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the floor. Papers and office supplies scattered everywhere. Glass went all over the carpet as his paperweight shattered.
    His secretary entered the room and gasped at the mess she saw.
    “Get out!” Nikos growled and the poor woman dashed away.
    Right after she shut the door, Nikos collapsed in his chair and placed his head in his hands. He ran his fingers through his hair in both anger and frustration and resisted the compulsion to tug at the black strands.
     
    “He will pay,” Nikos vowed.
    He then crossed his room and grabbed a bottle of brandy from the liquor cabinet. He took a hefty swig and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. The liquor burned his throat just as Costas’ words burned his pride.
    One day, he promised that Costas too would burn like he did.
    “Costas Andrade will pay for this. And so will his spoiled little heiress. I will rebuild Demakis International and repay Costas twice or thrice the price that this merger cost him. As for Cassia, her life will be a living hell married to me.”
    Another swig of alcohol and the fire reached his veins just as his anger had pierced his heart.
    “I vow this: one day they will all pay.”
     
    Costas Andrade’s Limousine
Somewhere in Athens
On the way to Andrade Shipping Corp Headquarters
     
    Costas pushed a button and the privacy partition of the limousine slowly moved upward.
    His granddaughter turned towards him and waited for him to start the conversation. Costas pushed another button and it revealed a hidden compartment with crystal glasses and a bottle of champagne. With deft fingers, he uncorked the bottle and poured two glasses.
    He handed one to Cassia who took it with much surprise.
    First, she did not expect that her grandfather was coming with her to this party. That had actually dampened her mood for she really wanted to have fun with Nikos and to get to know him better tonight.
    Second, why were they having champagne? Was there something they should be celebrating?
    “Aren’t you the least bit curious as to where we are going?” Costas asked.
    “I am, grandfather,” she replied.
    “Drink your champagne, girl. I am sure you’d want to be celebrating this with me.” Costas said and then held up his glass in a salute.
    Cassia also held up her glass. “What is the special occasion? What are we celebrating?” She asked to humor her grandfather. He wasn’t normally in this kind of mood and she wanted to do everything she could to keep him this amiable.
    “Why, your engagement of course,” Costas announced and then laughed heartily and drank his champagne all in one gulp while Cassia stared at him with her mouth open.
    “What?!” Cassia screeched. Then she quickly realized the mistake of her outburst and moved farther from her grandfather.
    “Watch your tone with me, girl. And close your mouth or the flies will come in,” Costas taunted.
    Cassia took several deep breaths to calm herself.
    When she first came to Greece to live with her grandfather, she often felt the back of Costas’ hand for what he called her fiery temper. He always called her an insolent brat who inherited her mother’s ways and hit her because of it. Now, she learned her lesson.
    When she deemed that she was calm enough, Cassia spoke:
    “What do you mean by saying that we’re celebrating my engagement, grandfather?”
    “Exactly that. You are not a stupid girl, are you? I just said that it’s your engagement. It’s as simple as that,” Costas answered with a wry smile.
    “And who might the groom be? And how come I do not know that I am about to be engaged?” Cassia snorted.
    “Do not use that insolent tone with me, girl. Nikos Demakis asked for your hand in marriage. I think you have made a huge impression on him for he came to me and asked for you. In return, I decided to merge Demakis Shipping with our company. Sounds like a great deal, ne ?” Costas said with amusement twinkling in his eyes.
    Cassia knew that look. She knew it when her