CHAPTER 1~ SAINT IN DISGUISE

Once upon a time is a cliche easy start to start a love story of a CEO falling for a girl but here we are...Today I’m getting married to the CEO who is known for his bad reputation, but for me, he’s the saint in disguise. And I couldn't believe I’m getting married to that guy with a bad reputation. Who is a little bit older than me, and has insatiable habits regardless of this I fell head over heels. Anyway, let’s start with the beginning.

(Three years EARLIER)

“Cassandra Williams” The Dean of the university announced my name, his strong English accent present and intimidating. I got up, smiling, I went towards the stage, my last name starts with W so like always I’m one of the last ones up. I approached the stage, ascending the three stairs successfully, I accepted my graduation certificate and the handshake offered. I then heard cheering and wolf whistles from the back of the room and I knew it was my imbecile big brother.

I had waited four years for this moment, living in a small campus dorm, late study nights, exam after exam, it's all been worth it though, for this moment. I graduated with top honors in my degree, hoping to pursue a career in architecture and design. As I get off the stage me and my best friend Cindy hug each other and smile brightly.

“We did it, Cassandra!” Cindy smiled.

“London here we come” I smiled back. I and Cindy have been roommates for the last three years. Cindy is two years older with Blonde curly hair, blue eyes, and a deep tan, one would mistake her for an Australian beauty. Cindy started her degree later than me due to having a two-year gap year.

After my first roommate got expelled from the campus for inappropriate behavior, Cindy and I were assigned together. Cindy is straight but doesn’t have a boyfriend, she majored in design like me, however, she's more into computer design. Both of us decided we would move to London together, live in an apartment that's been paid for in full by Cindy’s parents, for her graduation present and pursue our new careers. I was opting to pay rent to Cindy as a condition of living together though. After a few harmless fights, Cindy decided she’d never win and gave in to my request.

“There she is, Come on Kid where’s our hugs,” My older brother Aaron says as he came up behind me and Cindy. I smiled and turned around hugging my brother excitedly.

“We are so proud of you kiddo,” Aaron said letting me go.

“Okay, my turn,” Izan said, coming up to get his hug.

“Save the best for last huh” Aiden says cheekily as he hugged me tightly. They all congratulated Cindy and ruffled my' hair proudly.

I have grown up as the youngest in my family, my parents died seven years ago when I was 14, in a car crash. I nearly lost my life too, but I survived and my brothers raised me for three years before I left for university.

Aiden is the oldest, he's 31, a full-time surgeon at a private hospital, he's tall, muscly, intimidating, and high class. With brown hair and grey eyes he looks like he’d break you in a second, he's cold towards most people but not with me or my brothers and especially not his wife. Aiden is married to an amazing woman Tamara and they live in Manchester, where I was raised.

Izan is 29, a top high profile Lawyer, he's still single but isn't looking to settle down. Izan is The fun one, always up for a good time and party. He's also tall, intimidating, has brown hair and brown eyes, he's extremely good looking and has girls falling at his feet.

Aaron comes next at 27, he's a police officer and loves his job immensely, he has a steady girlfriend, Emma. The tall genes didn't skip Aaron either, he’s the blonde of the family though with grey eyes.

I’m the youngest at 21, I have brown hair, blue eyes like my mum, and have the most gorgeous cheekbones that are all I hear from Cindy. I, unfortunately, didn't get the height gene and am short, skinny, and just tiny in all senses of the word...

We all live within 15 minutes of each other and every Sunday we have a family dinner at Aiden and Tamara’s. We are all wealthy and live extremely comfortably, I never asked for anything though, and work part-time at a coffee shop. My brothers paid for my tuition but I wanted to make it myself. I turned down their offer of an apartment overlooking Manchester while I studied and opted for a dorm, I wanted to earn my own money and to pay my way. Including paying my brothers back weekly for my tuition.

Cindy however, has extremely well-off parents, more than my brother's incomes combined. Cindy, unlike me, was forced to the dorm to try and get some “normality” into her life, which is what her mother had told him. Cindy likes to throw her money around, she likes lavish things and showing her wealth off. I prefer to live the simple life though, not caring about such things, I had a bit of a tough time growing up and money doesn't mean so much to me.

“We’re so proud of you, Cassandra,” Aiden said as he lets me go.

“Thanks, Aiden,” I said smiling.

“Mum and Dad would have been so proud, girl,” Izan said I smiled in response, I loved my parents so much and I know they would be looking down on me smiling right now.

“Thanks,” I said...

“Alright, I've got to get back to work kid I'm sorry, we will see you Sunday night for dinner?” Aiden then says, his features were sympathetic towards me, knowing my brothers are meant to stay for a while and mingle. They couldn't get much time off work though and I’m just thankful they could come at all.

“Yeah, Sunday night” I nodded...

“You guys celebrating tonight?” Izan asked knowingly.

