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She took a deep breath. ‘No. I’ll take care of it.’
‘Very well, miss. Nina will put them in your dressing room for the time being. Lunch will be served in fifteen minutes.’ With that, he left the makeshift studio.
Only to return at six to inform her that Xandro was running late. ‘He would like you to meet him downstairs in half an hour.’
Gritting her teeth, she barely stopped herself from slamming the bedroom door. With more than a little aggression, she tore off the bathrobe she’d shrugged into after her shower. Her irritation not only stemmed from the fact that Xandro was manipulating her—again—but she’d also discovered that he’d effectively stopped any mutiny on her part by having the clothes she’d used in Greece removed from her wardrobe.
A slightly concerned-looking Nina had confirmed that Mr Christofides had indeed left instructions for Sage’s clothes to be dry-cleaned, and no, she had no idea when they would be returned. So, short of wearing her yoga pants and leotard to dinner, Sage was forced to comb through her spanking-new wardrobe.
She plucked a white silk dress from the rack because it looked the most uncomplicated. The single across-the-shoulder strap design was elegant enough to pass any class test. She also scraped her hair into a neat bun at the top of her head because, with her half-hour notice, it was the most expedient.
Black platform shoes and a black designer clutch finished the outfit. Simple gold hoop earrings, a touch of make-up and perfume, and she was ready. She bit her tongue when James informed her he was to escort her downstairs.
They emerged from the lift into a busy foyer. But still she saw Xandro immediately. He was on the phone, one hand in his pocket as he paced beneath a giant spotlit window with lithe, predatory grace, drawing an indecent number of gazes, mostly female.
* * *
He reached the end of the space he’d created for himself, turned and saw her. A deathly stillness froze his body as his eyes locked on her. The wild zap of electricity that charged between them nearly caused her to stumble. Fingers clenched tight around her clutch, she snatched in an agitated little breath, lifted her chin and carried on walking.
Xandro murmured into his phone and hung up without taking his eyes off her. When she was within six feet of him, his eyes shifted to James. The butler stopped abruptly, wished her good evening and quietly retreated.
She reached Xandro, opened her mouth, only to have him shake his head at her. ‘Remember, we have an audience.’
She bit back her words, and told herself she should at least be thankful he hadn’t ordered her to smile. With a casual wave of his hand, he indicated for her to precede him.
Bodyguards held the door open for them as the paparazzi once again descended the moment they stepped outside. She tried not to outwardly react when she felt Xandro’s hand on her hip but, inside, her belly clenched against the branding heat of his touch as he guided her to where his limo idled.
‘You took my phone,’ she accused the moment the door shut, sealing them in the car. ‘And my clothes.’
Eyes gleaming with blatant hunger rose from perusing her body to meet hers. ‘Yes. And good evening to you too, pethi mou. You look exquisite.’
She brushed away the drawled compliment. ‘Smudging the lines between right and wrong isn’t a huge problem for you at all, is it?’
His expression momentarily tightened, but his voice was smooth when he answered. ‘It was more efficient to provide you with new clothes than to have your things packed and shipped across the country.’
She didn’t think so somehow. She’d seen the labels on the new clothes. ‘Xandro—’
A breath hissed out and he squeezed the bridge of his nose with two fingers. ‘If we’re going to fight again, can I at least get a stiff drink first?’ He reached for the crystal decanter. He poured a shot of amber liquor and downed it in one go.
She frowned. ‘What’s wrong? Has something happened? Ben—’
‘Not everything is about your brother!’
Her relief was eroded a moment later by a concern she didn’t want to feel. ‘Okay. Then what’s bothering you?’
He laughed as he set the glass in its receptacle. ‘Will you give me a chance to count?’
‘Are you mocking me?’
He sat back and pinned her to the seat with his gaze. ‘You want to know what’s wrong? You, wearing that dress that makes your legs look a mile long and drawing the eyes of every man in the room. You, sitting there, giving me lip for doing something nice for you, while my imagination runs wild with this insane hunger for you, and you glare at me with your gorgeous green eyes. That’s what’s bothering me,’ he finished with a snap.
For the first time in her life Sage wanted to do the unthinkable. She wanted to run from a fight. She wanted this overbearing man to win. Because the charged words he spoke were doing something alarming and infinitely dangerous to her.
‘You...you can’t say things like that to me.’ Her voice shook and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
His sensual mouth twisted. ‘I speak what’s on my mind. You know this about me.’
‘But... I thought what we’re doing...’
