What's next?

An Eerily Similar Situation

This chapter is written in 3rd Person POV

“AAAAAAAAH!” Cassie shouts as the DJ shifts to another song.

“Dance with me, Stella!” Cassie shouts next to Stella, just as the two of them have finally found an unoccupied bar table to place their drinks.

“I need a break, Cass. We’ve been dancing all night already.” Stella politely declines, while taking a modest sip of her cocktail.

“Aww~” Cassie reacts in disappointment. “Fine, I’ll just get us more drinks.” Cassie declares.

“What? We just got these—” Stella reacts in confusion, stopping herself as soon as she sees Cassie down her entire newly bought cocktail in one go. “— drinks.” Stella finishes her thought, just as Cassie emphatically slams the martini glass that was previously filled with a Strawberry Margarita.

“Be right back!” Cassie tells her excitedly, before she rushes through the dance floor to get to the bar.

“This is what I get for being the ‘drunk one’ last time.” Stella mutters under her breath, before taking another sip of her drink.

“I fucking knew we should have postponed this.”

A few hours earlier…

“Okay, lover boy. It’s your call. What do you wanna do?” Brooke asks Jay.

“I’ve been looking forward to tonight, Brooke. Like Becca said, her father can wait.” Jay answers her with an assuring smile.

“We can actually go to the venue after this if you want.” Brooke suggests, and Jay immediately agrees to that plan.

“Um… is that everything? I think my mom’s actually calling for me this time.” Maddy chimes in.

“I think that’s everything on the docket, Maddy. Enjoy your time back with your family.” Tanya replies.

“How’s everything with your dad and your grandparents, by the way?” Jay asks her.

“Dad and Grandpa Rick haven’t said more than a few words to each other since we arrived.” Maddy answers.

“That’s not good.” Tanya replies in disappointment.

“Oh no! It’s great! Dad hasn’t hassled Grandpa Rick into an argument yet, so that's a massive improvement compared to when they usually visit.” Maddy clarifies.

“I think they’re just too shy to express what’s on their mind while us girls are around. Mom suggested they go fishing tomorrow morning just the two of them. We’re all hoping they can talk it out then.” Maddy adds.

“That’s great!” Tanya reacts, genuinely happy for Maddy.

“Well, I definitely need to go now.” Maddy says, after removing one side of her earphones and looking towards the side. “Have fun on your date, Mr. Craig! Ms. Brooke!” Maddy enthusiastically shouts, waving goodbye; making everyone wave back and say goodbye to her as well.

“What about you, Cass? What do you wanna do? Should we meet up with your mom?” Stella asks Cassie after Maddy’s half of the screen disappears; leaving only Becca on the screen.

“No. The best thing we can do is wait for Mr. Hoffman’s next move regarding my mom.” Cassie answers.

“My father is on his way back to the city. Most likely to address your mother if she did turn against him. Planning for what might occur would be in your best interest.” Becca warns Cassie.

“We already talked about it. She’s staying at an AirBnB to lay low from him, and from what she told me, your dad’s only leverage on her was the money he sent her monthly. So even if he does find her, he’s got nothing on her to **** her back to his side.” Cassie informs Becca.

“You underestimate my father. I find that him only having one thing as leverage over someone he’s controlling is highly improbable.” Becca replies.

“I assumed as much too. I already told her to warn her boyfriend just in case your dad goes that route but she said she can always find a new one.” Cassie answers Becca. Jay’s the only one who stifles a laugh after hearing Cassie’s answer.

“Sorry. It just sounded like such a Sylvie thing to say.” Jay explains.

“What about parents or other family members?” Becca then asks Cassie.

“She hasn’t talked to them since before I was born.” Cassie answers.

“Work?” Becca continues.

“Doesn’t have one anymore.” Cassie answers succinctly.

“Investments?” Becca continues, making the series of questions feel like an interrogation.

“What do you think?” Cassie sarcastically replies.

“Understood.” Becca replies nonchalantly. “So just the boyfriend.” Becca concludes. Cassie gives her a nod, with an accompanying look that that’s what she said in the first place.

“I also told her to call me if Mr. Hoffman tries to contact her again and that she should keep it short so he can’t track her, and I turned off the ‘find my device’ setting on her phone just in case your dad knows how to do that; and before you ask, that’s all she uses. She doesn’t have a laptop or a tablet that can probably be tracked too.” Cassie informs Becca. “I also warned her not to go back to the hotel to checkout, and just leave her things at Hoffman’s. I didn’t want her to get trapped there since I’m sure your dad can easily tell the staff to not allow her to leave, now that she’s sided with us.” Cassie adds, to yours and Stella’s surprise.

