Cassandra gratefully smiled at Dylan, taking the hand he offered and carefully stepping down from the car. Most of the discomfort from her fall was gone. She still had to be careful with her movements, so she wasn't sore by the end of the day. She used the opportunity of having fewer working hours to work from the comfort of her home, on her bed or in the study. She only went to the office when it was necessary.

Julia walked towards her, thanking Dylan for the ride as they left him to enter the building. They had signed a contract with Cooper's secretary early in the morning. With nothing much to do in the office, Cassandra decided they would spend it at the pool house with Shantel. Julia did not oppose. The building had a nice bar and a small restaurant, which was fine because both women were hungry for food and company.

"Well, Well. Look who just woke up?"

Shantel swaggered up to them, dressed in a fitted knee-length dress and grey sneakers. Her bangles chimed as they clanked against one another when she lifted her arms to pull Cassandra into a hug and Julia as well. She ushered them into the restaurant, away from the swarm of people flocking into the building so they could have some privacy. Shantel walked them to a table on the last floor, proudly announcing that she set it up solely for them.

"You are too considerate." Julia complimented, pulling out a chair for Cassandra before she took her own.

Shantel sat beside her, laying her phone down on the table as she reached over to pop the bottle of champagne open with an enthusiastic whoop. Julia inched away, narrowly avoiding the spray while laughing at the situation.

"I heard that Harrison took you out again yesterday." Shantel began slyly, filling up a flute and passing it over to Cassandra before filling another one. "You need to tell me if I should start getting excited before I get way ahead of myself."

"Not," Julia answered before she could. Cassandra didn't even try to step in because she knew she would be outnumbered in the argument. They only met a handful of times at the hospital, but Shantel and Julia agreed on so many things it was a waste of time to argue with them both in the room.

"What do you mean not?"

"I asked how it was, and if she was, you know, taking the next step, but I got around solid 'no'. Apparently, she is only planning to be openly cordial with him, so her mom's doubts about her work life are abated. In a few weeks, she plans to only see him when work arises. Personally, I think it's a ridiculous idea."

"I second that."

"Of course, you do." Cassandra nodded, smiling at the waiter when he began to set their plates in front of them. She unfolded the napkin and spread it over her lap, taking a sip of her champagne. "I told you that I was not interested in having a relationship with him or with anybody."

"I don't see what you are so afraid of. Please don't tell me it's Josephine or the town gossip that is stopping you because I will hit you with this vase."

"I heard you shared some words with her when she went to insult you in your office. Is it true? Did she really hit you?"

"Amongst other things."

"But Cassandra really put her in her place." Julia jumped in, much to Shantel's excitement. It had been a while since the fight, and Shantel had been spoiling for some inside information. From the look of anticipation on her face, Cassandra doubted the sense behind bringing Julia, who seemed more than ready to rise to the occasion. "She literally undressed her in front of everybody and moved on to undress everybody else."

"I didn't do that."

"She did. She asked everyone why they were so shocked by the news. It wasn't like she kissed their fathers or brothers, so they should pick up their jaws and swallow their tongues." Shantel choked on her wine, and Cassandra stuffed her mouth with food, laughing despite herself. "Josephine was still there, standing gobsmacked, mostly because she had been smacked, but Cassandra didn't even let her get another word in."

"I am never doing this again." Cassandra moaned regretfully, but Shantel hushed her, drowning in the detailed, and revised story that Julia was laying down.

"Then she said the best thing I think I have heard this year." Julia sat straighter, putting on her poker face and trying to mimic Cassandra lithe accent, but her own made the entire scenario hilarious. "If I feel like kissing Harrison or every man on this planet, you are no one to tell me anything."

Shantel laughed, and Cassandra rushed to correct her. "Santa Montes. I remember saying Santa Montes, not the entire planet."

"You say you don't care what she thinks, then what is really stopping you from trying. Are you afraid of that kind of challenge Cassandra?"

"Harrison, effectively, is not the only man in this city. I think when I am ready to date, a time of which is unknown, I can find...better options than someone who would surely bring more drama to my doorstep."

Julia and Shantel shared a look then Julia spoke. "She is definitely challenged."

"Remind me not to do this between the two of you again."

"Okay. I'll stop if you mention one other guy apart from Harrison who might see yourself dating in the future." Shantel dipped closer to the table, bouncing her eyebrows mischievously. "One."

"Mr Cooper doesn't count heh, he is married."

Cassandra rolled her eyes, trying to think but was embarrassed when she came up with blanks. It wasn't that she didn't have any men in her life, but her relationship with all of them had been business-like and very formal; a few were her friends. Those that were her friends; she could never see herself taking their friendship to anything more. Not that she wanted to have more with Harrison but in this case, Julia and Shantel had a point. Harrison was the only person in her life at that moment that seemed interested in her outside of business.

"I don't like being around him because of the way he behaves. He has not said anything about it, but I am, well, I have been getting the impression that he likes me."

"That is so prideful; and conceited if I may say so." Shahad chewed, feigning disappointment. "Now, your plan is to heave everything on Harrison, like he is the only one with the attraction. Honey, you are in a glasshouse, a big one, don't throw stones."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Like it or not, you have been attracted to him since you met," Julia said, picking up from where Shantel left off. "The day he rejected your proposal to buy his company, you had been livid, but you understood his reasons for not selling. Then you met, and after a while, you wanted to do anything and everything to get him out of your life because, according to you, he was becoming more and more present. The one who felt the attraction first was you, my dear."

