She didn't realize how much she would enjoy it. He worshipped her and continued to whisper words of praise to her. He spotted the jacket at one point and asked her to wear it... with nothing else. He took a photo of her and told her that it would be his new background. She laughed but didn't care, she trusted him. They talked for hours about so many things. It was.. Perfect. 

"Simmer down boy," she gently presses him back making his hot eyes staring down at her. "We need to get going, remember?"

He grumbles out heading to his bathroom. Natalia smiles shaking her head before sitting down to get her boots on. He walks back out and leans against the bathroom door. Nat can feel his gaze drilling into her. She stands finally meeting his gaze, "Ready love?"

She nods her head and he straightens his jacket before opening his bedroom door. They step out walking back out to find Cass standing near the window with Keith wrapped around her. Hearing their footsteps they turn to them. "Jackson what's going on?"

"I'll explain on the way."

Natalia can see how reluctant Cass is but she nods regardless and takes Keith's hand pulling him out. Nat gives her a reassuring smile as she steps by forcing Cass to smile slightly. They leave his place and make it down to the cars. Natalia climbs in the passenger seat to Jackson's car as he goes to the driver side. Cass and Keith taking the back seat holding each other hands firmly. Jackson takes Natalia's hand as he pulls out of the garage.

Making excellent time they arrive at the label to find a horde of reports outside. Cassie groans loudly seeing them leaning her head against Keith's arms. The dark cowboy leans over kissing her head while squeezing her hand bringing her comfort. Jackson drives around back parking the car. They walk into the building finding all eyes turning to them. Cassie and Keith follow Jackson and Natalia as they head to the elevator. They all get on luckily with no one else present. 

"Cassie, your parents are here and refusing to leave."

She goes stiff not having seen them in years. Her eyes whipping to Jackson, "and you're just telling me this now?!"

"It's time Cass," Nat says softly trying to make her see reason. 

Keith goes behind her wrapping both arms around her shoulders making the stress princess lean back against his chest closing her eyes momentarily. The dinging of the elevator signaling the arrival at the top floor. The receptionist stands up walking over smiling at the group. 

"Ms. Lyndel, please-" she gestures them to follow her. 

Cassie takes a deep breath and turns to Nat. Her eyes full of worry. Natalia releases Jackson hand while Keith steps back. Natalia locks arms with her best friend giving her a firm nod. Cass nods along and Nat begins to follow the woman again. Both men following silently behind. They make it to a conference room with glass walls. Inside sits an older couple with Tate sitting across from them. The receptionist opens the door alert all within to look over. Tate stands looking to Cassie. He opens his arms with a tight smile. The blonde beauty walking to him to give him a hug before taking a seat. Her eyes still not having looked up. 

Natalia on the other hand has been watching their every move. The woman has platinum blonde hair with green eyes. Her stature is long and thin. Her gaze never once leaving Cass but her expression giving nothing away. She didn't stand to greet the daughter she hadn't seen in years or offer any sort of comfort. 

The elder man looking nothing like what Nat had expected. He was fit with very tan skin. His hair black which is a nice contrast to his blue eyes which match Cass' perfectly. He on the other hand had a straight face but his eyes... his eyes gave away what he was feeling. Nat saw a feeling she knew well. Worry. Nat sits beside Cassie with Jackson beside her. Tate goes to the head of the table while Keith takes the remaining seat next to Cass. The silence in the room defining. 

"Mr. & Mrs. Lyndel," Tate speaks up catching their attention. Cass finally taking a glance at her so called parents. "I understand you wanted to speak to Cassie."

Mr. Lyndel clears his throat turning to his daughter. Their matching eyes leveling. Cassie awaiting to see what he has to say. "Cassie, we watched your interview... we were concerned."

Nat unintentionally snorts but keeps her mouth shut. She glances at Cass to find her seeming to have an inner battle with herself. Her eyes going back to the couple drifting solely to the woman. She still continues looking at Cass but it doesn't even appear as if she recognizes her. Her eyes holding no warmth for her only child. Having enough of this Nat leans forward with her elbows on the table. 

"Why now?"

