Chapter 4: The Marriage Deal
Flashback.
Cassidy sat alone in the corner of a luxurious Manhattan restaurant, an exclusive, quiet place with top-tier service. The simple black dress she wore looked elegant, but the swirl of emotions inside her made it hard to enjoy the ambiance. Andrew’s message. Ezekiel Theodore Salvador’s personal assistant, still echoed in her mind.
Zeke didn’t even contact her himself. He sent his assistant. The message was short and transactional, just like the man she was about to marry.
Cassidy felt insulted. But she came anyway. Because this wasn’t just about her. It was about family, reputation, and the future.
Not long after, Zeke entered. Tall, composed, authoritative. His gray Armani suit fit him almost too perfectly. He took the seat across from her and skipped any formalities.
"Cassidy," he said, his voice level. Then ordering a black coffee.
"Ezekiel," she replied just as coolly.
He exhaled. "Let me get straight to the point. Our marriage won’t be about love. It’s purely a merger between two powerful families."
Cassidy said nothing. She had expected this.
"I want us to function as partners. Not romantically, but as mutually beneficial companions. You are free to meet other people, as long as it doesn’t make headlines." he said, locking eyes with her, "but there can be no physical relationship. No intimacy. Not while we’re still married."
Cassidy raised a brow. "That’s a very specific clause."