CHAPTER 120: DINNER PLANS WITH GIANNA

After Zeke leaves, Cassidy stays on the couch, staring into space. The living room feels too quiet now, his words still hanging in the air.

She hugs her arms around herself, like she’s trying to hold something in.

What did he mean by "you two come first"?

Of course he cares. She’s Claire’s mother. That’s it. That has to be it.

Cassidy exhales slowly, shaking her head.

"I’m overthinking this," she whispers to herself. "He doesn’t see me that way."

But the warmth in his voice, the way he looked at her... It’s messing with her head.

Cassidy leans back against the cushions and closes her eyes, hoping a bit of rest would clear the thoughts she’s trying so hard to ignore.

Honestly, even without his wealth or status, Zeke is a ridiculously handsome man. With deep brown eyes, jet-black hair, sharp nose, thick brows, and a chiseled jawline, his whole presence looks like it was carved by the gods themselves. With a face and body like that, getting women probably takes zero effort.

So, Cassidy doesn’t really believe that in the four years they’ve been divorced, no woman has gotten close to him.

Not with the way he looks. Not with how effortlessly charming he can be when he wants to.

She knows Zeke. Or at least she thought she did. There’s no way a man like him could’ve stayed completely alone all this time. Right?

So maybe what Zeke said earlier didn’t mean anything deep after all.

Maybe it was just him being polite. Kind.

Because that’s what people do when they care about their child’s mother.

Cassidy presses her lips together, trying to shake the strange feeling in her chest. She shouldn’t read too much into it. It’s safer that way.

***

Zeke leans back in the car seat, one hand resting on his lap, the other pressed lightly against his temple. Outside the window, sunlight still bathes the streets in a soft afternoon glow. It’s barely past 2. Maybe 3. Still early. Still too early to feel this frustrated.

"Dammit," he mutters under his breath, barely audible.

From the front seat, Nolan glances at him through the rearview mirror. "Everything okay, sir?"

Zeke clears his throat, his says calmly. "Yeah. It’s nothing."

But it’s not nothing.

He forgot to ask Cassidy about the dentist appointment tomorrow. Something so simple, and yet... he completely blanked.

Why? Because he got nervous? Over what—her reaction?

He closes his eyes briefly, mentally scolding himself.

"I’ll call her once I get back to the villa," he says quietly, almost like a promise to himself.

Still, a thought nags at the back of his mind.

Did what I said earlier make her uncomfortable?

He shifts in his seat, jaw tightening as he stares out the window again. He hates this. This uncertainty. This part of him that always falters around Cassidy.

Back at the villa, Zeke heads straight to the shower. After drying off, he grabs his phone from the nightstand and steps out onto the balcony, a towel still wrapped around his waist. The breeze is soft against his damp skin, but his mind is far from calm.

He scrolls to Cassidy’s name and hits call.

She answers on the fourth ring.

"Hey," he says, voice low. "Am I bothering you?"

"No," Cassidy replies, a little curious. "Why are you calling?"

Zeke exhales. "I forgot to ask earlier about the dentist. Are you okay taking Claire tomorrow for her check-up?"

A short pause. "Yeah," she says simply.

"Great. I’ll make the appointment with the dentist then."

"Okay."

"Alright, that’s all," Zeke says, a bit too fast.

"Sure."

They hang up right after. The call is short and straightforward.

***

Since it was still early, Zeke decided to visit Nicole. He hadn’t seen Nicole or Arielle much lately, he’d been too focused on spending time with Claire and Cassidy.

After getting dressed, he told Nolan where they were going. They headed out together, Nolan driving while a few bodyguards followed behind in another car.

When they arrived at the house, no one answered the door.

Zeke stood there for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh. Right. Nicole was at work. Arielle had already started university.

He scolded himself again. That made it what, mistake number three today?

With nothing else to do, Zeke decided to head back to the office. Sitting around at home doing nothing wasn’t for him. He’d rather work than waste time pacing around in silence.

When he arrived at the office, Andrew looked up from his desk, surprised.

"I thought you were done for the day?" he asked, standing as Zeke walked past.

Zeke just shrugged. "Change of plans."

Then, glanced over his shoulder. "Follow me to my office."

