by Marie Kelly
Alexos had turned from her, his hands on his hips as he had looked at the ground “And when were you going to tell me?”
Moving forward she had softly touched his back, feeling as he had recoiled, his body becoming rigid.
“Alexos, this is important. I only found out this morning…I was going to tell you this morning, but my mother arrived. I wanted to wait until we were alone…so that we could talk about it”
His voice had been low, controlled, “OK … so talk. Are you going?”
As she had remained silent he had turned around, his eyes dark and cold. “What if I don’t want you to go?”
Groaning softly she had looked back at him “Please don’t do this Alexos”
He made an irritated noise, moving closer to lift her chin. “I don’t want you to go Grace. I want you to stay with me”
Her eyes had been beseeching as she had whispered back “I have to…you know I do, but…”
Alexos released her and quickly stepped away, anger on his handsome face. “So that’s that is it? You did your month and now you are just going to walk away?”
Grace had moved after him “That is not fair Alexos. My work is important - you know that…I don’t have a choice, it is now or never”
“We all have choices Grace” he had cried at her “You just seem to be really bad at making yours. Your choices affect everybody, they always have”
She was so tired of being made to feel guilty about her actions in the past and balling her hands she had cried back at him. “You knew this might happen. It was your choice to build up everybody’s expectations, not mine”
Cursing loudly he had looked at the sheet once more, before fixing her with an icy glare. “This says that you need to be there in two days time”
Grace had nodded, trying desperately to talk, his hand raised to silence her, his voice clipped.
“Fine. Like you said it was my choice to keep you here”
Grace feeling as her whole insides had dropped, opening her mouth to beg him to listen to her as he had balled up the sheet of paper and thrown it to the side of the room moving away “Then go Grace, get the hell out of my life…and this time stay out of it”
Grace had frozen in shock at his words. He couldn’t mean them, not after the month they had shared, not after everything he had done for her. As the door to the villa had slammed, closely followed by the loud whirring of the helicopter blades once more taking off, she had felt the small pained moan leave her lips.
What an idiot she had been, thinking that he could ever support her work, as with a self-deprecating curl of her lips as she had sneered at her own stupidity. Why would she think that any man was different from her father, just because he didn’t want to see himself that way didn’t make it so. He had used her and continued to use her, hoping no doubt that she would want to stay with him of her own free will. Sitting heavily on the leather chair she had looked down at her entwined fingers. She had nearly fallen for it too, nearly begged him to let her stay, what an idiot she had been.
Alexos had manipulated her in the past, blackmailing her to remain with him, and he had planned on doing the same to get her to continue as his fiancée. He didn’t care about her, his lack of support for her work proved that. He only wanted to continue the charade of being the perfect couple and with the bile rising in her throat she had known that that would only have been for as long as he felt the need to appease his father.
Angrily dashing away the tears that were sliding down her face she had risen slowly, moving to the bedroom where she had pulled out her bag, packing it with the clothes she had brought with her and leaving the rest. On the nightstand she had placed the large jewellery box with the necklace and bracelet, adding the ring to its contents, her eyes sadly taking one last look at the exquisite piece, telling herself that it had just been one more accessory to his plan.
Returning to the study she had organised for a boat from the mainland to pick her up, booking into a hotel for the night before the flight that would take her to Egypt where the group would meet. Sitting in the hotel room she had allowed the television to fill the space with sound, her mind numb with the events of that day. Looking down at her finger where the sapphire ring had sat, she again mocked herself for being so happy to be wearing such a bauble. Shuddering, she had suddenly felt naked, Grace needing to get back some control of her life, return it to what it had been before she had met up with Alexos once more. Rummaging in her bag she had found the gold wedding band, slipping it back onto her finger, feeling the tears once more rising, as for the first time since Daryle had placed it on her finger it had felt wrong. Grace had known that the wrong man had placed a wedding band on her hand.
Meeting the others in Egypt had been wonderful, all so full of stories of their holiday. The others had had a chance to read the research findings and there had been much debate about some of the more unusual results. None had questioned her about her stay with Alexos, although she had caught them on many occasions looking at each other, their looks so full of questions that none of them were prepared to voice, especially as she still wore her old wedding ring.
The group had been given very specific instructions with regard to moving across the border. They had been met by government officials who had ensured that as per their instructions they had brought no mobile devices and that any computing equipment was unable to access the internet. The government officials had been obsessed with being able to monitor all of their correspondence and any images and video they captured. At all times they had been shadowed by agents of the state, the group uncomfortable and feeling unsafe all working hard each day before thankful to escape back to the boat.
As the second week had rolled in, Grace had felt lethargic, struggling to get up in the morning, having to drag herself onto the work site each morning. Not knowing what was wrong she had put the problem down to the sorrow she had felt at losing Alexos, her broken heart seeming to never heal despite the way she had thrown herself into her work, ensuring that by the time they went to bed sheer exhaustion would allow her to sleep.
