He had no doubt she’d eventually agree. It was too good of a deal—he could afford to offer her too much for her to refuse. Her life beyond her boxing successes seemed rather sad.
Yes, he was offering her too much to refuse, but he respected the way she’d handled herself in spite of that. The way she was handling this. With a carefulness and a confidence.
Yes, he liked what made up Ariadne Malis.
And, over the next two days, he often found himself thinking far too often of the way the gold of her belly button ring had sparkled in the moonlight, there against smooth skin over hard muscle.
He wanted to see her box again. He wanted to see her to do many things. And while many around him might consider him a man who did not do without what he wanted, internally Zervou was a much more measured and careful man.
He did not allow himself wants if they did not fit into the plans he had for his life. Now, he had the power and influence to make most of his wants fit into those plans, but retribution was one exception.
So a fascinatingly complex attraction to the woman he needed to draw out his sworn enemy was something to be carefully assessed, considered. It required treading lightly.
But, as he’d told her, sex was hardly off the table if she was interested.
For the time being, he needed to continue preparations. He assumed Ariadne would make him wait. His guess was she would come to him with agreement in a week. He didn’t love patience, but he was considering Ariadne a kind of partner in this. He wanted her willing and ready and thinking more was in her control than actually was.
He believed this was a tactical necessity. He had no doubt her demands would be negligible to someone like him. Some money. Some assurances. She likely couldn’t imagine more than a drop in the hat of what he’d accrued.
So he prepared for what would happen when she finally capitulated. He already had people working on a wardrobe for her—though he liked the tough-girl casual that clearly suited her, it would not suit the events they would be going to. He already had his social assistant working on accepting invitations to all the most important parties around Europe and the travel required. Organizing the press they would need to make sure Erjon would hear of their relationship no matter what kind of hole the man had dug himself into.
Though Zervou had not been able to sniff out any yet, he had no doubt there was some kind of tabs being kept on Ariadne from the Hyseni camp. Erjon would know what his daughter was up to. And he would be forced to act.
Zervou could see no other way this went.
So he could be patient for a few more days. He could wait for Ariadne to come to him. He could wait for everything to work out just the way he planned.
A knock sounded at his office door before it moved open and Bacchus stepped inside. “Mr. Kritikos. We have a…situation. With Ms. Malis.”
Zervou frowned. He thought she’d make him wait at least three days minimum. “Is she here?”
“No. But we were watching the apartment and her mother as you suggested. Based on my investigation, Maria Malis has racked up quite a debt with the Sakkas family. Their toughs plan to collect this evening. It is…unlikely Maria or Ariadne have the funds to pay.”
“I see.”
It did not look like they were going to be able to wait for Ariadne to come to the correct conclusions herself. “Get the required cash. We will handle this.”
“Yes, sir. Would you like me to pay off the Sakkas family or give the money directly to Ms. Malis?”
Zervou considered his options.
“I’d like to handle this one myself. Ready the car and the payoff. I will be down momentarily.”
Ari jogged up the stairs to her apartment. Her muscles screamed in protest but keeping them moving after a tough training session was better than babying them. At least in the long run.
Her lip throbbed from where she’d gotten a punch because she’d been busy thinking about her life, about the piece of chocolate cake Zervou had sent over, and not enough about her practice.
So she had to make a decision tonight. One way or another. Even if she ended up flipping a coin. The decision had to be made before tomorrow’s training. Once made, it couldn’t distract her. She wouldn’t let it.
And how could she refuse? Sure, Zervou had the kind of power to ruin her life if she made a wrong move, but how could she turn her back on the chance to ruin her father just to survive a few more days in this dog-eat-dog world? If Zervou ruined her, did it matter if they ruined Erjon first?
Your mother needs you.
The point she kept circling back to. Sure, she had plenty to risk—there was no magical future she hoped for. Just survival, really, and even that seemed…negligible. Except if anything happened to her—if she lost her ability to fight, to work, anything like that—her mother would end up destitute and homeless. Or worse.
Probably much worse. Ari shook her head, reaching into her bag for her keys as she approached the apartment door.
“Ariadne Malis.”
