The Billion-Dollar Marriage Contract (27 page)

Her friends waved their hands towards a passing waiter and ordered another round of shots for all of them. When the new batch was placed on their table, Isobel leaned forward and looked her straight in the eyes.

“Life is a gamble. There are no sureties. If you want something badly, you’d have to trust your heart and your instincts and then take a leap of faith,” Isobel lectured.

“Wow, wise words, Izzy!” Arlene interjected and all of them laughed.

Isobel just rolled her eyes. “As I was saying, what I suggest is for you to give him a chance. Say, give him two weeks and lay down your rules. If by the end of two weeks, you find out that you’re really incompatible, leave and never look back. At least you tried. But if he makes you fall in love with him again and everything’s great...then it’s happily ever after for you guys.”

Isobel had a point.

But if she opened her heart and gave Nikos another chance, she’d be vulnerable to another wave of pain! Then what if it all didn’t work out? What would happen to her then?

“But...I can’t...it’s hard. I don’t want to be hurt again.”

“You know...the guy is trying and you’re putting up this wall because you’re afraid to get hurt. It’s not fair to him, Cassia,” Arlene told her.

“There’s never a constant thing in life and love and you can never predict what will happen. All you can do is give it a chance and hope that everything works out in the end. We told you to give Nikos a chance and that chance entails you removing all negative thoughts regarding your relationship. Remove your biases, my dear, and the happiness will follow,” Isobel advised.

Her friends all had a point.

After everything that happened, it was really hard to trust Nikos. She felt as though everything was too good to be true and that if she so much as blinked, all of it would change again. But Nikos was really trying while she was too afraid to give him a chance.

Could she take that blind leap of faith and hope that he was there to catch her?

“So what’s it going to be?” Isobel asked.

“You’re right girls. What else do I have to lose other than my heart which I already gave him ten years ago, anyway? So I’m thinking that I’m taking that leap of faith. You’re right; it’s time to settle down.”

The girls shouted their glee at that statement, and they congratulated their friend by downing another round of shots.

“Okay then, we have something else to celebrate tonight! Drink up, me hearties yoho!” Isobel imitated Captain Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean.

At this point, Cassia’s stomach hurt from laughing so much and her heart truly felt light. It was as if a huge burden had been taken off her shoulders.

“And then we go dancing!” Jenna shouted.

Her statement was met with another round of giggling and shouting. This time, Cassia giggled and shouted along with them.

She just couldn’t wait to take that leap of faith with Nikos.

“I cannot believe that it’s been a month and we still do not have them! How many times must you fools fail before we finally get Demakis so we can stop hiding?” Sebastian growled.

“Boss, his security is tighter. Even his wife’s. If we try, we are going to lose more men and only risk exposing ourselves.”

“I have trusted you for too long now and all you did was fail. I’ll just do things myself!” He turned and grabbed his phone.

“Get everyone ready, we’re flying to Greece. It’s time I took things in my own hands.”

December 23, 2013
Nikos’ Car
Near Fifth Avenue

“Had fun,
agapimeni
?”

Nikos took her hand and lifted it to his lips as he waited for the light to change.

“Lots and lots,” Cassia tried to keep her voice from breaking.

She shuddered as Nikos kissed her wrist.

“Good. I’ve asked your assistant to pack your things. They are waiting for you at the airport. I asked regarding your schedule and so far you do not have anything. But if you need to work or something comes up, the jet is at your disposal.”

Nikos ran his hand through his hair and placed it back on the shift as the light changed. “I want to take you somewhere you’ve never been. But the 100
th
anniversary for
Demakis Shipping Corporation
is in a few days and we have to be there.”

“Okay,” she replied with a shrug.

Nikos looked dumbfounded. “What? No argument?”

She rolled her eyes. “None. Would you like me to give you one?”

“No! It’s just new. That’s all. I quite like it,” he grinned.

“One month, Nikos. I am giving you one month. I am putting my full trust in you and willing to give whatever we have a try. If by the end of one month we still don’t work out, you have to let me go.”

Nikos’ smile widened.

“One month? You’re mine by that time,
glikiamou
. I accept your challenge.”

He turned those green eyes and their full ferocity bore into her. She saw his joy reflected in them and her heart skipped a beat.

“You better not hurt me, Nikos. This is the last chance.”

“I won’t.”