“Wait, I thought that’s what she was out doing right now?” Jay asks her.

“I had a bad feeling after we split up, so I messaged her to abort that plan and just go straight to her AirBnB instead.” Cassie answers Jay.

“Good instincts. My father would have definitely made a call about that to the hotel already.” Becca compliments Cassie.

“Wait, if that’s the case, what about—” Jay asks Becca, worried about how this might affect his date with Brooke.

“Don’t worry, Jay. As per your advice, I haven’t addressed my father yet about this information. He’s probably assuming I’m still in the dark. To him, that means none of you have told me yet, and that means there’s a chance that Cassie’s mom hasn’t told any of you either. He wouldn’t want to risk breaking that status quo unless he’s sure he needs to. Therefore, we don’t need to change plans.” Becca explains, cryptic enough that it doesn’t spoil Brooke to the surprise of your reservation.

“By the way, I can ask one of my staff to pick up your mother’s things from the hotel, and possibly keep an eye on her. Can you message me her room number?” Becca suggests.

“Would that be safe, Becca?” Tanya asks with concern.

“I have people who are loyal to me, Tanya. They won’t tell my father. Don’t worry.” Becca answers her, making Tanya and Cassie give her understanding nods.

“I’ll ask my mom for her room number, then I’ll message it to you.” Cassie replies, before taking out her phone.

“You guys really are related.” Viv comments, getting a grin out of everyone except the two women she’s referring to.

“What does that mean?” Cassie asks Viv, pausing from sending her mom a message.

“I meant it as a compliment! Relax!” Viv says defensively.

“Explain.” Becca instructs her.

“I just meant that Cassie really thought this through. You know… like you probably would have.” Viv explains, and Cassie gives Viv an appreciative smile after her explanation.

“You mean like a robot?” Becca asks Viv with a raised eyebrow, and now Cassie’s doing it too.

“Hey, you said it this time, not me.” Viv replies with a teasing smile, which just makes Becca chuckle, and Cassie rolls her eyes.

“I sent you the link to my mom’s AirBnB, and her room number at Hoffman’s, Becca. Who are you sending to bring her stuff by the way? Just so she knows it’s your people.” Cassie chimes back in.

“I’m going to send my chauffeur, Frank, to get her belongings at the hotel. I’ll advise him to use one of the housekeepers to get it for him to avoid suspicion. Frank can also keep an eye on her AirBnB just in case.” Becca replies.

“I never thought about that. Are you alone there in Vegas, Becca?” Jay asks.

“Marybeth is on her way here, so I won’t be by myself for long.” Becca replies.

“So, are we good?” Brooke asks, and everyone looks at each other to check if there’s anything else that should be discussed, but everyone seems to agree that’s all that needs to be talked about.

“Should we head to the venue then?” Brooke asks Jay, who nods in response.

“What about us, Stella? You want to go home first to change, or do you want to head out already?” Cassie asks her.

“Head out where?” Stella asks in confusion.

“Oh! Uh~... I thought you were okay with going on a date tonight?” Cassie answers, making the others react in pleasant surprise. Except for Viv, who has a teasing look with her chin tucked and her eyebrows just going up and down while she stares at Cassie and Stella.

“Oh shit! Right!” Stella finally remembers. “I completely forgot about that after your mom arrived!” Stella explains. “Are you sure you still want to go on a Girls’ Night Out? You’ve already had a hell of a day, Cass. Maybe we should just chill at home tonight.” Stella suggests.

“Oooh~. Is there ‘Netflix’ included in that chill, or are you skipping to the main event already?” Viv teases.

“Zip it!” Stella says while raising a finger towards Viv’s direction.

“Unless you don’t want to.” Cassie replies, passing the decision back to Stella.

“Of course I want to! I’m just trying to look out for you, Cass. Like Brooke said, I’m not going anywhere. We can always go out when this is handled, and you’re not worrying about your mom or your da-ah… Mr. Hoffman.” Stella explains.

“And like Becca said, we made plans. Why should her dad’s asshole behavior affect that?” Cassie asks back, a bit too aggressively. The others are just looking towards Stella, not wanting to get involved.

Everyone understands why Stella’s hesitant to go out with Cassie tonight. Despite her mature and collected response to finding out about her father, it’s more than likely that Cassie’s keeping her stresses below the surface. Everyone thinks this, including Stella; but the others don’t want to get involved at this particular instance, as they also understand this is between just the two of them and not the group.

“If you’re sure—” Stella begins to say, before Cassie immediately jumps in.

“I’m sure, Stella. I want our date to continue tonight.” Cassie assures her.

“Alright then.” Stella says with a happy smile.

“I’m with you.”