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Chapter 12
To trust a Greek billionaire, you must not give up on them on the first try, or the second, or the third...
She said: Get ready to be hurt a lot of times.
He said (wincing): Think of it this way. We get a lot of practice begging, too. The next book can be The Art of Groveling.
HE STILL HADN’T CALLED.
It was the uppermost thought on her mind as she showered and changed into a cerulean wraparound dress. As she applied her makeup, she told herself that it was because he hadn’t yet figured how to apologize to her without losing face. Greek billionaires were terribly arrogant, after all. She couldn’t even think of a single Harlequin title that had a humble Greek billionaire in it.
Also, Mairi thought stalwartly as she worked her hair into a chignon, humble was good on paper but in real life? It was so not sexy.
So all in all, this was good and healthy for their rela—-
Her thoughts stuttered to a stop, and she mentally scrambled for the right word to describe what they had.
Lover and cheater.
Mistress and benefactor.
Slut and client.
Mairi ran to the sink to throw up.
Two hours later, she was hurrying towards the auditorium, face scrubbed clean of tear-ravaged makeup and dressed instead in an elegant but simple cotton candy pink sheath dress.
Velvet and Mandy were already in their seats when Mairi joined them. “Where’s the pretty dress we bought yesterday?” Velvet asked, surprised.
“Wardrobe malfunction,” Mairi lied, thinking that should cover the fact that she had thrown up all over it because of sheer nervousness...and heartbreak.
“Oh...and your makeup?” Mandy asked.
“Umm...application malfunction?” She pretended she didn’t notice her friends throwing her suspicious looks after that.
Finally, Velvet cleared her throat. “Okay. Yay you for all the mishaps then.”
Even Mairi had to crack a smile at that.
Mandy gave her a quick hug. “Break a leg, okay? And chin up. I have no idea what you’re going through again to say all those silly lies, but I’m certain it has to do with your Greek billionaire. Whatever it is, remember we’re here for you.”
She did her best to remember that, especially since the award ceremony had started and the usual red carpet had been rolled out for the VIP guests.
“Ladies and gentlemen, a warm round of applause for the first of our guests of honor, Mr. Ioniko Vlahos.”
Ioniko walked down the red carpet in a swift pace, looking absolutely gorgeous and sexy in a black three-piece suit and a crimson necktie. He looked at her only for the briefest moment, his eyes warm. And then he was walking past her and ascending the stage to take his place on the VIP row.
“Thank you, dear students and teachers. And now, another round of applause for our next guests of honor, Mr. Damen Leventis and his lovely fiancée, Ms. Alina Kokinos.”
Hearing the words spoken in her presence hurt a lot more than she had expected.
She closed her eyes, unable to bear the sight of them together. There was a heightened sense of excitement in the crowd at the sight of them, and she squeezed her eyes shut more tightly when she began to hear them talk about how Damen and the Kokinos heiress looked so good together—-
Oh.
He was walking past her now. She knew it was so, without even looking, because she knew his scent.
He was walking past her now, another woman by his side. His fiancée. His side. A place she might never have.
Mairi literally found herself swaying on her feet, but her friends helped her stay upright as they kept their arms around Mairi’s waist like three bosom buddies.
Mr. Damen Leventis and his lovely fiancée, Ms. Alina Kokinos...
The names and words became louder and louder with every echo in her mind. She wanted to cover her ears and stop herself from hearing it, but she knew it was impossible.
Mandy suddenly squeezed her hand. “Ms. Thorn just called your name.”
Mairi forced her eyes to open and tried to think past her erratic heartbeat and the gnawing pain inside her. Ms. Thorn had the crowd applauding her now, and she knew she had to move. And she would, just as soon as she remembered how to do it.
“You don’t have to do this,” Velvet muttered under her breath, her heart breaking at the blank look on Mairi’s face. It was as if she had just realized that fairy tales were just...fairy tales, and they were never meant to happen in real life.
“I’m okay,” Mairi whispered to them, not wanting her friends to worry about her. She didn’t want to look at them after that, knowing that seeing their concern might cause her to break down.
DAMEN SCHOOLED HIS face into an expressionless mask as he observed Mairi’s ascent to the stage. She looked too pale, he thought, his chest tightening at the sight of her makeup-less face.
