The Billion-Dollar Marriage Contract

by Alyssa Urbano

  She heard Nikos snort and she wanted to do the same.

  “This day is also important for this is the day that Demakis International merges with Andrade Shipping. For this, I welcome yet another set of family in the form of thousands of employees across the globe. With Nikos and my granddaughter at the helm, I know that it will be a guaranteed success,” he continued and everyone gave a louder round of applause.

  “But above everything, what’s important is family. And today, Cassia and Nikos start their life together. Nikos and Cassia, may the company flourish under both of you and I hope that you have a happy and fruitful marriage! Nikos, take care of my granddaughter, eh? If you don’t, you’ll have to answer to me. Also, I am expecting a house filled with heirs in the very near future.” Costas winked and everyone chuckled.

  Cassia, on the other hand, tried hard not to gag.

  Costas raised his champagne flute and everyone followed.

  “To Nikos and Cassia,” he toasted and everyone raised their glasses in salute and drank.

  The host took back the microphone and made some more comments that had everyone laughing. Cassia barely heard it because she was too busy counting the bubbles on her champagne to occupy herself.

  From the corner of her eye, she saw Nikos stand and offer his hand to her. She looked at him in puzzlement and he just shrugged.

  “Time for the first dance as husband and wife,” he said.

  She noticed that he didn’t slur as much now and knew that he was probably sobering up. It was great for she did not want him falling asleep on this dance.

  She stood up and her heart started to beat wildly inside her chest. The moment Nikos touched her hand and placed it on his arm, her mind wandered back to their first dance. She recalled how much happiness she felt that night that one of the most handsome men in the room noticed her and was even gallant enough to save her from humiliation.

  Oh how things have changed.

  Last week she thought she was being married because Nikos took an interest in her. When she heard that, she was over the moon! Now, she knew that he was just being forced to wed her. Finding out about that felt like a nail had been wedged into her heart and all her hopes and dreams of a bright future were dashed to shards.

  But then again everything was too good to be true and she should have seen that right from the start so that she could’ve avoided herself some heartache.

  Cassia and Nikos reached the dance floor and the crowd started to clap.

  The first few notes of the song were played by the orchestra and she closed her eyes in bliss. It was just so beautiful! It was one of the songs she loved so much. When she was a child, she told herself that when she married, she’d dance to this particular song: The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra.

  She almost forgot that childhood vow but was glad that whoever arranged her wedding picked that beautiful tune. Well, she wasn’t allowed to meddle with arrangements regarding her own wedding as per her evil grandfather.

  Nikos took her hand and she placed hers on his broad shoulder. They began to sway to the music. Nikos looked down at her with an unreadable expression in his green eyes. Curiously, it looked something in between wanting to kiss her and wanting to strangle the hell out of her. Cassia suspected it was the latter. He was being forced into this marriage and he didn’t want it. He never wanted her.

  But she was going to correct that tomorrow.

  After this wedding, she would talk to him and tell him about her plans. The only thing that she would ask for was help from him so that she could return to America, live there in peace and forget about the past months in her life as if they never happened.

  And as per tradition, this dance was called the “Money Dance.” Guests approached and started pinning money on Cassia’s dress and Nikos’ suit. This was an old tradition that signified luck and prosperity in the marriage. Halfway through the dance, they were nearly covered with it.

  Someone must’ve poked Nikos with a pin because he yelped and then cursed. And Cassia just couldn’t help it. She threw back her head and laughed. Nikos glared at her and then he, too, laughed. In that moment, Cassia found herself wishing that circumstances were different and that she was getting married to this great man for real.

  While they danced, their guests started smashing their plates on the floor. It was another old tradition that signified wealth and abundance for the married couple. The tradition started in Ancient Greece and it was said to signify wealth because instead of being washed and reused, plates were thrown into the banquet or fireplace.

  Cassia and Nikos both laughed as their guests truly enjoyed smashing their plates.

  When Nikos looked at her, his eyes danced with laughter. She relaxed and smiled back at him. For a moment there, he seemed stunned. But the moment passed too quickly and the cold mask slipped back in place. Cassia’s face also fell and she almost wanted someone to poke Nikos with a pin once more just so she could see the other side of him again.

  “Nikos... I need to talk to you.” Cassia finally found the nerve to say those words.

  “Hmm? Can’t it wait? We have the rest of our lives after all,” Nikos brushed her off in a sarcastic tone.

  Cassia heard the ice in his voice but she forced herself to understand. She placed herself in his shoes and if this was her, she’d be very bitter towards the marriage too. Maybe she’d also get herself drunk to go through with it.

  Cassia sighed when Nikos let go of her hand.

  The camera flashed and the photographer took several photos. She and Nikos posed for each one of them but her mind was running at a hundred miles per hour. Soon this night would end and she’d have to tell her husband about her plans. She just couldn’t wait to tell him and she was sure that the right words would come to her later this night. Or so she hoped.

  The night wore on and Cassia remained in her seat. One time, she went towards the bar and had some drinks with Anna. They giggled over everything and had the time of their lives at pointing out the flaws of Nikos’ bitchy supermodel friends.

