by Marie Kelly
“Feeling better?” Alexos’ soft voice had made Grace jump, rolling onto her back to find him looking down at her, a soft smile on his mouth.
“You really were tired” he had chuckled “Is your head better?” Grace nodding “Yeah…yeah it is”
About to speak he had murmured sensually “Good…because I have missed this”, his mouth taking hers and silencing her. With a groan her arms had flown around his neck pulling him in harder as the flames had consumed her.
As they had lain in each others’ arms she had felt so confused. Why had she let him do this to her again - let him use her body knowing that that was all it was to him. Some casual sex with a fill-in fiancée until the one he really wanted was finally free, the knowledge sending a stabbing pain through her.
“Penny for them” His voice had pulled her from her thoughts as she had looked up at him giving a shaky smile “Not sure they are worth even that”
Alexos had given a soft frown as he had turned her onto her back looking down at her
“I want to know everything that is going on inside that beautiful head of yours” he had murmured softly, his fingers brushing a stray hair from her cheek, this simple action sending all new signals through her, biting her lip with indecision she had looked up at him, the truth rising to her lips as her phone had once more begun to ring.
Chapter Six
Alexos had watched as she had seemed on the verge of telling him something, something important he could tell, the sigh as her phone had rang ending it as she had rolled over to retrieve the device. As she had listened, her body had stiffened, Grace sitting up quickly, her face full of concern as she had looked over at him
“What…what is wrong?” a frown on his face as her eyes had closed in pain.
“Mum whatever it is…it is not worth putting up with all that…please you have to let me come and get you”
Grace once more went quiet as the woman on the other end of the phone had talked.
“Please meet me…we can talk about it” more silence, relief on her face as she had nodded to something the other person had said, her eyes looking over at Alexos.
“Tonight?” her eyes questioning as he had nodded, lifting his phone and once more calling back the helicopter.
Ringing off she had leapt from the bed, pacing naked backwards and forwards her hands wringing by her side “My mother told my father that she was leaving him”
Alexos watching her carefully
“He told her that if she does then he is going to reveal something, something that she seems terrified of. He also said that he will cut her off without a penny”
Stopping she had fixed him with a look so full of pain “He is blackmailing her to stay”
Her eyes filled up with tears as she had looked heavenwards a flash of anger running through her before she had looked back at him her lips curling with contempt.
“Seems to run in our family doesn’t it……..manipulated by men through the use of blackmail”
Alexos had felt the guilt hit him hard, as speechlessly he had held her look “Is she going to leave him?” his question making Grace groan softly
“She says that she needs to talk to me before she can think about it. I promised her that I would meet her on the mainland - the two of them are still there”
Nodding softly he had risen “The helicopter is coming back for us in two hours. Enough time for a shower and dinner”
As she had made to turn down food he had taken her hand in his leading her into the bathroom
“No dinner, no helicopter” Grace closing her mouth at the insistence of his tone, part of her knowing that having eaten nothing all day she was indeed hungry and would need the strength for the talk with her mother.
Her mother was pale and tired the first thoughts that had crossed Grace’s mind as she had moved into the foyer of the exclusive hotel. Scanning the room for any sign of her father she had quickly joined the woman sitting so small and alone on the large couch, she standing to hug her daughter closely, tears coming to the older woman’s eyes.
“Oh Grace…this is such a mess…I’m so sorry to drag you into this”
Sitting down she had held her mother’s hands, looking resolutely into her eyes.
“Don’t be…I am glad that you are including me” a small smile lighting her lips “I have missed you so much mum”
The sob from the other woman had tugged at Grace as she had whispered for her not to cry, her mother normally so staunch as she had put up with all she had from her husband, always seeming to rise above his petty comments and jibes.
However, now she seemed to be falling apart, Grace moving closer and placing a comforting arm around her shoulders “Whatever it is mum…I promise that we can deal with it together”
Her mother had raised her head, anguish on her lovely face “You don’t understand Grace…the secret he is prepared to make public is about you”
The surprise on her face had been hard to ignore as she had given another grin. “I don’t think that there is much that he can say about me that isn’t already public knowledge”, squeezing her mother’s hand, her look becoming concerned as the other woman had given another sob looking away
“Oh Grace…I don’t know what to do…if I leave him…it will be hard for you too”
Shaking her head firmly she had given a reassuring smile. “There is nothing that can be so bad that you have to put up with him”
For a few moments her mother had sat in silence, a myriad of emotions running through her expressive face before finally she had looked up at her daughter, her voice shaky “He is not your father Grace”
Grace’s eyes widened in shock, her mother looking away, pain on her face.
