Meeting The McKnights

 

Cassandra came downstairs from her room all dressed up, her uncle was waiting just outside the door. He nodded at her, a look of mild satisfaction on his face, and gestured for her to follow him. She hesitated for a moment but then followed him out of the house and to his car, just as she had guessed, they were going out…but where, and when nobody was at home too?

She quietly nestled into the passenger seat, and an anxious feeling crept over her. This was the first time he had taken her to one of his events, this one had to be intense. Her uncle was a successful businessman, frequently attending important meetings and gatherings, just like her father. But this time, he had invited her to accompany him.

She watched him as he slid into the driver's seat, starting the engine with a roar. They pulled out of the driveway, the car moving swiftly down the road. At first, the ride was silent, both of them lost in their thoughts. After a few minutes, Niko cleared his throat, preparing the conversation.

"Listen," he began, turning slightly toward her. "I'm going to a very important luncheon with a business partner today."

She nodded nervously, unsure of what to expect.

"I need you to be on your best behavior," he continued, his tone growing more serious. "This is a big opportunity for me, and I don't want anything to go wrong."

Her stomach tightened as the gravity of his words sank in.

"I understand," she replied quietly, even though she didn’t understand how it was her business to be with him, but she hoped he would explain further.

"Well," he added after a brief pause, "this particular business partner is looking for a wife for his grandson. And I think that if he takes a liking to you and you get engaged to his grandson, it could help me close the business deal I'm working on."

The car fell silent, and Cassandra’s eyes widened in shock and confusion, unsure of if she heard him properly, she stepped out of character for a bit and blurted,

"Wait, what?"

She paused for a while as she continued with emotions in her eyes and voice. "You want me to marry someone just so you can secure a business deal?"

"And what's so wrong with that?" Niko countered, his voice sharp. "This is a very important deal for me and my company. If a marriage can help secure it, then it's something worth considering."

She stared at him in disbelief. He waited a moment before adding, "You cheeky brat, when did you start talking back to me?

His expression turned skeptical as he continued, "And haven't you been living under my roof for seven years, rent-free? Who's going to pay for all of that?"

Her words died in her throat, and a heavy silence followed. He was trying to blackmail her.

"B-But you didn’t even talk to me about it,” She argued further, she thought her meekness allowed Niko to see her as some kind of pushover.

“That is why we are having this conversation…” She interrupted him immediately.

“We are only having this conversation as we are on our way to meet your business partner,” he must have planned all this in his head, Cassandra gripped the edge of her seat tightly. “Did you consider what I might want, Uncle? What if I don't want to marry someone just for the sake of your business deal?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

He sighed heavily, the tension in the car palpable, he didn’t want to sound imposing but she left him no choice. "Well, you have to," he responded arrogantly. "Believe me, this isn't an easy decision for me either. But sometimes in life, we have to make sacrifices for the greater good."

As they sat in silence, the weight of the conversation lingered heavily on Cassandra, or perhaps it was just her who felt it. Her uncle, the manipulative bastard, seemed entirely unaffected, whistling cheerfully as if he'd just won the lottery. She closed her eyes, searching for any possible escape, but came up with nothing.

When they finally pulled up to the restaurant, a wave of nervousness washed over her. Uncle Niko had filled her in on the details before getting to the restaurant. His business partner, Mr. Raul McKnight, was a multi-billionaire, well into his 80s. Her uncle had warned her to keep quiet during the meeting, emphasizing that he would handle the conversation.

As they stepped out of the car, Niko straightened his tie and adjusted his jacket, smiling confidently as he walked them toward the entrance. The scent of freshly cooked food drifted through the air, causing her stomach to grumble despite her anxiety.

As soon as they got inside, Cassandra’s eyes scanned the room. The restaurant was mostly empty, but she quickly spotted a man whose description matched, and he was seated at a table in the corner. He must be the one. The man appeared frail, his face lined with wrinkles, and his thinning white hair combed neatly to the side. Her uncle approached him with a wide smile, extending his hand. "Mr. McKnight, it's good to see you," he greeted warmly.

Mr. McKnight returned the handshake with a small smile before shifting his gaze to her. "And who is this lovely young lady?" he asked kindly.

"This is my niece, Cassandra," her uncle said, introducing her.

Cassandra stepped forward, feeling a bit intimidated by the man before her, there was a dominating energy that radiated off of him, but despite his powerful demeanor, the man wore a gentle smile as he extended his hands for a shake, she received it politely.

"It’s n-nice to m-meet you, Mr. McKnight," she stammered politely.

"The pleasure is all mine," Mr. McKnight replied graciously.

They took their seats at the table, scanning the menu while engaging in light conversation about their daily lives. Despite Mr. McKnight’s reputation, she found him surprisingly easy to talk to, and her nerves began to settle.

As they waited for the food, her uncle quickly steered the conversation toward their upcoming business deal, they discussed it for a while, and then unexpectedly, Mr. McKnight shifted the conversation back to her, catching both her and her uncle off guard.

