Torn

​Striding with a sense of purpose through the club towards her office, Cassandra Sullivan looked every inch the respectable 26 year old woman in her tailored black pant suit. At 5' 9", she cut quite an imposing figure, her height accentuated more today by the heeled court shoes that graced her feet. Growing up, Cassandra had detested her height, yet it had proved to be an asset over the years, especially since she'd started running her own business. It had a tendency to make men back down, and if truth be told, Cassandra found that kind of power slightly arousing. She'd grown up in a man's world, and refused to be treated like the little woman. Her brother and friends had taught her how to look after herself on many levels, none of which she was ever afraid to put to use.

Entering her office, Cassandra caught sight of her appearance in the mirror that hung on the wall to her right. Her long jet black hair hung like a glossy curtain past her shoulders, reaching the middle of her back. Her eyes, almost the same blue as the Pacific ocean that she'd lived by all her life, shone brightly with excitement and anticipation. Yet there were occassions when they could cut through a person with an icy coldness. Her pale skin tone belied her Southern Californian upbringing. It wasn't that she didn't like the sun, she just didn't tan easily. Not that she minded, Cassandra liked the fact that she didn't look like every other girl that inhabited Huntington Beach. 

She strolled over to her desk and picked up the file that she needed for her meeting later that morning. An excited nervous energy coursed through her veins as she thought ahead to what today would bring. Today, Mezmer, the club she'd co-owned with her brother for the past two years, would finally become all hers. It was what she'd been working towards since the day they'd opened it. Cassandra had never wanted James to help her, but it had been necessary for him to step in so that she could break away from the life she'd always known and build a secure future for not only herself but her family. She glanced at the photo that took pride of place on her desk. It had been taken the previous summer at James' house when he'd been having one of his many gatherings. Brother and sister sat side by side, a young girl, the image of her father wedged between them as she grinned at the camera. Cassandra smiled at the image. The young girl, Emily, was her world, and everything she did revolved around that little girl. But then, wasn't that how every mother was supposed to be? 

That was why taking over complete control and ownership of Mezmer was so damn important to Cassandra. She wanted to be free from the connections it had to her brother's lifestyle and money. Once it was hers, there would be no more secret meetings in shadowy corners for him and his 'business associates', for want of a better phrase. She could rest easy that they wouldn't be busted because James or one of his friends had decided to conduct 'business' within the walls of her club. She would finally be free from the life that she had been a part of for far too long. 

That wasn't exactly the truth. Cassandra would never be completely free. Emily's father was still very much involved with that side of things. He was part of the gang of friends that James belonged to who made their vast wealth through protection rackets, drug deals and gun running, all of which were neatly disguised behind the facade of a string of legitimate strip clubs up and down the West Coast. They were feared and respected equally by all who knew them, and even those who didn't. Cassandra herself had been a part of the gang, but as time had gone on, and motherhood approached, she took a backseat, wanting to devote her time to raising her daughter, instead of threatening some punk who would try to get out of paying up what he owed.

Then, just over two years ago, when Emily had been four, Cassandra had decided to call time on it all. Emily's father had been shot during a trade off, and the harsh reality of how close she had come to losing the man she loved through the criminal activities that dominated their lives had hit Cassandra hard. She didn't want to spend her days sitting at home, wondering whether he'd actually be coming home or whether she'd be having to take a trip to the local morgue to identify him. Days consumed with arguing and fighting followed. Cassandra had needed him to see where she was coming from, whilst he wanted her to realise that he didn't want a life without her or Emily. Once Cassandra had made it clear that she would never keep Emily from him, he knew that he was never going to win the battle and with a heavy heart had let her walk away.

Cassandra had remained true to her word. Emily stayed with her father every weekend, and saw him throughout the week. Yet despite the fact that Cassandra had never fallen out of love with him, there was hostility between them. They managed to protect their daughter from it, but there were times when Cassandra wanted to strangle him. A few months after she'd left, he'd gotten into the habit of having a different woman on his arm each week. All of them blonde, and mindnumbingly dense. It wasn't jealousy that caused Cassandra to be angry, it was knowing that he could do so much better, and if he achieved that and managed to settle down, then Cassandra herself could be more relaxed about having someone new in her life. Until then, she knew it would remain a secret. 

