Ambergris Locakboxes Traveled Salt Routes by Hugh Calder 30

Chapter Thirty: What If Cassienne Becomes Mrs. Thornwyck?

“Corren, I am back, baby.”

The sudden female voice shattered the fragile moment.

Cassienne flinched.

She pulled away from Corren at once, her heart racing as reality crashed back in. The warmth between them vanished instantly.

The office door was wide open.

A beautiful blonde woman walked in without knocking, moving as if she owned the place. She was slim, tall, and confident, with straight legs that seemed to go on forever. She wore a short lilac dress that hugged her body perfectly, showing off her smooth skin and elegant shape.

Her lips were painted with matte red lipstick, bold and confident. Her lashes were thick and long, framing her blue eyes that held familiarity with the space–and with Corren.

Cassienne’s gaze lingered on her for a second.

For reasons she could not explain, her chest tightened.

The woman reminded her of Tina.

The same confidence. The same beauty. The same kind of presence.

Cassienne felt uncomfortable, and a strange sadness crept into her heart. She didn’t even know who the woman was. She could be Corren’s sister or a relative.

But jealousy still burned.

Why?

The blonde woman finally turned to Cassienne.

“Oh,” she said lightly, pretending surprise. “I’m sorry. Am I interrupting something?”

Cassienne straightened and forced a polite smile.

“Not really,” she replied calmly. “I was just about to leave.”

The woman raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.

Corren stood up immediately.

“Cassienne,” he said, clearing his throat, “meet Florence–my ex–girlfriend. And Florence, this is Cassienne Rhodes, the company’s Director of Engineering.”

Florence’s expression changed instantly.

Her smile disappeared, replaced by a cold, stiff look. Cassienne stepped forward anyway and stretched out her hand. “It’s nice meeting you, Florence,” she said sincerely.

Florence stared at the hand. She did not take it. The silence became heavy and uncomfortable.

Cassienne slowly lowered her hand. She turned toward Corren, her face calm but her heart unsettled.

Chapter Thirty What if Cassienne Becomes Mrs Thornwyck?

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“I’ll be in my office,” she said quietly. She didn’t wait for his reply.

As she reached the door and placed her hand on the handle, Corren’s voice stopped her.

“Let’s continue from where we stopped over lunch, Miss Rhodes.”

Cassienne paused for only a second. She said nothing. She opened the door and walked out, closing it firmly

behind her.

The moment the door shut, Corren turned back to Florence, his expression dark and irritated.

“Why are you here?” he asked sharply.

He walked toward his desk and leaned against it, crossing his arms.

Florence scoffed.

“Don’t tell me you’re sleeping with this one too,” she snapped. “I thought we already talked about this. Why repeat the same mistakes?”

Corren’s jaw tightened.

“State your reason for coming here and leave,” he said coldly. “I have work to do. And I don’t owe you any explanation. We are no longer together.”

His words hit her like a slap, causing her to flinch.

Yes, they had dated and she had ruined it.

Carren had ended things then he found out she was sleeping with his friend. There had been no

forgiveness that night–only anger and disappointment.

Florence stepped closer, softening her voice. She pouted and reached out, her fingers gently touching his sharp jawline.

“Sweetheart,” she said softly, “I thought we were good again. I thought you had forgiven me. I already told you- I was drunk that night. Please…”

Corren caught her wrist gently and firmly pulled her hand away from him.

“What happened between us was a mistake,” he said calmly. “And you know that.”

He took a step back.

“It won’t happen again. So either you tell me what you want, or stop coming to my office uninvited.”

He turned away from her and sat at his desk. His fingers moved across the keyboard as he searched for something.

Florence stood there, frozen.

She had truly believed things were returning to normal between them. Seeing him this cold, this distant, hurt deeply.

And that woman.

Cassienne.

Florence couldn’t shake the image of how close they had been when she walked in. That wasn’t how a boss and employee looked at each other.

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Jealousy burned inside her.

Corren clicked his mouse and leaned back in his chair, waiting for the screen to load.

Images appeared.

He leaned forward, narrowing his eyes.

On the screen were pictures of Cassienne… and Dreston Tremont.

They were together in many photos—at events, at dinners, stepping out of cars, smiling like a perfect couple.

Corren’s breath slowed.

“Cassienne was Dreston’s wife?” he murmured.

Florence blinked. “Excuse me?”

Corren raised his head sharply, clearly surprised.

“You’re still here?” he asked. “Please leave. I have work to do. And don’t come to my office without permission again.”

Florence knew there was nothing more she could do.

She turned and walked toward the door.

“I’ll be back,” she said quietly, without looking back.

She closed the door behind her. Corren didn’t even notice. He was already deep into what he had just discovered.

He scrolled through articles about Cassienne and Dreston’s marriage–and their divorce.

His expression darkened as he read.

Dreston had cheated on her with another woman. A woman Corren knew very well.

“Tina,” he muttered.

He ran a hand through his hair and smirked slightly.

“So she’s Dreston’s ex–wife,” he said softly. “Interesting.”

He leaned back, his fingers resting against his chin.

Now things made sense. Auralink Systems‘ rise to the top.

Dreston’s success.

Cassienne.

Yet, according to the reports, she had never truly been given the chance to shine while working there. She had been kept in the shadows.

Corren zoomed in on her photo.

At first, he had hired her because he wanted a strong and

Pable professional on his team.

But now…

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Now everything felt different. This was no longer just business. This was personal.

“What if Cassienne becomes Mrs. Thornwyck?” he murmured, a slow smile forming on his lips. “That wouldn’t be a bad idea at all.”

Corren Thornwyck had found a new goal. And when he set his mind on something–He always got it.

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