“So, have someone empty out his apartmentand send the papers here.” Leo’s mind went to his brother. Alexi had been a very hands-on company man. More than once Leo had discovered him dressed like a longshoreman and working alongside their employees on the deck of a ship. He’d tried telling Alexi this wasn’t proper behavior for the future CEO of Moustakas Shipping, but Alexi had laughed his concerns off.
Since being the target of an attempted kidnapping while he’d been visiting the United States, Alexi had become more secretive about his schedule. He rarely announced his arrival in Greece, only letting his parents know he was coming home for a visit from the airport as he was getting into a limo. Leo had never understood why Alexi changed so much, but the fear of endangering others or being kidnapped successfully seemed ever present in his mind. Nothing Leo had said could change that. Now it’s too late!
Leo realized everyone else in the room was watching him and he schooled his features, ready for whatever was coming next. “Did I say something wrong?”
Vasil’s face took on a hard look as he watched his only remaining son. “You will go to Paris and bring the papers back. I can’t… Your mother and I cannot deal with the thought of some stranger going through your brother’s things.” When Leo opened his mouth, his father spoke again. “This is not a request as much as an order. We need closure and cannot have that until your brother’s belongings are back here in Greece.”
Leo shook his head. “Without a body for a proper funeral there will be no closure.”
Several of the board members and longtime family friends present made noises of shock. Leo didn’t care. He wasn’t onboard with stopping the search for his brother’s body. He still held out hope that somehow Alexi had survived. As twins, he and Alexi shared a bond that no one else could understand. Deep in his heart, Leo just couldn’t believe his brother was dead. He didn’t feel it, but he kept that to himself—especially around his distraught parents. He couldn’t give his mother false hope, and seeing the devastation in his father’s eyes kept him silent on that front as well.
“Fine,” Leo conceded. “I’ll leave for Paris this afternoon. I shouldn’t be gone more than a day or two.”
The attorney handed him a folder containing all of the legal documents that would be required to close out any financial accounts Alexi had created in Paris and to gain access to his apartment. “Good luck.”
Leo nodded wordlessly. He gave his father one last look, and left the boardroom. Sending word to have his private jet fueled up and ready to leave within the hour, he packed a small bag, and headed for the private airstrip where all of the Moustakas’ jets were kept. He’d make a quick trip to Paris, load up all of Alexi’s papers, clean out his bank accounts, and return. Once the important things were secured, a moving company could take care of the rest of his brother’s belongings. The attorney and his parents could sort through everything.
Three hours later, Leo stared at the papers in his hand in disbelief. Gaining access to his brother’s apartment in Paris had been very easy, the doorman having been told to expect him sometime this afternoon. Alexi had always been organized. Finding the stock certificates was as easy as opening the floor safe and pulling out the right folder. It was the paper attached to them that caused Leo to pause:
Transfer paperwork showing that all of his stock in the family company had been transferred to a G. Larsen who resided in America. The ink was smeared and the rest of the first name was unidentifiable. Leo couldn’t even tell if G. Larsen was male or female.
Leo was dumbfounded. Since when did Alexi know any Americans—let alone an American he’d leave a billion dollars of stock to? The paperwork clearly stated that this was a woman. Leo wondered how Alexi could have been involved with a woman this closely and no one in the family had known. The date was several months after his attempted kidnapping, which made even less sense. Alexi, my adelfós. What was going on with you? Why didn’t you tell me any of this?
He sat there for almost an hour, searching his brother’s computer for anything related to G. Larsen, but he kept coming up empty handed. Finally, with no other options available to him, he packed the papers up and headed back to the airport. The rest of Alexi’s belongings could wait. This latest situation could not.
On his way back to Greece, he called the attorney and apprised him of the situation. He knew his father would be furious that he hadn’t been told first, but Leo wasn’t about to be responsible for causing his father to have a heart attack over the phone. No, telling this news was better done in person. The attorney told him to go straight to the company headquarters upon his arrival and that he would make sure his father was there waiting for him.
Leo arrived back at the company just before nine o’clock that evening. He was shocked to see the full board of directors in attendance, along with his father and several others, Petrina Pappas amongst them. Leo gave her a hard look. Why is she here? Remembering the hard task at hand, he pulled his attention back to his father and the somber board members staring at him.
“Patéras, I didn’t realize I was interrupting a board meeting.”
“The board meeting was called after your phone call.” His father’s expression indicated his anger that the attorney was called before he was. “I was told this would be for the best. Please, tell us what you have found so that we may deal with the consequences and all return to our homes and our beds.”
Leo looked at the unsmiling faces gathered around the large table. He ignored the smile Petrina sent him. They’d been on again off again lovers for several years, but while she would like nothing better than becoming Mrs. Leo Moustakas, he had no intention of ever letting the beautiful, conniving woman get ahold of his family’s wealth. She was fantastic in bed and always up for a good time, provided he added enough incentive to the deal, but that was where the attraction ended for him. He’d thought more than once that she was slightly unstable, but he had no proof and so far, she was willing to go away when he was through with her.
