Chapter 963 – Beginning with a Daring Encounter

She knew for a fact that the people of the Island had thrown a small welcome party for him the previous night, but he had not invited her or taken her along. She did not even know when he left for the party.

She hardly knew anything about his coming and going now, and she doubted that he still slept in his bedroom next to hers.

Not that she cared where he slept or whether or not she saw him. But it annoyed her that he brought her here and didn’t even have the courtesy to at least check in on her often to know whether or not she was doing okay.

“Why are you scowling?” Maribel asked as she peered into Andy’s face.

“I’m not frowning, doll. I’m just lost in thoughts,” Andy said with forced smile as she looked at Maribel who she had kept busy by asking her to color some diagrams.

“Why do you always call me doll?” Maribel asked and Andy tapped her nose playfully.

“Because you, my perfect little girl, look just as pretty as a doll,” Andy said, and Maribel giggled happily at the compliment as she rose to go get into Andy’s lap.

“I like you a lot,” Maribel said as she pushed up her glasses on her nose with one hand and touched Andy’s hair.

Susan, the housekeeper, chose to walk into the living room in that moment and she eyed them both with disapproval as she moved about, pretending to be busy.

“You do? I’m so relieved to hear that I have someone who likes me here. I wonder why you like me though,” Andy said as her hands went around the little girl’s waist.

“Because you’re pretty, you are not old and you are fun. If I had a mama she would look just like you,” Maribel said, reminding Andy that she wanted to ask Cassidy about that.

“But you have Susan with you,” Andy said as she patted Maribel’s back.

“Susan is too old to be my mama,” Maribel said and while Andy stuck out her tongue at Susan discreetly so that Maribel wouldn’t see her.

“It’s time for your nap, Mari,” Susan said as she went to where Andy was seated and tried to lift Maribel.

“But Susan…”

“Now, Mari!” Susan snapped, but Andy held Maribel tightly without letting Susan snatch her away.

“I will take her to her room and put her to sleep,” Andy said with a sweet smile as she rose with Maribel and headed for the kid’s room.

After she had put the kid to sleep thirty minutes later, she met Susan waiting for her outside the kid’s bedroom and she raised a brow.

“She is asleep already,” Andy said as she walked past Susan and immediately Susan followed her.

“What do you want here?” Susan asked, and Andy stopped walking and turned to Susan.

“I beg your pardon?” Andy asked, and Susan nodded.

“You heard me. Why are you here? I know that Sir Alex brought you here, but why did you come? Who are you to him? Why did he bring you here? What is your relationship with him?” Susan asked, and Andy crossed both arms in front of her.

“Why are you asking me all that when you can ask him yourself?” Andy asked irritably.

Susan ignored Andy’s annoyance, “That is not a question I can ask Sir Alex…”

“So, who do you think you are to ask me such questions?” Andy cut in impatiently.

“I am responsible for Sir Alex and Maribel, and I won’t let you hurt them,” Susan said stubbornly and Andy frowned.

“And what makes you think I want to hurt them?”

“What do you think will happen to Maribel after you make her get so attached to you and then you leave here?”

“So you’d rather I’m unkind to the child so she doesn’t get attached to me?”

“I’d rather you leave things the way you met them. Stay all day in your room if you must. Act like you don’t exist, unless you plan on staying here for the rest of your life, which I know you don’t. Someone like you wouldn’t be able to stay here anyway,” Susan said and Andy raised a brow.

“What do you mean someone like me?” Andy asked, wondering what she meant by that.

“You are a wild one. Things like that cannot be hidden. I can see it in your eyes and in the way you walk. Unless your aim for being here is to warm Sir Alex’s bed, which I strongly disapprove of because he deserves someone better…”

“I believe you have said enough, Susan!” Cassidy snapped as he joined them.

“Sir Alex…”

“Apologize to her,” Cassidy said harshly, and Susan pressed her lips together.

“Right now!” Cassidy repeated, but before Susan could say a word Andy walked away.

Cassidy followed her immediately, and before she could shut her bedroom door, he put in a door to stop the door.

“I’m sorry she said that to you,” Cassidy said, but Andy said nothing as she walked away from the door and went to stand by her bedroom window with her back to him.

Cassidy remained by the door, not sure of what to say but not sure he should leave without making sure she wasn’t upset either.

He had been really busy with work in his study until he caught sight of Susan and Andy talking in the hallway and from their postures and expressions he had determined it wasn’t a light conversation.

Andy was more amused than annoyed or hurt by Susan’s statement. It amused her that Susan believed that Cassidy deserved someone better. Did Susan have any idea who Cassidy really was? Did anyone on this Island know what he was capable of?

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