When Love Finds Its Way Back (Cassienne and Dreston) novel Chapter 64

Chapter Sixty–Four: How Dare You Kiss Me Without My Permission.

Dreston felt the blood drain from his face.

Tina, why are you complicating things now?

He exhaled slowly before turning back to Cassienne. “I’m sorry about that,” he said, his tone sincere.

Cassienne only smiled. She looked calm and unbothered. Her professionalism can not be ignored.

“It’s okay,” she replied evenly. “I actually need to discuss something with you.”

Dreston nodded, looking pleased. “Please, have a seat.” He gestured toward the sofa area of his office.

Cassienne walked over and sat down gracefully, crossing her legs with practiced ease. Everything about her was composed. Her posture was straight. And her expression was calm. Even the way she placed her tablet beside her, everything about her is different from the woman he thought he knew.

And for reasons he couldn’t fully explain, pride swelled in his chest.

This version of Cassienne has confidence. Her self–assuredness was unshaken–it was breathtaking.

She wasn’t rattled. She wasn’t emotional. She hadn’t reacted to Tina’s provocation at all. She was exactly how a Chief Technology Officer should be.

She was Professional.

Dreston took the seat opposite her, leaning forward slightly.

“So,” Cassienne began, getting straight to the point, “after reviewing the proposals Mr. Steel submitted to my desk earlier, I realized that some of them are actually solid. There’s potential in a few of those ideas. I’d like to approve them, if that’s okay with you.”

Dreston studied her face for a moment before responding.

“Cassienne,” he said slowly, “this is your department now.”

She looked up at him.

“This is our decision. This is your work now.” His tone was firm and unwavering. “If you say those proposals are good, then they’re good.”

Cassienne gave a small nod, acknowledging his trust.

“Feel free to move forward with whatever you believe is best,” Dreston continued. “I trust your judgment.”

He leaned back slightly. “My role is to set the business vision and overall strategy. Also to lead the entire company, not just the tech side.”

Then he added, almost casually, “I already have more than enough on my plate, Cass.‘

Cassienne flinched.

Cass?

He had never called her that before.

Her fingers curled subtly against her lap. Why was he doing this? Why was he stirring things inside her without even realizing it?

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Sity Four How Dare You Bur Me Without My Parrish

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Dreston, completely unaware of her internal reaction, went on.

“That’s exactly why you’re here,” he said. “You’re meant to lead and define the company’s technological vision.”

He looked at her directly now.

“You’re to decide what technology we build and why we build it. That responsibility doesn’t fall on me anymore. A faint smile touched his lips. “All I need are results.”

He paused, then added with quiet confidence, “And from what I can already see, we’re getting them.”

The room fell silent again—but this time, the silence carried something heavier than professionalism.

Again, Cassienne was not used to seeing Dreston smile.

It unsettled her more than she wanted to admit. This version of him, this soft and attentive side of him, almost warm–didn’t match the man she had lived with for five years. She didn’t know what to do with it, or what it

meant.

So she did the only thing she knew how to do.

She pulled herself together.

“Okay, sir,” she said calmly.

“Sir?” Dreston cut in immediately.

His brows pulled together. “Don’t do that.” His voice wasn’t harsh, but it was firm. “You’ve always called me by my name. I’d like it if you keep calling me by my first name.”

Cassienne didn’t give a reply to that.

She kept her expression neutral, her posture straight. She had already made up her mind. Whatever this was- whatever he was trying to turn this into–she wasn’t going to allow it.

She needed this job.

This wasn’t just another role. This was her dream job. The opportunity she believed she had wasted years of her life waiting for. She refused to let emotions–especially old ones–complicate it.

“I have something to address,” she said instead.

Dreston frowned slightly. “Go on.”

“It’s about how people address me here,” she said, hesitating for a brief second before continuing. “I would prefer to be called Miss Rhodes instead of Mrs. Tremont.”

Her voice remained steady, but the weight of the words was heavy.

“I don’t believe I deserve that name anymore. We’re divorced now.”

Dreston heard her clearly. Yet he couldn’t give a reply to that. And he couldn’t explain the reason to himself.

What was wrong with his name? What was so unbearable about it? For a brief moment, something dark and possessive stirred in his chest. He closed his eyes for a few seconds, forcing himself to calm down, choosing his response carefully so he wouldn’t say something he’d regret.

Cassienne watched his reaction closely.

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Was he upset?

She scoffed inwardly. As if he wasn’t the one who divorced her.

She quickly pushed the thought away. No. She refused to let the past poison the present. If insisting on “Miss Rhodes” was going to disrupt their working relationship, then she would let time handle it. She knew better now. Some things couldn’t be forced. 1

“It’s fine,” she said quietly. “Don’t worry about it.”

Dreston opened his eyes immediately. Then he nodded, saying nothing.

“I have something else to tell you,” Cassienne continued.

He gestured with his hand. “Go on.

“I finalized a business deal with Gabriel Wyndham.”

Dreston straightened instantly.

“What about him?” he asked sharply.

Cassienne hesitated. Was it appropriate to tell him everything? After all, this was a sensitive matter.

“We had a contract worth billions,” she said slowly. “I spoke with him this morning and-” She paused, then smiled. “I sealed the deal.”

She lifted her eyes to him. “I just wanted to inform y-”

She never finished the sentence.

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