He looked at his Uncle and immediately knew he wasn’t going to like the plans set in motion after his phone call. His father’s brother had not been blessed with any children to inherit his portion of the company. The man looked smug and Leo knew that boded ill for his future. Petrina was his Uncle’s goddaughter. Suddenly Leo had a sneaky suspicion that the attorney had set things in motion he was sure to disagree with. Why else would Petrina be here unless she thought she had a chance at getting a ring on her finger?
“Leo!” his father demanded.“Explain what this is all about!”
Leo cleared his throat. “There’s a problem. Patéras, maybe we should discuss things privately...”
“What problem? With the stock?”
Leo nodded. “Yes. I really think we should discuss this first.”
“If the problem is with the stock, the board will hear about it eventually. They might as well hear it now. Tell us.”
Leo glared at the attorney. “Fine. This problem isn’t something we can just make go away.”
“Did you find the stock certificates?” his father demanded.
“Yes, but…”
“No buts! Where are they?”
Leo laid the folder he carried on the table. “In there.” When his father reached for them, he placed his hand on the folder. “He signed them away,” Leo told his father, not knowing how else to break the news.
“What do you mean he signed them away?” Vasil’s voice was very quiet.
Leo watched him carefully, monitoring his breathing and color, just in case the news was enough to cause his heart to seize. “Alexi transferred the stock to an American woman.”
His father was silent for so long, Leo wondered if he was still there.
“Patéras?”
“What is this game you are playing, Leo?” his father asked in a harsh whisper.
Leo sighed. “No game. Alexi signed all of his stock over to a woman named G. Larsen.”
“Gee? What kind of name is that?”
his father snapped.
“I really don’t know, and it’s not her name, just the first initial. I’ve gone through his computer and I can’t find any reference to anyone that fits. The only thing I have is an address in Washington D.C. for her.”
Vasil pulled the folder out from beneath Leo’s hand and opened it. His eyes narrowed when he saw the transfer document. “Why would your brother do something like this?”
Leo shook his head. “I don’t know.”
The attorney leaned over and lifted out the papers, flipping through them. He scowled. “These are all legal. He gave away his part of the company.”
“This makes no sense.” Leo cringed inwardly as Petrina walked over and laid a hand on his shoulder.
“I’m so sorry, Leo. Your uncle warned me this had happened and he’s come up with a solution.”
Leo looked at his uncle and then back to Petrina. “What are you doing here?”
“Saving you.” Her smile had a calculating edge. “Your uncle has agreed to sign over his stock to me upon our marriage, giving you a controlling interest in the company once again. It won’t matter what Alexi foolishly did, you’ll still have control of the company.”
Leo stood up, forcing her to step back and remove her hand. “No!”
“Leo…” Petrina’s voice took on a petulant note that normally got her whatever she wanted.
Leo looked at his father. “I won’t be forced into marrying, not even for the sake of the company.”
Vasil stood up, meeting his gaze with an unwavering one of his own. “Go and do whatever you have to do to get this person to sign the stock back over to us. And figure out who this person was to your brother!”
“Don’t you think we should let the attorneys—”
“Okhi! You will go and fix this situation. If you choose not to do so, you can marry Petrina.”
Leo shook his head, anger filling him. “I will not be forced to marry—”
“You will if you want to retain your stock in the company. You’ve had no problem being with Petrina before, and it’s time you stopped playing around anyway. You’re thirty-one years old and it’s time you acted like the heir to an empire.”
Leo couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Surely there has to be another way.” He looked at the attorney.
The man only shook his head. “Unless this person will willingly sign the stock back over to you, I don’t see any other option. Without Alexi’s stock, you and your father do not have a controlling interest in the company. Your uncle is free to do whatever he wishes with his stock.”
Leo turned to the man he’d considered family. “You would force me into a loveless marriage?”
“Arranged marriages worked for your father and myself. I don’t see a problem with my solution. Petrina will make you a lovely wife. The board has been lenient with your antics in the past, but the company needs a strong leader at the helm, not one that likes to play as much as he likes to work!” His uncle stared at him, daring him to lash out and prove himself unsuitable for the task ahead.
Leo was furious and growing closer to losing his temper with every passing moment. He turned back to give his father one last stare.“Fine! I will find this person and get the stock back.”
He snatched the file from the table and strode from the boardroom. His fury at being forced into such an untenable situation pounded in his veins. He had his valet ready a bag for him and headed straight for the airport. He wasn’t about to waste any time getting started.
His father and uncle hadn’t put a time limit on him accomplishing this task, but they would. That was the Moustakas’ way. Patience wasn’t a virtue and wasn’t something either of the hardheaded men had a supply of. They would give him a small amount of time to track this woman down, and then they would expect results—a return of the stock, or his ring on Petrina’s hand. Skata! Can this situation get anymore screwed up?
