Jesse and Cassandra

Jesse and Cassandra   09/20/2012

 

Cassandra sits in front of her Vanity table putting the finishing touches on her make up. It felt good to finally feel clean. It had taken almost an hour and a half for them to get back to the penthouse after sex in the car and no breakfast and Devereaux look more pleased with him self than usual. Could he know what she’d been up too? But how could he? She hadn’t told anyone not even Colby about her plan there was no way he could know. But there had been a couple of things in the past few days that he had seemed some how to know before she told him. It wasn’t anything he’d said just a knowing look on his face. He was having her watched she knew that even if she hadn’t seen them she felt them but this stuff couldn’t have been seen only heard and she was very careful not to take care of any of her business around him or in this penthouse. She hakes her head and sighs and continues to brush powder on her face. She was probably just being paranoid all things considered and the unexpected romp in the back of the limo this morning and thrown her completely off. It had come like a storm out of nowhere. Hopefully he had just wanted to slake his desires and he had used a condom, at least she thought he had she had seen the wrapper on the floor but not the condom there had been a balled up tissue but he had picked it up and stuffed in his pocket before she could check it. God, she hoped so what if she were pregnant as she planned but not with Rego’s child but Devereaux’s demon spawn! What would she do then? What she needed was a Sherrigan baby! She needed Rego’s baby! She’d never have another opportunity locked in the gilded cage with Devereaux as her keeper she was trapped. If only Rego hadn’t been in stupor last night and still half out of it this morning her plan would have worked. Now once again here she was trying to climb out of a bigger hole than she started in! How was she going to get out of this one? Maybe if the time came maybe she could convince Rego he was the father. After all the two of them had been together he did wake up in her bed this morning and he assumed something had happened between them. It wouldn’t be that hard to convince him of the possibility he could be. But what if they both wanted a DNA test what then? And now they could do them invetro, she could stall them both till after the baby was born by playing over protective mother but then what? She never thought she’d wish she were Francessca right now! She’d have Rego’s child in a few months not that he knew anything about it or she wanted him to know. Cassandra would give anything to be in that situation instead of the one she was in. She sighs tossing the make up brush on top of the table as Maurice taps on the door.

Maurice: Ms. Foster?

Cassandra: Yes Maurice?

Maurice: There’s a Mr. Jesse Hubbard to see you.

Cassandra: Thank you Maurice, tell Mr. Hubbard I’ll be there momentarily.  

Maurice: Yes miss. (He turns and exists the room as Cassandra rises from her chair and walks to the bed)

Scene Shift: Jesse stands in the living room admiring his surroundings)

Jesse: Well Cass your fall certainly had a soft landing. (He mumbles as he walks to the open doors and looks out over the roof top patio complete with never ending pool) Angie would love this! (He nods in approval turning his head back in to the room as the butler returns)

Maurice: Ms. Foster will be with you momentarily.

Jesse: Thank you.

Maurice: May I offer you a libation?

Jesse: No, thank you.

Maurice: Very good sir. If you’ll excuse me I have some things to attend to.

Jesse: Excuse me a moment? (He steps a few paces towards him as the butler turns back)

Maurice: Yes sir?

Jesse: How long have you worked with Mr. St. Jacque?

Maurice: Some twenty years sir.

Jesse: So you know him pretty well then?

Maurice: As well as any employee knows his employer.

Jesse: What kid of Guy would you say he is?

Maurice: I’m not sure what you mean sir.

Jesse: If you had to sum him up in one word what would you say?

Maurice: Shrewd.

Jesse: How so?

Maurice: I’ve never known Mr. Devereaux to not get what he wants.

Jesse: Interesting.

Maurice Mr. Devereaux is a very interesting man. (His mouth takes a slight grim turn that doesn’t go unnoticed by Jesse) Now if you’ll excuse me sir.

Jesse: Sure, His mind distracted as he files away the information) thank you.

Cassandra: Jesse, (She says with fake cheeriness as she floats in to the room) how nice of you to stop by.

Jesse: You’re look great. (He says examining her from head to toe)

Cassandra: Thank you.

Jesse: This place is something else!

Cassandra: Thanks (She walks to the window and looks out giving herself a moment to rebuild her amour) I love the view from up here.

Jesse: I was enjoying that myself your mom will die when she sees it! (He says smoothly and watches her shoulders relax as she turns to face him)

Cassandra: Is Mom with you? (Her mask slipping as she tries not to let him see her looking past him)

Jesse: No she’s at the hospital with Frankie. (His voice gentle not wanting to disturb the tentative peace that had fallen between them)

Cassandra: Is Randi okay?

Jesse: Randi went in to surgery today to remove the tumor. (Her expression reminded him so much of Natalia’s when she found out just how ill her mother really was. He wanted to reach out to her and comfort her but he knew better)

Cassandra: Is she going to be okay?

Jesse: Her doctor’s think she will be. (He watches her body relax a moment the cringe at the sound of his next words)  You know your mother and brother could really use your support today.

Cassandra: I’ll try to stop by later. (Her voice cold her defenses up. She walks over to the vase on the table absently rearranging the flowers) I have to confirm with Devereaux first.

Jesse: You have to get permission from your new boyfriend before you see your mother? (His face contorting as he instantly regretting the tone and words as soon as he spoke them)

Cassandra: No of course not! (She hisses defensively like a cat backed into a corner then cools just as quickly) its just I haven’t talked to him since this morning and I’m not sure what our plans are for this evening.

