The Billion-Dollar Marriage Contract

by Alyssa Urbano

  Yet no one seemed more beautiful.

  “Please tell me there’s something I can do to help you,” Nikos told her after her sixth trip. His pride also couldn’t take any more beating.

  “No. The water is filled now and I think this should last us through the night,” she replied.

  She looked for a wash cloth and cleaned it by the sink. Then, she took the smaller bucket and knelt beside him by the pallet.

  “Let’s get your wounds cleaned.” She dabbed at his wounds with the cloth then placed some antiseptic over it.

  He flinched every time but almost shot off the bed when she grabbed his hand. She examined his wrist and Nikos watched her closely. Her eyes were still the most beautiful and vibrant he’s ever seen. Right now, they were filled with concern and curiosity. Her lips were still a temptation. It invited him to lean forward and capture it with his own.

  She gently twisted his hand and pain shot up his arm. He couldn’t help the groan of pain that escaped his lips.

  “This looks broken, Nikos. We would have to set this before the bone heals all wrong. You would have to bear with the pain for a while.”

  “Wait. How about you? Have you cleaned your wound?” He pointed to her arm.

  “Yes. I have already cleaned and re-bandaged it while I was gathering water from the well.”

  Nikos looked at her incredulously. “Are you sure you know how to do this?”

  She nodded.

  “Wait! At least tell me how you know so that I can be sure.”

  “I told you that when I was younger, I was passed from one foster home to another. Not all of them were nice. Some were physically abusive. I learned to do what needed to be done.” She left it at that and Nikos felt his rage climbing. His jaw clenched and he made a mental note to find those who hurt her and make them pay.

  “Trust me on this, Nikos. I have a splint here and we can tie it up afterwards.”

  She looked at him with so much concern in her eyes that he just gave in.

  “Please don’t scream,” Cassia said as held his hand. “On the count of three. One, two—“

  She didn’t finish the count and tugged on his hand to reset the bone. He bit on his knuckles to prevent himself from crying out and then cursed continuously after.

  “I thought you said on the count of three!” he hissed.

  “Well, if I counted until three, you’d be all tense because you’re bracing yourself for the pain. It would be harder that way. On a positive note, the worst pain is over,” she told him as she carefully splinted his wrist and then taped it.

  “If you can stand for a moment, I’d like to dust that bed before you suffocate in it.”

  He obeyed. She dragged the mattress outside and pounded on it. Then, she took the blankets and shook them too. Nikos tried to help her fix the bed but she just swatted his hand away.

  “Rest now. Dinner’s coming right up.”

  Again, Nikos watched as his heiress wife hummed as she tidied the kitchen. When she deemed everything was clean, she set the table and opened the can of pork and beans.

  Nikos marveled at how domestic everything seemed.

  Cassia looked like she belonged in the kitchen and she wasn’t even squeamish about all the dirt. This was no behavior of an heiress, of someone used to living in luxury. Besides, she even tended to his wounds and placed a splint on his wrist. How had she known how to do all this?

  He started to rethink his views about her being a spoiled heiress.

  As they said, actions spoke louder than words.

  Cassia went to the bed and sat on the edge. She handed him his plate along with a spoon.

  “Yum,” she said sarcastically as she took her first bite.

  Nikos laughed and started eating too.

  “Look on the bright side. You opened that yourself. At least you can be sure that it isn’t poisoned,” he told her.

  “Well, I think some of my optimism is rubbing off on you. It’s nicer than you frowning and sulking all the time.”

  “I do not frown nor do I sulk,” he contradicted.

  “You’re doing it now,” Cassia pointed out and then she laughed once more.

  Nikos couldn’t help but laugh too. Her laughter was so infectious and her acceptance of their situation humbled him.

  “You’re more handsome when you smile,” Cassia blurted out before she could stop herself. She blushed and just finished the rest of her food to avoid saying more stupid things.

