Page 14 of Billion-Dollar Baby Shock

‘No, that’s not it at all.I arrived in Athens yesterday and all I knew was your name and that you were due to be at the party.I wasn’t even sure what you looked like.’

Dion usually took pride in the fact that he managed to stay out of the public eye as much as possible.But that hadn’t stopped this woman.He recalled the way he’d first seen her.Engaging in her cute act at the buffet.Had she tracked his progress through the party?Staged that for his benefit?

He folded his arms.‘The virginal act was particularly effective.’

Her mouth dropped open and now she went from green to red in the face.If he weren’t so blindsided he’d have to admit that he could watch reactions crossing her face all day.

‘How dare you even suggest such a thing?’she hissed.‘I was a virgin actually.’

Dion snorted.‘You expect me to believe that a woman of…how old are you anyway?’

She folded her arms.‘None of your business.’

‘I think that horse has bolted by now.Your age.’

She looked mutinous for a second but then she dropped her arms and said, ‘Twenty-five.’

Dion’s eyes widened.‘You really expect me to believe a woman of your age was still an innocent?Of everything you’ve said so far that’s the most outrageous.’

Now her face was burning.‘It’s true and I had my reasons and they arenotyour business because you are hateful and, I agree, last night was a mistake.’

‘I never said last night was a mistake.I might regret it now because I was duped by a beautiful face but I can’t deny it was enjoyable.’

Dion had to admit that he didn’t really believe she’d been faking her innocence.He’d felt the tightness of her body, how she’d resisted and then the exquisite mind-bending pleasure of her body accommodating him.Massaging his length.His body responded now and he cursed himself.

At that moment the pilot knocked discreetly on the outer door.Dion turned and they had a short conversation.He turned back to Tara.‘We have to leave now.The winds are picking up.’

* * *

‘Duped by a beautiful face!’And…‘It was enjoyable.’Tara felt as if she were going to explode.For her last night had been life-altering.But then, she’d been a novice and he didn’t even believe that now.

Even more disturbingly she couldn’t get out of her head that he’d thought herbeautiful.She’d never felt beautiful in her life and she hated that in spite of everything she wanted to ask,You really think I’m beautiful?

She said as coolly as she could, ‘I’ll get my things.’She turned on her heel and went and got the holdall with her shoes and dress, and her handbag.Even though she’d got a shock to find out who she was with, at least she had found him.Not that he seemed to be remotely inclined to believe her or listen to her.

When she returned he briskly ushered her out of thevilla and over to the helicopter, and inside.This time he didn’t help strap her in.She did it herself.Soon they were lifting into the air and off the island.Tara was too distracted to take in the beauty of the white houses strung along the coast and the sparkling sea.Empty beaches.

Before long the mainland coast came into sight and then, the sprawling city of Athens.They landed in an airfield at a small airport, presumably the same one as last night.Tara could see a yellow Athens taxi waiting, alongside a much sleeker SUV.Dionysios’s chauffeur-driven car.It seemed as though he had no intention of giving her any special treatment any more.

When they were on the tarmac Dionysios turned to her and said, ‘I don’t believe for a second that you’re the mother of my child.I think somehow you found out and you’re an opportunist who sought me out.’

Tara strove for calm.‘Iamalmost certain that I am the biological mother of your son, and I should be given a chance to prove it with a DNA test, because if he is my son then we have a lot to discuss.For starters, why were you with me last night and not him?’

His face darkened.‘Not that it’s any of your business but he is perfectly fine—’ He broke off to look at his phone and frowned.He looked up again.‘I don’t have time for this.I have to go.You have no grounds to demand a DNA test.If you have anything further to communicate you can do so via my legal team.Their contact information is on my company website, which shouldn’t be hard for you to track down, considering your sleuth work in tracking me down.’

He gestured to the taxi, waiting.‘This taxi will takeyou wherever you want to go.The fare is paid.Goodbye, Miss Simons.’

He turned on his heel and disappeared into the back of his car.Tara just stared as it smoothly glided out of the airfield.Before it disappeared through the gates she sprang into action.She wrenched open the back door of the taxi and got in and said to the driver, ‘Can you follow that car, please?’

Dionysios Dimitriou might be done with her, but she was not done with him.

* * *

The taxi managed to follow his car through the city and up into the leafy hills where Tara caught glimpses of vast villas behind high walls of greenery and steel fences.Much like the villa where the party had been held—only last night?It felt like a lifetime ago.

Eventually his car slowed and turned into a particularly formidable set of gates, bracketed by high stone walls on either side.There was a security guard outside.Refusing to be daunted, Tara told the taxi driver he could let her out at the side of the road.

Tara waited until the taxi was gone and Dionysios’s car had disappeared into the grounds.She crossed the road to the high wall.No way was she getting in via the security guard, not once Dionysios knew who was there.And she had no idea who she could pretend to be.