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“There is no ‘still,’ Ivy. No if, no but, no maybe. I’ve spoken with my attorney.”
“Your attorney isn’t God.”
Damian laughed. “Try telling him that.” His laughter faded. “Do you have any idea how much I pay him each year?”
“No, and I don’t give a damn! Your money doesn’t impress me.”
“I pay him a million dollars. And that’s only a retainer.” He reached for her. She stepped back but he caught her with insolent ease and pulled her into his arms again. “He’s worth every penny. And I promise, he will take my son from you.”
“No.” Tears rose in Ivy’s eyes. “You can’t do this. You wouldn’t do this!”
“But I’m not heartless,” Damian said softly. “I’m even willing to believe there’s some truth to what you say about not wanting to give up my child.” He bent his head to hers; she tried to twist her face away but he slid his hands into her hair and held her fast. “So I’ve decided to make you an offer.” He smiled. “An offer, as they say, you cannot refuse.”
The world, the room, everything seemed to stop.
“What?” Ivy whispered.
Damian took her mouth with his. Kissed her as she struggled. As she wept. As she tried to break free until, at last, she went still in his arms and let the kiss happen.
It wasn’t what he wanted, damn it.
He wanted her to kiss him back, as she had before. To melt against him, to moan, to show him that she wanted him, wanted him…
Even if it was a lie.
He drew back. She stood motionless.
“I return to Greece tomorrow.”
“You can return to Hades for all I care. I want to know what you’re offering me.”
What he’d come up with was surprisingly simple. He’d worked it out late last night, on the impossible chance her story about her pregnancy turned out to be true.
This morning, after the test results had proved that it was, he’d run the idea past his attorney who’d said yes, okay, with just a couple of touch-ups, it would work.
Ivy would put herself into the hands of a physician of his choosing. She would stop working—he would support her through the pregnancy. He’d move her into a place nearer his condo. And when she gave birth, he would give her a one time payment of ten million dollars and she would give him his son.
He’d even permit her to visit the child four times a year, if she was really as emotionally committed to him as she made it seem.
More than
generous, his attorney had agreed.
“Damn you,” Ivy demanded, “what offer?”
Damian cleared his throat. “Ten million dollars on the birth of my child.”
She laughed. Damn her, she laughed!
“Until then, I will move you to a place of my choosing. And, of course, I will support you.”
Another peal of laughter burst from her throat. He could feel every muscle in his body tensing.
“You find this amusing?”
“I find it amazing! Do you really think you can buy my baby? That you can take over my life?”
“The child is not yours. You seem to keep forgetting that. As for your so-called life…” His eyes darkened. “Your sister had a life, too, one that was inappropriate.”
