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“We had a deal, and this was part of it”.
The memory of the day he had blackmailed her into going public with her relationship to Alexander had flashed through her mind, as she had nodded gently before hesitantly taking the cheque from his fingers. Looking behind her at the door she had felt the need to escape from him, to not let him see the hurt filling every part of her as she had looked down at the ground, not wanting to look into his dark eyes, those eyes that had the power to raise her so high and throw her so low.
“Thank you” she had finally managed.
“Well I had better get back to my class” moving to grab the door handle to get away from him. For the first time something had seemed to slip from Nikos, as he had stepped closer to her, his closeness sending panic signals throughout Mina.
“Can we talk Mina? I need to talk to you”.
Fervently shaking her head, still not willing to look at him she had bitten her lip “No……there is nothing to talk about. I have a class Nikos and I need to get back to them”.
“When do you finish?”
He had insisted, his tone holding a pleading note, as finally she had looked up at him. With a gasp she had seen how pale he too looked, his eyes dull and lifeless. Had he been sick she had wondered, her first instinct to reach out to him and ask if he was ok fighting hard to keep her hands by her side. Choking back the words she had lifted the cheque.
“I think Mr Dupris that this finalizes all business between us. I appreciate your taking the time to deliver it yourself….though you could have just posted it”.
Mina had tried so hard to sound professional but could hear how her voice had quivered, before she had whispered, the misery so clear.
“Please just leave me alone”, pulling the door open and slipped into her classroom before he could say another word.
The rest of the day had passed in a daze for Mina, her teacher persona thankfully taking charge and seeing her through as she had shut down her emotions, refusing to think of the man she had never thought ever to see again. At lunch, she had listlessly pushed around the food on her plate, her mind feverishly making plans for class, anything to stop his face popping into her head.
Before she had left for Greece, Mina had been pursued by many of the other faculty, her gentle nature, good humour and stunning looks making every red-blooded male in the building look closely at her. Since returning, her new sexy hair style and the air of vulnerability which had clung to her had only seen the attention increase, many moving to sit beside her and offer her comfort for her mother’s passing. Mina however, saw none of this, her mind solely focussed on trying to shut out the one image which when it did manage to barge its way into her thoughts, would fill her with intense hurt and loss once more.
Finally the day and week was over, and she had been relieved to once more seek sanctuary in the small house she and her mother had shared, pictures of the two of them laughing together making her smile sadly. Pulling the cheque from the pocket she had earlier stuffed it into, she had thought how it would at least clear the debt now on the building which she had needed to take out to rent the Villa Aqua for the first month, wincing as the memory of making love with Nikos in the cabana had flashed through her mind, her body buzzing with need at just the memory of their frantic love making that day. With a soft groan she had thrown the cheque onto the small table in the hall, not able to deal with it at that moment.
Listlessly staring into the fridge, she had given a sigh, the emptiness once more a reminder to shop. Closing it over she had given up on the thought of food, her appetite nonexistent as she had flipped on the kettle, a cup of tea the only thing she could stomach at that moment.
The ringing doorbell had made her frown, groaning at the thought of another friend coming to give her their consolations. Dragging her feet wearily along the wooden floors she had checked through the spy hole sighing heavily before opening the door. The jovial face of Bill Clarkson, one if her co-workers, had looked back at her, Mina fixing a smile on her lovely face.
“Bill…What can I do for you?” she had asked warily, seeing as he had held out a casserole dish to her.
“OK Mina. Since you got back, you have hardly eaten a thing at work and I am betting that you don’t have much in the house”.
Mina had ran a hand over her brow as she had tried to think what to say that would see her co-worker, one of the most persistent of her admirers leave, just as he had moved into the house. With a small frown she had watched his back disappearing down her corridor, sighing in exasperation as she had closed the door, following him.
“Kitchen this way?” he had cried, not waiting for an answer as he had moved into the small area.
“Please Bill” she had managed as he had stopped turning to face her, his face kindly.
“Mina” he had said gently “We are worried about you…and this is just dinner. You need to eat”.
Managing a small smile back she had nodded gently moving forward and taking the dish from his hands.
“Fine” she had sighed “Please make yourself comfortable Bill…I am afraid I can only offer you tea”.
He had grinned, moving to open the large bag he clung to.
“Well then, it is fortunate that I brought this” he had breezed pulling a bottle of wine from within. Frowning, Mina had shaken her head.
“Tea is fine for me…but please help yourself” she had said hoping that her message was very clear.
“Wine glass is in the living room”.
Bill had smiled warmly at her, nodding as he had moved out to the other room, Mina giving a small sigh of relief, as she had opened the microwave determined to get rid of him as soon as possible.
Hearing the door bell ring once more she had sworn softly under her breath. All she wanted was to be left alone and the whole world seemed determined to be with her.
“I’ll get it” she had heard, Bill leaping up to answer her door as Mina had pushed the casserole dish into the small appliance before moving to find out who else was visiting her that night. As she had entered she had felt her mouth open in stunned shock, a haunted look filling her eyes as she had groaned.
“Nikos!”
No longer dressed in the suit of that afternoon, he now wore more casual jeans and a jumper to keep off the cold biting wind.
“Hello Mina” his voice had been soft, his eyes harder as he had looked over at Bill, the question clear on his face.
“And you are?” he had bit out, Bill looking so uncomfortable, his face comical as he had seemed almost to forget his own name.
“I…I” he had stuttered, completely fazed by the tall man before him, a man who had at least four inches on him and who exuded power and wealth.
Moving further into the room Mina had interjected.
“Nikos, this is my co-worker Bill. Bill was kind enough to bring me some dinner” her face still showing her surprise at seeing him there.
At this the other man had moved forward, his arm outstretched, a nervous smile on his face, Nikos taking the hand in a quick firm shake.
“That is very thoughtful of you Bill” he had spoke, his voice still hard, reading the other man’s intentions only too well, his eyes flying to the bottle of wine sitting on the coffee table.
“I’m sure you were just leaving…..please do not let me keep you”.
Bill had stood open-mouthed, his eyes moving from Mina to Nikos and back again, not knowing what to say as the tall stranger had stood so calmly. Looking helplessly at Mina, she too had seemed unable to speak, until anger had come to her aid as she had stood taller.
“No…no Bill stay where you are” her eyes flying to the newcomer.
“Bill was kind enough to make sure I had some dinner…he does not have to leave…but maybe you should”.
Nikos had moved over to the coffee table picking up the wine.
“So is this some kind of date?” he had asked, his eyes accusing as they had looked at her.
He had heard the nervous laugh from the other man as Mina had given a loud irritated gasp.
“Is that what you think Nikos…God you never give up. First Yanis and now Bill, is there no limit to how badly you think of me? Bill and I are not on a date. He is just being a kind considerate friend”.
Nikos had felt his lips twitch, knowing that she truly believed this, once more amazed at her naivety as his eyes had flicked to the other man.
“In that case I apologise” he had directed his comments to Bill “How nice of you to bring wine … to help a colleague” the note of sarcasm not lost on Bill, who had shuffled nervously, his eyes shiftily looking around, clearing his throat, knowing that the other man had clearly understood his intentions.
“Yes well…you have the casserole Mina…so I guess I can leave you to it”.
Mina had glared at Nikos as she had repeated that he was most welcome to stay, secretly too nervous to be alone with the Greek. However, with a last shaky smile he had made to move, Nikos stopping him as he had handed back the wine.
