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‘Let them stew for a bit. I find that focuses the mind. Five days, maybe a week should do it. Then tell them no. They take the deal on the table or we walk away.’
She opened her mouth to press him, ask if he was sure. The loud beep of an incoming video call halted it.
‘Trust me,’ he murmured. ‘And trust yourself.’
Imogen’s eyes widened. Something jumped inside her.Trust yourself.It was more positive encouragement than she’d ever had in her life. And it scared her how much she wanted more.Neededit.
Grateful for the distraction, she pressed the button to the call and watched seven expressions fill the screen.
The oldest, Apostolos Goumas, the most outspoken of the board members, glared fiercely at her.
From the very beginning, he’d disapproved of her, both as Zeph’s chosen wife—a position rumoured to be one he’d hoped his daughter would fill—and at her status on the board. No doubt he’d have discouraged his own daughter from taking up a space on the board he deemed should be reserved only for men.
‘You have located your husband and you didn’t see fit to inform us?’ he barked.
Even from a few feet away she felt the burst of displeasure from Zeph. Probably because it was the same emotion threatening to burst free from her. Years of practice aided her in not blowing her top.
‘First and foremost, I wasn’t aware I answered to you, Apostolos. Secondly, what would you have done had you known? If I recall, you’ve been urging me to have him declared lost at sea for several months now. So why the urgency to know he’s alive and well?’
The old man bristled and leaned forward, no doubt to put Imogen in her place. But another board member interrupted before he could speak.
‘Is he well?’ Vasili asked.
In a pool of sharks, Vasili was perhaps the least aggressive. Not that he wasn’t as prone to looking down his nose at her on occasion as his other colleagues. He just did it less.
She didn’t need to glance across her desk to verify Zeph’s well-being. She could feel his animal magnetism like a force field, pressing down on her. Hell-bent on dominating her. ‘Yes, he’s well.’
After several seconds, once they realised she wasn’t going to elaborate, their expression ranged from mild irritation to outright anger.
‘Listen here, girl,’ Apostolos snapped again. ‘You have no right to keep us in the dark. As members of his board, we need to know when he will return.Ifhe will return. What is his state of mind? And we need to know where he’s been all this time, at the very least. You can’t just pick and choose when you—’
‘He’s my husband. I think you’ll find I can.’
His face grew redder. ‘What about the impact this news could have on the stock market? It could be catastrophic.’
‘I checked it this morning, as I’m sure you did too, so you’ll know it’s doing very well. And I disagree. I think news of Zeph’s return will be fantastic for Diamandis stock. But that won’t be done according to your timetable, Apostolos. Or at the whim of anyone else on the board, for that matter.’
Several outraged expressions filled the screen at her.
Trust yourself.
She wanted to glance Zeph’s way but she kept her gaze straight, her focus neutral.
Of course, Apostolos was the first to vocalise his affront. ‘You dare to lecture us on matters of the company’s health?’
‘It’s less of a lecture and more of a disagreement,’ she replied smoothly.
‘How do we even know there’s truth in this sudden rumour? None of us had any idea there was a chance that he could be alive. How do we know you’re not making this—?’
Apostolos’s belligerence whittled away when Zeph rose from his chair, stepped close and his image filled the space behind her. When he went one better and lowered his head alongside hers, several gasps filled the screen.
‘I’m going to pretend I didn’t just hear you call my wife a liar,’ he said with icy hauteur.
One by one, she watched them reel back in shock, then cower beneath Zeph’s fierce glare.
Bursts of speech and hastily put-together smiles appeared one by one. Zeph silenced them with the simple but effective act of raising his hand.
‘Kalismera, gentlemen. As you can see, I am alive and well, as my wife just told you. I will be in touch with you when I deem it right. In the meantime, you will show my wife the respect she deserves.’ He paused and swung his gaze to Apostolos. ‘And the next time I hear you speak to her in any manner less than respectfully, you will not appreciate the consequences. Any of you.’