A light tapping on the office door pulled Cassandra out of her thoughts. A young woman stepped inside the room.

"Hey boss, excited about later?" she asked. Cassandra smirked.

"Taylor, quit with the boss shit, you know you're pretty much my right hand woman round here. And yes, extremely fucking excited," Cassandra informed her. 

Taylor McKenzie had walked through the doors of Mezmer just before they'd opened two years previous, and immediately she and Cassandra had clicked. She'd gotten the job of manager there and then, and now ran the club whenever Cassandra wasn't around. 

"There's someone out front to see you," Taylor stated as she walked to the safe to start sorting out the change for the tills later that night. Cassandra thanked her and headed out of the office back into the club.

Standing at the bar, trying to look as though he was actually interested in the newspaper he was flicking through, Cassandra's visitor was an impressive sight. His dark hair 'neatly' groomed into a messy style that looked as though he'd just fallen out of bed. Well formed biceps clearly evident even under the black button down shirt he wore, the sleeves rolled up slighty, revealing the colorful artwork that adorned his arms. His flawless features, captivating Cassandra for one brief moment as she took in the high defined cheekbones, and thin lips that had always felt so soft and inviting against her own. There was no denying that Brian Haner Jr was indeed a truly beautiful man. Cassandra smoothed down her jacket and stepped behind the bar to grab a bottle of water.

"Brian, to what do I owe the displeasure?" she greeted, a hint of a smile gracing her face. 

Brian looked up, his deep chocolate brown eyes locking with Cassandra's. For so long, they'd always glinted playfully, radiating a warmth that Cassandra had never experienced with any other. Yet now, they always appeared hardened and menacing, with a tinge of underlying sadness. Brian let out a deep sigh.

"I just wanted to see if I could pick Emily up from school Friday instead of waiting til Saturday morning, it's...."

"Your Dad's birthday, yeah I know," Cassandra finished. 

"Did they invite you?" he questioned, knowing that his parents probably had. Cassandra still meant so much to them.

"They did, but I have to be here Friday night, so don't worry, I won't be there cramping your style." Cassandra took a sip from her water. "That's fine, I have no issues with you taking Emily, just as long as you're not going to be escorted by your slut of the week," she added, the hint of disapproval evident in her tone. 

Brian rolled his eyes.

"Cass, c'mon. Don't start with that shit again. You left me remember?" 

"I do remember, it's just that I think you can do so much better, and I don't want our daughter meeting someone new every week. Especially the airheads you seem to choose with such alarming regularity."

"Maybe I like my women that way," Brian retorted harshly. Cassandra shook her head and laughed.

"That's a damn lie and you know it Haner," she stated simply. 

Brian muttered under his breath, picking up the newspaper and folding it under his arm.

"Just let the school know it'll be me there Friday, and dropping her off Monday morning," he told her, turning to leave. As he reached the door, Brian glanced back over his shoulder.

"Oh and just so you know, Johnny and I will be in tomorrow night, we've got some people coming in we need to impress. Talk to Jimmy, he'll fill you in." 

Cassandra watched as Brian exited out onto the street, smiling to herself at the knowledge that her brother was leaving it down to her to tell the guys that their 'business' was no longer welcome within the walls of her club. She quickly looked at her watch, grabbing the phone from behind the bar and dialling. She tapped her foot as she waited for someone to answer. 

"Hello?"

Cassandra felt warmth flow throughout her at the sound of his voice.

"Hey, it's me. Brian has Emily from Friday night now, so you know what that means."

A chuckle met her words at the other end of the line.

"That I can be in bed waiting for you as soon as you get home? Believe me sweetheart, I'll be there." 

"I thought as much. Listen I have to go, I'm meeting James in an hour."

"Okay, call me when you're done. I love you."

Cassandra hung up before she gave herself time to answer, but it was something he'd grown to accept these past few months. Cassandra wandered back through to her office and started gathering her belongings. Today was the day for new beginnings, and she couldn't wait.