“When I was 19, I fell in love. He was everything you could ever hope for in a man. Kind, gentle, caring and I was lost, ready to do exactly what you did…run off and elope because my father thought him beneath our family”
Her voice had broken as sadness had filled her “One day there was an accident…and he was killed…it broke my heart”
Grace could hear the pain in her voice, even after all that time
“Then I found out I was pregnant and your father agreed to marry me, even though I was carrying another man’s child…I was so upset that I just let them push me into it…I didn’t love him, and I don’t think that he ever really loved me. Just wanted someone to produce his children”
Anger now in her tone “He always blamed me for not having his sons…but truth is that I don’t think that he could have children, so he blamed me and you for having no suitable heirs”
With tears winding unchecked down her face she had looked bleakly at Grace “I am so sorry Grace, can you ever forgive me?”
She however, had smiled, a wide happy smile as she had pulled her mother into her arms “He isn’t my father…Oh my God that is the best news I have heard in so long”
Pulling back, her mother had regarded her with confusion “But…don’t you see, people will know that you were not born in wedlock…you will be penalised for it…Alexos and his family will not see you as suitable”
Taking her mother’s hand once more in hers, she had smiled warmly
“Things have changed mother. People do not think that way anymore…and certainly not Alexos and his family; they don’t care where I came from…more what I have achieved”
Looking back at her daughter she had shaken her head sadly “No Grace…things have not changed as much as you think”
Lifting her hand to gently stroke her daughter’s cheek she had given a shaky smile “You are just not the kind to care….but his family will”
Another tear rising to her eyes “And it is all my fault”
With another shake of her head Grace had risen
“No…not your fault. My whole life you were the only person who ever looked after or gave a damn about me…and I love you mum…and now it is my turn to look after you. First you will need a lawyer and also a place to stay”
Standing with her daughter her mother had given another pained look
“There was another reason I did not leave him long ago Grace. When we married I was made to sign a pre-nup which meant that if I left, I left with nothing”
Frowning Grace had knitted her brows together before giving a smile
“Not to worry. I have been saving for a place for a long time. At least enough to put down a deposit on a decent place…I don’t need anywhere mum, I am travelling so much, but it would be nice if I had a base to come back to when I needed one”
Frowning, her mother had looked quizzically at her “What about you and Alexos…why would you need a base?”
Grace chastising herself for her words, putting a forced smile on her face “It would still be nice to come and spend time with you” her mother giving a small unsure smile back “No…I appreciate it …but I have to find a job and stand on my own feet Grace”
Biting her lip she had looked at her mother with concern “Well then perhaps just a loan till you get settled”
Her mother had inclined her head softly “maybe” she had smiled, Grace grinning warmly back
“I have booked you a room here for the next couple of days or you can come and stay on the island with Alexos and me”
Looking at her with such love her mother had shaken her head. “If you don’t mind Grace…I think that here would be best for me…I need to start the ball rolling and talk with a lawyer. I have some money that I managed to save so I want to just get things moving”
As they had moved to the room that had been booked, Grace using some of her savings, feeling that it was worth it to ensure her mother was comfortable, they had organised for the best divorce lawyer to meet with them, Grace not really sure where she had got the name from. By nightfall her mother had been tired, and hugging her tightly she had returned to Alexos’ suite finding him waiting for her, concerned for her mother.
As she had explained everything that had been said, he had frowned softly.
“Your mother is right Grace. There are still those who will use your birth against you” his eyes solemn, she surprised that he would feel that way. Giving a small derisory half-laugh she had looked back at him
“Well I guess that you should thank your lucky stars that you dodged a bullet”
Alexos looking back at her with a firm set to his mouth. “I do not count myself amongst those…and I would certainly not ever say that I dodged a bullet”
Grace looked away, shame filling her “I’m sorry…that was uncalled for”
Pulling her into his arms he had kissed her tenderly “It will be fine Grace…I promise things will work out for you and your mother”, Grace had given him a none-too-sure return smile sighing softly.
The following day she had woken late, frowning at the realisation that she was alone, moving around the suite looking for him. With a groan of pain she had once more thought of Angelica Fleur. Was his unexpected trip back to the mainland too much of a temptation not to meet with the beauty, Grace once more remembering the way he had confirmed that her birth was a problem. Raising her small chin with pride she had told herself that she did not care. If it meant so much to him then he would be rid of her soon enough.
Moving to the shower she had let the jets of water run down her body, ignoring the way her tears had mingled with the warm water, telling herself over and over that she did not care, that she and her mother would be fine, her heart mocking her head.
Finally dressed, she had moved onto the veranda, enjoying the tea which she had ordered, allowing the sunshine to bring some peace to her fraught nerves, her eyes not really taking in the buzz of activity below.
Hearing the door open, she had fought the desire to run to meet him, demanding to know where he had been. His footsteps on the tiled surface had heralded that he had found her as he moved around to drop a kiss on her lips, Grace holding back from pushing him away.
