The Transient Wife

Chapter 28

"How the hell do you do this thing?" Cassandra asked, looking at the paper through the light the back porch offered. Her exhibit had been a success but she was more than happy and eager to go back home with Philip who said they could locate the star with a telescope. And that was what they were doing now, and she was having trouble with the coordinates.

"Let me do that," Philip snatched the paper from her. "For someone who loves stars, you should know this," he added.

Cassandra rolled her eyes. "I don't have to learn that thing when I was looking at all the stars randomly. This coordinate thing is killing me."

"Uh-huh," Philip was already working on the telescope and did not hear her. "I think I found it," he said a while later.

"You think?"

He turned his head and looked at her. "Let me rephrase that. I believe I found it."

"Pretty much the same thing," she nudged him aside. "Let me see."

With a chuckle, he stepped aside and let her peek through the telescope. Cassandra smiled when she saw it. Well, what do she expect? It still looked like a star, but knowing it was named after her was awesome. And the fact it was the International Astronomical Union itself that did it was a plus.

"I hope you're happy," Philip uttered. "You have a star of your own."

"I still can't believe you actually did this," she said, straightening up. "It really blew me away, you know."

He kissed her and said, "I was hoping that would be the effect."

"Thank you," she said with feeling. Her heart was swelling with so many emotions that she couldn't help but hug him tight. "It was not just about Beth."

He sighed. "I know."

They stood there like that for a long time, both silent and both having a silent conversation.

"Will you ever get to the point of telling me why we are married?" she suddenly blurted out. "I am not asking you to tell me about the deadly secret you and my father are keeping. You married me to help him with something and maybe save yourself from whatever trouble it is, I get that. But you're a businessman. You won't do such a thing to someone you barely know and since you are not someone who has a great personal attachment to everyone around him, I am certain you married me because you get something out of it as well. I know your family wants you to get settled and all, but that's just not reason enough. And don't tell me it is because I know there's a real reason."

He was silent for a long time and she almost could not believe it that he did not dare interrupt her monologue a few seconds ago. She waited patiently for his answer. He sighed and asked, "Are you familiar with Astor Industries?"

She frowned. "The food enterprise?"

He nodded. "I've been trying to buy stocks years ago but they won't budge. You know why?"

Cassandra snorted. "Don't tell me they want someone with a wife."

"Pretty close to that, yes," he chuckled. "They pride themselves as a family-oriented enterprise and Mr. Astor wants his board members to be family-oriented. They are among the very few corporate people I know who are treated as celebrities, you know. Everything they do is being watched."

Cassandra's mouth fell open. She pushed away from him to look at his face to see if he was joking. "You're not joking."

He shook his head. "I'm serious. Mr. Astor has a son. Are you familiar with Zachary Astor?"