The next morning, Robin was no where to be found. Cassidy finally located a note on the kitchen table saying that Robin had gone into work. She would be home mid-afternoon. She left her cell number, in case Cassidy needed anything.
Cassidy looked around the small kitchen until she found some bagels and cream cheese. Locating the upscale toaster had taken awhile, since it blended into the rest of the chrome in the room. Shaking her head at the modern decorating style, Cassidy sat down to eat her breakfast and plan her day.
After breakfast and a long bubble bath, Cassidy dressed in one of her favorite outfits. It wasn't one that she wore often, because Brad hadn't liked it. He had told her that she looked fat in it. The jeans were tighter than she normally wore, but with the sleeveless mock turtleneck shirt, Cassidy thought they looked great. When she added her boots, she felt like a million bucks. Shrugging to her image in the mirror, Cassidy tried to silence Brad's belittling voice. Yeah, she had made the right choice.
As the first order of business, Cassidy made the decision to deliver the letter that Wilma had given her. Then she would be freed up to look for a job the rest of the day. Leaving a short note for Robin, explaining where she was, Cassidy slipped out the front door.
Cassidy had taken advantage of Robin's computer and pulled up the directions that she needed to find Jess. It wasn't difficult to get to the street listed on Wilma's letter. But Cassidy was confused. It appeared that Jess lived in a very upscale part of town. For some reason, Cassidy had expected to be in a middle class neighborhood, at the very best. But, instead, she found herself parking her no nonsense, 4 door sedan on a busy street, alongside sleek BMWs and immaculate Jags.
Cassidy took the letter out of her pocketbook and locked the purse in the car. No need to take a lot of stuff to keep up with during this encounter. And perhaps Wilma would be off base and Jess would be fine with the news. If that were the case, Cassidy could be out of this neighborhood and looking for employment before lunch. With a spring in her step, Cassidy headed to the address on the letter.
About a block down the street, Cassidy found the specific house. It was huge! Knocking on the door, Cassidy was surprised when it was answered by a butler. Frowning, Cassidy said, "Hi, I'm looking for Jess?" Looking down at the letter in her hand, she added, "Jesse Turner?"
The butler looked at Cassidy somewhat skeptically, then said in a formal tone, "Please come in."
Cassidy entered the house and looked around. The butler left her standing in the foyer. In a moment, he returned and said, "This way, please." He lead Cassidy down a hallway and into what she guessed must be the formal receiving room. It was decorated with heavy reds and dark wood, reminiscent of medieval castles.
Cassidy watched as the butler bowed himself out of the room. Looking around, she decided to wait in as much comfort as possible given the rigidity of the room's furnishings. Cassidy gingerly sat down on the edge of one of the clawfooted chairs. Right as her backside hit the seat, the door flew open. Cassidy jumped up, wanting to meet Jess standing up.
To Cassidy's utter amazement, Van Henderson's bodyguard entered the room. The expression on his face was one of pure anger. His fury radiated off of him in waves. Cassidy could only stare, open mouthed.
"Just what the hell do you mean, coming here? Did your friend put you up to it? Or did you hope to snag Mr. Henderson for yourself? I knew I shouldn't have given you that personal card last night. Give it back to me! Give it back to me now!" the man stormed, pointing to the paper in Cassidy's hand.
Still confused beyond comprehension, Cassidy looked down at the letter she was holding. It took a moment, but her brain finally kicked into gear. Looking back up at the man, Cassidy gritted her teeth. She said, "I have never! You know, I was doing Jess Turner's aunt a favor to come here and deliver this letter. I didn't know it was your precious Van Henderson's home. I just want to give this to Jess Turner."
The man reached out his hand, as if to take the letter, but Cassidy jerked it back. "Oh, no you don't. I came here to give this to Jesse Turner and I'm not leaving until you let me give it to her."
"Her? What do you mean, her? I'm Jesse Turner," the man said, still yelling.
Cassidy had never been stunned into complete silence in her whole life. But at that moment, she was speechless. Quickly going over in her mind, the conversation in which Wilma had given her the letter, she realized that Wilma had never said that Jess was a woman. Cassidy had just made the assumption that "little Jess" was not a strapping male bodyguard. Closing her eyes with the realization of the obvious matchmaking attempt on Wilma's part, Cassidy wondered what she should say next.
Finally, Cassidy settled on trying the truth, "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't realize that you were a man. Well, I realized that you were a man, I mean, look at you, you are obviously a man. But I didn't realize that Jess Turner was a man. Had I known that you were Jesse Turner, then again, obviously, I wouldn't have made the male/female mistake." Taking a deep breath to try to calm her nerves, Cassidy continued, "I'm making a mess out of this. Your Aunt Wilma asked me to deliver this letter to you. I think that it was a set up, though. I'm not sure, but I get the feeling that you aren't the type to burst into tears and need comforting because dear old Aunt Mimi is going to lose the mortgage on her home."
Jesse Turner had listened to Cassidy's explanation, staring at her through narrowed eyes. When she came to the end of her outburst, Jesse stood stone still for a moment before throwing back his head and laughing loudly. "You, lady, have truly been set up. Aunt Mimi's mortgage is owned by my uncle, her son. She doesn't even make payments. My dear Aunt Wilma seems to have just wanted to get one over on you. I'm sure that letter has no more than the usual small town gossip in it. What did you do to tick my aunt off?"
Cassidy wasn't impressed that the man didn't seem to realize that Aunt Wilma was trying to set them up together. He was just convinced that his aunt was pulling a trick on her - as though she wasn't even good enough to be in the running as a potential match up.
Still not smiling, Cassidy said, "Look, buster, just take the letter and let me get out of here. I think you have insulted me enough for one day."
Jesse reached out his hand, but much to Cassidy's dismay, instead of taking the letter, his hand closed around her wrist. She frowned up into his face, but he quickly turned his head and began pulling her out of the room down the hall.
"Would you quit!" Cassidy stormed, pulling back against Jesse's hand. Her effort had little effect on the man as he continued to stride further down the hall.
When Jesse came to a closed door at the end of the hall, he pushed it open and pulled Cassidy into it. Letting go of her wrist, he flipped on the lights. Cassidy looked around in surprise. She was standing in the middle of what was obviously a man's bedroom - and given the Spartan appearance, she would lay money on the fact that it was Jesse's.
