Harrison sat beside Cassandra after she stretched out over her pool lounger, resting her head back with a sigh. He set her bag down beside him and laid back as well, enjoying the sights around the well-designed pool. After spending the past two days between work and sleep, they didn't actually have time to go out and enjoy the sites as they planned. Their meeting with one of the men they would be working with ended earlier than planned, so Cassandra suggested they enjoy the rest of their day in the pool. It took them little to no time to dig out suitable swimwear, and they headed out to the pool. It was, thankfully, almost empty, with only a few people around.

Harrison stood after he got everything sorted and walked over to take Cassandra's hand. "Come on, let's get into the pool."

She eyed the water suspiciously, then grinned and allowed him to pull her to her feet. She followed him, walking into the water. It was cold, like most of the city, even under the warming sun, but after a few minutes, they got used to it.

"I can't believe that we have only been here two days; it feels like a whole century." she groaned, spreading her arms out as she slipped back, allowing the water to carry her. Her hair floated underneath the water, and her smile grew. "I could fall asleep like this because it feels heavenly."

"Must be." Harrison grabbed her ankle and pulled her along. She laughed at him, trying not to sink beneath the water. She wrapped her hand around his shoulders as she rested her back on the edge of the pool. "We were meant to enjoy this trip, and all we seem to do lately is the opposite of that. If that man had brought out one more folder, I might have snapped."

"Lazy."

"Whatever." He kissed her, and she sighed, threading her fingers through his hair and running her fingers up his back, scraping against his skin. "Have I told you how beautiful you look every day? All the time, always stunning."

"Please, mention it a few more times, and maybe it would finally sink in." She kissed his chin, looking around at the other people that swam around them before sneaking in a long kiss. "I find you incredibly fetching as well."

"What a compliment."

He cupped her hips and lifted her, allowing her to wrap her legs around him. He looked away from her for a second and noticed Josephine sitting on the other side of the pool, she wore shades, but he could feel her eyes on them. Cassandra watched him before turning, her demeanour darkening when she watched H.W walk over to Josephine and hand her a glass of wine.

"You can not be serious right now." She growled, turning to drop her forehead against his chest in frustration. He felt her legs loosen from his waist, and she turned to walk out of the pool. "I can never catch a break."

Harrison followed behind her, clawing through his wet hair with his fingers as they sat down on their respective loungers. His gaze lingered on Josephine, watching her with the same intensity that she watched him, not believing that they followed him and Cassandra all the way out here. It was not a coincidence that they were, not only in the same city but in the exact same hotel. No one knew they were in Himont except their family and assistants, so he wondered how Josephine found out.

Cassandra walked into his view, blocking Josephine as she sat down on his lounger and offered him a glass of wine. "Nothing better than a good glass to serve as a distraction. I would offer to put sunscreen on you, but you are seriously wet, and I am oddly curious to see what a tan would look like on you."

Harrison chuckled. "I can dry myself really well with the towel, and you can have a go at it. I promise I won't stop you." He took a sip of the wine, his brows lifting in surprise. "This is amazing. What brand is this?"

"Don't know, Italian or something."

"My mom would love this."

"You are sweet."

Cassandra laid on his stomach while he began to tell her a story of his days in college. Hard as he tried to forget Josephine was there, it was a difficult task because she became passively aggressive. She walked by them many times, she stayed close to their side of the pool when she went for swims and was outrageously flirting with H.W. Cassandra had his attention, though, watching him with interest and listening with intent, it made the situation manageably easier to deal with.

"Hmm." Cassandra hummed, setting her glass down on the table.

He looked down at her, leisurely stroking her bare back as she laid on him. "What is it?"

"Nothing, just thinking." she raised her head, her fingers on his stomach as she tried to prop herself into a more comfortable position. "Don't be mad, but I was actually thinking about Josephine and Harrison. I can understand why Josephine isn't giving up on you. You didn't break up long before we got together, but Harrison has been gone three years."

Harrison slipped his hand behind her neck, massaging her neck. "What are you thinking he is here for then."

She pushed her drying hair back, "That's where I am going a little wild with my theory. What if Josephine had something to do with him coming back into my life, exactly at the same time when we began our relationship."

Harrison remembered Maria's warning from the first time Cassandra was hospitalized. "I don't want to think Josephine is capable of going through all that just to have us break up. Looking for and returning Harrison into your life just to drive a wedge between us is crazy. Even for her."

"You think?"

"I hope." he breathed, looking up to the sky quietly.

