“Maybe she was raised in another country,” Nikos snorted
“Maybe. What I can say is she is a sweet girl. She is like a breath of fresh air from all the women who wanted to have a look at your bank account before they would pay you any notice.”
Nikos downed another drink when he realized that his friend was correct. There was truly something about Cassia Andrade that was different. She was not like the shallow girls who spent their life partying. There was meekness in her posture but there was intelligence in her gaze. Beneath all that, he could sense a strong spirit which was being overshadowed by her insecurities.
“Hell. I do not care,” Nikos spat and gulped another drink. The bar started to spin and his head started to throb but he did not want to stop now. Besides, getting drunk tonight was the plan.
“What is truly so wrong about marrying her? She may not be as beautiful as the others but at least she’s different.”
“I don’t want her. I want the ability to choose my bride for myself. If I had the choice, I won’t be choosing for another ten or fifteen years! Most certainly not someone like her! I love my life too much! And I would not give it up for a wife that I did not even pick! I can’t be forced to settle down right now!” Nikos exclaimed.
“I understand. But if this is the only way to save your family business...one that your ancestors worked so hard for! Is that not a small sacrifice to pay for your grandfather who raised you when your parents left?”
As usual, Antonio was right.
Nikos did not speak for a long while and proceeded to run his fingers through his hair.
“I do not know what to do,” he finally admitted.
“Drink on it tonight and then think about it in the morning. I think that is best for everyone. Do not make hasty decisions, my friend, especially if there is a lot that depends on that one decision.”
“And that is another fact I hate. I hate how the fate of Demakis International is on my shoulders. I hate how I am being forced into these circumstances.”
Antonio placed his palm on Nikos’ shoulder and squeezed. Then, he grabbed the bottle of brandy and poured them both another round.
“For now, let’s drink to that.” Nikos clinked his glass with his friend and they both downed their drinks in one gulp.
Suddenly, their drinking spree was interrupted when Nikos’ cell phone rang. He quickly retrieved it from his pocket and glared at it as if it offended him so. However, his irritation was replaced by fear when he saw that it was his grandfather’s personal assistant that was calling him.
“Nikos Demakis speaking.”
“Mr. Demakis! Thank you so much for answering!” the personal assistant who had been with his grandfather for over twenty years now and had been like a mother to Nikos sounded very frantic. Dread filled Nikos’ gut as he heard her.
“What happened?” he growled.
“Your grandfather suffered a heart attack! We are currently in the hospital right now. I found him passed out on the floor a while ago right after he talked to Costas Andrade and called the merger off. Do not worry too much. Everything’s been taken care of and doctors told me that he is stable right now.”
He used his shoulder to hold his phone to his ear while he retrieved his wallet and placed a wad of notes under his empty glass. Antonio sensed the urgency and grabbed the jacket he draped over the back of his chair.
“Has he woken up?” he asked.
“Not yet, Mr. Demakis. But the doctors say that he will be fine. They just advised us not to stress him out too much or he may have another heart attack,” Maria told him.
Nikos clenched his jaw as he walked to his car.
“I will be there in about thirty minutes,” he told Maria then ended the call. He explained the situation to Antonio as he walked back to his car.
He pulled out his keys but Antonio grabbed it from him. “You’re drunk, Nikos. I’m not. I’ll drive.”
“This is all my fault,” he groaned.
“What makes you say that?” his friend asked.
“He wouldn’t be in this condition if I wasn’t selfish enough to put my own needs before the company’s. If my grandfather never recovers from this, I will never forgive myself...”
Nikos took a deep breath. “...Even if he recovers, I will never forgive Andrade.”
While Antonio drove to the hospital, Nikos came to a solid conclusion...
For his grandfather, he could do this.
He could marry the Andrade girl and settle down so that they would have their company back. Then, he would work hard to rebuild Demakis International and repay Costas for every cent his family owed. It was time to stop being selfish and own up to his responsibilities.
