‘I said this is also the venue for the pre-launch party for Nelios XV this evening. I’m hosting various ministers and industry people before the hotel officially opens next month. You will be added to the guest list.’
Surprise rifled through her. ‘You want me to attend your party?’
He shrugged. ‘Or you can stay in your bedroom and let the hours whittle away. Your choice.’
She shrugged. ‘But… I don’t have anything to wear.’ She cringed at the feeble response. ‘And I won’t know anyone there.’
His gaze trailed over her once more, this time leaving incendiary fireworks where it touched her skin. ‘That problem will be taken care of. And you’ll be there as my guest. That’s all that should matter.’
‘I…okay.’
Something glinted in his eyes before they were veiled and he turned away. ‘Find Andreas or Capaldi. They’ll let you know if you can make yourself useful or where you can remain out of the way if not.’
She went looking for Capaldi because he was the less threatening of the two. So, of course, she immediately found Andreas surrounded by his staff as he fired off instructions. He stopped speaking and fixed her with a censorious stare when she approached. Firming her spine, she relayed Nelios’s message.
Flint-grey eyes stared her down for a full minute before he called over a minion and conducted a low conversation. Then, relieving the woman of her tablet, he jerked his head for Vayle to follow to a dank office in the basement that looked like something out of the 1950s and held a desk, phone, a pad and pen.
He slapped down the tablet. ‘These are the list of vendors we need to triple-check the supply status for the party. Call, confirm and bring me a list when you’re done. And I wouldn’t think of sabotaging it, if I were you.’ With that statement coldly delivered, he started to walk away.
‘I have a fair idea why you think you hate me. But can I ask that you at least give me the benefit of the doubt? I’ll be out of your hair soon enough, but do you truly begrudge me fighting for my heritage and my family?’
He reversed direction and stopped six feet away. His whole body vibrated with the strength of his feeling. ‘No child should be blamed for the circumstances of their birth. But the adults they grow up to be? Hell, yes, I’ll hold them to the highest moral standard. You associating with Agnes Adamis even after learning what she and Apostolis did to Nelios is not painting yourself in glory. Especially since you’re requesting the benefit of the doubt but are refusing to accommodate the possibility that the person with first-hand knowledge of what happened is giving you their first-hand experience.’
We share a dislike for wilful blindness.Nelios’s words from last night made sense now.
‘Do your work, Miss Lancaster,’ he stated coldly, then left.
A little shakier than she wanted to admit, it took several minutes of wondering what the history between the two men was, and getting herself under control, before she was composed enough to pick up the phone.
And it took a further ten minutes to discover Andreas had given her ‘busy’ work, after several vendors expressed mild exasperation that they were being contacted for the umpteenth time. She ploughed through the list regardless, sometimes relying on sketchy Spanish to get her through a conversation. Three long hours later, she left the basement to deliver a list that Andreas promptly passed off to another minion before telling Vayle she was free to go.
Then she was shown into another overwhelmingly beautiful room overlooking acres of manicured garden. She stood at the window for a long minute before a ping from her phone had her dashing across the room.
It was another text from Agnes.
Happy to hear you’re safe. But I still worry. Do what you need to do, then come home, agapite. Whatever happens, we’ll survive. And while I know my Nelios will have his version of things, please, don’t judge me too harshly. For good or ill, I had my reasons.
Just as before, the message triggered mixed emotions. And, just as before, when Vayle called back it went straight to voicemail. She wanted to respect that some issues were too important to discuss over the phone, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that Nelios’s bitterness might have fertile roots.
But until she knew the full truth…
She walked into the dressing room that dissected the bedroom from the bathroom, then stopped, her eyes widening at the clothes rail sitting next to the shopping bag containing her meagre clothes. Reminded that Nelios had said her party attire would be taken care of, she tentatively approached. The garment bags revealed three stunning party dresses complete with multiple accessories in jade-green, classic black and a blush-pink bohemian dress she never would’ve imagined choosing forherself. Yet her eye kept returning to the off-shoulder design, the bold cut-out pattern above the hip on the left side reminding her of the charged moment last night when Nelios had helped her with her zip.
Was that why she chose the dress? No.Absolutely not. Yet she couldn’t suppress the low blanket of heat that suffused her all through the lunch that was delivered and eaten on her terrace as she watched final, feverish preparations for the party. And when she showered, blow-dried and styled her hair, then donned the pink gown, studded Valentino heels and delicate jewellery, before heading downstairs.
Nelios stood with Andreas and Capaldi in the large marble foyer decked out in red carpeting that unfurled outside to the pillared portico to welcome guests.
Fluttering butterflies in her belly turned to ravenous eagles when three sets of eyes turned her way, conversation freezing as she paused three steps from the bottom, her fingers clinging to the banister for dear life. They stared, then Andreas muttered something under his breath that had Nelios spearing him with a narrow-eyed look before, after responding sharply, he strode towards her. Andreas stormed off while Capaldi looked faintly bemused. A second later, he too walked away.
Which left her with Nelios, clean-shaven and impossibly handsome, unyieldingly imposing and mesmerising in a black dinner-jacket and snow-white studded shirt. He stopped before her and, despite her slight height advantage, Vayle didn’t even fool herself into thinking she held an advantage.
Because it turned out having Nelios looking up at her held its own alarming thrill. Made her want to do foolish things, such as slide her arms over those muscle-packed shoulders, brush herfingers against the thick hair curling around his nape and press her lips to…
No.
Thorough and ferocious, his gaze trailed over, heightening that simmer in her belly. ‘Your choice of wardrobe was adequate?’ he enquired, but somehow Vayle believed he was simply making conversation; that his mind, like hers, was wholly preoccupied with the electric insanity seething beneath the surface.
‘It was more than adequate. Thank you.’
