A Graduation Gift novel Chapter 153

The lobby was full of commotion as anxious journalists were waiting. They were chatting and cleaning their equipment waiting for their target to appear. All of a sudden, a person wearing the same outfit as Lyndsy's came out of the building.

"Lyndsy... Lyndsy is here!"

Somebody from the crowd spotted the figure and screamed her name out of surprise and excitement.

In an instant, everyone turned their heads and rushed forward following the figure with their cameras.

The figure ran out of the office building and came to a halt about 200 meters away from it. Photographers and cameramen surged forward. Zooming and clicking on their devices to capture the figure's reaction as they began asking her questions.

"Lyndsy, what's your opinion about having two heroines in this movie?"

"Lyndsy, it's said you want to break up with the company. Is that true?"

"Lyndsy, you..."

Everyone was stunned when suddenly, the figure at the center of the crowd took off her mask with a grin.

"Have you guys mistaken me for someone else?"

Silence fell upon the group, those who bombarded the fake Lyndsy with questions stared at the petite girl, dumbfounded. They examined her features from head to foot, she was not Lyndsy.

"But the clothes..." a journalist exclaimed in disbelief.

"Please, could you excuse me?"

Cassandra elbowed her way through the crowd and hailed a taxi, swirling the mask by her finger.

It was not until the cab sped off did these gossip-providers understand what was going on.

"We have been fooled!"

Someone blurted it out and everyone present began to regret their carelessness. With their shoulders in a shudder and their heads low, the crowd dispersed gradually one by one.

Cassandra looked back in the cab and smiled as the crowd scattered.

Enjoying her victory, Cassandra was surprised that such a simple trick could fool the journalists. It seemed that they were so desperate to interview Lyndsy that they didn't notice the woman in Lyndsy's clothes was way shorter than her.

On the back of her mind, she recalled the moment when she pulled Lyndsy to the ladie's room with her. She suggested that they should exchange outfits.

Cassandra pointed at Lyndsy's coat and motioned her to took it off and give it to her so they could switch over.

"Your clothes are too brightly colored. They are too eye-catching."

Lyndsy began to inspect her clothes in the mirror. She was wearing a light blue dress matched with a rose red coat. The colors were both bright and in sharp contrast. While Cassandra was in a plain grey coat and a large scarf covered half of her face. It was easy to keep a low profile in Cassandra's outfit.

"But we are of different figures..."

Lyndsy was tall and willowy while Cassandra was petite. It was easy to tell the difference.

"It's okay. Don't worry. I will rush out to attract their attention. They will follow me as long as they see your clothes. When there's no one around, just go ahead and run away!"

Cassandra took off her scarf and placed it around Lyndsy's neck. She made several loops around her face until only her eyes were exposed.

Lyndsy checked herself out in the mirror. Indeed, no one could see her face wearing the scarf and besides she didn't have another way to escape from the ravening journalists. She was going to give the trick a try.

With everything set, and their clothes already exchanged, Cassandra and Lyndsy prepared themselves for the trap that they set for the journalists.

Cassandra put on the mask and took a deep breath before she ran out of the main entrance.

Luckily, the plan did work, as the journalist dashed after Cassandra the moment they saw her running out.

"Miss, you told me to drive forward. But I don't know where you want to go..."

The taxi driver asked Cassandra with a confused look. He was eyeing Cassandra from the rearview mirror.

Cassandra pondered for a while and told the driver to go to the newly opened Decoration Material Mall. She remembered that she needed to pick up some office supplies and some materials for decorations.

The Decoration Material Mall was opened half a year ago and was different from other markets selling furniture. The company running the mall didn't make profits from leasing to various shops but housing only quality and well-known brands instead.

This high-class shopping mall was actually one of the affiliates of the TY Group. Cassandra was startled at how clean and luxurious the mall was when she walked inside.

Cassandra looked around and browsed in from one shop to another. Feeling a little tired, she sat on the bench at the center of the hall. She didn't notice that a pair of eyes were looking down at her from above.

"How long are you going to hide it from her?"

Jasper studied the woman with interest. He stood behind the office window, Cassandra wouldn't see who he was even if she happened to look up.

"Hide it from her?"

Rufus took a sip of the red wine and swirled the glass.

Jasper felt annoyed when he turned around and saw Rufus enjoying the wine.

"Why do you have to steal my precious wine every time you come here? Why don't you tell her that you are the chairman of the TY Group? What would she think of you if she gets to know about it one day?"