“I couldn’t help but notice how lovely your niece is,” Mr. McKnight said, his wrinkled smile spreading across his face. “Have you considered finding her a suitable husband?”

Cassandra's heart skipped a beat as the conversation took the very turn she had dreaded. Uncle Niko had been right—the old man was desperate.

Her uncle’s eyes lit up with a gleam, but then he cleared his throat trying to hide his excitement. “Most men are scum," he began in a low, dramatic voice. "I don’t want anyone hurting my lovely niece. She’s my daughter now, and I’ll wait until I see someone worthy and deserving of her.”

"Such noble thoughts," Mr. McKnight said approvingly, his smile deepening. “You’re indeed an admirable man.”

‘Admirable, my foot,’ Cassandra cursed inwardly the only thing Uncle Niko cared about was his business and nothing more.

Mr. McKnight then turned to her, his eyes soft but curious. "Dear child, how old are you?" he asked. Her heart raced as she felt the attention shift back to her.

“I-I’m twenty-two,” she answered, fidgeting nervously with her purse, her eyes falling back to the glass of wine in front of her, one she barely touched.

Mr. McKnight chuckled softly. “I have a stubborn grandson I’d like to marry off as soon as possible.” He complained bitterly.

“Oh?” Uncle Niko gasped, feigning surprise. Cassandra cringed inside. He made her sick with his fake sincerity.

“Blake is a good boy,” Mr. McKnight began, his voice taking on a wistful tone. “His parents died when he was just five years old, and I’ve raised him ever since. It wasn’t easy to parent him but we managed.”

Cassandra listened quietly, her heart softening as Mr. McKnight spoke of his grandson with such affection.

“But even though Blake has everything he could ever want,” Mr. McKnight continued, “he’s still lonely. He misses his parents deeply, and sometimes I think he feels like he’s all alone in the world.”

Cassandra’s chest tightened as she understood Blake’s loneliness far too well. Losing both her parents when she was young had left her vulnerable, especially under the control of someone like Uncle Niko. Despite being an adult now, the pain of their absence lingered, and she thought of them every day.

Mr. McKnight sighed deeply, his frail hands resting on the table. “And now,” he said softly, “he doesn’t want to get married. It worries me because I don’t have much time left. I’d love nothing more than to see him settled before I pass on.”

Cassandra felt a pang of sympathy, there was a genuine sadness in Mr. McKnight's voice, he wasn’t desperate to just find a wife for his grandson, he was desperate to see the boy happy, and the fact that Uncle Niko wanted to use Mr. Mcknight’s emotions for the benefit of his own selfish interests annoyed Cassandra greatly.

Cassandra could see the sadness in Mr. McKnight’s eyes as he spoke. “I’ve set him up on numerous blind dates, but he never even gave one of those girls a chance,” he said, suddenly turning his gaze back to her. “But when I look at you, Cassandra, I feel like you might be the right match for my Blake.”

Her thoughts raced. How many girls had this old man approached with the same plea? This Blake guy had to be a jerk. At least he could show some consideration for his only family instead of making his grandfather worry so much. If he had just married as Mr. McKnight wanted then she wouldn’t be sitting here, pretending she wanted anything to do with him. In her mind, she silently scolded Blake for the mess she was now caught in, but in a way, it seemed like a blessing in disguise.

She had always wanted to escape Lance, this might be the perfect opportunity to let it happen.

“That will happen, of course, if your uncle allows it,” Mr. McKnight added.

Uncle Niko erupted in a nervous laugh. “I’m sure your grandson must be as responsible as you are, sir. I have no objections to this date.” He then reached across the table and took Cassandra’s hands. “I wouldn’t mind my niece marrying your grandson. Good men like him are hard to come by.”

Cassandra’s stomach twisted at his words. This was moving too fast, and she felt trapped.

“Cassandra,” Mr. McKnight said softly, pulling her attention back to him. “I know this is a lot to ask, but will you help me?”

Her heart pounded in her chest as she swallowed hard. Mr. McKnight had only just met her, but he had been so kind and genuine that she felt a strange pull toward him. Could she say no? She knew her uncle’s eyes were burning into her, a silent warning not to mess this up.

“Yes,” she answered, her voice hesitant. Mr. McKnight smiled, his expression soft and hopeful. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small photograph, sliding it across the table toward her. Cassandra picked it up gingerly, her breath catching in her throat as she looked at it.

The man in the picture was strikingly handsome, with dark hair and piercing eyes that seemed to look right through her. He had an air of confidence and strength, the kind of person who looked like he knew exactly what he wanted in life. But as she studied the photo, a strange feeling crept over her. He seemed familiar.

Then, her eyes widened in shock. This was the guy from the grocery store—the one whose phone she had accidentally broken.

“That’s my grandson,” Mr. McKnight said quietly. “His name is Blake McKnight.”

Cassandra’s mind reeled. ‘You’ve got to be kidding me,’ she thought to herself, staring at the picture in disbelief.

This was the same stranger she had met at the store earlier today, the man she broke his phone by an accident. How is he going to find a partner with that sort of attitude?