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‘Why did you go and see Melita?’ he demanded heavily. ‘What the hell made you do such a thing?’
Her brow indented. ‘She asked me to come and see her.’
His lean powerful face set granite hard at that claim. ‘She asked…you?’
Bee lifted her chin. ‘Yes and I was curious. Of course I was. I saw her on the island last week.’
His gaze narrowed. ‘Nectarios mentioned it but I hoped you didn’t realise who she was.’
Bee rolled her eyes. ‘I’m not stupid, Sergios.’
‘Not obviously so,’ he conceded. ‘But if you believed I’ve been with her since we got married, you are being stupid.’
‘According to Melita you’ve been shagging her every chance you got—that’s a direct quote from her,’ Bee told him.
Sergios looked astonished. ‘I thought better of her. We parted—as I thought—on good terms.’
‘When did you last see her?’
‘About six weeks ago in Athens. We did not have sex,’ Sergios added sardonically. ‘I have not slept with her since we got married.’
Bee vented a scornful laugh. ‘How am I supposed to believe that about the woman you insisted you had to keep in your life in spite of our marriage?’
‘It’s the truth. Melita was part of my routine.’
‘Routine?’ Bee repeated with distaste.
‘It wasn’t a romantic relationship. I financed her fashion house, she shared my bed. She travelled all round the world to meet up with me. It was easier keeping her as a mistress than having to adapt to different women,’ Sergios admitted, his discomfort with the topic obvious. ‘I’ve known her for a long time. I backed her first fashion collection because she was an islander. We ended up in bed after Krista died and I found Melita’s casual approach to sex attractive at a time when I didn’t want anything heavy.’
‘If it was over why did she lie?’
‘Presumably because she thought that if she could cause trouble between us I might come back to her,’ Sergios suggested grimly. ‘I’m furious that she approached you and lied to you. I made a generous settlement on her at the end of our affair and she should’ve been satisfied with that.’
‘She said you were with her on our wedding night.’
Sergios swore only half below his breath, anger burning in his keen gaze. ‘I was supposed to see her but I cancelled.’
‘You went out.’
‘I went to a casino, played the tables and drank. Going to her didn’t feel right. I know our marriage was supposed to be a fake but making a point of being with her that particular night…’ Sergios shrugged uncomfortably. ‘It would’ve felt disrespectful, so I didn’t do it.’
‘Disrespectful,’ Bee echoed weakly, her attention nailed to his face, recognising the combination of discomfiture and sincerity she
saw there.
‘I swear I have not been with Melita,’ Sergios growled, his patience taxed almost beyond its limits. ‘And if I have to drag her here and make her admit that to your face, I will not shrink from the challenge.’
‘She wouldn’t come.’
‘She would if I threatened to withdraw the settlement I made on her. She signed a legal agreement, promising to be discreet about our past relationship and approaching my wife and lying to her is not, by any stretch of the imagination, discreet!’ he bit out thunderously, his anger at what he had learned unconcealed.
Bee recalled how very keen Melita had been to ensure that Sergios did not know about their meeting, hardly surprising if the money he had given her was dependent on her remaining tactfully silent about their affair. Was it possible that she had simply wanted to cause trouble? Naturally she would blame Bee for Sergios having broken off their relationship.
‘I’m starting to believe you,’ Bee confided with a frown, worried that she was being ridiculously credulous while at the same time recalling that she had yet to find out that Sergios had ever lied to her about anything. He was much more given to lethal candour than dishonesty.
‘Thank God,’ he breathed in Greek.
‘But I still don’t get why you were so determined to retain Melita that you even told me about her before the wedding…only to get rid of her a few weeks later.’
