Hooked

4

The whole ordeal from earlier replayed in Cassidy's mind as she stared at the engagement ring sitting on the coffee table. The diamond attached to the golden band glistened from the light rays in the room. She was still finding it hard to believe that she was going to be married to a total stranger, in the most unhinged way ever.

Cassidy began to question Cupid’s Curse protocol in spousal selection. She wondered if Eric was a good person with no criminal record. He was a businessman and she was certain there was some hidden crime somewhere. She was going to marry a stranger and move in with him, it made her restless.

The ringing of her phone made her jerk out of her dazed state. She stood up from the couch she was sitting on and grabbed the phone off the coffee table. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion when she noticed an unknown number calling.

"Who could this be?" She asked and swiped the answer column and placed the device on her ear. "Hello?"

"It's a good thing you answered. I have made arrangements with a lawyer and also Cupid's Curse, and all those wedding things involved. We are getting married tonight," Eric said and she pulled the phone away from her ear to stare at it in confusion.

"I'm sorry, what?" She wasn’t sure of what she was hearing.

One moment she was thinking of how she had gotten into the mess that she was in, now her supposed husband was announcing that they were getting married so soon. She wanted to pinch herself out of whatever dream she was having.

"Cassidy, I don't have time to plan a huge wedding. I am a busy man and I don't even think I have people to invite. I want it short and nothing more. Whatever plans you had for a fairytale wedding aren't happening."

Cassidy shook her head incredulously as she remembered the times she always dreamt of having the best wedding when she was ready. Seeing herself in such a condition wasn't what she expected in a million years.

"You are such a jerk… By the way, I don’t care. We will only be married for two years,," she retorted and was about to end the call when she remembered that she needed to get more information on their wedding. "What else?"

"I have sent a wedding dress to your house, it should be there soon. You don't need any makeup or anything. Just get dressed and Hideto will come pick you up."

The call ended and Cassidy growled with her fingers curled like she wanted to strangle someone. She inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly to calm the anger within her.

"I can't believe it, I am getting married to a stranger who will be a pain in my life. God, is it time for me to come to heaven?" She asked, gazing at the ceiling. "I need a ticket, you know! This looks like a good time to die.”

Cassidy fell silent for a moment before she picked up the engagement ring and hesitantly slipped it on her finger. She extended her hand and wiggled her fingers. The ring fit perfectly around her finger. The diamond studded top glistened as she moved her fingers.The feeling in her was surreal at the weight of the ring on her finger– She was truly getting married.

A knock on her door made her drop her hand to look at the door with raised eyebrows.

“Who is it?”

"Delivery man!"

"That must be my dress," she whispered and walked to the front door. She pulled the door open and smiled at the young man who looked like he was in his late teens. He offered her a dimpled smile and placed his clipboard on the white box resting on his opened hand.

"Delivery for Miss Cassidy Holland," he said and pulled out a pen from his breast pocket then held it out to her.

"Oh, okay." Cassidy took the clipboard and pen then signed on the spot he pointed before giving it back to him and took the rectangular box he was offering her. "Thank you."

She closed the door with her foot and walked briskly to a couch where she dropped the box and untied the red ribbon around it. She held her breath when she saw the paper covering the dress then slowly removed it.

"Wow," Cassidy said as her eyes stayed glued to the silky material in the box. She slowly pulled it out of the box and held it out to see better. It was a handless A-line wedding silk gown that reached the floor with a pinched waistline. "He actually didn't disappoint. For a moment I was expecting some trashy cheap dress.”

Cassidy eyed the thin dress more and noticed the dress had a long slit on the side. The more she stared at the dress, the more a heavy feeling dawned on her.

“I can't believe I am getting married to someone on such short notice. It's sad in more ways than one. I've always wanted to get that bridal shower feel and everything but here I am,” she said and sighed wistfully.

Cassidy placed the dress on her shoulder and walked toward the hallway to get ready

^^^

After prepping for her wedding, wearing the dress that fit her so well it left her shocked at how Eric had known her exact size. Currently, she was sitting in the back of the car that was heading to the church that Hideto informed her about. And when she looked at the window, her heart beat increased rapidly as she realized that Hideto was almost close to the church which she knew of.

In her mind, she wished she could run away and change her name while she had been getting ready but the arrival of Hideto to her place left her in shambles. Now, she was standing between two years of bondage or possibly jumping out of the car.

"We’re here," Hideto said and looked at her through the rear view mirror.

"Okay," Cassidy replied and pressed down on the dress. She raised her hand to her chest that resonated the thumping of her heart. "I'm ready."

Deep down, she wasn’t.

"Don't be afraid, Cassidy. He isn't dangerous or anything. Eric is a nice guy," he said and let out a short laugh.

"To you, he is. Can you unlock the car, please?" She demanded and smiled when she heard the clicking of the doors before she got out of the vehicle.

Cassidy rounded the car and walked toward the church entrance with Hideto behind her. She kept her focus on the designs on the doors and windows then pushed one side of the door open when she got to it. She saw Eric sitting on one of the chairs in the church with a laptop on his lap while an old priest was behind a wooden pulpit on a small altar. She exhaled and walked into the building with a fake smile on her face.

She got to the front of the church and rolled her eyes when Eric did not move a little after everything. His whole attention was on the laptop and for a few seconds, she saw how stressed he looked. He had eye bags, his hair was disheveled and his clothes didn't look ironed. She felt worried about him for a second but discarded the feeling immediately.

