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talk, laughed at his jokes, and all other things.
    Costas steered them into the heart of the crowded function hall which has been transformed into a grand ball room.
    And that was when Cassia saw him.
    He had his back turned towards her but her eyes immediately zeroed in on him. She noticed his tall frame and that he stood about a head taller than the crowd. She also noticed the rigid set of his shoulders and his defeated stance as he leaned against a marble pillar.
    “Nikos!” Costas Andrade greeted.
    Cassia noticed Nikos’ body stiffen further before he turned around. And then he relaxed and smiled at them. And with that smile, Cassia was lost. Nikos strode towards them and Cassia thought that she must’ve just imagined the whole thing about his rigid and defeated stance.
    He walked towards her and lifted her hand and kissed it. After that, the whole room erupted into whispers.
    “Never mind them, glikiamou ,” Nikos said as he pulled her to his side.
    For the first time since her grandfather announced that she was getting engaged to Nikos Demakis, she found herself believing that it was all real.
    Nikos looked at her and smiled. Cassia looked up into his green eyes and sighed... He was just so handsome.
    But she frowned a bit when she saw something different in his eyes.
    His smile was warm, his voice was soft...yet his eyes were very cold.
     
     

CHAPTER 4 - ENGAGEMENT
     
    “Tomorrow you get to meet the big boss, Sebastian. I’ve been bragging to him about you! So don’t disappoint me, all right?”
    “I will never do that, sir.”
    “Excellent, son.”
    Sebastian’s features hardened but he looked away so that the man in front of him would not see the sudden change. He was no man’s son. He was nothing but a bastard. He and his mother were discarded by his father as if they were nothing but trash. And this caused the death of his mother.
    His boss smiled obliviously as he counted the money before him.
    “Sir...about that job. There’s been a change of plans. I now want another one. I just realized that I hate working there and I now want something new.”
    “Pssh. I still do not know what your obsession is with these petty job requests when you already earn so much! But if it makes you happy, it is yours. I will pull strings for you and you may consider it done.”
    “Thank you, sir,” he replied with excitement. He just started to lay down the puzzle pieces of his revenge. And one day, they would all come together.
    One day soon...
     
    October 6,2003
The Great Hall
Andrade Shipping International Headquarters
Athens, Greece
     
    Nikos took Cassia’s hand and placed it on the crook of his elbow. Carefully, he led her towards the high table that was reserved for the two of them and their families. Once she was seated comfortably, he cast a sideways glance at her.
    She twisted one side of her dress in her fingers as she kept on casting nervous glances towards the crowd. She scanned the people and her eyes landed on her grandfather. Nikos was very much surprised when her gaze did not consist of love and devotion.
    Her gaze held hatred, sheer and utter hatred.
    But before he could comment on it or ask why, someone clapped him on the shoulder. He turned around and met his friend Antonio’s smiling face.
    “Won’t you introduce me to your beautiful fiancé?” Antonio drawled.
    “Of course.” Nikos grinned. He stood up and placed his arm on Antonio’s shoulder.
    “Antonio this is Cassia, my soon-to-be bride. And Cassia, this is Antonio...the greatest pest of my life.”
    Antonio chuckled. “Nice to meet you, Cassia. And contrary to what Nikos said, he is the pest in my life.”
    The moment that Antonio arrived, a great change took place in Nikos. He smiled a real smile for the first time tonight. After Nikos introduced Antonio to her, the two started to make jokes and Cassia also found herself smiling.
    “Did you know there was a time that Nikos was not able to take an exam because he got so