The Billion-Dollar Marriage Contract(44)

CHAPTER 18 - ESCAPE




“What do you mean they escaped?!” Sebastian roared.

He was on a plane to Greece. He’d anticipated finally getting his revenge but now he was being told that the man he hated the most was gone.

“They knocked two guards out and ran. We did not find them right away because most of the men were busy down on the docks for the latest shipment and recruits.”

“They couldn’t have escaped on their own. There’s a traitor within us. Find him and make him pay.”

“Noted, boss.”

“Find Demakis and his wife. Now!”





November 23, 2013

A stream near Elise’s cabin

An unknown island in Greece



“God, I am the stupidest human being alive!” Cassia shouted.

She woke up today naked in Nikos’ arms. And she wasn’t even cold!

The moment she opened her eyes, the events of last night came crashing down. She carefully extracted herself from his arms, looked for pen and paper and left a note as to where she was going. Then, she ran all the way to the stream. She screamed and cried, kicked some rocks and cursed herself.

How could she sleep with Nikos Demakis?

Cassia laughed bitterly. Sleep wasn’t really the technical word.

Cassia smacked herself on the forehead. How could she let that happen? How could she sleep with the person who hurt her most? Hadn’t once been enough? Hadn’t she been hurt enough to last her a lifetime?

She cursed and stomped on the muddy ground. Then she cringed when she remembered telling Nikos that she was his.

“I’m yours, Nikos...”

“I want you like I’ve always wanted you.”

“I’m stupid! I’ve gone officially insane!” she laughed hysterically and kicked another rock down the stream.

She pulled at her hair and considered hitting her head on one of the trees if only that would make her forget.

But another part of her brain kept on telling her that last night was perfect.

She’d dreamt about making love with Nikos Demakis. In her dreams, they’d made love hundreds of times in a hundred different ways. But that was all they were: dreams, her innermost fantasies.

But last night, it was all real.

And it was perfect.

She couldn’t have dreamed a better scenario.

Still it was wrong though.

She just betrayed Hector after agreeing to marry him!

But technically, she didn’t betray Hector, for Nikos was really her husband. In fact, she was betraying Nikos with Hector.

Cassia gave another sarcastic laugh. Now, even her conscience was reasoning out with her and it was taking Nikos’ side!

No. This insanity must end. There simply was no future for both of them. Everything that happened last night was a mistake; nothing more.

Cassia was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard men’s voices and footsteps. Her heart raced and she immediately hid herself behind one of the large rocks. She waited for them to pass, and as quietly as she could, she ran back to the cabin.



Nikos woke up with a smile on his face.

Last night was perfect.

It was better than his dreams, better than any other night he spent with a woman before. He opened his eyes and frowned when Cassia was nowhere to be seen. It would’ve been better if he woke up with her in his arms and maybe he could’ve made love to her again this morning.

Her place in the bed was still warm. He saw a note beside the bed. She wrote that she just went to the stream.

He sent a silent prayer willing her to be safe.

Now, back to business.

He looked outside and noticed that the sun was already high in the sky. It was noon! He overslept again. Why was it that when he was with Cassia, he didn’t have those nightmares? Why could he sleep like a baby when she was near?

He sighed and went to the table. He was distracted when he recalled what happened last night at that particular table. But then he forced himself to concentrate.

The solar panels had been fixed yesterday and he hoped that the satellite phone would be charging by now. He checked the wires and saw that they were fine. Joy surged through him when he saw that it was already charging!

“Come on, open please,” he muttered as he punched in some buttons. When the screen lit up, he wanted to jump up and down with joy.

He immediately dialed Alex’s number.

“Alex, it’s me—“

“Nikos?!” Alex exclaimed.

“Yes. It’s me—“

“Where the hell are you?!”

“I don’t really know the name of the island. I was mostly unconscious when we were here. Ask Antonio. Elise will know. I’m on the same island where we were first kidnapped.”

