So THAT ONE DAY, Cass was enthusiastically waiting for school to get over so she could 'hangout' with Ash. Obviously in his manor. One hour study. One hour time pass. Just like promised. Plus it was nice to include that in Cass's hectic schedule. She definitely needed it and now she completely agrees with him.

The moment her job was over, she ran out, escaping before the cashier could irritate her for going on another date. She hated disappointing people but she is not the type of girl who goes on date. In fact she doesn't have time for such things. Plus if he hadn't mentioned it was a date, then maybe... No, not even then. She hated him and that irritating attitude so much that she just couldn't stand it.

Less than twenty minutes, she reaches his manor. A smart rap on the door and as usual, the butler, Mr Smith opened it and greeted her with a smile. "Hello Miss Stone." "Smith, I see you are forgetting my name." She teased him casually as she stepped in. Well, Cassandra tried her best to get Smit to say her name but no avail as he always respected his Master's wishes. She walked in with the butler and they shared a small joke to laugh on. But midway Smith stopped. Only then Cass realised that Mr Black had been sitting there, looking intently at the two.

"Oh, Hello Sir! I didn't realise you would be home today!" Cass says sweetly, hoping hard that Smith wasn't in any kind of trouble, that too because of her. 'Miss Stone, would you kindly join me in my study?" Mr Black asked her kindly, ignoring her greeting. She nodded. Her hands began to shiver slightly. She wanted to know where this was leading to. Plus Ashton's father is a very intimidating person, someone who you can't say what he will do next. But he just led her patiently with each measured step.

When they reached his study, Cass was struck with awe. She had never seen this part of the Manor. The room was large and the wall were painted with the 3D images of bookshelves, just like the ones they had in their personal library. Cass had to acknowledge the fact that Mr Black had shut the door with a loud thud which had sent shivers down her spine. Now what did she do wrong?

"Miss Stone, would you like to have anything to drink?" He asked politely as he sat down in his arm chair. A gulp went down her throat. "No, Sir." She croaked and the cleared her throat. Her hands were on the back rest of the chair which stood in front of the mahogany desk which Mr Black had chosen to do his work on. "As you wish, Cassandra. Please sit down." He pointed at the chair in front of him which Cass gladly took. Her palms began sweating. Suspense was slow to come. She wanted to get over with fast. It was scaring her by the speed it took time in.

"Miss Stone... I might have something for you...And I hope you are interested in it." A sharp nod indicated to continue. "It is a proposition actually... I have seen the change taken place in my son. He has become serious with his work. I now have high hopes for him. But since he has failed and sat in the same class for two years, I really don't know what to do. Tutors haven't been able to help him out, counsellors aren't able to get anything out of him. And yet the psychiatrists tell me there is nothing wrong with him. I have no other option but to turn to you." "So you want me to help him study?" Cass guessed. Her racing heartbeat slowed down and the weird feeling in her stomach stopped churning. That was all what he had to ask? Then why was it scaring her?

'Yes! But obviously with a little help of course... Cassandra, I know that your family is going through a tough time pulling through and you have the dire need money for your education. I can help you with that. Then you don't need to work in that café." Cass was going to say something but forgot as ears perked up the moment she heard 'work'. "Wait! How do you know?" She asked, the words came out tumbling, something that required no thought. Mr Black's body tensed down as his back rested on the back rest and let his hands lay on the arm rest. 'I know because when I put my order through the phone, I was specifically told that it would be delivered by no one but you." He answered her question simply. Her eyes refused to look at him. She was really in a fix. Now Ash knows her job.

She didn't realise but she let out her thoughts loud. "No, I haven't told him but I could if you want me to..." "No!" she nearly shouted but then on realising the portrayal of actions, she collected herself. "I mean... So you want me to be his back-stabbing bitchy friend?" She asked. But then was surprised when she realised that she just abused. No, 'slang' was the term Ash used. Damn, he must really have a strong hold on her. And for the first time, she didn't even regret using the word.

"No, no, no... I didn't mean that! I just meant that you could have a new job as his tutor." He reasoned as Cass began to have thoughts sprouting in her mind. What should she do?

Silence was her time and she was desperately in need of it. Should she accept this deal or should she not? Choices, choices, choices... One thing which differentiates between the good and the bad. One wrong move and you could lose everything that was in your hands. Both choices are forced to be appealing and both had grave consequences. Was she ready to take them on or could she back out? But backing out itself in another choice. She needed more time and that was in shortage but she couldn't give an answer in such short notice.

