“I sent messages to everyone to keep it quiet.”
Dimitrios chuckled. “And you think that’ll work? Women talk, Aris. Especially about shit like this.”
“Then I’ll handle it tonight. I’ll explain everything before the rumors reach her.” I pulled out my phone, checking for responses to my earlier message. Nothing. “I’m calling Irida. She needs to keep everyone away from Deanna until I get home.”
We were supposed to be deciding where to build our life. Greece or America. Instead, I was trying to prevent my wife from learning that a vindictive former employee was attempting to destroy everything we’d just begun.
The call went to voicemail. I tried again. Still nothing.
Before I could try a third time, the boardroom door opened.
Deanna entered, pushing the double stroller, followed by Kayla with her infant in a sling, my mother, and my aunt.
Kostas and Dimi stood. I froze long enough to register the catastrophic timing, then moved toward the women.
“You should be home resting, Mother,” Dimitrios said, but my focus was entirely on Deanna—and the fact that both she and my mother were here, in this building, three weeks after major surgeries.
Konstantin moved towards Kayla, wrapping his arm around her. “You should be resting as well, Michaila.”
“I had a baby, K. My legs still function perfectly well.”
I glanced at my children, unable to resist touching their soft curls, then met my wife’s wary gaze. “I once believed Chrysanthos would be responsible for my premature death,” I said quietly in English, “however, you, you have taken his place.”
“We need to talk, Aris.”
Konstantin and Dimitrios exchanged glances. Dimitrios spoke first. “We were just leaving.”
“Don’t leave on my account. I assume you were discussing the lawsuit?”
The air left my lungs. She knew. Of course, she knew.
Dede continued. “When were you planning to tell me?”
Dede’s tone held no heat or accusation, but the question itself revealed the damage already done. Not to her trust in my fidelity, but to her trust that I’d be honest with her.
I could survive a lawsuit, public scrutiny, and shareholder pressure. Losing Dede’s belief in me would destroy me.
My mother responded in Greek before I could answer. “Ari did nothing wrong. That woman is a liar.”
“Mother, I appreciate your support, but this is between my wife and me. You should be at home recovering, not standing here worrying about things I can handle.” I took hold of the stroller’s handle. “Dede, we go now.”
“I’m not going anywhere until we talk.”
“We will talk. In my office. Where we have privacy, yes?”
Kayla moved to take the stroller from me. “I’ll watch the babies.”
“No.” Deanna’s hand covered mine on the handle. “They come with us.”
I nodded once. “Of course.” I looked at my brothers. “Get Mother home and make sure she rests. She should not be on her feet this soon after being released from the hospital. We will continue our conversation later, yes?”
I guided Deanna toward the door, acutely aware of my family watching us leave.
33
The elevator ride up to the executive floor felt longer than it probably was. Aris stood beside me, one hand on the stroller, the other wrapped around my waist. Neither of us spoke.
When the doors slid open, I stepped into a space that took my breath away. I’d been so focused when I arrived at this building earlier that I hadn’t really absorbed my surroundings. Now I took it in.
