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“All in good time,” Hailey replied as she checked her outfit over as she stood. She knew exactly why Stefano wanted her to come see him now. Demetrius was coming in this morning to get his office situated and Stefano wanted to set him straight the moment he was through the doors. It had been barely a week since he arrived, taking over her life, and she was regretting the agreement to the ruse. She should have simply found another job, far from here because Stefano was nothing if not dominating. Whether it was in regard to business, or her choice of outfit did not matter, he let his opinion out on both occasions quite clearly and adamantly.
He had stopped by that weekend to find her in shorts about to go out for her weekend errands—a stop at the grocery store, a pleasant stroll through the park, and whatever else she decided to do, and he had nearly taken her head off at the idea of her going outside as such. He’d barged into her bedroom to look over her clothes and she had grown furious, nearly hitting him before pushing him out telling him yet again that he would not dictate to her.
As a compromise, not that it was one truly, he said he would come with her, ensure no one attempted anything while she wore his ring. It had taken him only a few minutes to steer her where he wanted them to go, stopping into the designer boutiques where he insisted, she get a new wardrobe for both functions they would be required to attend, as well as for the office. The more she resisted the stormier his eyes had grown, the tighter his hold on her wrist became and she’d given in to keep from causing a scene.
Today she was wearing a dress suit he’d chosen, which if she admitted to herself, she loved, but she didn’t want to give him that satisfaction. It was fitted, showing off the curve of her body with a belt highlighting how small her waist was. It ended just above the knee and was slim against it with the asymmetrical hem that matched the cropped jacket with long sleeves to cover her arms. It made her feel incredibly sensual which was strange, but it fit her coloring and paired with heels boosted her confidence for today’s meeting.
“Come on Hailey, whose ring is it?” Elizabeth asked standing the in doorway to stall her.
“It’s Stefano’s but,” she said trying to calm her down, “please don’t say anything yet. We need to tell our families first before the entire town knows. His mother and stepfather live next to mine, but I hadn’t seen him for almost seven years until he came to town to see about the takeover.”
“You owe me the whole story then,” she said before letting her pass by her.
Hailey moved up to the top floor grinning inwardly when she saw the glare from Athena as she trained her replacement, a twenty-three-year-old half-Greek male who was fluent and anxious for the opportunity presented to him. He gave her a polite and friendly smile knowing quite well, who she was after yesterday, overhearing Athena’s obnoxious comments to her about Stefano not following through with the engagement.
“Xavier, good morning…Athena, Stefano said you were going back to Greece to work,” she said looking over the boxes sitting next to the desk. “I do hope you enjoy your new position. I’m sure Hector will be as wonderful of a boss as Stefano has been for you.”
“You’ve won nothing,” Athena said giving her a glare. “Every time he comes to Greece, which is quite often, I shall have him back in my bed and you will be home crying into your pillow once the engagement is over, he’ll never stay with you.”
“Of course, he will,” she said hearing his door open behind her. “Stefano’s a wonderful person, loyal to a fault, and I’m sure you understand that he needs you in Greece more than here with him, after all he has me now.”
“That I do,” Stefano stated surprising Athena at his appearance. He saw the unheeded fury pull inward and knew it was best to get Athena as far from Hailey as possible. He wouldn’t allow a jealous woman he had no feelings for and had never been with to harm her.
“Good morning,pethi mou,” he added kissing her cheek as he leaned over, sliding his hand down to hers to turn her around and lead her to his office. He slid his free hand underneath her chin and lifted her face towards his, dropping soft whispering kisses on her lips.
“Now it’s a good morning,” she stated allowing him to walk them to his office as Athena stewed.
“Do I detect a hint of glee inside you right now?” Stefano asked once the door shut behind them. He pulled her over to the sitting area and took the spot on the love seat he’d added, bringing her down next to him.
“For you sending Athena back to Greece? Perhaps a bit since the woman dismissed me within an instant of meeting her. I’ve met plenty like her that think that because I’m pale and short that no man would ever want me over them. It may not be true in this case, but she certainly threw out the first barb.”
“Well, I must say thank you for showing me Athena’s true colors. She hid them well until you strolled into my office.”
“I was ordered up to your office Stefano. I would have never willingly strolled into it,” she argued watching his eyes darken as she spoke.
“It’s for your own safety Hailey.”
“So, you say,” she mused, “but you’re welcome on the Athena front. She was simply waiting for the right time to slip into your bed.”
“Seeing your sixteen-year-old self in her?” he asked, and she shrugged making him laugh. “You were never that crass Hailey. You were naïve and seeing Demetrius through rosy shades, just as he wanted you to see him. I’m glad that I caught you there before he arrived home. I would hate for you to become one of his girls.”
“Yet you’re forcing Olympia to become one?”
“No, I’m forcing Demetrius to honor her, as I would have you if he’d taken what you’d planned to give that night. You may not be Greek, but I find myself quite protective of you.”
“That’s not what I called you that night, or any time I’ve seen or thought of you since.”
“I know but one day you’ll understand why I didn’t want you to be in Demetrius’ bed,” he stated with a glance at the clock. He slid a hand behind her ear, lifting her face towards his adding, “Now, Demetrius should be here in a few moments, so you need to relax.”
The only thing his statement did was the opposite and as his lips covered hers, she felt those unfamiliar feelings creep through her again. She could not stand him or what he represented but his kisses were enticing. Then again, they were meant to be, she reminded herself. They were playing a role after all. One meant to protect her from Demetrius he claimed, but who would protect her from him?
She felt his hand push into her hair and was glad she’d left it down, she did not need everyone asking what she’d been up to in order for it to fall, and Stefano was physical when it came to kissing. He used his entire body in it, his hands, his lips, his arms, and even his legs in order to make contact she’d discovered, and it did horribly wonderful things to her body. She knew she should fight it, but she enjoyed feeling like a woman rather than a girl and let them continue until the door opened and a shocked grunt sounded.
Stefano didn’t seem to hear, or if he had he wasn’t responding to it, and she pulled back, smiling when his hands reached to return her to him.
“Stefano, we’re no longer alone,” she said keeping her face from Demetrius after a peek through her strands confirmed it was him.
“So, it would seem,” Stefano stated cupping her cheek as he dropped another onto her lips. “I’m sorry,pethi mou, next time he will know better than to barge in without knocking,” he added looking from her over to Demetrius as he finished his statement.