  “Handsome, huh? Well, let me just say that you’ve also grown more beautiful over the years. Forgive me for not recognizing my own wife at the fashion show.”

  Cassia blinked. At his words, the easy companionship she had with him faded. Instantly, she was reminded about their anniversary dinner wherein he callously declared that he now wanted them to live together and start a family to fulfill the terms of their contract.

  It was like her happiness bubble was popped and doused with cold water.Abruptly, she got up and deposited her plate in the sink. She started scrubbing it like everything about it offended her.

  “Did I say something wrong?”

  “What? No. I was just thinking about something else. I found the phone by the way. But it’s solar powered and there are panels on the roof. Right now, there’s no charge and I think something’s wrong with the panels. So I guess we wait until tomorrow before we can make that call.”

  “All right, then. But it’s weird that there’s solar panels and even a phone in a cabin like this,” she laughed.

  “Elise was always prepared. This was her cabin and that phone was what she used to help me and Antonio. I also noticed the facility we were in. There’s no electricity on this island. It’s all solar powered and maybe Elise got hold of a panel or two.”

  “She seems like a great woman,” Cassia said with a smile.

  “She is,” he agreed.

  Nikos looked at his wife with curiosity. What was going on in her mind right now that all the laughter suddenly died from her face? Was it him? Did he do something wrong?

  He tried to recall his last words to her and found nothing. Still, she didn’t talk to him and the silence stretched on and on. There came a point that he couldn’t take it anymore. He racked his brain for topics for a good conversation.

  “How did you get so handy with things? How do you know all this?” he gestured at the now clean room.

  She sighed heavily. They have been through for what felt like a hundred times already. He never believed her once.

  “I wasn’t really born into riches, Nikos. I already told you this. I was with my parents in America when they were alive. When they died and no one claimed me, not even Costas, I was sent to the foster system. I lived in different homes where I learned how to do housework so I could earn my keep.”

  This was one of the lies she told him before. But was it really a lie?

  “And about my wrist?”

  “Mine’s been broken twice.”

  “What happened?

  She sighed. “I was pushed down the stairs twice,” she replied in a dead tone.

  Then, she turned towards him.

  “Why are you asking me all this, Nikos? I know you won’t believe me. I told you this before and you called me a liar. What’s changed?”

  Nikos was at a loss for words.

  When he was through thinking of all the things happening in his life recently, he found Cassia to be asleep on the moldy couch. He was too weak to carry her to the bed so he just covered her with a blanket.

  He took a few more minutes just looking at her. Her features were relaxed and she was even more beautiful when she wasn’t glaring at him. He suddenly found himself smiling and before he knew it, he bent and placed a kiss on her forehead.

  Nikos shook his head at his sudden burst of tenderness and returned to the bed. He was reluctant to close his eyes for he didn’t want to scream from his nightmares and alert their kidnappers to their location. So he just lay there and listened to her even breathing as s
he slept, watching for any signs of their captors.

  Dawn came and the silence was interrupted with the chattering of Cassia’s teeth. Nikos immediately stood up and brought his blanket to her and covered her with it. It was cold but they couldn’t build a fire for it would easily be seen by their enemies.

  He tucked the blanket edges securely around Cassia but she still shook with the cold. Nikos muttered a string of curses when he felt that her skin was like ice.

  He sat beside her on the sofa and gathered her in his arms. Her eyes immediately opened and panic set in.

  “Shh...it’s me.” he whispered as he rocked her.

  “N-n-nikos...can- we l-light that f-fire now?” she stammered.

  “I’m so sorry. We can’t. They’d find us.”

  “It’s s-s-o c-cold-d.”

  “I know. Trust me on this?”

  She frowned but nodded. He lifted the covers and heard her gasp of outrage as he slid in beside her.

  Nikos pulled her to his chest and placed her cold hands on his neck. He gasped from feeling her icy fingers on his skin. He rubbed her arms and her back with his uninjured hand and then wrapped the blankets more securely around them.