"I know you need time and you can have as much as you need it. But I do need your final answer." He coaxed, with his eyes intently looking at her. She nodded and with time, she came across the decision, a choice which attempted to look its best. "I think I will take up your offer... But not for the money... But for the sake of love..." She said with softness lagging behind. But when she realised what she said, she tried to cover up her tracks. "Only for the sake of love for my friendship. I don't think I want to lose the only friend I have." She reasoned, not raising her voice but saying it very softly as if it really meant something to her.

"But you need the money desperately. I can still help you." Mr Black was surprised at her decision. She really needed it yet she refused the aid offered. And having the tradition of paying debt back really dug into his blood, pleaded to her cause. 'Sorry, sir, but not under the cause of my friendship." She was determined not to change her mind. "Is there any-" "I'm sorry, sir. There isn't..." She repeated her apology confidently.

Truthfully the offer did sound very appealing. "Ok, but at least you will tell me when you need help, right?" She kept silent as her eyes searched the carpeted floor. "Ok! Do what you want!" And he banged his fisted hands on the table. He was one person who hated to be refused. Like Father, like Son.

"Sir, are you going to tell Ashton about this?" She asked slowly before she walked out. He calmed down a little. "No, Cassandra, I won't. It will only be between us. It won't even get to his ears." A sharp nod and she left his office.

She slowly walked towards his room, wondering about what just happened. Did she just make the right choice or did she just let the appealing one go in waste? Well, somehow, it felt right. But knowing what she had done and what she could have done was still eating her up. She opened the door slowly and then shut the door behind her. She seemed to be so lost that only the cupboard seemed to wake her up from her thoughts. "Ouch!" She exclaimed in pain as she rubbed her forehead to reduce the bump and takes her place beside Ashton who seems to be disappointed. "Well, Good Evening to you! Should I point out the fact that you are forty five minutes late?" He accused sweetly.

Wait! Forty five minutes late? Is he kidding or what? But she did have an explainable excuse for her tardiness. "I'm sorry. I was just talking with your father." "Oh, so what did you talk about?" He leaned in closer, suddenly interested as the curiousity started to dig deep. "Well... nothing much..." She stuttered. She was told not to tell anything to Ashton. But the truth is that she didn't want to tell him anyway. Plus the last few sentences uttered by Mr Black were ringing in her ears, just to keep a check over her given instructions.

"Well... Are you hiding something?" Eagerness to know kept increasing as it left Cass in a very uncomfortable position. "No... Actually... Your dad told me- Wait, no... Actually I have something to say... I'm planning to stay here for four hours instead of two, starting from tomorrow.' His brow raised quizzically. "Why?" "Umm... Your dad said why waste time on travelling back and forth to study when I can study in one place itself." She smiled as her immediate thought came tumbling out of her mouth. He looked at her suspiciously. "Is that the truth?" She quickly nodded, her hair falls on her face which he gently brushes off her face.

"Well ok! You can study in my room provided you don't mess anything up." He said as he went back, resting his back with the pen in his mouth, angled in such a way as if it is a cigarette. "And where will you be?" She asked with fake sweetness as she snatched the pen from his mouth. "Me? Obviously with my friends, partying." He shrugged. "No way! You are going to study, here with me." He straightened up, his eyes widening. Would she really put him under this torture?

"No, I'm not." "Yes, you are." "Let me ask you something... Did my father put you to this?" His questioning look was getting through her guilt which was well hidden. "No, why should he?... In fact I was thinking that it's a fine way to help you after all the help you have given me for English." She says as she clutched her cascading hair, before again he had the sudden urge to brush her hair off her face. He rolled his eyes at the obvious thought.

"Hey, there something on your hair." He pointed out and her consciousness for her physical attire grew. "What? Where?" Immediately her hand searched her hair and there was discomfort flashing on her face. "Here, bend down." He urged and she did to his beckoning. To his advantage, instead of pulling that 'something' out of her hair, he took off the clutch and stuffed it in his pocket.

"Hey!" Cass protested. "Your hair looks pretty this way." He comments casually, with a smirk as his fingers try to set her hair into perfection. Was he sarcastic or was it actually a compliment? Whatever it was, she still rolled her eyes at him after slapping his hand away. "Stop changing the topic!"