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Standing to take a look, she had hardly recognised herself. The Mina Lane, school teacher, was gone and in her place stood a sensual siren, Mina chuckling to herself.
“You scrub up well” jumping as a loud knock on the door had made her gasp, a small scream held back as Nikos’ voice the hint of irritation so obvious had been heard.
“Mina, it’s ten past seven. We need to go”.
She had quickly grabbed her matching shoes and bag “Just coming” she had cried back nervously, lifting the silk wrap that Francesca had insisted she team up with the outfit. With her expression now full of nervous fear and anticipation she had taken a deep breath moving from the room.
He was nowhere to be seen as she had stepped into the hallway, Mina moving to the stairs before she had spotted him, her lips catching her bottom lip to hold back the groan of just how handsome he looked. Wearing a black tuxedo complete with white shirt and bow tie he was stunningly gorgeous, powerful, sexual and so many more wonderful things. Mina so aware of the way her young body seemed to react to the man who was to all intents and purposes blackmailing her to reveal her true parentage.
Moving down the stairs he had stood side on to her, muttering something incoherently as he had once more checked his watch. She had gingerly taken her time moving down the steps, clutching the hand rail with one hand lifting the long dress with the other, apprehensive having never before worn such a long dress. With an irritated frown, he had turned ready once more to call to her, his features changing in an instant as he had caught sight of the woman walking towards him.
His eyes had grown wide with stunned surprise, fire rising within the once cold steel of them, his mouth gaping as he had stuttered in bemusement.
“M…Mina?” she giving a wide smile back as she had finally joined him in the hall. He had stepped back, his eyes blinking as he had controlled his surprise.
“You look…you look”.
Mina had chuckled “Better?” she had finished with an amused glint in her eyes.
Nikos had taken in the way her hair now seemed to caress her face, highlighting her large eyes and kissable lips. This thought jolting him back to reality. Giving a shaky half-smile he had nodded, needing very much to move to hide the way she was once more affecting him.
“Yes, you look better” he had retorted in a clipped voice “But we are late, so let’s move”.
Mina had felt the disappointment sit heavily in the pit of her stomach, not sure why his disinterest should bother her, but bother her it did.
The journey to the event had been a short one, Mina listening attentively as she had been reminded of key figures of the board, Nikos having the night before sent her complete dossiers on all of them, pleased that she had so obviously taken the time to read each.
Arriving she had been surprised to see the number of press snapping pictures of the rich and the beautiful. Mina groaning on spotting many celebrities, knowing that when the press realised who she was the inevitable interest in her parents and their soon to be notorious relationship would help to sell many magazines making her a juicy story worth pursuing. Unconsciously she had sank against Nikos, jumping as his breath had fanned her ear, his hand moving to the bare base of her back.
“Relax Mina”
“That’s OK for you to say” she had hissed quickly back at him, as he had pulled her to the end of the carpet furthest away from the throng of flashing bulbs and cries from the paparazzi. He had been surprised at how truly stricken she had been, the fear that had filled her lovely green eyes making him want to wrap his arm around her shoulder to tell her everything would be fine, to protect her. Scowling, he had put it down to his guilt at having put her in the position in the first place, once more reminding himself that she was the daughter of the man he despised, that his blood ran through her veins, this thought justification for his actions.
Mina had allowed herself to be directed inside the building by the expert hand of Nikos, breathing a sigh of relief as the press had disappeared behind them. She had found herself seated at a large round table like so many others in the room, looking splendid with colourful centre pieces and more silver cutlery than she had ever before seen. Looking at the sheer number of utensils and different glasses at each seat she had tried to quell the panic rising within her. Feeling Nikos’ hand covering hers, she had pulled her look from the place settings forcing a more sure smile on her lovely face.
“Mina I would like you to meet the members of our board”.
Plastering what she had hoped was a genuine smile on her face she had nodded at the array of faces which regarded her, curiosity on all. The voice behind had seen a look of anger instantly cross Nikos’ face as the last seat in their table had been taken by a petulant Alexander.
“Her right to be able to call them ‘our board’ has yet to be determined” huffily throwing himself into his seat, closing his mouth firmly as Nikos had thrown him an icy warning glare, Mina dropping her eyes in embarrassment as many of the board members had shuffled uncomfortably in their seats.
Finally it was a gentleman across who had broken the awkward silence, a small kindly man with a friendly glint in his eyes.
“So I hear that you are a teacher Miss Lane?” he had asked, many of the others smiling approvingly as the atmosphere had noticeably relaxed, Mina nodding and answering the many questions which had come her way.
Sat silently beside her Nikos had smiled, satisfied at the way she seemed to so quickly be winning over the board, not really surprised with her unassuming manner and gentleness. The fact that she was smart and possessed a keen sense of humour had made it all too easy for the board members to quickly warm to the young woman.
Alexander’s outburst had angered him, but she had not reacted but behaved with dignity, his look once more moving to the spoilt young man who was glowering sulkily as he had quickly downed the contents of his glass, Nikos once more finding it hard to believe that they both were fathered by the same man.
As the service had begun Mina had been careful to watch which utensils others had lifted as salad, soup and sorbets had followed one after the other. She had thought to have managed unnoticed until the deep laugh of Alexander had made her look around, his features cruel and mocking, helped by the large amounts of alcohol he had consumed.
“So which knife now Mina?” he had spat out nastily, his voice slurred before slightly raising his eyebrows.
“Oh I forgot…I’ll choose first”.
Making a contemptuous noise as his eyes had slid down Mina.
“You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear” he had finished.
Mina had heard the angry intake of breath from Nikos, his hand slamming down onto the table as he had made to rise, Mina turning to lay her hand on his arm to stop him, the tall man stilling at the unexpected touch of her. Turning and lifting her small chin proudly she had faced Alexander.
“You are drunk Alexander” her voice once more firm and matronly as though she were talking to a naughty school boy.
“Please remember that sow’s ears come in pairs dear brother”, a small chuckle rippling through the others as he had glared back at her once more dropping his eyes from her determined stare.
Beside her Nikos had felt his lips curl at the way she had handled both the situation and Alexander, once more finding himself impressed with Mina Lane.
The rest of the meal had passed quickly with Alexander sullen and silent. As the tables had been cleared a band had started to play, Nikos rising and extending his hand to her “Dance?” his voice silky, as with a smile she had followed him to the dance floor, where he had pulled her into his arms, Mina resting her hand on his shoulder. Hearing his chuckle she had looked quizzically up at him.
“I think Alexander is NOT having a good evening”.
Mina feeling her own lips twitch as he had continued “And I would like to say…I was most ungracious earlier…you look wonderful”.
She had felt the small blush rise to her cheeks as she had looked at him in surprise seeing a strange glow in his eyes.
“You are a very beautiful woman Mina Lane” he had whispered sensually in her ear as he had pulled her even harder against himself. She had remained silent as they had swayed together with the music, feeling as her eyes had fluttered closed her head resting against his shoulder.
As the music had stopped and he had once more led her back to their tabe, one of the board members, a man named Joseph Black had asked her to dance, Mina noticing as he had seemed nervous, his hands a little too warm. About 5’10” with sandy blond hair and warm sparking eyes he still towered over Mina, but he had held her loosely, respectfully against himself.
She had remembered from Nikos’ dossier that his final comment, as there had been for each of the members, was ‘shrewd, fair and forthright’, Mina smiling shyly up at him as he had moved closer to whisper softly into her ear in a voice full of humour.
“Am I to take it Miss Lane that your brother was not overly happy at having to add another name to his Christmas list?” Mina chuckling back, the comment relaxing them both as she had shaken her head.
