Hooked

5

Eric was still stunned to the core as he drove his newly wedded wife home. In his head, if someone had told him that he was going to get married in twenty-four hours, he would not have believed them. But here he was, taking his wife to his home. The word wife felt heavy in his head when he repeated it.

Marrying the woman had to be one of the most risky things he had ever done and that did not include the business risks he always took. The thought of waking up and realizing everything was not a dream made him feel bitter.

As he drove, he glanced at the woman sitting beside him in his car. He had to admit that she was beautiful in the wedding gown. When his eyes had landed on her body, the sight of her in the gown made him feel a tug in his heart. Even in the way she appeared simple, something about her wearing the white gown made a part of him tingle from the unknown feelings the woman pulled out of him.

And that almost kiss incident. When the priest had announced that he kissed his bride, he felt every part of his body tighten. When he looked down at her, all he could see was her pink and plump lips. They had been parted and the urge to kiss her and taste her lips was at a tenfold. But he had to control himself. The woman did not like him and the last thing he wanted was to get attached to her. At some point after he had kissed the side of her lips, he wished he had actually kissed her to sate his curiosity. She did nothing yet she attracted him like the minx that she was.

“Why?”

Eric glanced at her in confusion. Her sudden question made him confused. He tightened his hold on the steering wheel and cleared his throat to speak.

“Why what?” His voice came out rougher than he had expected, making him sound as if he was in a bad mood.

Cassidy sighed beside him and out of the corner of his eyes, he saw her lean on the window.

“Why did we get married in a church? I mean, we could have easily done a court wedding without me wearing a wedding dress and all that.”

“Well, it was all for the public… In case you have forgotten, I am a businessman and have been in the tabloids for years. Every move I make is followed so I had to have us married in a church. Hideto took pictures and should have sent them to my publicist.”

“And why didn’t you tell me about this?” She was pissed and he could tell from the change in her tone.

“Well, it doesn’t matter now. People are going to find out we are married if you are bothered about it.” His response and tone signified that he was done with the topic.

“Whatever.” She scoffed and he shook his head.

^^^

Once Eric arrived home, he directed Cassidy into his house. Her presence in the house made him realize just how big it was. Something about her living with him made him see his house through a different point of view. The tall walls, grand furnitures and miniature statues around made him feel suddenly small. Something in him wondered what she would think of his lifestyle. He always made sure his home showed parts of his wealth.

He watched as she looked around the large living room before she faced him, face blank.

“Where will I sleep?”

Her question threw him off guard as he had expected that she complimented his house. He looked away from her and started making his way to the grand stairs across the room.

“Follow me,” he said and climbed the marble steps.

He barely had anyone over, only his mother and the realization of his house becoming home to another person put a pressure in his chest. As he finished climbing the steps and started walking into the hallway, he stared down at his hand when he felt the pressure of the golden band around his finger— He was officially married.

^^^

After showing his wife to her room, he received a call from Hideto that he was downstairs. He was still pissed that he had hooked him up to someone who was now his wife. He wished they had put him up with a girlfriend as a wife was too much of a responsibility.

As he descended the steps, he glared at Hideto who was sitting on one of the couches, flipping through a file. Once he got close, he snatched the file from him and tossed it aside. Hideto rose abruptly, a scowl on his face.

“What the f**k, man?” Hidet glared as he spoke.

“I should be beating the s**t out of you for this game you and Vivian pulled,” Eric said tersely and Hideto rolled his eyes before adjusting his suit.

“Where is your wife?”

Eric cringed at the term. It would take him an eternity to get used to the fact that he was married to someone.

“What do you want?” Eric asked as Hideto walked past him to pick up the file he had tossed aside.

“Oh, Hi.”

Eric spun around and saw Cassidy standing on the steps. She was still wearing her wedding down .

“I was just asking about you. Come closer. We have things to discuss.”

Eric glanced at Hideto, wondering what he was up to. The last thing he wanted was any more problems. The marriage was already one and Hideto creating another would make his anger hit the roof.

“What is it?” Cassidy asked and sat down on the couch beside him.

He glared at Hideto when he motioned at the same couch. Eric wanted to just go back to working in his office here at home and not to have a chit chat. He sighed and sat down beside Cassidy then waved his hand over at his smiling friend.

“What is this about, Hideto?” Eric asked as the man sat on the couch across from them.

“First of all, I would like to apologize for this marriage. I am sorry for putting you in this, Eric and I also apologize on your sister’s behalf, Cassidy.”

Eric exchanged a curious look with Cassidy before looking back at Hideto who opened the file in his hand.

“As you two already know. This marriage will last up to two years. Cassidy, I know this wasn’t what you wanted and I was able to meet with Eric’s lawyer and drew up a prenup for–”

“Prenup?” Cassidy asked, cutting him off.

Eric stared at his friend. He began to think of when and how he had made a prenup. He eyed the file in his hands and stared back at him when his gaze was fixed on his.

“Eric, I was thinking of you two signing a prenup. Look, Vivian and I thought about it and felt it would be bad if Cassidy and you entered this marriage and in the end, you don’t get any benefit.”

Cassidy chuckled. “Have you two forgotten that I am not as rich as he is? He won’t be getting anything from me when we divorce. So, how is the idea of a prenup relevant?”

Hideto smiled. “You can go through the document. In here are also unsigned marriage certificate and other documents proving you two got married.”

“What are you trying to say?” Eric was becoming impatient.

“Cassidy, if Eric permits by signing this. It would mean that after you divorce, some of his assets or properties as well as any amount of money he agrees upon, shall be given to you.”

Eric mulled over what he had said and saw a point. He knew the woman beside him was going to be a lot of work and she did not want the marriage. The only way to appease her and to make her feel she did not waste two years of her life with him, was to give her some of his properties.

“But…” Cassidy paused. “That’s a lot and I don’t think I find it comfortable taking those things from him. I am fine pretending he doesnt exist but—”

“Just accept it. I already accepted.” Eric cut her off. “Listen, none of us wanted this and I don’t want to make you feel trapped here for nothing. If I have to pay you a hundred thousand every month, I will. A prenup is a good idea.”

He stared at her face as a contemplative expression took over. His eyes drifted to her mouth when she bit her bottom lip and memories of the kiss they almost had crossed his mind. She let go of the lip and met his eyes. Her doe eyes were trained on him, penetrating through his mind that it made him look away.

“Fine. At least I am getting paid to marry you,” she said and he smirked.

Her sassy side spiked his interest.

“What about him? What does he gain from this marriage?” Cassidy asked, shooting her thumb in his direction.

Eric saw a hard and uncomfortable look fall on Hideto’s face as his eyes darted here and there. He raised an eyebrow when he realized that he had something to say about his benefit and something told him it would not be a good one.

“Actually… Eric, you and everyone else knows that the way you keep yourself busy with work leaves you in a state where you will never get married, before now, or ever get children. This may sound really far fetched but…We think you need an heir.”

Eric blinked at his statement. He kept his gaze on him, trying to decipher what he meant and after a few seconds, his eyes widened and shifted toward Cassidy who had her eyes narrowed at Hideto.

“Are you trying to say that I…” Cassidy stopped talking to chuckle. “You’re not serious, right?”

Eric clenched his jaw and shifted his attention to Hideto, who was scratching his neck.

“The agreement, if Eric approves or you approve, will be that, while you get to leave the marriage with some assets, Eric needs to have an heir. Meaning, you two need to add s*x to your marriage contract.”

Eric’s heart thumped at his words.

“What?!” Cassidy barked.