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“You know your husband actually owns the Kristalakis Building, not the corporation? I asked and Petros told me.” Corrina smiled at Helena’s antics in the pool. “Your daughter is so sweet.”
Polly smiled. “I like to think so.”
Their younger nursemaid, Hero, was swimming with the three-year-old, looking like she was having as much fun in the water as the toddler.
“Anyway, the company could easily buy condos or use hotels for corporate guests, and the family could reclaim the floor below our places,” Corrina suggested. “The apartments could be remodeled to accommodate the security team as well as a playroom for the children and suites for family guests.”
Polly frowned at the work that would take, but was unable to dismiss the idea entirely. “That would be a pretty big undertaking.”
Corrina shrugged with the insouciance of someone born to wealth. “It’s not as if you’d have to put up with the mess. They wouldn’t be touching our apartments. You know?”
“But…”
“And we could wait to do the remodel until after your family visits for the baby. Until then, the security team and family can use the apartments as they are.”
“I like the idea of indoor play area for the children.”
“The roof garden isn’t exactly practical on the hottest days of summer for anything other than swimming, but we’re going to have to install some shading up here. I’ve wanted some for a while. And that area over there would be a great spot for a play structure.” Corrina indicated the center of the roof. “We don’t need to get rid of the helicopter pad, just shift to the spot they land and put up a wall with a locking gate for safety’s sake.”
It would be the safest and easiest to oversee spot, but it would definitely change the roof to family focused rather than business impressive.
“You’ve been thinking about this.”
“I want children someday and I don’t want to move into the family house, Polly.”
“But Petros would buy you your own home.”
Corrina didn’t look too sure about that. “Maybe. Maybe not. He’s really struggling with the family schism that’s happening right now.”
“Is he?” Polly felt badly, knowing that schism was between her and her mother-and sister-in-law.
“Yes.” Corrina reached out and patted Polly’s arm. “Don’t get that look. I mean it. This is not your fault. It is Athena’s and Stacia’s fault. They’re both way too used to getting their way with Alexandros and Petros. Trust me, I wasn’t putting up with Athena manipulating my marriage, much less that little madame, Stacia.”
Not like they’d manipulated Polly’s. Polly got that. Still. “You’re everything Athena wanted in a daughter-in-law.”
“Don’t you believe it. Women like that are never happy with their daughters-in-law. They want to be the center of their sons’ lives.”
“No, I’m sure Athena wants both her sons to be happy. She just doesn’t believe Alexandros can be happy with me.” As hurtful as her mother-in-law’s behavior had been for Polly, she had never felt the other woman was purely selfish.
Not like Stacia.
“More the fool her. No on
e else could have given Alexandros what he needed in a wife. Only a blind person would think differently.”
Uncomfortable with that declaration, Polly fell back on humor. “We’re very compatible in bed.” She waggled her brows suggestively and both women cracked up.
“What is so funny?” Petros asked, sliding onto the seat beside his wife.
“Papa! Uncle Petros! Look how fast I swim!” Helena demanded from the pool.
“Is something wrong?” Polly asked Alexandros as he settled into a matching chair kitty-corner to Polly’s.
It was midmorning, nowhere near lunchtime.
“No. Why should there be?” Alexandros’s expression chided her.
Because it was work hours and he was there, with them, not in his office doing stuff to take over the business world? She didn’t say that, realizing from his expectant and not altogether pleasant expression, he was just waiting for her to say something of the sort.