“We may have a few parties to attend” Cindy Smirked out.

“Be safe Cassandra. You know the rules” Aiden said.

I nodded my head in understanding. Ever since the accident, my brothers have been extremely overprotective, they tend to be quite annoying sometimes but I tolerated it, knowing how much my recovery took its toll on the family, knowing they stopped their lives to raising me for three years, knowing I owe them so much.

“Good Girl,” Aiden said.

“Cindy,” Izan said matter of factly.

“Guys, I've got her, you know I’ll look after her, I've never let anything happen to her before”

Cindy says smiling reassuringly. My brothers nodded in response, relaxing a little.

“Call us, we are ten minutes away if you need us,” Aiden said.

I and Cindy nodded and we all share hugs of goodbye. Cindy turned to me then.

“Alright, let's get my parents out of the way, then we can ditch these awful gowns and get ready for tonight,” Cindy exclaimed excitedly.

I giggled and we spend the next part of an hour mingling with Cindy’s parents and her two older sisters who adore me to pieces.

“So Cassandra, no boyfriend to report yet?” Cindy’s Sister Amy asked me, cheekily, she always hounds me about my love life, she always wants to set me up with one guy or another.

“Yeah Kiddo, Boys must be falling at your feet, you’re a catch Cassandra,” Cindy’s other sister Lucy said smiling.

I smiled back but rolls my eyes playfully. I’ve been with a guy or so but nothing serious, I was after love and a long-term relationship and I found out quickly that most guys are only after one thing and they will say and do anything to get it.

“They ARE all falling at her feet, Cassandra just has standards, don't you Sweetums,” Cindy said smiling hugging me to her side.

“I do, and I haven't found the right person yet,” I confirmed.

“Well, maybe things will change in London when you start your new job,” Lucy said.

“Hopefully, But then I’ll probably be too busy for a relationship” I laughed.

They all smiled and go back to talking about work and money, I was running out a little, I was getting a little restless and my gown is so hot, I needed a drink of some sort.

“I'm just going to get a drink of water,” I told Cindy who nodded, I excuse myself and make my way through the mingling crowd.

This year's Graduation was presented in the main hall but the after celebrations have been set up on the lawn under marquees. It’s nice, but it's a rare hot spring day and the sun is actually shining, the heat getting to me a little. I reach the bar that's set up under the marquees and ask the bartender for a bottle of water, I get a huge grin and a wink in response and then a cold bottle of water. I blushed and walked away insecurely, I was used to people ogling me but it never gets easy to deal with.

I guzzled the contents of the bottle before I throw it out and start making my way back over towards the exit, I just need some air. As I step out of the marquee though I collide straight into a hard chest. I stumbled backward, but before I hit the ground there is a hand on my waist and a sultry voice in my ear.

“Woah, easy there,” The deep voice says, slightly scolding.

“I'm so sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going” I rambled before I was looking at the very tall, extremely attractive man in a suit, who is still holding me tightly around the waist. The gorgeous man smirks and I know I was staring but I can't help it, this man is so handsome. His bright green eyes stare into my blue ones, I can't seem to talk, for some reason, taking in every ounce of detail of this man. His short hair styled perfectly into a quiff, little tuffs of curls sitting at the nape of his neck, his strong muscled physique holding me tightly, I can see the outline of a few tattoos on his chest, peeking out of his white shirt. he's dressed impeccably and I know he comes from money.

I seemed to get a spark shoot up my spine as the man's hands glided down my back, steading me and pulling me up straight, the man's eyes furrowed in confusion like he just felt the same weird thing.

“It's um...fine... just be careful next time,” The man says sternly, still staring intently at me. I nodded and blushed under the intense gaze.

“Mr. Santorum ?” A man I hadn't noticed before asks from behind the gorgeous god.

Mr. Santorum turns to the man, nods, and looks back towards me intently.

“Are you okay?” He asks then, letting me go, I feel cold as the hands leave my body.

I was a little taken aback by the question and when I manage to make my lungs work and

breathe properly, I answered.

“Yes, ugh, sorry... I'm fine” I replied awkwardly.

Mr. Santorum nodded and begins to walk away, he has a look of confusion on his face though, and looked back several times looking intently at me before he disappears into the crowd. I shake myself out of whatever that was, whatever that foreign feeling was, I feel light and fuzzy, I was definitely attracted to that man, which, I have never really been towards anyone before.

I began to make my way back to Cindy. “There you are, I was worried,” Cindy said as she saw me approaching.

“Sorry, got caught up,” I said.

Cindy eyes me warily. “You look funny, what happened?” Cindy asked.

“No Nothing, I’ll explain later” I assured my friend.

“Okay, let's get out of here. Hey, I'm hot and bored ” Cindy said and I laughed. We say goodbye to Cindy’s parents and leave to head back to our dorm, her eyes were on me the whole time.