The Billion-Dollar Marriage Contract(46)

“What happened?” she asked groggily.

“We went back and gathered as much as we could. We have their computers and all their files. But their leader got away,” Alex hissed. He looked so disappointed that Cassia wanted to soothe him.

She placed her hand on his shoulder and looked into his eyes. “Thank you for saving us, Alex. I know you did your best. Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll be able to catch Kristoff soon.”

Alex’s eyes softened and he covered her hand with his.

“Thank you, Cassia. Nikos is sleeping and you should too. Get some rest. I know how difficult the past few days were for you. I’ll wake you up when we’re in the docks.”



Cassia nodded and obeyed Alex’s orders.

About two hours later, they reached Athens. The moment they arrived at the docks, there was already a large crowd waiting for them. Most of them were people from the media. Immediately after they went down, there was a barrage of flashes from their cameras. Also, microphones were thrust at them from every direction.

There were so many questions thrown from left and right that Cassia couldn’t even properly hear one. Her mind reeled from the sudden noise.

“Is it true you’ve been kidnapped?”

“Please tell us what happened, Mr. Demakis!”

“Is it true that the Greek drug cartel is involved here?”

“How much did you pay as ransom?”

Alex barked an order and his men began to circle them and herd the reporters back.

Nikos turned towards them and said, “No comment for now. You’ll receive a detailed statement from our public relations team.”

After that, they were led to a waiting limousine.

The instant the doors opened, someone that Cassia recognized from the past exited and threw herself against Nikos.

“Cherie! I was so worried! It’s all over the news and I flew here as fast as I could to see for myself that you’re safe!”

She hugged Nikos tightly and rained kisses on his face. Through it all, Nikos just stood there.

Suddenly, it was as if Cassia was plunged in ice-cold water.

Maybe he slept with her. Maybe he didn’t.

But what was clear now was that they had enough of a relationship for her to fly all the way here and act this way. Nikos didn’t even push her away which just cemented all her beliefs.

How could he do this to her again?

Cassia felt her heart breaking once more.

Everything that happened between them was a mistake. They were all lies. It was just part of the elaborate game that Nikos was playing with her.

He lied when he told her he wanted her. He lied when he said he wanted another chance for their marriage.

Nikos saw her walking towards the other limousine and he was snapped out of his trance. He pushed the clinging Marietta away and grabbed her arm.

“Cassia...it’s not what you think...”

“Yes. You’re right, Nikos. I thought you were sincere with everything you said. Turns out I was wrong.”

She climbed aboard the vehicle and slammed the door. She was surprised when Alex climbed in beside her.

“Cassia...it’s not—“

“Not a word, Alex. Please. Let’s just go.”

Thankfully, Alex did not push the issue further. He just patted her hand and let her be.

She faced the window and let her tears fall...



Three days later and she was on the plane back to America. Again, she left without saying goodbye.

She laughed for her situation was really nostalgic. Ten years ago, she fled Greece in the same situation. Before, her heart was broken and so was her pride. Because of that, she vowed revenge against Nikos.

Now, her heart was broken but there was no more of her pride to break. It was her own damned fault that she was in this situation. She never learned.

As the old adage went:

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.





CHAPTER 19 - CHASE




November 26, 2013 (The Next Day)

Athens General Hospital

Athens, Greece



It took one more day after Cassia left before Nikos Demakis awakened.

His body was battered and bruised, and he needed the time to recuperate. He had a broken wrist, two broken ribs, and several cuts and bruises. When he woke up, the first thing he asked for was his wife.

But she was nowhere to be found. Instead it was his personal assistant, James and Alex who sat beside his bed. He never got to talk to her after she saw him with Marietta, and they rode in separate vehicles to the hospital. When they arrived, they were treated immediately and separately. He was heavily sedated for he had more injuries than her.

“How’re you feeling?” Alex asked.

“Like I’ve been run over by a truck. Where’s Cassia?”

James and Alex looked at each other.

