Chapter 36 CASSANDRA Cassandra is up and about, tending to Alex before Emilio even stirs. She hears the quick patter of his shower, and soon after, he joins them in the kitchen. Look whos finally up, Cassandra teases Alex, her smile warm. She turns to her husband. Want some coffee? Emilio leans in for a lingering, sweet kiss. Yes, please. Black, no sugar. His smile mirrors hers. I was thinking we could all go out today. Shes supposed to meet Emily this morning. What did you have in mind? Not sure. Maybe we could take Alex to the park or the zoo? Sounds good. When do you want to head out? Whenever you two are ready. Emilio reaches for his coffee. Would after twelve work for you? He pauses, cup in hand. Why? Im meeting a friend this morning. First your old roommate, now this. So much for not having friends. Who are you meeting? Emily, Mr. Smiths assistant. She called last night. Thats fine. Just call me when youre done. Cassandra nods in agreement. When its time for her to leave, Emilio offers to watch Alex. Grateful for the help, Cassandra rushes off to the pastry kiosk where Emily asked to meet. Thanks for coming, Cass, Emily says once theyre settled. No problem. Ill cut to the chase, Emily continues. I wanted to thank you. Cassandra looks at her, puzzled. For Jake, Emily clarifies. Suddenly, it all makes sense. Jake must have finally asked her out! Dont thank me, Emily. I just noticed how you looked at Jake. Still, I wanted to thank you in person. I always thought he had a thing for you, but he told me you nudged him to make the first move. Cassandra is taken aback to hear Emily admit that; it must have been hard. He liked you too but was scared youd turn him down, so I told him you liked him. Im sorryI overheard you talking in the coffee room one day. I hope youre not upset. Hes a good guyand so romantic. I hope it turns into something more. Good guys are hard to find these days. Yeah, I know, Cassandra agrees. The good ones are always taken. Luckily, you found yours. Thanks to you. So, how are you doing? You seem to be enjoying married life. That catches her off guard. Why do you say that? You look happy; youre glowing. And who wouldnt be? The boss is quite the looker, and all the women are envious of you for snagging him. Some of them probably despise me. I cant complain. Despite what people might say about Emilio, hes a great guy once you get to know him. You sound like a woman in love, Emily observes. She is, without a doubt, head over heels in love. I guess I am. Emily stands up. We should do this again soon. I dont have many friends here, and youre a good person. Id like for us to get to know each other better. Id like that; I dont have many friends either. Cassandra also stands. I need to go now, but it was nice talking to you. Tell Jake I havent forgotten about that lunch I owe him. Whenever you guys are free, let me know. As they part ways, Emily says, Will do. And dont hesitate to call if you ever feel like going out. Cassandra is glad that Jake took her advice. He and Emily will make a great couple, and shes happy everything worked out for them. When she gets back to the penthouse, its empty. She calls Emilio to find out where they are. Were at the park. Alex started fussing shortly after you left, and nothing I did seemed to help, so I decided to take him out for some fresh air. Youre welcome to join us. No, you guys enjoy yourselves; Ill see you when you get back. Take this time to bond, and Ill get some rest. And also check out some job openings. Cassandra is going stir-crazy at home and needs something to occupy her time. Shes been considering getting a job for a while now but isnt sure how Emilio will react. Once he gets home, shell bring it up and see what he thinks. Okay, he says now. Call if you change your mind. I will, she promises, and ends the call. While theyre out, Cassandra finds about five job postings that match her qualifications. She applies to all of them and hopes theyll call her soon. *** That evening, while Alex is asleep and theyre having dinner, Cassandra says, Ive been thinking about getting a job. Emilio looks surprised. Why? You have everything you need and morewhy would you want to work? Alex is still so small; he needs his mother all the time. There are plenty of women who have small babies and still work. We were managing before you came into our lives, so why not now? Youre not just any woman; youre Emiliano Rodriguezs wife, and my wife will not work under any circumstances. Emilio, Im going crazy staying in this penthouse all day. I need to do something to keep me sane. Go shopping then, book spa appointments, do whatever will keep you busy. As if that will help. I had a job before we met, and I loved it. Anyway, I was just letting you know; Ive already applied online. You wont be going to any of those job interviews. Emilianos voice was a low growl. Not if I have anything to say about it. Emiliano, I wont just sit here. You cant stop me from working. You want to bet? he shot back, an eyebrow raised in challenge. So, its okay for you to work, but not me? How is that fair? Life isnt always fair, sweetheart. Cassandra took a deep breath, trying to keep her cool. I thought youd be understanding, see things from my perspective. But I guess I was wrong. I shouldve kept my mouth shut. Your job is to take care of Alex. What more do you want? Emiliano stood up from his chair, his tone final. Heres a piece of advice, my beautiful wife: dont even think about defying me. There will be consequences. Do you understand? Cassandra pushed her chair back and stood up to face him. Is that a threat? Because if it is, Im not scared of you. Emiliano traced his fingers down her cheek, then to her neck. Cassandra shivered at his touch.Why does my body always betray me? I know youre not scared. But you should know, there are many ways to punish someone without laying a hand on them. A shiver ran down her spine, not from fear, but from the tantalizing promise his words held. If you need me, Ill be in my office, Emiliano said. He kissed her, a long, hard kiss that left her wanting him. They hadnt made love since the night before, before the charity ball, and her body ached for his touch. As she cleared the table, Cassandra wondered why he hadnt made love to her when he clearly wanted her too. With a sigh, she headed to bed. Title: A Tangle of Love (English-dubbed) In "A Tangle of Love," a captivating romance unfolds within a unique observation show where participants navigate intricate relationships, love triangles, and power dynamics. Set against the backdrop of modern-day complexities, this ongoing series delves into themes of reincarnation, revenge, and personal transformation. 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