"Ahem."

Cassidy was nervous about what to expect from the man. A part of her was curious about what he would think of her in the dress or how he would react. She held her breath when he looked up and for a second, his eyes widened before it traced her body. His gaze slowly roamed her body before it stopped at her feet. She raised an eyebrow when he chuckled.

"What's so funny?" She asked, clearly offended. The last thing she wanted from him was his snarky words,

"Who wears sneakers with a dress?" Eric tilted his head to look at her.

Cassidy frowned. "This isn't a wedding and I am not in the mood to play dress up for this sham. Get up and let’s get married."

Eric nodded, closed his laptop and stood then waved at Hideto who was standing behind her. She watched Hideto walk up to the priest before he motioned at them to come closer. She tensed up when she started walking with Eric to the pulpit. She stopped in front of the priest and side eyed Eric for a few seconds before looking onward.

"Are you the bride?" The priest asked Cassidy who stared at the man in confusion.

"I can see that I am the only one in the wedding gown, sir. Unless this man has another bride somewhere in here," she replied and glanced at Eric with a pointed look.

"She's my bride," Eric answered and hesitantly held her closest hand in his hand and kissed the back of it. His eyes clashed with hers and they stared for a few seconds. "She's the one I'm marrying."

Cassidy pulled her hand out of his and faced the priest who nodded and opened his Bible. She swallowed the lump in her throat as she could still feel the softness of his lips on her hand.

"We have gathered here today to witness the union between these two in marriage and—"

"Can we skip to the last part, please?" Eric asked and the man blinked in confusion then nodded.

"Marriage is about love, understanding and joining of two souls into-"

"Yes, yes, we know those parts. Please, skip to the last part of the vows?" Cassidy spoke out this time and the man sighed in exhaustion.

"Okay," he said and cleared his throat. "Do you both promise to care, love, support and trust each other? Do you promise to respect and honor each other through this marriage and forever have peace?"

"We do," they said in unison.

"Do you promise to–"

"We do," they replied, which made the older man instantly roll his eyes while Hideto laughed quietly from his position behind them.

"The rings," the priest said and Hideto walked up to them in a haste and opened a Cupid's Curse tagged rectangular velvet box. In it were two golden wedding rings. "Cassidy?"

Cassidy stared at the bands as a dull pressure built up in her chest. She still could not believe she was getting married. Hesitantly, she picked up the bigger ring and glanced at Eric who had his head tilted to the side, hands clenching and unclenching while his broad shoulders stayed tensed. She could tell he was also feeling the way she was feeling. Marriage was a huge step.

"Cassidy, repeat after me."

She nodded and took his left hand then looked up into his light brown eyes that were full of different emotions. It was a mix of fear, stress and confusion. She was sure that it was the same for her.

"I, Cassidy, promise to love you, support you, fight for you, show you kindness and care throughout this journey. With this ring, I wed thee," the priest said and Cassidy gave herself a few seconds to memorize what he had said before looking into his eyes that were now fixed deeply on hers.

She repeated what was said while her gaze shifted to his tie. She felt her eyes prick with tears before it flowed down her cheeks. She couldn't believe that she was getting married in the most unexpected way. She wasn't crying like how most brides did for being happy on their wedding day, she was crying because she was marrying with someone she didn't love, someone she didn't know or even trust. She wished everything was just a dream.

Cassidy gasped when she felt warm fingers wiping away her tears which made her look up into Eric's concerned eyes. He offered her a smile then she saw that she had worn him the ring already. She captured his large hand and slowly dropped it, not wanting to dampen her mood any further with the idea of him feeling concerned.

"Repeat after me, Eric," the priest said and repeated the same vows to him. He took the remaining ring out of the box Hideto held and grabbed her hand then repeated the vows and slipped the ring on.

The ring felt even more heavier on her finger with her engagement ring. A few seconds ago, she had been single but now she felt the weight of being a married woman.

"As you two are united in love and passion. With the power vested upon me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Cassidy gasped when she heard all that the older man had said. She swallowed and stood rigid when Eric leaned forward. Her breath came out in shorts and her lips unconsciously pressed together tightly. Kissing him was too soon.

"Relax," he whispered in her ear after he craned his head sideways. "I'm not touching your lips.”

She nodded and waited for him to do whatever he was planning. He leaned closer to a point where she could feel his minty breath on her lips.

"Cassidy, relax. You're shaking," he whispered hotly and grabbed her arms, which shot warm currents through her body.

Her heart was beating fast and rapidly. She could feel his warmth, and smell his scent. His hold on her arms made her skin tingle and when she peeked through her lashes at him. She found his lip between his teeth as he leaned closer. She swallowed when his lips brushed her cheek before it brushed the side of her lips. Her back straigtehend when he pressed his lips on the side of her mouth, sending a wave of hotness to her belly.

Just as his lips touched her skin, he pulled back, leaving her breathless. She blinked her eyes and stared up at him with parted lips and noticed how his darkened gaze were on her mouth.

"Go in peace, love and a happy union. May God bless your new marriage," the priest said, breaking her out of her dazed state.

"Thank you,” Eric said, smiling softly at her.

Behind her, Hideto clapped happily. And in her heart, a fear of falling for the man before her developed.