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“Mr. Leventis? Ms. Kokinos? Would you like to go first?” Ms. Thorn sent them an encouraging smile.
Cold sweat bathed Damen's body under his suit. He had an awful feeling that something bad was about to happen.
“Would you like me to take care of this on my own?” he asked, hoping she would indeed say yes. But she did not.
Alina shook her head. “It’s fine.”
Left with no choice, Damen tried not to look visibly reluctant as he offered Alina his hand and guided her to the podium, his hand on the small of her back. He knew that such a simple gesture would hurt Mairi even more, and his gaze searched hers, needing to let her know that it did not and should not mean anything because he did not care about Alina in any way.
It took less than a second for Damen to spot Mairi in the crowd, and he sucked his breath in at the glassy look on her face.
Shit.
Shit, shit, shit.
She looked like he was killing her again and again, and the most painful thing about it was that it might just be true. If the roles had been reversed, Damen knew he would not be as stoic. If he ever saw another man holding Mairi in any way, he knew would very well lose it and start a fistfight.
As he and Alina reached the podium, Ms. Thorn moved close to the microphone and asked charmingly, “How about a kiss between the lovely couple? I am certain I speak for many students in saying we think you had the loveliest engagement party. The two of you make such a beautiful couple and we’d love to celebrate your engagement with you two today.”
Chapter 13
A fucking kiss? Ioniko’s face hardened in disbelief. He had heard that the indomitable Rose Thorn was good at charming people and getting money out of their pockets, and now he knew it was true.
No wonder there was such a huge media presence today, Ioniko thought in disgust. She had planned this all along, and since it was rare to catch Damen and Alina together, much less sharing a kiss, a photo of it would surely put GAYL on the map.
He looked at the couple, who were clearly taken aback by the request as well.
And then he looked at her.
Mairi was completely white, and even this far away he could see the stricken look on her face.
Ioniko’s gaze returned to Leventis, the asshole who had caused Mairi to look like that. He was smiling, talking easily, trying to cajole Ms. Thorn out of the request, but the other woman was just as ruthless, making it impossible for Damen to refuse lest he wanted the crowd to think he disliked kissing his fiancée.
When he turned to Mairi again, he cursed under his breath. She looked like she was near to collapsing.
Fuck this.
He did not like playing the knight in shining armor, but something about Mairi made him want to pretend he was good.
Without a word, he stalked off the stage and headed towards Mairi’s direction.
STAVROS MANOLIS LOOKED up at the imposing entrance of the Grecian Academy For Young Ladies.
After so many years, he had finally found her.
This was the best lead he had in ages, and instincts told him that this time he might really see her again.
Mairi Tanner.
He owed her so many things, not the very least his apology for ruining her life without even knowing it.
Inside, he was greeted by name by one of the usherettes. The woman was well-trained, welcoming him without hesitation even though Stavros knew she was surely shocked and curious about what a bachelor billionaire was doing in a Teachers' Day presentation at a school where none of his family members studied.
Nyssa unclipped the CB radio from her pants to let Ms. Thorn know about the unexpected presence of yet another Greek billionaire. What was it with today, Nyssa wondered, that GAYL was practically bursting with hot rich guys?
And Stavros Manolis? The man was notorious for his workaholic ways, rarely being photographed for the society pages because he was that reclusive. The only events he attended were those sponsored by his company. They were very strictly monitored ones, leaving no chances for the paparazzi to interview him.
Stavros waited patiently for the usherette to speak with her superior. When she turned back to him, her welcoming smile was something he expected. Because he was who he was, doors would always open. Always.
“Ms. Thorn would like to invite you to the VIP row, Mr. Manolis.”
“It would be an honor.” He knew how this worked. He had come here without an invitation. This was what the school required in exchange.
As the usherette escorted him inside the auditorium, he was surprised to see a couple of familiar faces on stage. There was Ioniko Vlahos and, even more surprising, Damen Leventis and his rather insipid fiancée Alina Kokinos.