He sealed his promise with a kiss.

December 25, 2013
Nikos’ Home
Island of Skorpios, Greece

“Wake up, Cassia...it’s Christmas!”

Cassia groaned and rolled over. She was not really feeling well this morning. Her stomach churned and she was nauseated. It was definitely something she ate last night at the Christmas Party they attended. Or maybe she caught some kind of stomach bug?

“Come on,
glikiamou
. You’ll miss all the presents I have for you.”

She felt the bed dip and Nikos was sprawled beside her. Then, she felt his lips trail a path across her neck while his finger drew lazy patterns on her hip. Her cheeks flamed when she recalled what they did last night.

She groaned and tried to cover her face with a pillow. The pillow had Nikos’ scent and it was enough to set her blood on fire. He nibbled on her earlobe and she shivered with desire.

“All right, I’m up,” she sighed. She moved slowly to keep the nausea at bay.

“Great!” Nikos sped off across the room and brought back several items which he dumped on the bed.

“First things first.”

He handed her an envelope. When she opened it, it was filled with different cheques addressed to the charities she sponsored. The amount on the cheque made her eyes wide and knocked the breath out of her lungs.

“Nikos...this is...I have no words! Thank you!” she stammered.

Before she could stop herself, she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. The world tilted to the side and bile rose in her throat but she didn’t care.

He laughed at her enthusiasm. “There’s more.”

He gave her a small box. She tore the wrapping paper and opened it. Inside was a key.

“That’s the key to your new car. It’s a
Hummer and it’s in the garage downstairs. I got sales-talked into buying it because of how safe it is. It’s practically built like a tank and your safety matters to me a
lot
.”

She had the urge to roll her eyes. Nikos was so paranoid about these things that it was sometimes funny. What was she going to do with a car the size of a truck? How was she going to drive and park something that big?

Oh well, it was the thought that counted.

“Do you like it? If not, I could have that replaced.”

“No! I love it.”

The uneasiness faded from his face and it was replaced with that heart-stopping smile. Cassia moved past him on the bed so she could reach for the gift she bought for him. She only had one day to shop here in Greece and she spent it trying to find something for him. It was hard for she didn’t know much about what he liked and if there was something he needed.

She grabbed it but he handed her another box before she could give him his. She looked into his eyes as she tugged the ribbon and she saw hope and sincerity in them. There was also a hint of fear and vulnerability. She snapped the lid open and was greeted by the sight of her wedding and engagement rings.

“The engagement ring belonged to my grandmother. She gave it to my grandfather for him to give their son’s bride when the day came. But my mother didn’t like it so my father bought her a new one.
Pappou
gave it to me and I gave it to you.”

“It’s beautiful...”

“I know we’re still in that trial period but nothing would make me happier than if you wore them again. I want people to see those when we go to the
Demakis Shipping International
anniversary party.”

He held up his hand and gave a nervous laugh. There was a glint of gold; he was wearing his own wedding ring.

Her heart melted. He was really trying and doing his best to make this work. She held out her hand to him.

“Put it on me, then.”

He pulled her closer and enveloped her hand in his.

“The first time I did this, I was too drunk to know what I was doing. I just wanted to find a place where I could lie down and sleep. Now, I do know what I am doing. With this ring comes a promise. I promise to give you all of me: my fidelity, my trust, my love...”

He placed both rings on her finger and bent his head to kiss her knuckles. Her breath caught at his words and she felt a blush heat her cheeks. All her life, she’d never heard words more romantic. She’d read them in books and heard them in movies but she never had them being spoken to her...

Until now.

“Am I winning your heart yet?” he whispered.

It had become a habit of his to ask her those words. It had been three days now and every time he told her something sweet, a gesture or a gift, he jokingly asked her that.

In truth, he was getting there but she didn’t want to answer his question right away. He had a lot to make up for and she refused to concede at once. She also refused to acknowledge that she was falling fast for her own husband.

January 8, 2013
The Andrade-Demakis Shipping Corporation
Athens, Greece

“Have I told you that you look exquisite tonight?”

“Nope. I believe you haven’t,” Cassia replied.

Nikos smiled and patted her arm which was wrapped around his as they waited to be announced into the grand ballroom.

“Well, dear wife, you look absolutely ravishing. All of them pale in comparison,” Nikos told her sweetly as he gestured towards the women scattered around the foyer.

