AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Kyros’s eyes skated to me and he smiled. He had the same black hair and olive skin as Leo but his eyes were dark-blue instead of Leo’s powder-blue. His accent was also much heavier.
“Paige Levine, this is my cousin Kyros Savas. He heads up the shipping port in Greece. Paige is my new assistant.”
“So nice to you meet you.” I shook his hand.
“And you, Miss Levine. Thank you for all your help and arranging my stay. I understand you are running the show in Leandro’s world.”
I opened my mouth to reply but Leo cut me off. “Yes, she is.”
Siobhan came back into the mix, giving a pouty face and demanding Leo dance with her. He shot a glance at me and I knew he was silently telling me to step in and deflect. Unfortunately my mind was still churning around our previous conversation. I smiled at him, then Siobhan.
“A friendly dance is always nice,” I said, smiling at Siobhan’s efforts to get Leo in her grasp.
She tugged him onto the dance floor and he glared at me the entire time. The group dispersed and Kyros handed me a fresh flute of champagne from a passing tray as we stood and looked over the party.
“Do you visit the states often?” I asked.
“Fairly. Leandro and I are close but his domain is here and mine is in Greece, so we travel more for personal time than business. Though even when we’re trying to relax, business is still typically conducted.”
“Of course.” I smiled. Kyros gave off the same easygoing vibe Leo did. It was nice chatting with someone who didn’t seem to have an agenda, and maybe I could learn something from him since he was a key player in the shipping business. “May I ask how you two decided who would work in which country?”
“When our fathers passed on the business to us, it was split down the middle. Since we have a heavy presence in both Greece and the US, Leandro and I discussed which we’d prefer. I wanted to stay in Greece, Leandro wanted to leave, so the decision was simple.”
“I can’t imagine anyone wanting to leave Greece,” I said. “It must be magical.”
He smiled. “It can be. But for some, it is anything but.” Kyros’s eyes landed on Leo and pity flashed over his face. Had something happened to make Leo want to leave Greece?
“Our family is quite large and most are here in the US. He is the favorite uncle after all.”
“No,” I gasped with exaggeration, and Kyros laughed. Leo had mentioned family being important the day I moved in, but never any details since.
“Oh yes. We both are the only boys amongst many sisters. His little nieces and nephews idolize him.”
I looked at Leo. I could see how he could be idolized. Between that contagious laugh and good-natured ease about him, he’d probably be the best uncle ever, spoiling with candy and everything a mother never would allow.
“Family is important,” I said, not because I knew what that felt like, but because it seemed like the right thing to say. The only snip of family I could relate to were Amy and Hazel and yes, they were important. Which was a big reason I wanted to stay in New York and close to them.
“Yes, very. Especially when so much has been built.”
I nodded and understood, once again recalling what Leo had said when we talked in my doorway when I first moved here. The Savas men were part of a shipping empire. An empire that would likely continue to get passed down for generations. Their devotion made sense. Though I couldn’t exactly relate. My mother probably wouldn’t even leave me her Elvis Presley plate collection, much less a legacy.
“It’s a shame you live so far away.”
“Yes, but his sisters are here in the US, and Leo’s been living permanently here for”—Kyros looked at the ceiling—“six years now. Ever since . . .”
He trailed off as if remembering who he was talking to.
“Ever since?” I pressed.
“Forgive me,” Kyros said, “I got caught up.” He smiled. “So you are Leo’s new assistant. Are you enjoying the position so far?”
I recognized a change of subject anywhere. But it wasn’t my place to press Kyros. I did, however, want to know what had happened to make Leo leave Greece.
As far as enjoying my position? I glanced at Leo and was about to reply when the song ended and Leo all but sprinted back toward me.
“Miss Levine,” he growled, obviously mad I’d enabled his dance with Siobhan where he likely had his ass pinched the whole time.
“Did you enjoy your friendly mingle?” I said with exaggerated innocence in my voice. Judging by the scowl on his face, he didn’t miss my point.
