NovelEnglishMy CEO 228
228 Bad Influence (Winona)
It's Monday morning, and the penthouse feels unusually quiet. Jayden's already left to drop Abby at school and
then head to the hospital. Anne is heading back to Bobby and Sarah in her rental.
I've scheduled our tso we can get things done without Anne here until she can move back next month.
Bobby and Sarah are coming too and I'm thinking this penthouse may not be the best family hdesign. But it
has to be for a while. With everything else happening, I'm not adding a house move to the mix. My townhouse
has been sold, I'll miss it but I'll find another when | get time.
There's really nothing holding us here in this city apart from Henry and my work with Phillip.
Soon, | can do that from anywhere and travel when needed.
Henry will be in the neonatal ward for at least four months. Providing there are no complications, or worse. | push
that thought away.
Maybe I'll take a leaf out of Jayden's book and sell my half of the business to Phillip. But this is not getting
anything done. | need to get moving.
Today is supposed to be productive-we've got wedding plans to make solid this afternoon. | have meetings with
Phillip and potential clients.
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And we need to start thinking about Ashlyn's cremation next week. Her ashes will be spread at her favorite
fishing spot, where her father used to take her and where they spread his. | figure it's what she would have
wanted.
| sit at the breakfast bar, sipping my coffee, my mind racing. But it's not the wedding, work, or even Ashlyn's
arrangements that's botheringright now.
It's Cass.
She never chlast night after going out with Mia again, and I'm starting to worry.
| get it on Friday and Saturday nights, | was eighteen once, but Sunday, when you have work later Monday?
That's not the Cass | know. Work is her priority since she started at the café across town.
Just as I'm about to head out for work, the elevator doors slide open, and Cass comes into the foyer. She sure
looks like she just stepped off a long and wild night.
The makeup she apparently wears now is smudged, her hair's a mess, and the mini dress and long boots she's
wearing are definitely not hers.
The confident energy she's projecting is also one | don't recognize.
| stand up, my eyes narrowing. "Cass, where have you been?"
She shrugs, not meeting my gaze. "Out." She unzips and kicks off the boots.
"Out where? It's Monday morning. You look like you haven't slept. Were you with Mia again?"
Cass scoffs and glares at me. "What does it matter to you? I'm an adult, Winona. | don't need to check in
228 Bad Influence
with you or anyone else."
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My stomach churns. "It matters because | care about you, Cass. You've not lost Mom long. You're staying here, in
Jayden's home, and going out all night and not coming back isn't exactly responsible behavior." Cass's
expression hardens. "You think I'm using again? That's what this is about, right?" She sounds as bored as anyone
can be with anything.
| don't back down. "Are you?"
Her eyes flash with anger. "No. I'm not using, Winona. And frankly, it's none of your business. I'm moving out
anyway, I'm tired of answering to you." "Moving out? Since when?"
"Since | decided | don't need you breathing down my neck all the time. I'm not slittle kid. | can take care of
myself."
| shake my head, trying to keep calm. "Cass, this isn't about controlling you. I'm worried. | don't want to breathe
down your neck. | want us to be friends."
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She rolls her eyes, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge. "Well, don't worry. You don't need to force yourself
to be friends without of pity. I've got Mia, and she gets it. She doesn't lecturelike you do. "Cass," | say
carefully, "I don't think Mia is the best influence on you right now. You barely know her." Cass slams the fridge
door shut, her anger boiling over. "I know her! You don't know anything about her. Or me. I'm done with you
trying to control my life, Winona. So just back the fuck off."
"Fine! | will. But don't crunning back towhen you get burned."
"No chance of that. | like to live in reality, not strumped-up fake world."
"What's fake about people we love dying? What's fake about a tiny baby fighting for a chance at life while you're
out wasting yours?"
"For fuck's sake. You are such a queen. Life is about death, isn't it? None of us are getting out alive. I'm
going to enjoy mine however | please."
"Great, you do that. Letknow if you needto help you pack."
"I don't need anything from you."
| open my mouth to respond, but the words get stuck in my throat.
Cass storms out of the kitchen, leavingstanding there, stunned. Is this Cass? | don't know. Do | know her
even? Certainly, it isn't the Cass I've cto know while she's been here.
| can't shake the feeling that this version of Cass is slipping away from me, if it was ever real at all.
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