  Nikos, on the other hand, partied as though he were a bachelor. He was with his friends and they hogged all the space in the bar. They kept on doing shots and daring each and everyone to do some stupid pranks. Cassia and Anna both rolled their eyes. But when she looked more closely, Nikos had this determined look on his face. Yes, he was joking with his friends and they were all drinking...but not him. What he had before him was a steaming mug that she concluded must have been coffee.

  “Why is the bride all alone on a night like this?” Antonio drawled lazily and interrupted Cassia’s musings.

  Cassia laughed and then slanted a look towards him.

  “Maybe because my groom is having the time of his life,” she teased.

  “Then maybe you should go get him?” Antonio suggested.

  “No...look at him. He’s having so much fun. It would be like grabbing a candy from a baby. Besides, we’ll have lots of time for us afterwards,” she said, referring to the month long honeymoon that her grandfather has planned for the two of them.

  “You’re right about that, Cassia...about this day—“ Cassia raised her hand to interrupt him for she knew where this conversation was leading: Antonio was going to apologize for Nikos but it was not his fault so she wanted to hear none of it.

  “Save it. There’s no harm done. I should be thanking you. There wouldn’t have been a wedding without you,” Cassia said. And she meant it.

  Antonio smiled with relief and decided to let go of the issue. Instead, they watched Nikos and the others in silence.

  Hours passed and with each minute, Cassia grew even more bored. Usually, it was customary for the bride and the groom to disappear first because they just could not keep their hands off of each other another minute more. Usually, they’d be eager to start their honeymoon.

  But not them.

  There was no reason to rush because Nikos did not want his bride. They also did not have a flight booked tonight to go on thei
r honeymoon. Tomorrow, they’d be using the Andrade private jet to fly to Bora Bora and spend a month there for their honeymoon; one that Cassia didn’t plan on having.

  If she succeeded with her plan, tomorrow she’d be using the Andrade jet for a different business: flying to America after her divorce.

  So she just sat there and waited for her groom to collect her. All the while, she wished that he wouldn’t be so drunk that he wouldn’t be able to understand her plans.

  Finally, after what felt like forever, Nikos was dropped before her by his drunken friends.

  “Time for me to claim my bride,” Nikos announced.

  Cassia’s jaw dropped and she gulped back her fear. Now she knew why he didn’t drink like his friends: he was really looking forward to this part of their marriage.

  She stood up and Nikos’ rowdy friends started saying green jokes about his performance in the bedroom. Cassia cringed with every word. If this was really her wedding and it was not arranged and her groom loved her, she’d be looking forward to the events of this night. But that was not the case so she felt nothing.

  No excitement, no anticipation; nothing.

  Nikos took her hand and led her to his suite with long, quick strides. He kicked the door open and carried her in his arms across the threshold. When the door closed behind them, Nikos pinned her towards the door and his lips swooped down and claimed hers.

  At first, she tasted alcohol on his tongue but a few more seconds of being surrounded by his exquisite taste and touch, and all thoughts fled. He lifted both his hands and placed it on the door on either side of her head, effectively trapping her inside as he deepened the kiss.

  Her heart started to race.

  “Now you’re mine, Cassia...” Nikos murmured as he kissed a path down the side of her neck.

  He pressed his body against hers and her belly clenched with desire. Before she knew it, Cassia found her hands wrapped around him. She clutched him tightly to her as if she couldn’t get enough. She felt drunk with his kisses.

  Like an addict, she craved more and more.

  “Nikos...” her voice was half-plea and half-moan.

  Nikos hands trailed lower and settled on her waist. His lips also traced a downward path and he licked and nipped on the skin of her neck. Her breath caught and her brain fogged with desire. She felt herself responding to his expert touch and she also wanted to feel his skin against hers. Her new husband must’ve read her mind for he shrugged his jacket off and pressed his body against hers once more. While he was kissing her, her hands were clumsily fumbling with the buttons on his shirt so that she could touch his bare skin.

  “God, I want you...but I know I shouldn’t,” he whispered in between kisses.

  Cassia moaned. She felt exactly the same way and it really did not make any sense.

  Finally, Nikos was able to remove his shirt and her hands were touching the hard planes of his chest and abdomen.

  It was sheer heaven...no man should have a body this perfect.

  She felt Nikos’ hands on the zipper of her gown. Before she could react, she heard the sound of the zipper sliding downwards and cold air hit her skin. But that was just for a second before she felt Nikos’ warm hands trace a path in her back. She didn’t even have a moment to feel conscious about her body for his touch and his lips made her feel just how much he desired her.

  He touched her as if he could not get enough of her. He touched her as if he worshipped every inch of her body.

  “Let’s finish this...” Nikos purred seductively.

  That was when fear reared its ugly head and snapped Cassia back to the present. Her body still pulsed with desire but the fog of passion was lifted from her mind. She pushed at Nikos’ chest and he let her go with a moan of complaint.

  “What?” he hissed.

  “We need to talk,” Cassia said in between deep breaths.

  “Now?!” he groaned.

  “Yes. Now. This is important. This is about this marriage.”