The man looks to her but the woman continues her analysis of Cassie. He seems to hesitate for a moment glancing at his spouse before turning back to her. 

"We were unsure of whether or not Cassie would like us in her life."

"That didn't answer my question. Why. Now?" She asks once again. 

Finally the woman speaks up but her words leaving Natalia seething in her seat. 

"We were concerned on Cassie's claims against her former flame and thought we should step in."

Nat stands up abruptly while Cassie seems to be shrinking into herself. Keith reaching over to taking her hand. Cassie's eyes looking down at their hands feeling her eyes swelling up. The room is tense. Keith's gaze imagining different ways to hurt the woman before him. Jackson and Tate not sure of what they just heard. 

"You sit there, and have the nerve to speculate your daughters claims.."

"That wasn't what she mea-" 

"IT.. is exactly what she meant." Nat interjects the man who is trying to pacify the situation. Her voice holding a cold edge. She places her hands on the table leaning forward finally catching the ice queen's gaze. "You are a fool."

"Excuse me?!" She says sounding offended standing up as well matching Nat's gaze. Cassie finally reacts reaching for Nat's jacket sleeve gently tugging at it but Nat doesn't budge. 

"I said YOU are a fool." Nat says with conviction. Her eyes not wavering from the green eyes burning red. "You have an incredible and talented daughter and due to your own lack of awareness. You are left blind."

"You have no rig-"

"I have EVERY right!" She says raising her voice slightly. Her body now standing straight no longer leaning on the table. Her gaze drifting to the supposed father. "You worry for her yet you sit their silently as she is insulted. What kind of man are you??"

He locks his jaw but doesn't dare speak back fully aware she is right. Nat turning her gaze back to the woman before her. "You have NO idea what all she has went through. The times she called in tears, the nights she felt so less of herself, the times when ALL she wanted was an OUNCE of support from you both and never to receive it."

"She COULD HAVE HAD EVERYTHING!" The woman screeches having quite enough of her insults. "If she would have followed the plan, she could have had so much more!"

"And what of her happiness?" Nat says her gaze flickering between the pair. "Does that mean nothing to you both."

"Of course it matters." The man says looking to his daughter. "She should be happy and have security. Her current... work does not secure both."

"Cassie had created an empire on a career she is passionate for and more so... she is happy."

"And where did that happiness land her! She got raped and beaten!" The woman says with disgust. No sound of remorse for the trauma her daughter had went through. 

"And yet.. I survived." 

All eyes finally turning to her. Cassie's glossy eyes raising to match her mothers. Her chin lifting as she inhales deeply. Her hand clutching Keith's firmly but not wavering her gaze from the woman who was supposed to love her endlessly. 

"I was raped and beaten... but nothing compares to the hurt I felt knowing my parents didn't care."

Her eyes drifting to her fathers. "You sit there judging me for my faults and yet can not see your own." 

She slowly stands as everyone continues to look at her. She straightens her spine with eyes drifting between the pair. 

"I want you both to know that after I leave this office, we will never see each other again. We won't talk, or get together at any point. You won't walk me down the isle, you won't be there when you grandchildren are born or when they learn their first steps... I owe you both a great deal of gratitude because I have learned what I NEVER want to be for my children. You disowned me long ago due to me pursuing what I wanted and it was the greatest thing you ever did for me... It led me to my true family. To a woman who carries me through the dark. To a man who treats me like a queen. To a father figure who has had my best intentions at heart for so many years." 

Her eyes drifting to Tate's momentarily to find him tearing up as well. 

"Thank you and Goodbye."

With that she walks out with Keith quickly behind her. Nat shakes her head at the pair before her who for the first time are showing the slightest signs of remorse finally appearing on their faces. The woman sits down slowly gulping silently. Nat stands along with Jackson. 

"Due to your fucking stupidity, I was gifted a sister. Thank you for being incompetent."

She turns no longer caring for any respect. Jackson leaving with her. She makes it out of the office to find Keith standing by the restroom door. Nat makes quick work of going in. Cassie is leaning against the sink with both hands clutching the porcelain sides. Their eyes meet in the mirror. 

"That felt good."