If that responsibility was to throw away his lavish playboy lifestyle in return for a lifetime of hard work and a bride he did not want, then so be it.
CHAPTER 3 - BORROWED BLISS
October 6, 2003
The Andrade Manor
Athens, Greece
“Get dressed.”
Costas Andrade’s voice boomed across the hallway to the library. Cassia immediately jumped and then stood up when her grandfather entered the room. She folded her book and placed it neatly on top of the table. Then she waited for the yelling that always ensued when her grandfather sought her out.
Costas’ secretary meekly followed behind him and then handed Cassia a beautiful gown made of blue silk.
“Another party, grandfather? Where am I supposed to go this time?” Cassia whispered softly.
“You are going to this party with Nikos Demakis. Now get dressed.”
“N-Nikos Demakis?” Cassia parroted.
“Are you deaf, girl? I just said that. Now hurry!”
Cassia remained rooted to the spot while she clutched the beautiful dress to her chest. Did she just truly hear her grandfather say that she was going with Nikos Demakis?
It was a dream come true!
Cassia smiled and then moved out of the room with lighter steps. She felt like floating. She even pinched herself to check that this was truly real and not a dream. After thinking about him constantly for every day since she met him, this was like a gift from the gods. She just couldn’t wait to see him again!
“Stop,” her grandfather commanded.
Cassia stopped and turned around.
“You know the Demakis boy?”
“Y-yes...” she stuttered.
“Why are you still stuttering like a fool?! Have I not paid your tutors enough?! Isn’t it enough that you still cannot grasp Greek? Now, you’re also losing control of your English?!” Costas shouted and Cassia flinched.
“I’m sorry, grandfather,” she muttered and tried hard to tamp down her fear.
“Do not call me that. Not until you have done something to make me proud to call you my granddaughter.” Once more Cassia flinched in pain at the barbs in his words.
“How did you know Demakis?”
“We met at one p-party...”
“What do you think of him?”
“Err...he’s nice...” Cassia’s voice faltered as she said the words for she remembered what Nikos did for her at the ball. He was so gallant and he came charging like her knight in shining armor when she needed someone to rescue her.
Costas Andrade snorted and looked at his granddaughter.
She had love and adoration shining in her eyes. Clearly, she was besotted with the Demakis heir just like countless women around the world. Who wouldn’t like the boy? At such a young age he was already a successful businessman with his own company and own line of businesses while at the same time helping out with controlling Demakis Shipping.
Costas realized that Cassia was so besotted and so naive that she’d make a great pawn in this elaborate game.
“Go and get ready,” he instructed his granddaughter.
Cassia immediately bowed her head and ducked out of the room.
She entered her own room and was not surprised anymore when her team of hairdressers and make-up artists were there waiting for her. They had already set up their equipment and were impatiently tapping their feet on the carpet.
She knew they were the best and the most expensive team but she did not like their attitude. They always treated her as though she knew nothing. They went ahead with whatever they wanted to do even if she expressed her wishes that she did not want it.
She also knew that no matter how great their skills were, she’d never be as beautiful as the other girls.
Oh well...here I go, pitying myself once more.
Cassia shook her head and tried to empty it of those negative thoughts. What was important today was that she was going to meet Nikos Demakis. That would be enough to get her through the ordeal of being poked and prodded by the set of people who used every opportunity to point out all of her flaws.
“Please sit and we shall begin,” the lead stylist told her.
Cassia sat and this was the first time she welcomed their ministrations for she truly wanted to look her best for her meeting with Nikos Demakis.
“Is this a special party, then?” Cassia asked after an hour.
She faced the tall mirror in her room and twirled around. For the first time in her life, she felt beautiful. She also felt her self-confidence rising, even if she hated that they dyed her brown hair and turned it blonde. Maybe today she could shine like all those supermodels and actresses that Nikos dated.Or maybe he was the kind of man who could look past the external.
“Who am I kidding? He’s dating supermodels so how can I say he’s the kind who looks past one’s appearance?” Cassia muttered under her breath.