  Her entire body stiffened against him in protest but after a few minutes, she relaxed and sighed.

  “That’s nice,” she whispered.

  “Radiant warmer at your service,” he teased.

  “Thanks.”

  “Anytime, Cassia.”

  After that, both of them fell asleep; warm and comfortable. Nikos didn’t plan on sleeping but with the feel of his wife in his arms and her exquisite vanilla scent he loved so much, the moment he closed his eyes, he was a goner.

  Daylight streamed through the windows making Cassia groan.

  She didn’t want to get up yet as every part of her ached. Her shoulder felt as though it had been hit by a sledgehammer. Her legs felt like dead weight from walking around all day and her other arm ached from hauling water from the well.

  But she really had to get her day started if she wanted to survive on this island and not get caught by their kidnappers.

  With another groan, she opened her eyes and got up from bed.

  “Good. You’re already awake. Breakfast is ready,” Nikos told her.

  He gestured to the table which was already set with two plates filled with pork and beans. Cassia winced and Nikos laughed.

  “Beggars can’t be choosers, remember?”

  She laughed when he threw her own words back at her.

  She was also glad that he could already stand, even though he was still limping. The swelling in his eye had already lessened and his bruises were turning a darker shade of purple. Overall, he looked better today.

  Suddenly, the events in the early parts of daybreak came crashing back to her and she averted her gaze. She just spent the night cuddling with none other than her estranged husband! Well, maybe that could be excused because she was really, really cold and they could not start a fire for fear of their kidnappers finding them.

  Besides, there was no other way to keep warm so it’s fine. Right?

  No, traitor.

  Her conscience chose that moment to intrude on her thoughts and she groaned.

  You liked it even when you weren’t cold anymore. You liked feeling his arms around you. You liked his smell and the feel of his hard chest against your palms. You liked feeling his soft breaths against your cheek. His closeness reminded you of that one night you spent together.

  She cringed at her thoughts. This was wrong. Being near him evoked a lot of memories and emotions in her. Those were things that she buried a long, long time ago. She wasn’t the naive girl who fell in love with him anymore.

  But everything now chipped at the ice that she surrounded her heart with. Her armor was weakening and he hadn’t even so much as kissed her! He just held her and she was nearly insane with desire for him!

  Cassia mentally shook herself.

  Stop it.

  Her life was much better now and she couldn’t throw everything away just because of lust.

  “Is something wrong?” Nikos asked her.

  She glanced up from her plate of pork and beans and shook her head.

  “Nothing’s wrong but you haven’t eaten anything. I’ve been watching you push your food around your plate.”

  “Umm...guess I’m not that hungry.”

  “You’ll need your strength, Cassia. Eat up.”

  He was right. Danger still held them by their throats and she would need every ounce of strength she possessed. She also needed to eat to keep her brain shipshape.

  Cassia sighed and started to eat without really tasting the food. Her thoughts were still on the complex man sitting before her.

  “Do you think we should leave?” Cassia asked after a long period of silence.

  “I think we’re safe here for now. First, they would comb the shore area. They think that’s where we’ll go and they’ll tighten the security on ferries and boats with access to this island. I think that will take them a day. While you were asleep, I tried to circle the area. If by any chance, the kidnappers can find this cabin, they would be coming from that direction.” Nikos pointed towards the trail they came from. “The other side only contains a denser portion of the woods. So I doubt they’d be coming there. If we hear them coming, we can go out the back door of this cabin and lose them in the forest.”

  “Sounds like a great plan. What about the phone? Is it already charging?”

  “I’m afraid the solar panels have been damaged. Only one is working and the wires have also been damaged. I can repair those wires but it may take some time. The soonest we can make that call may be by tomorrow.”

  “Great,” she muttered.

  Nikos ignored her. He cleared the table and began to lay out several tools and wires. He placed the solar panel on one side and inspected every inch of it.