The morning prior to their last day, Grace had felt worse than ever, the others now growing concerned with how pale she looked, she giving them all half-hearted reassurances that she was fine.
That particular day it had been even hotter than most, the team struggling to work in the oppressive heat, sweat clinging to all of their clothes making the work difficult. Sitting having lunch the two girls had drank the lukewarm water, thankful even for that as they had both talked with such relish of the cool showers waiting for them on their return. The loud clanging of equipment dropping had brought them both rushing to their feet, Carol smiling seeing as one of the monk seals had somehow knocked over a tripod, the camera casing protecting the equipment from any real damage. Giving a laugh she had turned to look at Grace the smile dropping from her face. As Grace had also leapt up, the sudden movement had affected her as she had felt the earth tilt, spinning alarmingly her hand reaching out and grabbing her friend. Carol had cried out to the others as Grace’s eyes had rolled back in her head, blackness coming up to meet her as she had collapsed, Carol catching her and laying her down gently on the sand as panic had taken hold of all the people on the beach, all running to the fallen woman.
Chapter Seven
Alexos Manetas had sat drinking his coffee, the paper balanced in his hand as he had read the business section. Pulling out his phone, he had again checked to see if there were any messages from her, his mouth tightening once more as there had been nothing. For over two weeks now he had waited to see if she would contact him, each day growing angrier with her continued silence telling himself over and over how little he cared, each day the words seeming hollower.
As the two weeks of the research had come to an end he had found himself checking the device more and more until eventually he had phoned her himself, the phone going straight to voicemail. His emails had also been ignored, as Alexos found himself each day becoming more and more
frantic with his need to just hear her voice.
Dropping the paper he had again wondered whether he should contact her employers, his thumb running against the edge of the device.
The sound of the doorbell had seen him sigh, dropping the phone onto the table as his housekeeper had answered it, Alexos frowning as he had heard the voice of his security guard. Eventually the housekeeper had appeared.
“Alexos…you have a visitor. He says it is very important”. The word ‘he’ had caused his stomach to lurch with the hope that Grace had returned dashed, Alexos scowling.
“Tell him I am busy…I really do not want to be disturbed” his voice lacklustre. However, the housekeeper had given a cry as the man had pushed past her, moving to stand before him, Alexos regarding the stranger with irritation.
“I am sorry, but you really should not be here Mr………” surprised to see the determination on the man’s face
“Dionis …Daryle Dionis”
For a few seconds there had been silence as Alexos had risen, waving away the housekeeper as he had stared at the man before him, the man whose ring Grace had worn for so many years, the man she had been married to, the man she had left him for so many years ago, and the man who had never consummated that marriage with the most beautiful woman he had ever known. His eyes narrowed as he had allowed them to scan him, Daryle Dionis not what he had expected. Younger than him, he was tall and wiry with a kind intelligent face, sparkling eyes which Alexos had imagined were nearly always laughing, though at that moment the man had been drawn and pale, concern etched on his face. Alarm bells rang in his head.
“What can I do for you Mr Dionis?” he had asked warily, his whole being wanting to demand to know where Grace was.
The other man had given a groan of pain, rubbing his neck as he moved to sit down on one of the dining room chairs, his panic-filled eyes fixed on Alexos.
“I need your help. Grace is in trouble”
Alexos had felt the panic well up within him as he too had dropped into a chair, all animosity towards the man across from him fleeing as the words had filled the air between them. Normally so calm and controlled in stressful situations he had felt frozen with the terror filling him.
“What happened?” his only words as he had poured the pale man a coffee, pushing the hot liquid into his shaking hands. Giving a small thankful smile Daryle had taken a sip, the caffeine helping him as he had begun to talk.
“Grace collapsed on the beach in Libya and she was taken to a local hospital. Her assistant Carol tried to find out what was wrong but they wouldn’t tell her anything”
Alexos had felt himself blanch, gripping the table to remain still.
“They wouldn’t even let Carol phone anybody for help. It was just lucky that the next day the team were leaving. The last thing they told her was that they would only deal with her husband” Daryle’s face solemn as he had continued.
“Fortunately Carol was smart enough not to let on that Grace and I are divorced, so she contacted me the minute they got into Egypt. I have been on the phone ever since. I found out that she is still in hospital, but they are refusing to tell me anything. They say that I have to go there personally with proof of who I am and escort her personally from the country. However, I found out that it is going to take at least 10 days to get a visa and even then I don’t know if they will let me leave with her”
Daryle paused to catch his breath, his breathing ragged as he had looked at Alexos.
“I know that you have connections with the government and I need your help - Grace needs your help. Is there anything that you can do to speed up the process?” Alexos could see the panic in the other man’s eyes, as without another word he had pulled his phone back into his hand.
After several hours of phoning and being sent from one department to another, it had taken him threatening to withdraw support for one of his most lucrative investments to finally find himself on the phone to the Head of Security in the country.
