CHAPTER 159: SURPRISE AND PRIDE

"Yeah, I heard. Why do you want to buy a ring? Is it a gift for Margaret or Elise?" Cassidy guessed, unintentionally making Zeke let out a small sigh of relief.

"I want to buy it for my mom. It’s a gift for her," Zeke explained, lying a little, relieved that Cassidy hadn’t fully overheard his conversation with Chase.

Cassidy nodded, then said seriously, "I came looking for you because I wanted to talk about something." She let herself into Zeke’s office and settled onto the sofa.

Zeke closed the door and followed her, taking a seat beside her. "What is it, baby? You look so serious," he asked, curiosity rising at the way her face and voice hinted at something important.

Cassidy had already spoken with her Cy. Noire team, the people who worked alongside her in designing and producing every collection. She told them about her decision, she wanted to open a branch of Cy. Noire in the States.

Expanding the brand and its products had been on her mind for a while, and now that she had chosen to return and settle down in the States, it felt like the right time. She wanted to take Cy. Noire global, to make it more recognized and accessible.

But before any official steps were taken, there was one thing she needed to do first, tell Zeke about her work, her position as both the designer and the owner of Cy. Noire.

"Zeke, I want to tell you about my work. More than that, I want to keep working in the States," Cassidy said, watching his face. He looked a little surprised at her words.

Zeke frowned slightly, not knowing anything about Cassidy’s current work. "Your work? Do you mean going back to your family’s company?"

He knew Cassidy used to work there. Was that what she meant?

Cassidy shakes her head. She lets out a small sigh, realizing Zeke misunderstood her. "Not that. I won’t go back to my family’s company. I mean my current work... the one I started back in Switzerland." Cassidy smiles, the pride on her face impossible to miss.

Zeke tilts his head, curiosity clear in his eyes. Cassidy rarely talks about her years in Switzerland, and he’s never tried to pry.

"Your work back in Switzerland?" he asks, his hand tightening around hers, impatience and eagerness tangled in his voice. "What did you do there, baby?"

"I made clothes," Cassidy says. "To be exact, I designed them. I’m a designer." Her eyes soften as she smiles at Zeke, revealing her profession.

A flash of surprise passes through Zeke’s eyes at the revelation. "A designer? You’re a designer, baby? What kind of clothes did you design? Do you make men’s clothes too? Do you sell them? Can I buy them?" He fires off questions one after another, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Cassidy chuckles at his curiousity, finding his reaction both adorable and amusing."One question at a time, Ezekiel, and slowly." she teases.

"Okay... okay... I’m just really happy you told me about your work. I never expected it."

"It means a lot, baby. I’ve always wanted to know more about you, but I didn’t want to push or make you feel uncomfortable."

"And now that you’re sharing it with me so openly... I can’t help but feel overjoyed," Zeke admits with a grin he can’t hide, happiness shining in his eyes.

Cassidy knows that ever since they got back together, she hasn’t shared much about her personal life with Zeke. It’s not that she doesn’t want to, it’s just in her nature to keep things to herself. If Zeke doesn’t ask, she likely won’t say anything. But hearing his words now makes her realize... he wants to know more about her.

Honestly, Cassidy wants to know everything about Zeke too, so she understands his reaction.

She turns her gaze away, letting it rest on the wall as she recalls the early days of starting her brand. "Do you know the brand Cy. Noire?"

"Cy. Noire?" Zeke repeats with a questioning tone.

"Of course you don’t," she teases with a faint smirk. "How would you know a fashion label that’s only popular with young people?"

Her tone is playful, but Zeke still catches the joke in it. The name feels oddly familiar, he then remembers Arielle, his niece, once asking him for a few pieces as a birthday gift.

"I do know it," Zeke says after recalling where he first heard the name.

Cassidy instantly looks at him. Her eyes widen, surprise lighting her expression. She studies him, intrigued and a little pleased. "You know that brand? From where?"

"Arielle," he replies gently, his lips curving in a small smile. "My niece. She’s obsessed with it. She asked me to get her some clothes from that brand for her birthday gift."

Cassidy clearly not expecting that. "Your niece... she likes Cy. Noire?"

Arielle is still so young, yet of course she would know. Cy. Noire has been trending among young people and influencers online, shipping worldwide. What Cassidy never expected was that Arielle would be one of its eager buyers and by sheer coincidence, she had asked Zeke to get it for her birthday.

"Yeah. Arielle likes their designs. She said the clothes are trending among young people right now—stylish, comfortable, and chic," Zeke explained, repeating what Arielle had told him before.

Cassidy smiled with quiet pride at Arielle’s little review of Cy. Noire. In her heart, she decided that if she ever met Zeke’s niece, she would make sure Arielle received every new design the brand released.

"Do you work at Cy. Noire, baby?" Zeke asked, still trying to guess.

"Yeah. I work at Cy. Noire. To be exact, I design all of Cy. Noire’s clothing because Cy. Noire is my brand. I’m the owner," Cassidy says, her chin lifting slightly with pride.

Now it’s Zeke’s turn for his eyes to widen. Cassidy truly surprises him. Designing clothes that not only appeal to young people but also explode into a trend is not something small or ordinary.

He has seen Cy. Noire’s catalog before, and he admits the designs are impressive and well-made. He just never expected Cassidy to be both the designer and the owner of Cy. Noire

Zeke can’t help but feel happy and proud of Cassidy’s achievement.

Cassidy chuckles at Zeke’s stunned expression. "Surprised? I’m pretty amazing, right?" she teases, asking for a compliment.

Zeke looks at her with eyes full of love, smiling softly as he lifts his hand to caress her cheek. "Yeah, you’re incredible, baby. But I’ve always known you were amazing," he says, his smile warm and affectionate.

Cassidy’s lips curved into a wide smile, happy with Zeke’s compliment. Somehow, his praise felt different from all the other compliments she had ever heard.

"Thanks, baby," Cassidy says, hugging Zeke softly, grateful, and he smiles warmly as he holds her close.

"So... is there anything else you want to tell me, baby?"

"Yeah. I’m planning to open a Cy. Noire store downtown."

"You want to open a Cy. Noire store downtown? Do you need my help?" Zeke asks, wanting to support Cassidy.

"Yeah, I want your help. You can help me, right?" Cassidy asks softly, her voice sweet.

"Of course. Anything for you, baby."

Cassidy immediately releases her hug, looking at Zeke with a happy smile, satisfied with his answer. "I’m counting on you for that. I want to go to Switzerland for a few days first."

***