Once inside, he settled into his chair and looked at Andrew. "How’s the amusement park going? Have you coordinated with Nolan?"

Andrew nodded. "Yes. The screening for the staff starts tomorrow."

"Good," Zeke said. "Make sure everything is thoroughly inspected. The rides too. I don’t want anything unsafe or broken."

"Understood."

"On Friday," Zeke added, "send me everything, all the progress. I want to forward it to Cassidy."

"Will do," Andrew replied.

Zeke then said, "Make an appointment with Dr. Anastasia, the pediatric dentist, for tomorrow."

Andrew nodded and asked, "What time should I book it for?"

Zeke raised an eyebrow. "What time does she start seeing patients?"

Andrew replied, "She’s available from 9 to 5 on weekdays."

Zeke paused, thinking for a moment. "Do I have anything important outside the office tomorrow? Besides the partner meeting?"

Andrew answered, "Other than the invitation to your colleague’s building inauguration, there’s nothing urgent that requires you to be out."

Zeke nodded. "Alright. Book it for 3 PM."

"Will do. Anything else?"

Zeke went quiet, clearly thinking about something, before finally saying, "Find me a good interior designer."

"Interior designer?" Andrew asked, a bit confused.

"I want to remodel a few rooms at my villa."

After sleeping over at Cassidy’s apartment, Zeke had been thinking, it might be a good idea to prepare a room for Claire at his villa. Just in case she ever wanted to stay over. He also planned to build a playroom for her.

"Alright. I’ll look for a good interior designer for you. Anything else?"

"That’s all."

Andrew gave a quick nod, then turned and left Zeke’s office.

As Zeke was going through his emails, his phone buzzed on the desk.

He glanced at the screen. Gianna Hill.

One brow lifted before he accepted the call.

"Hello," he said.

"Ezekiel. Do you have a moment to talk?"

"Of course. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have answered."

Gianna ignored his dry remark. "I want to invite you to dinner, tonight. There’s something I’d like to discuss with you."

Zeke didn’t respond right away. He went silent, tapping his fingers lightly on the desk, clearly thinking.

He suddenly recalled the day he happened to run into Xavier and Gianna at a restaurant. Zeke wanted to ask Gianna directly what kind of relationship she had with Xavier.

Zeke finally replied, "Sure. What time and where?"

Gianna gave him the time and the address, then added before hanging up, "Since you said yes, you better show up this time. You always cancel on me whenever something comes up."

Zeke chuckled softly. "I’ll show up this time."

Gianna replied, "I’m counting on it."

Since he was already holding his phone, Zeke considered calling Cass again—to let her know that he’d already made an appointment with a pediatric dentist for Claire tomorrow.

But something held him back. He’d just called her not long ago. Maybe texting was better? He didn’t want Cass to think he was just trying to find reasons to talk to her.

But then Zeke wonders—since when did he start getting scared over something like this? Since when did he start overthinking?

He’s sure Cassidy won’t see it that way.

So, he pulls himself together and decides to call her anyway.

But Cassidy doesn’t answer.

Zeke sighs, puts his phone down on the desk, rubs his temples, and leans back in his chair.

A few moments later, his phone rings.

He quickly picks it up.

"Sorry I couldn’t answer earlier. I was busy," Cassidy says. "Why did you call?"

"Oh, right. I’ve booked a dental check-up for Claire tomorrow. At three in the afternoon. Is that okay with you?"

"Of course."

Zeke then says, "I can’t come over tonight. I’ll just pick you both up tomorrow for the appointment."

"You already came by. It’s fine if you don’t come again tonight. Alright, I’ll tell Claire about her dental check-up."

"Yeah. Alright, I’ll hang up now. See you tomorrow," Zeke says.

"Hmm."

***

Zeke kept himself busy with work. When the clock struck six, he packed up and got into his car. Zeke’s driver took the wheel this time. Nolan sat in the front, quiet and watchful.

They headed to a Japanese restaurant near the city center, he had dinner plans with Gianna at seven.

Zeke leaned back, staring out the window, barely paying attention.

"You want me to wait outside?" Nolan asked as they arrived.

"Yeah. Won’t be long."

The driver opened his door. Zeke stepped out without a word and walked into the restaurant.

***