“Err...she’s gone back to America.”

“What?!” he roared.

He struggled to sit up and his friends helped him.

“When did she leave?”

“Yesterday. I think she misunderstood Marietta’s presence here, Nikos. I saw the look on her face. That was how she looked like ten years ago when you threw her out.”

Nikos flinched. Marietta truly brought him nothing but heartache-- along with a pounding headache.

“For years after our affair ended, she wanted to get back with me. I told her it was over. But she kept coming back. Maybe I should have asked for a temporary restraining order,” he sighed.

“I think I can have her assassinated. Say the word,” Alex teased.

Nikos rolled his eyes. He wanted to go to Cassia right now and explain. He wanted to see her smile again and know that it was him who caused it. This time around, he wouldn’t let a misunderstanding separate the two of them.

“No need, Alex.”

“I’d do it for free for Cassia. I hated how she looked when she boarded that plane. I knew what she felt was killing her and it damned near killed me too,” Alex groaned.

“Prepare the private jet, James, and prepare all necessary documents. We’re going to America.”

His assistant flinched and paled.

“Sir...I’m sorry but that’s not possible at this time. First of all, you’re not yet cleared for discharge. Second, the board of directors is already waiting for you and your report. I have already given a statement to our PR Department for damage control but the board members themselves want to see you. Then, there’s the Higeshima Deal which will commence in about a week.”

“Cancel everything, I need to go to America,” he said without preamble.

“Sir. I strongly advise against this. You would also have to release your statement to the press. Give me two weeks sir and after that I will clear your schedule.”

“Two fucking weeks?! Is there no other way?”

“I’m afraid not.”

He sighed and flopped back down on the bed.

“Call a flower shop in America. I’d like to send Cassia flowers.”

“Excellent, sir. I’ll choose one and have them sent to her right away.”

He shook his head. “Ochi, James. Call them and I’ll choose one, myself.”

Nikos didn’t know who was more shocked with his declaration: Alex or his assistant. Alex raised an eyebrow at him while his assistant hid his surprise better and proceeded to do as he was told.

A moment later, Nikos was lost in a wide selection of flowers. At first, he spoke with the shop manager who then tried to explain to him in great detail how the bouquets looked. But Nikos couldn’t choose based on words. He wanted the best for Cassia so he asked for a video call so he could see everything. He even asked the shop manager what the different colors and blooms meant.

It took him nearly an hour before he was able to make a selection.



December 23, 2013

Cassiopeia

Fifth Avenue, New York City



“Delivery for Mrs. Cassia Demakis?”

Her staff all rolled their eyes at the same time. They looked at each other to check who would be accepting the deliveries. The task fell to Anna, Cassia’s best friend and General Manager for Cassiopeia.

“When is he going to stop? It’s got to the point that it’s irritating and pathetic.”

“I’ve told him to stop but he says he won’t until I forgive him,” Cassia replied with a sigh.

For the past month, Nikos had been sending her flowers thrice a day. The first week, it was accompanied by letters. He kept on explaining that there was nothing going on with him and Marietta.

He explained to her that they’d broken up a long time ago and were only acquaintances but she refused to let him go and had been pestering him ever since. He explained that he knew he was mistaken for not setting her right and telling her they didn’t really have any future together.

Cassia ignored all of it and threw the letters in the trash. She didn’t care if Nikos was with Marietta or not. She was done with him. She’d been a fool twice and she wouldn’t open herself up for a third time.

Cassia pulled her phone out of her pocket and glanced at the screen.

Still no word from Hector.

She returned to New York as he came out of hiding just to make sure she was safe. He picked her up at the airport then drove her to her apartment. She ached to tell him about the ordeal she suffered but he was too busy talking on the phone to notice her.

She just sat there in his car as she waited for him to finish.

Then, he dropped her off at her apartment and told her he couldn’t stay. He ordered her to stay put and that he would contact her.

But it had been nearly a month and still there was nothing from him.