‘It might be my hotel in terms of legal ownership,’ Dimitria began, ‘but I know the hotel has had a place in your heart for many years.’
Faye swallowed. This felt like a defining moment, as defining a moment as finding out Matthew had been sending dick pics to someone called Mistress Melania. As defining a moment as her looking at the decree absolute and wondering exactly how they had ended up there. As defining a moment as packing her bags and moving to Greece. What happened now?
‘Faye, I told you I will ensure that you, and Saffron, if she needs it, are taken care of and?—’
‘And it might take a while for you to even find a buyer. Not that I’m wishing that, just that, when I’ve been looking for property there are always hotels or complexes for sale for months and months so?—’
‘Actually, Alexandros said he had had a very specific enquiry. Someone who is very interested in buying the hotel.’
Now Faye felt as untethered and unstable as one of the windsurfers in Avlaki Bay. This was real. This was going to happen. She nodded even though every fibre of her being wanted to pretend to not acknowledge Dimitria’s words.
Her boss let a breath leave her, then she let go of Faye’s arm and went back to stroking the greenery. ‘It’s a big deal, I know that. My life with Spiros was equally wrapped up in this place, but it is not easy to run a hotel and you know this because you do it, and, if we are honest, it was work that killed him, this beautiful place with all its demands.’
Faye baulked a little. She never remembered Spiros without a smile on his face. But when they had first met she had been a customer, and keeping a smile on guests’ faces, even when times were tough, was one of the many things Greeks did best. But even now, even amid a hot, tough season, Faye couldn’t imagine her life being anything else, being anywhere else. However, this wasn’t her call to make and she knew Dimitria needed something to change.
‘I understand,’ Faye said with a sober nod.
‘Do you?’ Dimitria asked, definite hope and almost relief in her expression.
‘Yes, of course.’ She nodded again. ‘And whatever you need me to do to help you, I’m here.’
The words were burning her insides, but she adored Dimitria, wanted what was best for her, and she could see how much Dimitria needed her to be her supporter in this endeavour.
‘Thank you, Faye. Because I’ve invited Alexandros to Cavo Barbaro for dinner tonight to discuss the enquiry in more detail and I would really like you to be there. You know how much I value your opinion.’
‘Absolutely,’ Faye said. ‘Of course I will come.’
And hopefully the next few hours would be long enough for her to perfect her brave face.
‘So,’ Dimitria said. ‘Have you got to the bottom of what Mr Petsas is doing here?’
‘No. I didn’t realise that was what I was supposed to be doing. I’m just, you know, humouring his requests.’ Was that what they called it these days? She knew she was blushing.
‘I was hoping that perhaps he had come to visit his grandmother,’ Dimitria said, starting to walk again.
‘He has a grandmother here?’ Faye asked. ‘Are you sure?’
She had asked Kostas about family. He had said he had no family on Corfu. Why had he lied?
‘I am sure,’ Dimitria stated. ‘I mean, she is a virtual recluse, but she does venture out of that rustic home every now and then.’ Dimitria patted her arm. ‘Come on, let us be happy today. No matter how this meeting with Alexandros goes tonight we will be having more of Cavo Barbaro’s excellent food, no?’
Faye smiled, but her stomach was not currently craving a Greek feast; it was filled with a meze of tension.
26
CORFU TOWN
‘Oh my God, it is real!’
Stathis’s exclamation was too loud as he looked at the statue in this bustling square, people walking past, freddo cappuccinos in hand, street musicians playing traditional music. Kostas adjusted his sunglasses, toyed with the baseball cap on his head. He didn’t want to be here and now he was here he definitely didn’t want to be seen here.
‘Did you think it wasn’t real?’ he answered his adviser.
‘It is tall!’
‘Yeah,’ Kostas said, shaking his head.
‘Is it your exact height?’ Stathis asked. ‘Wait, did you have to pose for someone to make this?’
