Ari practically drooled. Not only was it food, and she was hungry, but it was good food. Fancy. No doubt Zervou engaged in only that which was fancy. But it wasn’t…fussy. There was a heft to the food that left her feeling satisfied after she’d polished off her plate without saying anything else about his proposition.
And he did not force the conversation. He did not reiterate his plan. He let her eat in a companionable kind of silence.
“You do not like wine?” he asked casually, making it clear that even in silence, he was paying attention.
“I do not drink.”
“Ah.”
Hisahspoke volumes. The kind of volumes that reminded her he’d done his research. If he’d discovered Erjon was her father, then he knew about her mother as well.
Dessert was served, something decadent and so chocolatey she could smell it over the fragrant jasmine that erupted out of pots on the perimeter of the patio.
Ari rose. As much as she desperately wanted to taste that chocolate confection, she knew when and how to make an exit mean something. “I’ll think about this…proposition,” she told Zervou. And she would. Carefully weigh both sides of this confusing situation and intriguing offer.
“You have not asked what your compensation would be,” Zervou replied.
Ari didn’t blink, though she wanted to. She’d assumed the revenge was the compensation, but she was enough of a businesswoman to not betray her ignorance. “I like to make sure I’m aligned with an opportunity before I discuss terms.” She gave herself an internal pat on the back because, damn, that sounded good.
“Hmm. Well, interesting. Should you accept the proposal, come prepared with a list of demands.”
Demands.It was hard to imagine this man accepting anyone’sdemands. “And you’ll just capitulate to all of them?”
He laughed, low and dark, the sound a strange caress against her skin. Like a warm breeze that made goose bumps rise across her arms even though they shouldn’t. “Of course not. We will negotiate.”
Negotiate. It was a good word, and a good thing to remind herself she had leverage here. This was not a handout. It was not charity. It might not even be a trap.
It was abusiness proposition.
“Are you staying in Corfu?” she asked him, her eyes roaming the beautiful patio with its sparkling view. Had he really just bought this to keep an eye on his stadium being built? It seemed excessive. She supposed rich people could be excessive.
“For the foreseeable future. You have my card. Call when you’ve reached your decision, and we will set up another meeting.”
She nodded, expecting something more. A well-placed threat. Maybe even some kind of entreaty—not that she could imagine this man asking for anything. Though he had, hadn’t he? Her cooperation. Of course, he’d somehow made it sound like a business deal, not any kind of favor or task he was asking her to do. No, if she agreed, they would work together to lure her father out of hiding.
And then Zervou would have his revenge—a revenge no doubt better than anything Ari could do outside of an actual fistfight.
All she risked was being in the orbit of a rich, powerful man who could squash her like a bug with both his influence and his wealth.
And you’ve been avoiding being squashed by the more powerful your whole life, haven’t you?
She moved away from the table, toward the exit. She would think about it. Weigh the pros and cons. Consider herdemands. She would not let herself be swayed by a delicious meal and manners.
“Oh and, Ariadne?”
She stopped at the door, bracing herself for some kind of parting shot. Some rug-pulling statement that would undo everything she’d just reluctantly started to believe in. Hope for.
“The deal is notaboutsex,” he said, looking at her with dark, gleaming intent. “But it is hardly off the table if you should decide you’re interested.”
Ari didn’t allow herself to react outwardly. She just looked away and walked. Off the terrace, out of the sprawling house and then away from the luxurious estate.
But the little bolt of heat that seared through her midsection was a bit of a concerning problem.
Chapter Three
Zervou was apatient man—when patience was warranted. He also knew how to press an advantage. After Ariadne had left, he’d instructed his staff to wrap up the dessert and deliver it to her apartment. She would not know what to do with that.
He appreciated her wariness, even if it was in opposition to what he was trying to accomplish. He understood her reticence, and no amount of perks was going to allow her to let down her guard.
