A Graduation Gift

Chapter 248 The Trap (Part One)

It seemed as if Cassandra had been stripped of all her privacy and freedom. There was always someone to drive her to work and take her back to the Garden Villa. They even followed her when she went shopping or simply took a walk on the street! The mania was driving her crazy! NôvelDrama.Org holds © this.

"Can you please ask your people to stop following me?"

She finally started to negotiate with Rufus. She felt so uncomfortable being eyed all the time, but had no other choice.

"Of course. I will ask them to be unnoticeable,"

Rufus said, shrugging with a nonchalant look which angered Cassandra.

"What I want is for them to vanish! I don't want to be tailed after! I don't want them near me whatsoever! I don't want to be monitored! I am not a criminal!"

Cassandra said, finally breaking lose. She glared at Rufus in the hope that he would see she was genuinely frustrated. On the contrary, he wore a casual smile. Oh, how she wished she could wipe it off his face!

"Okay, okay. Even if you're not a criminal, you're still someone who has escaped me once. What if you run away again? I need to keep an eye on you, right?" Rufus said, teasingly.

His unbothered attitude annoyed her to the bone.

"What the hell, Rufus! Do you think I'll just disappear into thin air? Just tell them to stop following me! I really cannot take it anymore," Cassandra demanded.

She controlled the urge to shout at him and tried talking some sense into him, instead. But Rufus was so stuck on his point that he angered her even more! In the end, she had to keep herself sane by

clenching her teeth and fists.

"Alright, then. Agree to marry me, and I'll order my people to stay away from you."

Rufus's mouth turned into a mischievous smile as he raised his eyebrows at her. Cassandra felt defeated.

"Rufus, I swear I'll call the police and report that some random strangers are following me! And it will all lead them to you!" Cassandra tried to threaten him, desperate and helpless.

Watching Rufus unmoved and unaffected, she resorted to actually contact the police and win this battle. She tossed her head up, feigning confidence, as if she had the upper hand in this conversation. However, her futile attempts at acting only widened Rufus's smile.

"Great! So...do you want me to introduce you to the head of the police station?"

Truth was, even if Cassandra was serious about this, it wouldn't make any difference. The head of the police station was one of his close friends!

Since the car accident, Rufus had been taking extra caution to protect Cassandra. As a preventive measure, he had arranged for some people to keep an eye on her, 24/7. Whoever was after them had even tried to kill Rufus. It seemed like they could go to any lengths to carry out their motives.

But after this event, Rufus changed his strategy. He instructed his people to remain hidden behind the scene instead of staying out into the open.

Previously, his guards followed her blatantly, so that Cassandra would be aware of them and not try to escape. This entire plan was just to scare her.

Now that she was aware of their presence, Rufus had achieved what he wanted.

Presently, he pressed his warm body against her, with a yearning fire burning in his eyes.

"Today's my safe day. Just forget about it. Save your energy!"

Cassandra put on an unwilling face, her eyes cautious and defensive.

Rufus couldn't help but get irritated. 'Does she really think I have done all this just so I could have a baby with her?' he wondered.

"Well, since you've already signed the agreement, I will just enjoy my rights,"

Rufus intentionally teased her. And indeed, he was satisfied to see her flushed face.

"Asshole!"

There was nothing else she could bring herself to say even after having searched for a better word in her mind for a few seconds. Her cursing made him grin even more wickedly.

"Right, there's an asshole side of me too. You want a taste of it?"

...

There was a grandiose cottage hotel in G City, located near the sea. In the restaurant, succulent steaks lay served on a long dining table with a glass of wine for everyone attending the dinner. The color of the wine was a deep red; its smell was pure and tangy. One could say it was of the highest quality without even sipping from it.

The guests attending the dinner were none other than Amanda, Lionel and Ivy. Soon, the waiters served them with clean towels and steaming hot food.

"Thank you so much, Mr. Tang, for the compromise you've made for my friend's project. I can see that the price has reached the breaking-even point for Tang Group. I really appreciate the discount you

gave her. If there are any more projects, I will make sure that Tang Group benefits from them next time,"

Amanda smiled mildly, speaking in an impeccably polite manner.

"I also want to thank you, Miss Ke, for connecting us. It's too polite of you! I will definitely do my best to help your friend."

Lionel was delighted. This was the largest project he had contracted in of late, which had expelled the gloom he was experiencing at having lost to Dawn Star Group continually.

"The person you need to thank isn't me, but Ivy,"

Amanda giggled, and turned to look at Ivy.

"It was inevitable for me not to be in the best position to negotiate with my friend on your behalf, especially regarding the price. However, Ivy is different. I introduced her to Ivy first and they became friends pretty quick. After that, I told my friend Ivy is your girlfriend which led her to ask me all kinds of questions about Tang group."

Amanda faked an appreciative expression, looking at Ivy. Anyone could easily be beguiled by Amanda's convincing acting and would think she was truly grateful for Ivy's help.

Lionel, falsely believing her performance, turned his head toward Ivy, with a surprised look.

He had always thought Ivy was merely someone who would indulge herself in the extravagant purses, cosmetics, perfumes and clothes. He could never imagine her helping him with his business.

Ivy could tell how surprised he was. She lifted her head and smiled at him confidently.

"Ivy is a capable negotiator. I think her potential hasn't been discovered fully. I even feel that her role in my studio is hindering her own development. After my piano school is set up, I will definitely arrange a more suitable position for her,"

Amanda spoke highly of Ivy, sipping from her wine glass.

At the same time, a rare sense of love rose in Lionel's heart.

'It seems, ' he thought, 'that I don't fully know Ivy.'

He had always believed Ivy paid too much attention to her appearance and had no real talents or potentials. But Amanda talked of her so highly! He felt like he had underestimated her.

"I would like to thank you for giving Ivy this precious opportunity on her behalf. I will be monitoring your project myself to make sure that it goes on well!" Lionel said.

He began to feel elated. If Ivy was granted the opportunity to pursue her career under Amanda, she would certainly benefit from the vast connections Amanda had and even be able to introduce more clients to him. This was a great opportunity for him as well!