Chapter 2
Washington, D.C. …
Gemma Larsen sighed as she stepped into her small, cluttered office in the bowels of the Smithsonian Museum. In her hand was Tyler’s latest tuition bill. Her brother should have graduated by now, but last year he’d decided to enroll in graduate school. Gemma was happy for him, but with more education came a much bigger price tag. He’d applied for scholarships and fellowships to help cover the staggering cost, but just last week he informed her that he’d been turned down for most of them.
Better get it over with. She slid the envelope open. She fell into her desk chair in shock. “Twenty thousand dollars? By September first? It might as well be a million! God, Tyler. How do you expect me to come up with that much money?”
She felt tears of failure sting her eyes and dropped her head onto her desk. Her phone rang and she answered it without glancing at the caller I.D. or lifting her head. “Hello?”
“Gem? Hey, what’s wrong?” It was Aimee, her best friend.
“Hey, Aimee. Just another wonderful day in my life.”
“What’s Tyler done now?” Aimee’s voice took on a hard edge.
“I got his bill for next year in the mail today and made the mistake of bringing it with me to work. I just opened it,” Gemma told her, tears clogging her throat.
“Oh, sweetie! How bad is it?”
“Bad, Aimee. Really bad. Twenty thousand dollars for one year? How am I going to come up with that kind of money?”
“Why are you even considering this your problem?” Aimee fired back. “Tyler’s twenty-two years old. He should take responsibility for his own finances, not expect you to pay for everything. Look, he decided to go to graduate school so he should take out a loan or get a decent paying job to cover the cost.”
“He has a job,” Gemma protested.
Aimee gave an unladylike snort. “Delivering pizzas a few hours each night and playing video games all day, everyday, isn’t a job and you know it! Tyler’s using you and you’re allowing him to act like an irresponsible kid. You need to focus on you and Damien for once.”
“My parents…”
“Have been gone a longtime sweetie, and they would have never allowed Tyler to be so irresponsible. It’s time for him to grow up.” Aimee’s voice held compassion and kindness.
Gemma swallowed. It was hard to argue with Aimee. Knowing how tight Gemma’s money situation was, her friend had moved in with her two years ago to help ease some of the financial burden. But even with Aimee’s support, they still lived paycheck to paycheck. “I promised Tyler I would help put him through school…”
“A four-year degree, not graduate school. That’s on him.”
“I know we don’t see eye to eye on Tyler, but he’s getting good grades and after he finishes, he’ll be much more employable and then he can stand on his own feet.”
“You’ve been living paycheck to paycheck for so long, I don’t think you really see how Tyler’s using you.”
Gemma took a breath, having heard this same thing from Aimee more than once. “Don’t worry about it, I’ll think of something.” I always do.
Aimee snorted again. “If you find a way to make an extra twenty grand in the next three months, hang onto the secret. We’ll market it and make a killing. Sweetie, you don’t even make that much in three months’ time.”
“I know, but maybe I can pick up a few side jobs. I’ll figure out something.” Gemma bit her lip. “I should get back to work. I have to pick Damien up before five P.M. tonight…”
“Let me do it.” Aimee said. “I’m already off and was headed home anyway.”
“Are you sure? You probably have all kinds of things to do…”
“I wouldn’t have offered it I wasn’t willing to do it. Stop being so self-sufficient and let someone help you out for once.” The censure in her voice was the kind only a best friend could get away with using.
Gemma winced. “Fine, but don’t feed him too many snacks or he won’t want his dinner.”
“Yes, Mom. I’ll take care of him. You forget about that letter for the r
est of the afternoon and get some work done. We’ll see you this evening.”
“Thanks, Aimee.”
“Don’t mention it—and I mean don’t.”
Gemma smiled as she hung up the phone. I’m so lucky to have a friend like Aimee. The woman had stuck with her through the worst time of Gemma’s life. When her parents died, Gemma’s life changed drastically. She’d taken full responsibility for raising her younger brother. At the time, she’d been romantically involved with Jason Stephens, her college boyfriend of two years. She’d believed they were heading for marriage.
Jason had been very supportive of her handling her parents’ affairs—until she announced Tyler would live with them till he was finished with school. Jason threw a fit. He’d tried to force her to let her brother go into foster care. Gemma shook her head. It was still hard to believe the man she thought she’d knew intimately was so selfish, lacking any compassion for others. She’d tried to make him see her brother was her responsibility, but he’d finally made her choose between her brother and him. She’d chosen Tyler. And I’d make the same decision again today!
Aimee had been there as she’d struggled with being not only an older sister, but both mother and father to a teenage boy. She’d encouraged Gemma to find some normalcy for herself. Gemma had gone on several dates, but the moment the guy learned she was raising her younger brother they’d broken things off.
Gemma exhaled loudly. So what! Aimee’s worth a thousand dates. At first, the rejections had hurt, and then she just stopped putting herself out there to be hurt. Even the thought of getting romantically involved with anyone left a sour taste in her mouth. Men are an additional problem I just don’t need in my life!
At least I have Paris. Gemma smiled. That was the only break in her self-imposed isolation she’d allowed—and what a break it was. Aided by too much champagne and a suave Mediterranean man who’d swept her off her feet. Her smile faded. That disappointment was the worst of all.
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