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‘Grace...’ Della murmured with a rather forced smile. ‘How have you been?’
And to Grace’s astonishment, her aunt engaged her in polite small talk.
‘You said this was urgent,’ Grace finally reminded the older woman, wondering what the heck was holding her aunt back from simply saying whatever it was she wanted to say.
‘I’m afraid I have to ask you a rather personal question first.’ Her aunt pursed her lips. ‘Is Leos Zikos the father of your child?’
‘That’s private—’ Grace began.
‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, I wouldn’t be asking if it wasn’t important!’ Della snapped, for the first time sounding like her usual self.
‘Yes...he is,’ Grace confirmed grudgingly.
The older woman paled. ‘I was hoping I was wrong because I was very rude to him and even ruder when he asked for you.’
Grace was unsurprised. ‘I’m sure he’ll get over it.’
‘A man that rich and influential doesn’t have to get over anything!’ Della Donovan argued in a fierce undertone. ‘Leos Zikos owns the company your uncle works for. He channels work for that company through the legal firm I work for. You’re far from stupid, Grace. The father of your baby has a huge amount of power over your family and if you don’t keep him sweet, he could punish all of us.’
It was a bittersweet moment for Grace, hearing herself described as part of the family for the very first time, but she was thoroughly disconcerted by the genuine apprehension she could see in Della’s anxious face. ‘You’re seriously worried about that risk?’
‘Of course I am. Zikos has a name for being hard, ruthless and unforgiving and I’m asking you to smooth things over with him for your family’s sake.’
Grace realised why she was being temporarily promoted to family status and almost laughed. ‘Della, Leo hasn’t ever mentioned either you or Declan.’
Unimpressed, Della curled her lip. ‘We looked after you when you were a child, Grace. Now I expect you to look after us and ensure that there is no reason for Leo Zikos to sack your uncle from his job or withdraw business from my legal firm. After all, it’s your fault that I was brusque with him... I know I offended him but he arrived in the middle of a family crisis... Make sure he understands that.’
Grace was astonished by the entire tenor of the conversation. Della was scared that her comfortable life was under threat. Only genuine anxiety on that score would have persuaded the older woman to meet up with her despised niece and ask her for help to smooth over any offence caused. Grace thought it best not to mention that she was currently at serious odds with Leo herself, having called him a lying, cheating scumbag without integrity.
‘I’ll check out the situation for you and, if necessary, explain things,’ Grace promised to bring the uncomfortable meeting to an end. ‘But I really don’t think you have anything to worry about.’
‘Grace, you have about as much idea as to how the very wealthy expect to be treated as a farm animal!’ her aunt told her with raw-edged impatience.
Back at the hotel, Grace ordered a meal from room service and lay on the bed, pondering that strange encounter. She believed that her aunt was panicking without good cause. But hadn’t she already discovered that she did not know Leo as well as she had assumed? It was not a situation she could ignore, was it? Leo could well be the vengeful type when people crossed him. Della had probably been very rude to him: Della in a temper didn’t hold back. As Grace thrust her tray away, she lifted her phone, her conscience twanging. She couldn’t simply ignore her aunt’s fears simply because she herself did not want to speak to Leo.
‘Grace...’ Leo growled down the phone like a grizzly bear, apparently not in any better a mood than when she had last seen him.
‘I need to talk to you,’ Grace advanced stiffly.
‘I’ll be with you in an hour.’ At the other end of the phone, Leo smiled with a strong sense of satisfaction. Clearly, Grace had calmed down and finally seen sense. Nobody was perfect. He had made one mistake. And she needed him, of course she did; he was the father of her baby...
