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It was for this, and this reason only, that he got out of the limousine, stalked round the back of the car, and opened Célia’s car door with a smile full and secure despite the fact that they were about to walk into a court hearing where he would confront his mother. He knew, hefelt, that it would all be okay. That the courts would see Meredith for who she truly was—the person who had abandoned not one, but two children, the person who was clearly only interested in playing at being a mother to secure a rich American fiancé with strong family values—and that he could put the whole thing behind him and move forward. Move forward with AnnabelleandCélia.
She looked glorious today. In a russet-coloured dress that veed between her breasts and tied at her hip, the silk pouring over her gorgeous shapely legs. It wasn’t overtly sexy, more...confident and assured. He loved seeing her like this. He loved the way her eyes flared as she placed her hand in his, the promise in them echoing from the night before and leading towards the night to come.
They met his lawyers at the entranceway to the building and made their introductions, before being led into a small office within the building that they had been assigned for preparation and briefings.
Never ones for wasting their obscenely expensive time, his lawyers got right down to business, outlining the way that the day would run, the rules and regulations of the court for Célia’s benefit. Although they were in Greece, with so many English-speaking individuals involved the proceedings would be undertaken with a translator present if needed.
They outlined the strategies to counter the areas of contention, his reputation, the natural leaning for the court to side with the mother, both being met by his new engagement, and Meredith’s previous patterns of behaviour. As Loukis’s fiancée and therefore someone who would be a very important part of Annabelle’s life and upbringing, she would be providing a character statement not only for Loukis, but of herself. They were scheduled for just before lunch and until then Célia would be able to sit in the gallery. Even though it was a closed hearing, in order to protect Annabelle from the intense public interest, the associated individuals were allowed to stay.
‘And your investigators haven’t been able to find anything on Byron?’ he asked, hopeful of perhaps this last reprieve.
‘Clean as a whistle. He’s exactly who he appears to be. A rich oil baron, longing for a family and desperately in love with your—with Meredith. Loukis, I know that you had expected to receive a financial request from her. I’m assuming you haven’t?’
‘No,’ he said grimly.
‘Shame. It would have made things easier. But I’m confident that the judge will find for us.’
He felt Célia’s hand reach for his, entwining her fingers with his, and the pad of his thumb brushed over her engagement ring. Suddenly he thought itwasa shame. A shame that he had given her such a beautiful ring for show and not for her.
He shook his head. He needed to focus. There would be time. Time for Célia and for them later. Now, he needed to head his mother off at the pass.
‘Ready?’ demanded the lawyer.
With one last glance at Célia, who was glorious with belief and assurance ringing her eyes, he stood. ‘I’m ready.’
Despite outward appearances, Célia was worried. It was only when she took her seat behind the table where Loukis and his lawyers faced the judge that she allowed her mask to slip a little. She knew that Loukis needed her assurance, her faith so she had given it freely. But she hadn’t missed the way that Loukis had almost unfurled in the time spent on the island, relaxed into the strange unspoken forward step their relationship had taken.
The night after her conversation with her mother had been like the last burst of a dam, the water punching through its final barrier. They had spoken for a long time, and Célia had tried to explain what she’d been feeling then, why she’d reacted the way she had. And her mother had told her how she might have disagreed with her husband but was trying to love them both in her own way. And Célia had finally accepted that love. And with that had come the realisation that she loved Loukis. She had felt it, she had wanted to tell him then that she had fallen for him. For the wonderful, incredible man she saw when she looked at him. But he had prevented her words and at the time she had understood. But in the days that followed, his excitement, the eager anticipation for the forthcoming custody hearing, the little verbal slips he made in suggesting plans that reached beyond this point, beyond their allotted few months of engagement, had made her hope.
And it was that hope that scared her. Because she knew that she would have to tell him. Tell him the truth of what her designs had been used for. Only then would she be truly free to love and be loved. She had to trust that he would accept her. All of her, including her imperfections. She wanted it so much, she ached.
‘All rise.’
After all the carefully orchestrated publicity stunts, the engagement party, the perfectly cultivated relationship between them, the court hearing seemed oddly mundane. The introductions by the judge and each of the lawyers held a patterned rhythm of formal decorum that swept away the early morning hours and all the while, Célia couldn’t help but think of what Annabelle would be doing with her friend Leya. They had planned to visit the park and then the zoo, Annabelle now fixated on a future as a vet.
As Loukis took the stand Célia cast a look towards Meredith and Byron, the latter catching her gaze and producing a smile full of warmth, completely at odds with the antagonism palpable between Meredith and her son. Haltingly she smiled back, Meredith catching the shared glance and frowning before something passed across her features. Something almost victorious.
Nervously she focused her attention back to the answers Loukis was giving to his own lawyers. He outlined the existing housing and care he was providing for Annabelle, letting them guide his answers to how difficult and traumatic it had been for her to be abandoned by her mother. The raw pain he expressed at his initial feelings of helplessness at his sister’s misery was felt by all. To her credit, a pale Meredith seemed contrite and distraught to hear of it. His lawyers didn’t miss a single thing that would give them an edge over the opposing counsel.
It was Meredith’s lawyers’ turn next, probing gently at his own feelings towards Meredith, suggesting that perhaps it was his own abandonment that had coloured his feelings over the situation. Célia’s heart pounded in her chest to see him so exposed, but to her surprise they seemed sympathetic towards him. Not even touching on his own reputation. Something that even Loukis seemed surprised by.
By the time they indicated that they had no further questions, Loukis, his lawyers and Célia were confused. All of their attention had been so focused on defending assumed attack from that quarter, the sheer fact that they hadn’t gone down that path made it seem as if they didn’t even want to win the case.
‘Ms d’Argent? If you would?’
Célia took a deep breath, gratefully received a supportive smile from Loukis and made her way towards the chair to the right of the judge. Focusing on answering Loukis’s lawyers’ questions helped some of the nerves Célia felt rising within her, ebbing and flowing, sometimes jerking at the spike of adrenaline when she had to pause and consider her words and how they might be interpreted by the opposition. But she answered them truthfully. Yes, she had met Loukis through work, but that relationship had developed. Yes, she had met Annabelle and taken the lovely little girl into her heart. No, she didn’t have personal experience in parenting, but understood what it would mean for her future with Loukis if he were to become guardian of Annabelle and was one hundred per cent in support of it and was looking forward to being in her life. Yes, she had relocated to Greece to be with him, and most definitely yes thought that Loukis would be a wonderful parent.
With their thanks for her time, Loukis’s lawyers sat down and Meredith’s stood.
‘Ms d’Argent, you have not always been CEO of Chariton Endeavours, have you?’
‘No, the company was formed three years ago with Ella Black, a school friend.’
‘And before that?’
‘Before Chariton?’
‘Yes.’
