The Billion-Dollar Marriage Contract by Alyssa Urbano Read Free Book Online Page B

pulled Cassia affectionately towards his side and placed a kiss on her temple. He also felt her stiffen in surprise at first and then further melt against him.
    He turned around and faced her then put his hand on her waist. With his other hand, he signalled the orchestra to play some music. Then he took her hand and they waited for the music to start so they could dance.
    Nikos saw Cassia’s eyes flare with panic.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “I don’t know how to dance.”
    “I seem to recall that we danced fine the first night we met,” Nikos pointed out.
    Cassia shook her head nervously and bit her lip.
    “Don’t worry. It’s fine. Just follow my lead,” he ordered.
    Cassia nodded and with that, the couple took their first step which was followed by another and then another...
    While they danced, Cassia finally realized that this was not a dream.
    This was not a fairytale and that this was better than all the scenarios she came up with in her head.
    This was real...
    She was truly with Nikos Demakis.
    She was now engaged, and in a month’s time, she would be married to the same guy who took the lead role in all of her fantasies.
     

CHAPTER 5 - WEDDING
     
    November 15, 2003 (More than one month later)
Antoniou Winery
The Island of Santorini, Greece
     
    “You look so beautiful, Cassia,” Anna told her.
    Cassia smiled at her and squeezed her hand. It was truly a good thing that her friend was here, for her nerves were eating her alive. Here she was in her room, in all her wedding finery, waiting for the moment of her wedding to come.
    “Come on, do a twirl for me, my friend. I want this to stay in my memory forever,” Anna pleaded.
    “Sure. By the way, thanks for being here. I don’t know what I’ll do without you,” Cassia said, and with those words, her eyes started to fill with tears.
    “No! Don’t cry. You’ll ruin your perfect make-up. And it’s nothing! You paid for all of my expenses! Of course, I won’t let the opportunity to travel pass me by. I’ll never earn the fare here in my meager job back at home. And I’m really enjoying it here so far! So stop going all sentimental on me, all right?” Anna chastised.
    Cassia laughed and wiped away her tears with a tissue before they could fall and ruin her make-up. Then she stood up and did a twirl for her best friend who had been with her since her parents died. They were once fostered together and stayed friends ever since.
    Cassia wore a cream-colored wedding gown envisioned by one of the top international designers. She fell in love with it the moment she first set eyes upon it. The beading and the design in the bodice, where diamonds were embedded, was very intricate. The skirt of the gown fit her hips snugly and then flared out into a skirt with a very long train.
    The train was a bit heavy but she still loved it. She twirled for her friend and they both laughed when she managed not to fall.
    “You really look so beautiful. I never thought I’d see you like this,” Anna said, and this time she was the one who wiped away tears that threatened to fall.
    “Thank you, Anna.” Cassia smiled as she hugged her tightly.
    “Wait! We might wrinkle your gown!” Anna laughed.
    “This is an expensive gown. I don’t think it would get wrinkled that easily,” Cassia teased.
    “True,” her friend agreed.
    Cassia sat on the chaise once more and willed the time to pass away so that her wedding and her life with Nikos could start.
    “So...tell me about this Nikos guy that you are marrying. What’s he like? Every time I see him, he’s polite and all. He’s also really good-looking. But...I don’t know Cass...he seems cold to me. There’s something about him I can’t quite fathom,” Anna said thoughtfully.
    Cassia tilted her head to the side and thought about her friend’s observation of her fiancé. During the past month after her engagement, she went to all her social obligations with Nikos as her date. They also went together to the places