  Nikos lifted his head and his gaze was as hard as ice. Cassia immediately regretted her words and wished that she could bring back time just so he could gaze at her with desire.

  “You want to talk, right now?” he breathed. “Then talk.” Then he claimed her lips again.

  This time, his hands got bolder and he tugged on the bodice of her gown. She wasn’t wearing anything underneath it so her breasts were bared to his gaze. She sucked in a breath when she felt his hot breath against her nipples.

  “Yes. This is important. About tomorrow—“ Cassia began but Nikos held up a hand to silence her.

  “I don’t want to hear of your plans for our marriage. Can’t we just take it one day at a time?” Nikos said through gritted teeth. He resumed his attentions and this time went for the other nipple.

  “No. Please listen—“

  “Just talk, I am listening,” Nikos whispered against her skin.

  Truth was, he wasn’t interested in talking. He was more interested in the feel of her skin against his lips, her exquisite scent and the softness of her breasts under his hands.

  “Nikos...” Cassia whimpered.

  “Hmm?”

  Then he moved his head lower and his tongue darted to lick one nipple. Cassia gasped and bucked underneath him. Her soft gasp just served to increase his desire further.

  All protest from her disappeared when he took that nipple into his mouth and sucked. He switched to the other breast while his hand continued to tease the other. Cassia’s legs turned to jelly and she would have fallen to the floor if it wasn’t for Nikos’ strength supporting her. When he felt her surrender, he bent and scooped her up and deposited her on the wide bed.

  He gazed at every inch of her now that her gown wasn’t hiding all that beauty underneath. What he saw tested his control further. Her skin looked so soft and creamy as though begging for his touch.

  As he looked, Nikos also started to remove the rest of his clothing. He started with his shoes and his socks and then shrugged off the shirt that Cassia unbuttoned. He felt Cassia’s eyes on him and when he raised his head to look, he saw that her desire mirrored his.

  Her mouth parted on a gasp as he slowly bared his body to her scrutiny. Her hands clutched the sheets in anticipation as he continued stripping. When he didn’t have a stitch of clothing on, her cheeks got even redder. He also saw a hint of fear in her eyes when she looked below his waist.

  He joined her on the bed and gathered her in his arms before she could say anything. He melded his lips to her again and kissed all the protest and stiffness out of her body.

  “I only get to be married once. We might not have got off to a great start but I guarantee I’ll be giving you a wedding night to remember.”

  “Nikos...please...we really have to talk. Stop kissing me! I forget everything when you do that,” she admitted on a groan as he covered her body with his.

  “That’s the whole point, agapimeni.”

  Nikos kissed a path from her lips, to her throat, then to her breasts. He continued down to her navel and parted her thighs.

  “What—“

  “Shh...”

  “Oh, God...” Cassia moaned when he started his assault on her senses.

  He held on to her thighs as she writhed and bucked under his caress. Her pleasure climbed higher and higher until her release slammed through her and she came apart, writhing and crying out his name.

  She was breathing heavily as he rose over her and covered her body with his.

  “Nikos...” this time she was clearly begging for his touch.

  Cassia’s body was on fire and she craved more pleasure from her new husband. Her initial fears were erased and she felt this was truly right. Surely, she could take this night and bury it deep in her memories as her one night with Nikos Demakis, the man who first made her heart beat.

  Maybe this one night would be all they had and it would be alright...

  Cassia gasped in pain as Nikos entered her but he held her tightly and murmured
Greek words of comfort in her ear. He didn’t move for a long time and just let her become accustomed to his size. Then, he kissed her again and ignited her passion once more.

  When he started to move, Cassia held onto him like he was her lifeline. She was sinking in this tide of passion and desire and he was the only one who could save her. Her passion also engulfed him and burned him to the point of insanity.

  Each movement drove them higher and higher. Each kiss ignited them more. Each touch made everything blaze. Soon, all was lost and only the two of them existed. Nikos plunged inside her over and over.

  Cassia screamed his name and her nails raked down his back as she found that pinnacle once more.

  “Cassia!” he also screamed her name as his release surged through him.

  Afterwards, he was left shaken with the intense pleasure he received but also very much sated.

  Nikos breathed heavily.

  He knew his wife was a virgin yet from the numerous girls he’d bedded – supermodels, actresses and heiresses – he experienced pleasure with her the most. She was like a breath of fresh air with her open and unabashed response to his touch. She faked nothing and what she felt with him was genuine desire.

  He found himself softening towards her and rethinking his views.

  Well, what if the marriage wasn’t so bad? What if they can make the most of this and maybe even grow to love one another someday?

  Passion was a common ground and it could be a start for them.

  “That was exquisite, glikiamou...now, we sleep and rest,” he whispered.

  He placed one last kiss on her lips and curled his body around hers and pulled the sheets over both of them. They spent the night peacefully in each other’s arms.

  Nikos woke up as sunlight streamed through their window. His stomach rumbled and he decided to get some breakfast. His wife was still asleep but he let her for he knew he tired her out the night before. They made love three more times before dawn.

  Now, Nikos felt the aches and pains of that total of four times. On top of that was his headache from yesterday’s hangover.