“I thought you would still be asleep” his sensual voice had whispered against her mouth, she biting down the venomous comment which had risen to her lips, instead looking over at him as he had poured himself a drink
“Where were you?” she had managed to keep her tone calm and soft, the quirk of his lip sending a bolt of anger searing through her, Grace digging her nails into the soft palm of her hand not to say something she knew she would later regret.
“I went to see your mother”
His answer, so unexpected had caused her mouth to drop, her eyes staring at him with confusion
“M…my mother…why?”
Alexos giving a small smile back, as he had given a tired sigh, sitting back into the chair opposite her, his eyes holding hers.
“I was thinking over what you told me yesterday, and it struck me that what your mother needed was leverage”
Looking blankly at him, her eyes had shown her shock. Sitting forward he had taken her hand in his
“I signed over the loan agreement for your father’s business to your mother. She can now make sure that he never reveals the truth to anybody else…and the money that comes in from him will serve as income for her”
Grace had given a small strangled sob, her eyes flying to his as a small tear had spilled over her lid
“Y…you did what….why would you do that?”
Alexos giving a tortured sigh
“I have behaved so badly Grace. I don’t want you to see me like your father…ever. So it seemed that the one thing that I had done out of badness so long ago, and again recently…could now actually be used for good…to help you and your mother”
Dropping her eyes, her brows had been drawn up with confusion, the back of her hand dashing away the tears “I…I don’t know what to say Alexos”
His finger had moved to crook under her chin lifting her head once more to him “You do not have to say anything. Like I said…I never want you to think of me like your father”
Sniffling she had smiled tremulously, the look in her eyes making him groan softly as he had moved around and pulled her from the seat, kissing her with such passion before sweeping her into his arms they had moved back to the bedroom, neither leaving there for several hours.
The pair had remained on the mainland for another couple of days. Her father had been furious when he had discovered that his wife now controlled the loan he had taken out on the business so long ago. His determination to fight a divorce with her and to reveal that Grace was not his daughter had disappeared as it became apparent that not only did she control the loan, but also had the support of the billionaire. Even her father had known that it would be unwise to anger the Manetas family. They had found her mother a villa near the sea after she had chosen to remain in Greece, having fallen in love with the scenery and laid-back lifestyle with no wish to be anywhere near her soon to be ex-husband.
As things had settled down, the relationship between the two had been so good. Grace chastising herself at thinking that he was seeing another woman, each day finding her feelings for him grow deeper than she had ever thought would be possible. The thought of leaving him at the end of the month had become more and more painful with each passing hour that the two had spent together.
As they had prepared to return to the island, the two had hugged her mother, she already looking as though ten years had dropped from her, smiling so easily now. Grace had been happy to see how things were progressing, her eyes flicking to Alexos knowing that he had been the one to bring it to such a good ending. Her eyes sparkled as she had smiled up at him.
With a small thoughtful frown she had played over the events of that morning as Alexos had showered, as she luxuriated in bed, still basking in the after-glow of their lovemaking finding herself dozing contentedly.
It had been the ringing of her mobile that had eventually woken her, Grace lifting the device sleepily answering the call her body stiffening as she had sat bolt upright, a look of disbelief filling her features. When the person on the other end had finished talking, she had thanked them profusely be
fore laughing and calling Carol.
“We got it…we got permission. So long as we stick to the original dates we are on for Libya”
The woman on the other end had cheered, a muffled noise indicating that she was passing on the good news to others.
“I will organise the boat and all the equipment” Carol’s happy voice had chipped in, before it had become more playful.
“But are you sure you want to come along…….now that you are all loved up and all?” making a small purring sound as Grace had laughed back.
Returning to the villa had for the first time been like returning home. Grace smiled softly at the whimsical thought, her heart wondering if perhaps it might not be more than just a pipe dream as she had taken Alexos hand, as the two moved together into the house. Inside she had taken the opportunity to check her email as Alexos had moved their bags to the bedroom, groaning softly at seeing the long list of demands and assurances the Libyan government had insisted on for the research to take place. Sighing loudly she had ran her eyes over the list gasping as the sheet of paper had been plucked out of her fingers by a smiling Alexos.
“Now what would make my beautiful fiancée sigh like that?” he had chuckled, looking down at the sheet, his happy features melting away into disbelief as he had read the contents of the email. Looking back at her his eyes had been cold, hostile.
“What the hell is this Grace?”
She had moved forward to try and take back the sheet, Alexos moving it out of her reach as she had nervously pushed her hair behind her ear. “You knew that there was one last area that we were trying to finalise”
Nodding, his lips had been set in a thin line “I know…but I understood that the chances were that you would not be going…that you were not able to get permission”
“I just found out that they have agreed. That we can spend the two weeks as we had originally planned”