Pretending to be young.
Derek startled.
He hadn't expected himself to land on that particular read of Cassandra.
"Derek, don't just stare at me like that!"
She tugged his sleeve, playing it coy.
He snapped out of it. "I do know Miranda. What is it you want?"
"I'd love for her to shoot me too get a spot in the magazine... think that's possible?"
Her confidence dropped with every word, deliberate.
She knew exactly how Derek responded to vulnerability.
"Why not ask Julian?"
Cassandra looked up at him, genuinely caught off guard.
Something about Derek felt different lately.
The old version of him would never have questioned her like this.
He used to just do whatever she asked, no hesitation, whenever she wanted it.
"I... wanted to try leaning on you for once. Is that not allowed?
