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She had watched him a sensation of unease filling her still so surprised at the change in him.
“I discovered that your father’s business was not doing quite as well as he pretended. He had to take out a hefty loan to tide him over some problems. A loan which I was able to acquire”
Dropping into the seat beside his desk her eyes had opened with disbelief.
“W…why?” she had muttered softly as his dark eyes had glowed so black and cold “Because I intended to punish them for your actions”
Gasping she had shaken her head “N…no my parents had nothing to do with what happened”
Alexos had watched her with a small sneer on his handsome mouth “I know that. When I had everything I needed, I went to visit them. Your father was furious, and your mother was grief-stricken. The poor woman could hardly stop from crying the whole time I was there”
Grace had groaned softly, her mind picturing her mother in tears, biting her lip, the pain filling her own eyes.
“Your father told me that he had disinherited you, and I knew then that I was not the only person you had duped” A contemptuous look on his face “Your poor parents were just as much victims of your selfishness as I was. I left without even informing them that I owned the debt…I decided that they had suffered enough”
Grace had stared up at him, pain on her lovely face
“You bastard” she had managed, her voice hardly audible as she had held down the tears that threatened. Throwing the folder over to her side of the table, his voice had been cruel. “People in glass houses sweetheart…” silent as she had picked it up and flicked through the sheets that confirmed all he had said Grace looking warily at him.
“What do you want Alexos? Why are you showing me this?” For a second he had watched her, his hands clasped together against his mouth before sitting back in the chair.
“I am showing you this because I want you to stay”
Looking at him with a frown of surprise she had licked her lovely lips. “I appreciate that you didn’t follow through with what you had planned…and I am sorry for what happened…and I know that after last night you might be thinking that…”
His laugh had stopped her soft words, her eyes looking back at him in confusion.
“No…last night as far as I am concerned was just an added extra, a very unexpected one…but most enjoyable” He leaning forward “Let me make myself clear Grace…I am not ASKING you to stay anymore, I’m just laying out what could happen if you DON’T stay”.
Smiling once more as the colour had drained from her lovely features, his mouth had curled softly.
“Truth is I really don’t give a damn if you are with me because you want or don’t want to be. My father is not well Grace, and his final wish is that he sees me settled. I expect you to remain here with me and play the part of the devoted fiancée”.
Her look had become one of dumbfounded disbelief “Why…why me?”
Alexos’ expression becoming firmer “Six years ago you used me Grace, and now it is my turn to use you. I need somebody who will not expect me to see an engagement through…a convenience if you like. If it gives my father some peace…then I want to give that to him”
She had once more stared at the folder, her eyebrows pulled tightly together “W…will I have my own room?” her question meeting with cruel laughter from him.
“This is not six years ago Grace…I’m not the idiot who promised to wait until we were married, and after last night and the way you reacted…do you really think that I will give up the opportunity for some more of that while you are here?…no you will not have your own room”
Throwing the folder back down onto the desk she had stood, her small body rigid with fury “Forget it Alexos. I am not a toy to be used for sex or anything else. Find yourself some other little playmate to make happy families with”.
Turning she had strode to the door, his whiplash voice halting her “If you leave Grace, then I will recall that debt and drive your father and mother into bankruptcy”
As she had wordlessly reached out for the door handle he had added in a slower voice. “Did I mention that your father used the family home as collateral for the loan?”
Dropping the handle she had spun around, real fear on her face “Why….why would you do that? You know that they have nothing to do with me, what is the point of punishing them?”
He had stood moving slowly over to join her “It was not my father’s fault when you ditched me Grace, when you robbed him of the chance of grandchildren, but nevertheless he was one of those affected by your decision. So…I feel vindicated in using your parents to punish you also…the choice is yours”
Grace had felt so angry, her eyes daggers glaring back at him “I may have been a disappointment to your plans Alexos…but you had choices too. You could have found some other willing woman to be your much wanted brood mare….the fact that you didn’t had nothing to do with me”
For several seconds the two had glared at each other, before Grace had once more reached for the handle, the fight seeming to leave her, her shoulders hunching in defeat.
“Fine. I will stay for the month…but no longer - I have work that needs done” her eyes full of hatred “But do not expect cooperation from me when we are alone”, hearing the sound of his footsteps moving towards her as he had left the desk.
His victorious smile had caused her insides to cringe as she swallowed down the small lump, his hands pulling her around as his head had dropped to kiss her. Grace had stood stiffly, her mouth firmly closed not prepared to respond as he had once more moved her from him, the small laugh making her look up.
“Now…this was why I wanted to get you to stay of your own free will…would have been so much easier…and enjoyable” Grace feeling the shooting pain and hurt at the cold-bloodedness of his plan and how he had hoped to use her to meet his own agenda.
“You played me” she had bitten out, his eyes narrowing as he had nodded “Yes… Hurts doesn’t it?”
Lifting her hand he had ran his thumb over her wedding ring, his eyes hard “You can start by losing this…don’t want any awkward questions as to why you would be with me and still wearing another man’s ring”
Pulling her hand from his, Grace had looked down at the small piece of jewellery that had been part of her for so long. Biting her lip she had pulled it from her finger, ignoring his outstretched hand as she had placed it securely into her shorts pocket making sure that it was zipped carefully inside.
Stepping back she had then wordlessly opened the door moving to the front entrance.
“I think I will skip breakfast, for some reason I don’t think I could stomach food now” her hands clenching tightly as his laugh had reached her.
“Strange, I’m starving; seem to have worked up quite an appetite. However, I’m sure that Yanis will be back from dropping off your friends if you wish to join them. I will see you tonight Cara”
Without turning around she had moved to the front door, pulling on every ounce of pride that she could muster, determined not to turn and wipe the smug self-satisfied smile from his face.
Reaching the rest of the group, she had refused to talk about what had happened the previous evening, although when she had informed them that she had planned to stay on, Carol had pulled her in for a big hug.
“Oh my God Grace….go for it. He is gorgeous” her eyes shining “and you might not be telling….but I could totally tell that there was some history between the two of you” Grace bending her head to check some equipment refusing to say more. The day had gone past quickly, quicker than she wanted, knowing only too well what would be waiting for her when the rest of the group finally set sail back to the mainland. She had helped to pack everything up, ensuring that much of the research was put to the side for her to evaluate before the next leg of the project. While the others would be enjoying a much deserved rest, she had known that most of her month would be taken up with collating the figures and trying to finalise the Libya leg of the research. While the Libyans had initially agreed to the project, the government had revoked the agreement and Grace was desperately trying to salvage the original deal, spending a considerable amount of time phoning different officials in the government.
Finally however, the sun had once more sunk into the sea, the group all enjoying one last sunset on the beautiful island before hugging Grace, all smiling warmly at her, Carol giving her a big wink as she had told her to take some time to relax. Giving her friend a small smile she had nodded
“At least ten minutes each day” she had quipped as the others had laughed. As they had rowed out to the boat for the last time she had waited on the beach, sinking down onto the sand her head falling onto her pulled up knees until the boat had sailed out of sight.
“I thought you might like a lift”