What Jasper had said stirred up a flicker of fear in Rufus's originally cold eyes.

Cassandra was a woman with high self-esteem. Even though when she was the daughter-in-law of the Tang family, Cassandra would pay for all her expenses, except for the accommodation and food. Her salary could cover all her bills since she didn't have to take care of the broken Qin Group before.

Unfortunately, now...

Cassandra sold out part of the worn-out machines of the Qin Group and gave up the luxury office building the company rented to pay off its liabilities. Now she even came this long way to the mall to pick up the items herself. She did all these to cut down expenses and save her father's dying company.

Even though she was having a hard time taking on the economic burden of her father's company, Cassandra still insisted on paying the bills when they shopped together in the supermarket.

Rufus knew what the stubborn girl was thinking of. She didn't want to be defined as the kind of sugar baby who depended on men for money. Cassandra even turned Rufus down when he offered her some financial help.

"Rufus, don't worry about me. I got it. I will definitely come to you when I have no other way to go. Trust me, I will take care of everything!"

Cassandra gave him a determined look and the steadiness coming from her eyes made Rufus astonished at the woman's determination.

It made Rufus's heart ache to see that such a vulnerable girl going through these on her own. Besides, she kept turning down his favor as if he was a stranger.

But he didn't blame Cassandra for her aloofness as he could understand it was because she lacked a sense of security.

It was maybe because her parents didn't care for her when she was a kid and left her to the granny. They didn't even want to watch TV with her during the Spring Festival which was supposed to be an occasion to have a happy family reunion.

Her parents were so nice to her sister but definitely hard on her. The contrast in their treatments developed Cassandra's strong self-esteem.

Even though she was kind and capable, Cassandra still felt insecure all this time. Thus, she didn't depend on him much and her self-esteem kept pushing the man who loved her so much away.

Rufus felt that his feelings for Cassandra was ambivalent. He admired Cassandra for her ability and independence on one side and wished her could lean and depend on him on the other.

Under the circumstances, Rufus worried that Cassandra would keep away from him further if she learned that he was the chairman of the TY Group. There was no way she would accept the considerate man's favor anymore, even a secret one.

Jasper could tell that Rufus's mind was in a turmoil as he remained silent, swirling his glass of wine.

From Michelle's compliments of Cassandra, Jasper could tell how hard Cassandra worked. It came naturally for Michelle to speak highly of her as the two were of the same type.

"Well, you such a poor guy. I know how hard it is. The hindrance you met now was exactly the same as the one which stood between me and your aunt. It took me a long way to win her over. She was also a strong woman. Don't you remember how proud I was? Now you see I end up to be one of her followers..."

Jasper heaved a sigh as the memory of his tough days came flashing back his mind.

"But, hey, cheer up. I could offer you a piece of advice,"

Jasper uttered mysteriously. He cocked one of his eyebrows towards Rufus, waiting for the cold man to ask him what it was.

Rufus glanced at the excited man in smug satisfaction but didn't say anything. He knew Jasper was the kind of man who couldn't stand holding the excitement back to himself.

As expected, Jasper pulled a long face a minute later as there was no response from Rufus.

"You know what? If it were not for your aunt, I would keep away from your matter, as far as I can! I hate your ice-like face!"

Rufus snorted. With a slight grin on his face, Rufus's face melted and his eyes gave him away, shining with satisfaction.

"What it is?"

Under the eager gaze of Jasper, Rufus had no other choice but to speak out the question.

"Ask her to marry you! It was not until your aunt married me did she began to pay more attention to me,"

Jasper whispered to Rufus's ear with a wicked smile on his face.

"When you two finally get married, she will definitely turn close to you. And, by that time when you help her, the assistance will be from a family. She has no reason to turn you down anymore!"

Jasper suggested, full of confidence, advising Rufus based on his own experience.

Rufus's cold eyes brightened up. He was imagining how he would propose to Cassandra.

It never occurred to Rufus that it was a way in. Jasper's advice sounded somewhat practical.

Cassandra was so tough because no one cared for her during her childhood. But as long as they got married and he became her husband, Rufus believed he could melt her aloofness away by the care and warmth from the family they made.

"I see she has been hanging around out there for a while and hasn't gotten what she wanted. How about I going down and helping her?"

Jasper looked at Cassandra who was sitting on a bench and bending over to pound her legs as in massage. She looked terribly exhausted.

"Don't worry. I won't let her know you are the real boss here," Jasper teased Rufus.