A Graduation Gift novel Chapter 222

"You want my position? Okay, let's call all board members together and initiate voting. The candidate with the most votes wins, I'll happily resign if I don't win," Rufus said assertively.

Rufus's insolent smile and confidence humiliated Lionel. He didn't take Lionel seriously and didn't even see him as a threat.

Rufus had good reasons to be confident. He was far more qualified than Lionel in progressive thinking and far more learned overall. Lionel himself was uncertain about the vote. Those senior executives on the board were smart and foxy. When he was the CEO, Lionel needed to respect and listen to them as he used their discretion to make decisions or pass a plan. He needed their consent as well. Rufus, however, didn't need to do that. He was so talented and experienced that they would listen to him and follow his instructions strictly instead. Rufus had no problem running the Tang Group.

What if the senior executives made things difficult and the company became unmanageable for Lionel when he went back?

Every time he thought that there was no one to trust or rely on in the company, Lionel felt frustrated and jealous of Rufus.

Rufus had already taken away Lionel's authority. He had no say on the board. He was part of the executive members but the members didn't take him seriously. So his restrictive power was pretty much of no use.

"Lionel, go back to your bedroom! You stay out of it!" Horace commanded

He lifted his head up and glared at Lionel.

Lionel knew that he wasn't able to replace Rufus. He knew he shouldn't get involved in the conversation in the first place.

Horace, who had the final say in the company, wanted to restrict Rufus's authority and power. He would then be able to force him to break up with Cassandra. But Rufus stood assertively and showed no form of surrender.

Horace's plot failed dismally.

"You go back too. Let's talk about it another day," Horace said arrogantly.

Feeling infuriated, he pretentiously waved at Rufus and asked Jill to help him upstairs. Disappointment showed on his face. He was at a loss for words, and this didn't happen often. He was humiliated by his own son.

Jill glared at Rufus, annoyed.

Rufus grew up as an illegitimate child. Since his return there had been no peace and serenity in the Tang family. Their lives were filled with quarrels and sadness. Jill felt irritated, blaming all drama on Rufus. She didn't like this man at all.

Rufus just smiled rebelliously. He didn't seem to care about his father's feelings as the Tang family had never truly accepted him. He had always been an outsider and could think of it never changing.

Why then should he show compassion and care about them?

Rufus's eye showed conceit and hatred. He swore one day he would turn this luxurious mansion into a despicable hell hole.

Cassandra's cell phone had been vibrating in her bag. She knew it was Rufus calling again but still ignored him.

Cassandra and Rufus had never communicated frequently before. Since she moved out, Rufus called her continuously. She had put her phone on vibrate mode as the annoying ringtone rang countless times in a day.

She decided to be obstinate this time. There was no difference whether they got back together or broke up since she would be the one getting hurt.

Rufus was preoccupied with Cassandra. His mind became saturated with her and how to hold onto her. He became enraged easily at times. His assistant was fearful of going into his office, for fear of being scolded for minor things.

"Pardon me, Mr. Luo?"

Rufus was absent-minded when the assistant reported her work to him, which was rare as he was always serious about his work. His attention was in the wrong location and not in the office. His assistant battled to get his attention by calling him several times.

"Oh? Okay. Just leave the files on my desk,"

Rufus told the assistant uninterested.

The assistant felt great relief. Working with Rufus had become extremely stressful. His face looked cold and perplexed with dark gloomy rings around his eyes, and his tendentious mood was tangible.

The assistant turned around and left the office quickly. She breathed a sigh of relief, with hands on her chest.

Resting his chin on his right hand, Rufus started to think about Cassandra again. She didn't answer his calls. No one ever did that and it pissed him off.

Was she serious this time?

The thought about Cassandra sobbing yesterday made Rufus feel upset.

Cassandra decided to go to the Garden Villa to pick up her things and return the key to Rufus after work or find a way to leave it for him. She didn't actually want to see him.

She was packing her bags in the mansion. Looking around, she felt overwhelmed at how mixed her feelings were. She remembered the beautiful moments spent in every corner—the kitchen where she sat on the counter spooning with Rufus or trying to cook special meals together; the fireplace where they lay in each other's arms on the rug; the bed where there was fiercely erotic lovemaking.

Cassandra regarded this mansion as her own home. She cleaned every part of the furniture and swept every corner and now she was leaving. It was sad and reluctant for her to be leaving. 'Better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all, ' she thought. Her heart sank. She felt gutted, wishing there would be a way to make it work. But she knew the answer, and carried on collecting her possessions.

She didn't ask for much. She just wanted a steady relationship. Her wish seemed to be too much of a luxury that Rufus couldn't afford.

When she finished, Cassandra carried her luggage and slowly walked out of the mansion, making a mental note of every part.

Rufus planted the trees and flowers for her in the courtyard. But she would never be able to hear the trees rustle or watch the flowers bloom with the man again.

She smiled, at the memories, but her heart was broken.

'Goodbye Garden Villa. Goodbye Rufus, ' Cassandra thought to herself as the tears started again.