Cassandra nodded and shifted her head so that her ears pressed into his chest, and he, in turn, relaxed. He dropped his head on the lounger and closing his eyes, his fingers still working on her neck and shoulders. They stayed that way for a long time, but when he opened his eyes next, the pool was almost empty. Some couples still sat at the lounger and bar, but there was no one in the pool. Even Josephine and H.W seemed to have retired.

Harrison yawned and shook Cassandra's shoulders as she tried to get up, but she just snuggled closer and sighed against him. He laughed at it and leaned forward so he could slip out of her arms, and she rolled on her side and continued her sleep. After he made sure she wouldn't fall off the lounger as she turned around, he picked up his phone. He packed up their bag and slung it over his shoulder before lifting Cassandra into his arms.

With the help of an employee, he got her upstairs and in bed without causing a commotion. He laid her down on the sheets, and he thanked the employee for his help. Harrison moved to close the door when Josephine's finger pushed it back open, and he took a shocked step back. He didn't waste a bit, stepping out of the room to prevent her from getting any ideas. He closed the door behind him, walking further from the door, so she was forced to back away.

"Josephine, what do you want now?"

"I didn't want to be rude or get your complaining if I interrupted your little chat with Cassandra, so I waited for you to be free."

"How did you find us? Why are you here?"

"Purely coincidence." she laughed, touching his arm lightly, but he shrugged her off, keeping his gaze impassive and uncaring. "You don't have to believe me. Cassandra gave me the idea a while back to contact Harrison, and I took her advice to heart. We decided to come out here to have some time together, but surprise, here you are as well. It seems we are always going to be thrown together."

Harrison stepped forward to get in her face, looking into her eyes so she could feel the frustration and anger in his. "Day by day, Josephine, I have less and less respect for you as a person. I can't keep repeating the same story to you, but you are pushing me to begin hating you, and I don't want to do that. Leave me alone. Go and find a life for yourself because there is no life here with me.

She shook her head furiously, touched his face tenderly, and smiled. " Harrison is also an amazing man; I can see all the qualities that attracted Cassandra. Someday, when you finally realise that we are meant to be, I might not be there. You know something ridiculous that just occurred to me, maybe your wishes would soon be answered, and I'll be off your hands. One day, we might decide to give each other a chance."

"I can not imagine a more perfect match made in heaven. The lengths to which you both deserve each other is truly staggering."

With that said, he stepped back into the room and shut the door in Josephine's face, closing his eyes as he rested his forehead on the door.

"Babe?" he turned to the bed and found a sleepy Cassandra looking at him through puffed eyes, but she smiled. "I am sorry I fell asleep. Please tell me I walked halfway, and you didn't have to carry me upstairs by yourself."

"I did, but happily." She almost dozed off again, and he slapped her cheeks tenderly. "Hey, don't do that. Get into the shower and wash the pool off so you can get some sleep."

He rushed her into the bathroom before he slipped into his room to shower and change into more suitable clothes. When Harrison returned, she was in bed and covered in the soft sheets, facing away from his door. He snuck towards her, trying to sneak in beside her when an eye popped open. Cassandra laughed and helped him get under the blanket with her, then she turned, facing him as she closed her eyes.

When he was about to shut his eyes, he heard her slurred question.

"Are you going to tell me who was at the door?" She sighed, hugging her pillow closely and burrowing half her face into it, so her voice came out muffled. "I could hear you through the door, couldn't tell whose voice it was."

"No one important."

"Hmm... so it was Josephine then? Or Harrison."

He flicked a finger over her nose, and she moaned in complaint, fighting to stay awake for their conversation. Josephine's main idea was to cause discord between them; she wanted them to argue or fight over her. If not that, she liked to pester them with her presence until it created enough strain for Cassandra to leave. Harrison refused to give her the pleasure, and it pleased him immensely that Cassandra didn't seem to be daunted by Josphine's tactics.

"Don't think about that, it's not important. Sleep, we have a lot to do tomorrow, and you will need your strength."

She looked at him, taking in a deep breath before stretching a hand out of the sheet to stroke the side of his face as she nodded in agreement. Cassandra was still heavily tired because, in seconds, she drifted away again, her breathing softening as she snuggled into the sheets. Harrison found himself smiling in the grey darkness, watching her face as it was bathed with moonlight. Gently, he traced her nose and jaw, using his finger to brush some strands of hair away from her face, but they fell back in place, making him smile.

Finally, he tucked his hands underneath his pillow, staring at her for a while before he whispered into the night, "I love you."