Cassia snorted as he pointed towards tall, svelte models that she thought she really didn’t compare to.

“I should only have eyes for you, remember?” Nikos teased and Cassia slapped his arm and rolled her eyes. She was feeling a bit queasy again but she attributed it to nerves.

This was a grand party for the 100-year celebration of the Demakis side of the corporation. It was a lavish event and there were several notable people in the crowd. Cassia fanned herself to chase away the nausea.

She also felt a bit tired and this she blamed on jet lag. After Christmas, they flew to Barcelona to be with Antonio, his wife and their son. She enjoyed meeting them, and holding little Anton in her arms made her long for a baby of her own.

During the past few days, Nikos toured her around Barcelona. He relayed her stories that Antonio told him about his home. She enjoyed herself too much. When Nikos set his mind to being a charmer, he really pulled out the big guns and she couldn’t help but be swept away.

“Mr. Nikos Demakis and his wife Mrs. Cassia Andrade-Demakis, CEO and major shareholders of the
Andrade-Demakis Shipping Corporation
!”

The two of them were announced and they descended the wide staircase towards the grand ballroom. All eyes were on them for this was the first time they were seen together after the
m being kidnapped. Both of them painted smiles on their faces and waved at the crowd.

Cassia was decked out in a beautiful flowing lavender gown. It was wide at the sleeves and tight on the waist. The cleavage was so low that she thought Nikos’ eyes were going to pop the first time he saw her in it.

Truth be told, she really chose this dress to vex him. She designed it herself and she knew he would feel all possessive over it and ask her to change. But he took one look at her and his eyes clouded with desire. She still remembered the look of pure need that he gave her and shivers of desire slid down her spine.

“You like it? Aren’t you going to ask me to change? What will people think?” she teased.

“They will think that you are the most beautiful woman there and I am the luckiest man. They will see you and they will envy what I have because they can only look. But I can touch and all of it is mine,” he rasped in that deep baritone of his.

She shook her head to clear it of those thoughts and focused on walking towards their table. She and Nikos were in the middle of the raised table and on either side of them were the board members and the company’s major stockholders with their wives.

Nikos stood up and started his speech:

“Thank you, everyone, for coming. First of all, a pleasant evening to all of you. Welcome to the celebration of the one hundredth year of
Demakis Shipping Corporation
! Of course, this is now merged with Andrade International. Yet another great feat for us,” Nikos began. “We have encountered many threats: competition, the changing economy, global modernization, challenges of the weather and so much more. But we are still here one hundred years later. We not only have ships but also planes, cars, trucks, and hundreds of thousands of employees across the globe. What started as one small ship is now an empire. We are stronger than ever! For this we are very thankful. So everyone, please raise your glasses to the continued strength of our company and may good fortune continue to smile upon us.”

The room erupted into a round of applause and everyone raised their glasses and toasted the continued success of the company.

“Let the party begin! Please do enjoy yourselves!” Nikos said with a smile before he sat down.

The music resumed and the waiters started serving the food.

Nikos was busy with the board members who kept on engaging him in conversation. He kept on glancing apologetically to Cassia. Even if he was busy talking, he took her hand from under the table and never let go.

“I’m so sorry,” he mouthed.

“It’s okay,” she whispered with a smile.

“You should go with your friends for now. I am very bad company because they all want to speak to me.”

“I’ll go and do that. I think I’ll get myself drunk too so that I can finally have payback for what you did on our wedding.”

Nikos groaned and shook his head.

“I’m kidding,” she laughed. “Find me when you’re done. You owe me a dance.”

She winked and then stood up and crossed the room towards the bar.

Cassia spent the time glancing around the room and looking for her friends who were also attending. She found Isobel perched atop one of the bar stools and drinking shots like there was no tomorrow.

“Whoah, Izzy. Slow down.”

“I don’t want to slow down. He’s here, Cassia.”

“Who? The one I told you about. The man who made me hate the rest of his species.” That got Cassia’s attention and her eyes quickly scanned the room.

“Who?”

Isobel sighed, “It doesn’t matter.”

“Tell me, please! I am dying of curiosity about him!” Cassia tugged on Isobel’s hand.

Isobel rolled her eyes and cursed under her breath when she saw the Senator who her father forced her to date walking towards her.