Jesse: Uhh Huh (He nods the butlers words ringing in his head. “I’ve never known Mr. Devereaux to not get what he wants.” He files that little moment of back peddling away then softens his tone again before continuing) I would really like it if you would do more than try. Your mother and your brother are really hurting and they need you right now.

Cassandra: And I said I would stop by later what else do you want from me? (She screeches her patients snapped)

Jesse: I want you to mean it! I want you to actually do it! Just once I’d like for you to think of your mother and if you can’t do for her at least do it for Frankie. Think about how they’re feeling right now. Maybe put somebody before yourself for a change! (He grinds out weary of their pretense of civility) 

Cassandra: So you really think calling me selfish is going to help you? (Laughing bitterly) That’s great coming from you! Considering you’re one of the most selfish men I know! You come back from the dead steal my mother from my father and me! You destroy my family without a second thought and you call me selfish? Oh that’s good! (She laughs again)

Jesse: Look you don’t have to like me (He growls between clenched teeth his eyes narrow lips tight) and honestly I don’t care if you do or you don’t, (He says placing his on his chest eyes wide) but whether you like it or not we are family and I love your mother more than life it self and when something or someone hurts her it hurts me. It does more than hurt me it makes me angry. When that happens I’m going to do what ever it takes and use everything in my power to make it stop.

Cassandra: So go do your thing. (Her hand on her hip eyes challenging her grin smug)

Jesse: That’s exactly why I’m here! (His voice tight his hand shaking in frustration. He walks a few paces away and takes a calming breath) She hurting Cassandra and you’re the reason. Your complete indifference to her to Frankie your sisters is what’s doing it! You act like what you say and what you do doesn’t matter. It’s your life your grown you can do what you want (He mocks hand on hip snapping his fingers and craning his neck) but it does, it matters to your mother you matter to her. She loves you. She done everything she can think of to let you know that. She’s done nothing but walk around thinking of what she can do to get you to at least acknowledge her. Maybe answer one of her phone calls! (His voice filled with pain and contempt) She keeps hoping that you’ll pick up next time she calls and every time you don’t I watch her die a little inside. She trying every time she reaches out to you, you smack her hand away! Couldn’t you just give her a chance? Couldn’t you just for today put whatever you have against her for whatever reason you have and just go to her? Please? You don’t have to do it for me.

Cassandra: Oh you got that right. (She snaps. Jesse stares at her a moment then sighs)

Jesse: If you won’t do it for her then do it for your brother. He needs his family right now.

Cassandra: Don’t use my brother as a weapon against me besides he’s got Mom, you and Natalia. (She offers weakly trying not to show him his words had an affect on her)

Jesse: He needs all his family and that includes his baby sister.

Devereaux: Hello darling! (He says smoothly breaking the tension hanging between them. He walks to Cassandra and kissing her check then turns towards Jesse)

Cassandra: Hi. (She smiles up at him her façade of “Lady of the Manor” in full affect. She seemed almost demure the affect his presences having on Cassandra causing the hair on the back of his neck to prickle)

Devereaux: Hello, I’m Devereaux St. Jacque. (He smiles extending his hand)

Cassandra: Devereaux this is my stepfather Jesse Hubbard.

Devereaux: Pleasure to meet you.

Jesse: Same here. (His expression revealing nothing of his thoughts) 

Devereaux: Would you like to join us for lunch?

Jesse: No, (He shakes his head) thank you I just stopped by to talk to Cassandra about some family stuff. (Moving closer towards the door as Maurice moves ahead of him to open it) Don’t forget to come by please? (He nods towards Cassandra then turns back to Devereaux) Nice to have met you!

Devereaux: You to. We’ll have to have you and your lovely wife for dinner one evening.

Jesse: That would be very nice she’d love to see this place!

Devereaux: I’ll have Cassandra call and set it up.

Jesse: That would be perfect! (He raises his eyebrow and smirks at Cassandra relishing her discomfort) Have a good day! Bye Cassandra I’ll tell your mother to expect you! (He calls over his shoulder as the door closes)

Devereaux: What was that all about? (He demands his illusion of politeness gone as he turns towards her)

Cassandra: He just came by to remind me my sister in-law’s surgery is today. (She shrugs keeping her voice even her breathing steady)

Devereaux: Hope it’s nothing serious? (He relaxes slightly his suspicions still tweaked)

Cassandra: She has cancer. (Her voice forlorn her nerves easing as her words and expression have the effect on him she’d hoped) I was going to go the hospital after lunch.

Devereaux: This is the brother’s wife? (He says sounding genuinely concerned)

Cassandra: Yes, Randi she’s having the tumor removed today he was passing by and decided to stop in and remind me. (She comes to him looping her arm through his)

Devereaux: Is that all? It seemed much more intense than that.

Cassandra: You know how I feel about him (She says with a laugh) we’re like oil and water. He just gets under my skin but I really should go down to the hospital to see her. (She could also if she planned it right get a chance to contact Rego, She smiles to herself leaning in to him. Maybe Jesse coming here had been a favor in disguise. After all a hospital was a public place and she couldn’t help who came and went)

Devereaux: Of course, I can have Maurice drive you if you like?

Cassandra: No I can drive my self (She tips up and kisses his cheek) Your always so sweet to me, (She smiles seductively) besides I don’t know how long I’ll be there. (She takes his hand and pulls him towards the dinning room) Shall we go in and sit down you must be famished. Considering we never did have breakfast. (She lets go of his hand and winks then glides towards the dinning room

Devereaux: Starving! (He pulls at his suddenly tight collar clears his throat and walks quickly behind her)