“I’ll assemble my team and we’ll be there as soon as possible. Are you and Cassia alright?”

“Yes, we are. Just minor injuries.”

“Good! I will also send medics. Your yacht was found in the middle of the ocean after the bodyguards I sent with you were able to radio for help to the mainland. Antonio and I have been going crazy ever since. I flew here as soon as I heard.”

Nikos heard Alex cursing.

“I’ve locked on to the signal of this phone. We’re coming for you as soon as we can. Stay off the beach or the docks, that’s the first place they’ll look. Stay hidden and we’ll come find you.”

“Alright.”



Suddenly there were two beeps. The line was cut for the phone went dead. Nikos stared at it and tried to turn it on again but the battery was drained. Well, their fate was all in Alex’s hands now.

“Nikos!” the door flew open and Cassia ran to him.

“What happened? Are you all right?”

“Yes. But we have to go! I saw men by the stream and they are coming this way. We have to leave!”

He was immediately spurred into action. He grabbed their blankets along with the medical supplies. Then he grabbed her hand and they exited the cabin through the back door. They ran as silently as they could deeper into the woods.

“Where are we going?” Cassia asked him after they walked for several hours.

“We just have to find a place to hide. The solar panels were fixed and the phone was charged. While you were out, I got through to Alex. He’s coming for us.”

“That’s great! When do you think will they arrive?”

“Maybe in a couple of hours.”

“So we just have to sit and wait?”

“Yes. Preferably in a safe location,” Nikos answered with a grin and her heart jumped.

They continued their search for a safe place. The sun nearly set when they found a small cave near the mountain. Nikos spread one of the blankets on the damp ground. They sat together and wrapped the other blanket around both of them.

He noticed that instead of curling against him, Cassia leaned against the wall. He gritted his teeth, for he was sure what was running through her mind: regrets over what happened last night.

“Talk to me, Cassia.”

“We’ve been over this before. When you kissed me by the stream I already told you that we couldn’t be together. But I know that it takes two to tango so it’s a huge fault of mine too.”

Nikos cupped her jaw and forced her to look at him.

“You just admitted that you’re mine, Cassia. I won’t let you go. Whatever we had in the past, we’ll sort it out and start anew.”

“You think it’s that easy? And how can you say that we are going to sort through all of our issues when you won’t believe a word I say?”

“I’m willing to listen now. We’ve been married for ten years, Cassia. But we’ve barely begun this marriage. Give us another shot.”

“You were the one who ruined it!”

“I am not arguing with you about whose fault it is, alright? It’s not important. What’s important is that both of us move on.”

“You know, if this is all about the contract and about us having an heir...it’s not needed. Grant me the divorce and I’ll say I am to blame. I’ll say I took a lover so that everything will go to you. You’ll also gain control of the Andrade side of the company. You don’t need to sacrifice yourself again.”

“It’s not that. I want you. I want a family. I believe we can become happy together. I want to be with you, and I want you to be the mother of my children.”

Cassia’s heart melted at his words.

But she’d been on the receiving end of his sweet words before only for him to take it all back and replace it with bad memories the morning after.

“I can’t. I have Hector now.”

“If you really loved him, Cassia...you wouldn’t have responded to me the way you did last night. We can keep arguing about this and it will never end. I won’t let you go.”

Cassia sighed and turned away from him.

“Say whatever you want, Nikos. When we get off this island, we’ll return to our normal lives and you will know what all this is - it’s just a mistake.”

“Never,” he sighed before he pulled her in his arms and turned her to face him.

“I’m sure you will return to your mistresses and your crazy lifestyle the moment we are free of this island. How’s Marietta by the way? The woman you slept with after you came straight from our wedding bed.”

“I did not sleep with her that morning,” he responded in a flat tone.

Cassia whirled, “What?!”

“I didn’t. Believe it or not, during our marriage, however recent that may be, I was completely faithful to you.”