The Beautiful Ones

Cassandra crawled out of the car early the next morning. She needed to do laundry, badly. She knew there was a washing machine somewhere in the hotel, and wondered if maybe she could sneak her clothes in with Criss’s towels or something. It wasn’t like he was going to notice or anything.

She hurried inside his office, fussing with her shirt, trying to see if it was better to leave it tucked in or untucked. There wasn’t any morning meeting today, but she knew Criss was going to have something for her today.

Probably more filing. She was beginning to hate the filing system.

“Hi, Hammie!”She cooed to the cat as she came to greet her. She picked him up and smiled tentatively at Criss.

“Sit down, Cass. We’ve got some talking to do.” He gestured to one of the chairs that she had turned down the first day.

Cassandra sank into one of the chairs, Hammie perching on her lap. The cat seemed to be glaring at Criss, as though he could protect the girl from the way his owner was about to upset her. She absently let her fingers tangle in his fur.

“What is it?”

“I think I have to let you go.” It hung heavy in the air. Cassandra shook her head slowly.

“You can’t. I really need this job.”

“I’ll give you a positive reference. I’ll give you severance pay. I just can’t have you working for me anymore.” Criss swallowed. He hasn’t expected the look of sheer misery that was settling on the girl’s face.

“No, I don’t want any of that. You don’t understand that I need this job. I don’t have the time to find another one!” her cheeks were starting to turn pink.

“What do you mean?”

“I—I just don’t, okay? You can’t fire me. Please! I’ll do anything you need me to do. Haven’t I been a good worker so far? Haven’t I obeyed everything and even sorted out you’re a filing cabinet?”

“Cassandra, you’ve been an excellent worker. None of this has to do with your daily tasks. This has to do with trust.” Criss confessed. Cassandra went quiet.

“What reason have I given you not to trust me? Do you think I would steal from you? Do you think I would lie to you, Criss?” the words tasted bitter on the back of her tongue even as she spoke them.

She was lying. She’d been lying the whole time. She couldn’t really blame the man. After all, she wouldn’t have hired her.

“Cassandra, I just feel like you don’t trust me. And if I’m going to take you on stage with me, you have to be able to trust me. It could be the difference between living and dying. Do you not understand that? I can’t have you doubting me; it’s too dangerous for the both of us.”

“Criss, I---.” She stopped and swallowed. To his surprise, Criss could see the way her eyes were glimmering with tears.
“Please don’t fire me.” She whispered, looking back at him. “I do trust you with my body, just not with-with everything else.”

“I want you to.”

“Then I need you to give me time to get there.” Cassandra put Hammie on the floor and walked over to Criss in his chair. Wordlessly, she dropped to her knees.

Criss’s breath left his body. She looked so beautiful and broken down by his feet. He reached out and put his hand on her chin, so their eyes had to stay locked.

“Please, Criss?”

“Cass,” he bit his lip. “Just until you find another job. Now go and sort my mail.”

With a smile, she scrambled up and hurried off to work. Hammie leapt onto the desk and seemed to be smirking smugly at Criss.

“Don’t get cute. It’s only for a little while.”