Thankfully, Shantel's phone chose that particular moment to ring, and as she picked it to look at the caller, Cassandra noted the name that flashed on her screen. Shantel apologised, ending the call and sending a quick text.

"Sorry. It's my boyfriend."

Cassandra choked, once again on her drink, covering her mouth with her palm. "Jacob." She asked, recalling the name that she noticed and remembering the scent she picked off of Shantel a few days ago in the hospital. Everything clicked into her mind, and she laughed. "Your boyfriend is Jacob? My doctor?"

"What!" Julia dragged with a low whistle.

"Sorry, I wanted to tell you earlier, but I guess cats out of the bag." Shahad looked a bit embarrassed. "I only realised he was your doctor when you fell, and I didn't really know if that would be weird."

Cassandra laughed. "What's weird is what you told me about your boyfriend the first day we met. About the couple's lingerie." She smiled when Shahad looked flustered. "Now, every time he writes me my prescription it's just going to feel like I know a bit too much about his personal life."

"Don't turn this on me." Shahad sputtered defensively. "And don't mention that part to him; he is also very reserved about that. Back to the topic. What is so bad about Harrison Clark. He is intuitive, kind, charitable and not to mention handsome. I would have added rich as a bonus, but you are both there, so there is no need. He is confident, he seems pretty immune to gossip. Come on are no downsides to this man."

"Except for dating Josephine." Julia widened her eyes dramatically, take a bit of her food.

"We are all allowed to have sordid histories. His just seems very unready to be history." Shantel looked out the window. "Harrison must have something for her to be this desperate. I mean, he breaks up with her, kisses someone else, and she has enough jealousy to come to confront you like he was still her boyfriend."

"We are not going to sit here all morning talking about Harrison."

"Then let's talk about Harrison."

Julia's fork paused mid-air in confusion before she understood and sucked in her food with another wide-eyed stare. Shantel was always straightforward, so Cassandra was not surprised at how she threw her fiancé's name out. Cassandra appreciated that; she was internally tired of walking on eggshells whenever he was mentioned.

"What does he have to do with this, now? And why am I the only one on the table for conversation? Aren't they better things to talk about? Jacob seems like a great topic, and Chanda, Julia's husband, is equally an amazing man to discuss."

"The thing is we are in relationships, honey, and you are not." Julia lifted her glass in a salute. "Being single is nothing to be ashamed of, not at all. The thing is, everyone on this table is well aware that you are not single by choice but by the need to...not be hurt."

"If it is about Harrison, I can tell you that I am sufficiently over him. If I am telling you I don't want to get into anything with Harrison, it is because he is nothing like my fiancé. Well, ex, but you get what I mean."

"That, from what I know about your ex, is a large bonus." Shantel inputted.

"Well, he was nothing like Harrison Clark. He wasn't a womanizer, flirtatious, and he still walked out."

"Don't do that. Don't use his past to define him. First hand, you have seen that he is loyal and faithful when his mind and heart is in it. He is an amazing businessman, dedicated to his family, loves his mother and respects women even though he has had his fair share of them."

"Exactly," Shantel picked up. "Most men with the life he lives would be egotistic and cocky, expecting every woman to grovel at their feet, but he is humbly confident."

"Are you guys his best friends now or what? You haven't even shared more than a few words with the man, and now you are defending him like you've known him for years."

"Fine forget Harrison. You are totally right; he is not the only man on the planet, and, as beautiful as you are, you are capable of getting anyone. Do you know why that would not happen anytime soon?"

"Because I don't want it to?"

"No." Shantel shook her head. "Because you are complacent."

"Complacent? Me?" Cassandra could barely mask her shock. There were many things she would use to describe herself, but she could never use that. "I am not complacent in anything."

"Not true." Shantel disagreed vehemently. "Okay, let's put your life out in the open at this very moment. You pride yourself on being unpredictable, but it only took two years for you to return to being completely predictable."

"I am not."

"Are too. Listen, everyone can predict your next move before you make it. Destroying Clark's company before it breathes real air, predictable. Saying 'no' when a guy asks you out or calls a truce with you, predictable. That is why Clark got you on that date. He dared you to move from your comfort zone. Kissing Harrison Clark was unpredictable, and that is why everyone is making such a fuss about it. Can't you see?"

"Are you saying that apart from the kiss and allowing his company to survive, I have been predictable?"

"Not entirely. You have your moments. One, agreeing to allow us to be friends when you had little idea of my background or the kind of person I am. Allowing for me to become more than just a social friend by inviting me to your life. I have met your mom, been to your house, and now I know Julia, one of your closest friends."

"So, I should, what, agree to be friends with him?"

Shantel leaned forward and held onto the rails of the bed, "Unpredictable would be to give a relationship with Harrison Clark a try. You obviously like him, and he likes you. The both of you have done this frenemy banter for like ever. You know how the enemy side works, so test out the other side."

"No."

"Like I said... predictable." Cassandra buried her face in her palm as Julia and Shantel clinked glasses.