Deal Sealed

“Come meet me at this address when you are done with Blake.”

Cassandra stared down at the message on her phone; her uncle, Niko, had sent her the message.

She let out a sigh, the shock of meeting her soon-to-be husband still within her…

Blake McKnight…

He was scary in a sense.

No wonder his poor old grandfather was begging around for a wife; how was he going to get a wife if he acts like an asshole to every woman he meets.

It is his foolishness that allows Uncle Niko was able to use his grandfather’s weakness against him, but this works out. She would be able to leave that family once and for all.

Cassandra gets into the lounge at the address her uncle had texted her, her eyes narrow when she catches a glimpse of her uncle with Mr. McKnight.

Can’t this man hold on for a bloody second?

She wore a thin smile as she approached the table.

“Oh! Cassandra is here already,” he said with a beaming smile as he got out of his seat and pulled out a chair for her.

“Thank you, Uncle.” She said with another fake smile as she eased herself into the chair. Her eyes are now staring at Mr. McKnight, who also had a small smile on his face.

“You met with Blake?” he queried and she nodded. He let out a sigh of relief, it was almost as though he had expected the meeting to never happen.

“I thought he stood you up, I had to threaten him seriously.” He leaned in to whisper. “How was it? Do you like him?”

He asked eagerly, and it made Cassandra genuinely sad.

Truthfully, she didn’t like Blake, apart from the fact that he was rude and condescending.

He was also a narcissist, but then she noticed the glare her uncle gave in her direction and then she nodded.

“He’s a lot of work, but I think we can work out.” She muttered she didn’t recognize her own voice, but it wasn’t completely a lie, she would rather pick a condescending jerk like Blake than to be around Lance.

“Oh really?” Mr. McKnight said, sounding genuinely surprised. A short, awkward laugh escaped him. “You’re the first girl to say something like that.”

How does she tell this old man that she wasn’t complimenting his grandson?

“The other girls would cry and speak about how rude Blake was to them.” He said tiredly massaging his temples.

“Well, he is rude.” She blurted abruptly. Seizing the attention of the two men.

“Then why do you like him? Was there any reason in particular you are agreeing?” he muttered. “I need you to understand that you can also refuse and nobody here is pressuring you.”

Cassandra bit on her lips, racking her brain for something to say.

“W-Well, H-He is also handsome.” She stuttered and Mr. McKnight chuckled again.

“You can’t just get into a marriage because he’s handsome, it takes more than facial qualities to be a perfect man and a good husband.” He lectured and then corrected in a beat. “He is a handsome jerk.”

They both laughed, Niko simply nodded along impatiently, he couldn’t wait for the deal to be over with.

“He’s rude but not completely hopeless, I believe he has a soft spot, something I can touch.” She proceeded with another smile. “Give me a few months, a little time with him and he will be a changed man. Moreover, the reason I am agreeing to this marriage is because of you, Mr. McKnight.”

His eyes widened slightly at the sudden confession.

“I would like for you to stop searching desperately for a woman, and you should also stop thinking about how little time you have left.” She continues with a small smile. “He might not show it, but Blake is worried about you as well.”

“Oh.” He wondered, she noticed the sudden softness in his eyes, and a small smile tugging at the edge of his lips.

“I will marry Blake.” She affirmed again confidently. “And I will take care of him too, so, you don’t have to worry about anything.”

*****

“I didn’t know you’re so good at lying.” Uncle Niko said as they walked towards his car, the lunch was over and they had finalize the wedding, she was relieved this turned out way better than she imagined it, but on hearing Uncle Niko’s little remark a small scowl appeared on her face. “Mr. McKnight ate that up, did you see his face after you told him that bullshit? Who would have thought that my innocent little niece isn’t as innocent as I thought?”

Not everything she told the man was a lie, she was indeed worried for him, but arguing with her uncle was pointless.

“Well, with you threatening to throw me out of the house if things don’t go well. I didn’t have much of a choice.”  She bit back bitterly and he nodded in satisfaction.

“You did a splendid job anyway, Mr. McKnight has agreed to sign the business contract with me, which means the wedding will go on as planned.” Cassandra felt her heart dropped, even though she wasn’t necessarily causing the damage.

She felt bad for being involved in a shameless deceit like that.

“So I suggested to Mr. McKnight that you should meet Blake on another date tomorrow and during the weekend the whole family will have dinner with the McKnights.” He continued after a short breath. “We need to formally inform the rest of the family that you’re getting married.”

“What?” she gasped. “I don’t think it’s necessary to meet him again so soon!”

She didn’t want to spend yet another second with him.

“You need to get used to him before the wedding, you know, and the wedding will be happening faster than you think, the earlier the better.” He continued with a sly smile. “Start working your charms, not like you have any, so he gets smitten with you by the time you’re married.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Since I did a splendid job, then can I ask for something in return?” she professed, he paused for a while, his eyes narrowing.

“What is it?”

“Lend me some money.”

“What do you even need the money for?” he queried and when she refused to answer he let out a sigh. “Alright, fine, how much do you need?”