  “I’m going to refill our water supply and then maybe go around for a walk.”

  Nikos looked up and she was pierced by his green eyes.

  “Be careful,” he warned.

  “Always.”

  Cassia returned a little past noon. She was breathless from the long hike she took. She wanted to get a lay of the land. Unfortunately, she was not able to do that but she found something else.

  “Good news or bad news?” she asked Nikos.

  His brows were furrowed as he concentrated on repairing the solar panels. Also, there were several dirt streaks on his cheeks but he couldn’t look any more handsome if he tried.

  Cassia cringed at her thoughts. Don’t go there, Cassia.

  “Bad news.”

  “Okay then. We only have two cans of pork and beans left. I guess that’s for lunch. Then no more.”

  Nikos raised an eyebrow.

  “Good news?”

  “I found a stream nearby and we can bathe there and also get fish. Assuming one of us knows how to fish.”

  Nikos’ green eyes glittered with amusement. “Well, we’ll have to learn if we want to eat tonight, right?”

  “But how’re we going to cook it?”

  “Ever eaten sushi?” Nikos asked with a huge smile.

  “Yes. I hate sushi,” Cassia answered. She wrinkled her nose.

  Nikos’ smile turned into a bark of laughter.

  “Maybe we can cook the fish when it’s already dark so that the smoke won’t be that visible. We’d have to do it quickly, though.”

  “Can we risk it?” she asked.

  “This is a dense forest. I doubt they’d see a little bit of smoke at night. Hmm. Better yet, let’s cook it from afar where there’s a thick canopy of trees. Let’s cook near this stream you found.”

  “Great idea,” she replied and they grinned at each other.

  Cassia sighed.

  Why was it so easy to be with him like this when ten years ago he was always stiff and formal beside her? She’d never seen this side of him and it made it all the more difficult to guard her heart against
him.

  But she had to.

  This was all a trick. He was just nice to her because they were thrown together in this disaster. They needed each other to survive and he’d gain nothing by alienating her. But when they were rescued and when they went back to their lives, they’d be like they were before – strangers.

  She repeated those thoughts to herself over and over as she tried to refreeze her heart and rebuild her armor.

  She mustn’t repeat her mistakes from ten years ago.

  A few hours later, Nikos was waist-deep in the water trying to catch fish with his bucket while she was perched on top of a rock, laughing at him.

  “Stop! You’re scaring the fish away!”

  “Stop laughing at me! Do you know how hard this is?” Nikos hissed.

  Cassia already caught two large fish while Nikos still had nothing. He was wet from head to toe and failing miserably.

  “Damn it!” he cursed as he slipped and fell in the water.

  He rose from it, cursing and sputtering. Cassia continued laughing as he turned to her.

  “You think this is funny?” he asked through clenched teeth.

  “It really is,” and she howled with laughter once more.

  Cassia clutched her stomach and laughed as Nikos tried over and over again. After an hour and he still had nothing, he finally conceded.

  “You didn’t catch anything. But look on the bright side: you are clean now since you’ve had a bath,” she teased.

  Her laughter was cut short when she was suddenly doused with cold water. When she opened her eyes, Nikos held his bucket over her head with a smirk on his arrogant face.

  “Why you—you—“ she never got to finish the sentence as she decided to pounce.

  She fell from the rock and into the water taking Nikos with her. When they resurfaced, they began splashing each other like two rowdy children.

  Cassia gave it all she had and didn’t relent. Nikos did the same and soon enough, both of them were tired and dripping wet. And they were both laughing.

  “Okay. Stop. I call truce,” Cassia surrendered. Her arm throbbed from her exertions and she knew Nikos’ aches and pains were punishing him as well.

  “Truce,” he agreed as he breathlessly waded towards her rock and sat beside her. He looked around and listened carefully for the kidnappers might have been alerted by the noise of their childishness.