Another choking sensation rose:jealousy; anger.
No. Focus. This is about Agnes—onlyAgnes.
But the spikes of turbulent emotion wouldn’t dissipate. So, without stopping to think, she scrolled through to the number she’d called a year ago, far too many times before she’d wised up, and pressed the button.
It rang long enough for her insides to churn. For the voice to demand what the hell she was doing.
‘Miss Lancaster, I thought we agreed that—’
‘I don’t care what you think, Andreas. I have a message for Nelios—and, yes, I know you’re with him right now. Tell him I thought him many things, but a coward wasn’t one of them. Or maybe all that tough posturing was just an act. Tell me, do you feed off each other’s trauma to justify the way you treat others, or it is just him?’
He inhaled sharply. ‘What did you just say?’
‘He really should’ve got me to sign one of those NDA thingies. But, since he didn’t, and he’s made damn sure I’m blacklisted anyway, I’m thinking of going on a revenge tour. Who knows? Maybe I’ll bring his mother with me and hang out all his dirty laundry for the world to see.’ She grimaced, her fingers tightening around the phone as she cringed inside. Was she taking this too far?
‘What the hell do you want?’
For him to acknowledge his son!Thankfully, she kept that wish unspoken. She’d tried for Angelos’s sake until she’d drawn the line at placing her precious son in the line of fire for rejection.
‘I want him to meet with his mother for one hour. Tomorrow.’
Thick, furious silence greeted her demand. Then the line went dead.
Her breath whooshed out and, as she wilted into the sofa, Vayle had the disturbing inkling that she might’ve done the verything she’d accused Nelios of—Hulk-smashing when a delicate touch was needed.
Should she call back—apologise? Maybe…
She jumped when a text pinged. Eyes wide, she read the message.
5pm tomorrow. Nelios VIII London. NXL Suite.
For the second time in as many minutes, her breath exploded out of her lungs. She’d poked the beast. And it had finally responded.
Whether it would end up devouring them both was another matter. She tossed her phone away, rose and for the next hour busied herself so she wouldn’t dwell on what the following twenty-four hours would entail. Hell, Nelios hadn’t even stated whether he wanted her there or if he wanted to see just his mother.
Why would he want you? He’s already got your lookalike.
The reminder sent shards of glass through her belly, robbing her of breath and calmness. Because this level of distress made her feel suspiciously as ifshe cared.
And sheabsolutelydid not…
The sound of the doorbell brought both relief and mild exasperation, the freedom from her unwanted thoughts warring with not wanting Angelos to be woken up just yet.
Rushing to the door, she opened it. And froze at the sight of the man poised in the doorway, conjured up from recklessness into real life, looking from head to toe like the Greek statue of his homeland.
‘Nelios! W-what are you doing here? You said tomorrow!’
Dark-brown eyes fixed on her for an age without responding, then conducted a searing head-to-toe scrutiny, reminding her that she hadn’t brushed her hair since morning. That she, in herjeans and simple top, was no match for the designer-gowned woman clinging to his arm in that photo.
Vayle watched him contain every expression that threatened to escape until his face was a rigid mask. After what felt like an aeon later, after every atom in her body was singing a frenzied aria and his eyes were near molten, he glanced into the flat.
‘Where is she?’
‘She’s resting. And you didn’t answer me. What are you doing here?’
‘Did you not summon me, or were your threats as empty as the lies you’re still being spoon-fed?’
‘I…yes, okay, I may have laid it on a little thick to Andreas, but I wanted to get your attention.’