Alexos understood the way the regime worked, organising for his plane to be given the correct security clearance for landing that day. Daryle had listened in, his eyes growing wider as the handsome Greek had negotiated, pleaded and bribed his way into the country, the size of the bribe making him gasp. Next he had spoken to the hospital, the doctor not prepared to give him any information but also agreeing to allow her to accompany her husband from the hospital so long as he could provide identification in the name of Daryle Dionis, Alexos agreeing, his mouth set firmly.
Making one more call he had ensured that his private plane was ready to go immediately and that his helicopter was on its way to collect himself and Daryle to take them to the airport. Placing the phone into his pocket he had risen giving him a reassuring smile, Daryle’s face so full of thanks.
“Let’s go and get our girl….and call me Alexos”
Daryle’s eyebrows had risen at his choice of words, a large relieved smile filling his face as he had followed the tall man from the house.
It had been impossible to talk on the helicopter, and as they had arrived at the airport Alexos had been met by several men, one giving him a large envelope which he had slipped into his pocket. The other had tried to insist on accompanying the two, Daryle realising that this was a security guard, concern for the safety of the billionaire written on his face. Alexos however had refused, determination on his face as he had shaken his head not prepared to jeopardise the rescue with the inclusion of a bodyguard. Finally on the plane, Alexos had looked over at Daryle, before extending his hand.
“I’m sorry Daryle - it is nice to meet you”
The other man had given a warm return grin as he had shaken his hand with a firm grip “You too Alexos. I’m sorry that I came to you with all of this…but I had nowhere else to turn…and Carol told me about you and Grace meeting again”
He had looked surprised as Daryle had seemed almost happy about what he must have known had happened, giving a small return smile.
For several seconds the two had sat quietly, before Alexos had sat forward needing to ask the questions that Grace had not been prepared to talk about. “May I ask you some things Daryle?”
Daryle looking at him with surprise “Of course”
His look growing more nervous as the questions had been asked “You know that six years ago I was planning on marrying Grace”
Daryle looked more uncomfortable as he had nodded slightly.
“What happened? I thought that she had used everybody to run off with the man she loved, you…but that isn’t the truth is it…there was more to it than that wasn’t there?”
Fidgeting, Darlye had seemed unsure before giving a soft sigh and also leaning forward. “You know that Grace’s biggest dream was to become a marine biologist?”
Alexos nodding
“Did you know that her father had refused for her to go to university?”
Alexos’ eyes had widened “No…I had no idea - she never said”
Daryle had given a look of contempt as his mind had gone back to that time
“Her father is not a good man Alexos, God knows why but it always seemed like he hated her for daring to be a woman instead of a man. When she was eleven she wanted to join a club, but her father said no. Grace however, was determined so she joined anyway.”
Giving a long sigh as he had continued.
“When her father found out he forced the club out. They were a voluntary organisation and he put them out on the street to teach her a lesson”
Alexos’ eyes had grown harder, realising that Daryle had no way of knowing that the man who had raised her was not her real father, as the younger man had carried on his story.
“He liked to teach her lessons…to control her. As she got older he found a new way of controlling her, using her mother…and he told her that there was no way that she was going to university…the one thing she most wanted, he refused. That girl worked harder than anybody I knew to be top of her class, she had the grades to be anything she wa
nted and he told her that the only thing that she was ever going to be was married.”
Alexos had felt the anger fill him listening to Daryle.
“The day before you sent your letter her father had given her three other letters from other men. Two were older than he was and one was divorced because of his abuse to his first wife”
Alexos had groaned softly thinking how he had misjudged her, Daryle’s tone softening
“She really liked you Alexos and I sometimes wonder what might have happened if we hadn’t done what we did. But she needed to pursue her dream…and she did”
Groaning softly Alexos had looked thoughtfully into space “I would have encouraged her. I would have supported her going to university”
Daryle had given another small smile “Did you ever tell her that, because her father told her that you would never let her go, that you wanted children - lots of them”
His eyes uncomfortable adding “He also hinted that you had no intention of ending your playboy days…that while she produced the children she would also be expected to turn a blind eye to your womanising”
Gasping Alexos had stared at Daryle in shock “I would never have …”
His stunned tone making the other man smile, another memory pushed to his mind as he had looked warmly at Alexos.
“When she phoned to let her parents and you know what had happened. She only cried after your call”
Alexos had looked at the other man with surprise, a softness entering his eyes “Did she?” he had asked gently another question coming to his mind. “Grace is very beautiful”
Daryle nodded back in agreement “Yes…yes she is…inside and out”
“Then why did you and she never consummate the marriage?”
Daryle laughed with embarrassment “She never told you?” his voice full of incredulity as Alexos had shaken his head frowning slightly.
“I’m gay Alexos. I love that woman with everything in me, but not in THAT way”
Alexos had stared in stunned shock at his words, before leaning back and laughing