The Billion-Dollar Marriage Contract(49)

Cassia’s words trailed off and she found that all pairs of eyes were on her. Her friends knew exactly what she was feeling, especially the married ones. They knew that when love hit, it hit hard. Love made you forget past mistakes and gave you hope for the future.

“So what’s the problem dear? What’s holding you back?”

“A lot of things! I still have Hector to consider—“

The moment she said Hector’s name, everyone else groaned.

“We’re done discussing him. He’s old news,” Arlene declared.

“You deserve someone better and I think if you open your heart. Nikos is that someone,” Jenna told her.

“Amen to that,” Isobel replied.

She raised her glass in a toast.

The others also raised their shot glasses and drank. When the alcohol was done burning a path down their throats, they turned back to Cassia.

“What do I do?” she moaned. She covered her face with her hands and wished that the ground would just swallow her right now and end her torment.

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.





CHAPTER 20 - FALLING




“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 100th 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. Pappougave it to me and I gave it to you.”