by Donna Fasano
A chuckle and a clearing of throat echoed from behind him.
“You, and Mr. Kostapoulos, and your lawyers.” The judge narrowed his eyes and pointed to her and to the group of men. “You should meet in the consultation room next door right away and decide on a time frame for the project. Also, Ms. Sheppard, you and your counterpart need to read and sign these papers and bring them back to me within the week.” He flapped a few stapled sheets at her. She stalked to the podium, snatched the papers, and stuffed them in her oversized purse.
Bracing for further confrontation with the enemy, she left the courtroom, walked to the next door conference room and sat at the head of the table. Stefano may have signed a truce with her grandfather after his big show of generosity, but for her, from now on, it would be strictly business—nothing more than the essential exchange of words to get the job done.
~*~
Determined to speak to Ashley and clear the air, Stefano asked for a private moment in the conference room. With raised eyebrows and knowing grins, Anton and Ted agreed.
“Ashley, please. We need to talk.” He used his softest voice.
A scowl gathered on her forehead. “I have nothing more to say to you. Anton, Ted, I know you’re out there. Come on in and let’s get this show on the road,” she called out.
Stefano sighed with regret for the beautiful woman with the stiff back and clenched jaws. In the courtroom, stunned disbelief and dark outrage had shadowed her eyes until she had donned her rigid mask of cool professionalism. So many times, he’d almost leapt forward to gather her in his arms and shield her from the pain he’d inflicted on her.
Had he lost her like his Yaya had lost her Yorgho? Zanis had thrown him a lifesaver by insisting Ashley should stay in Mykonos and work with him. By Zeus, he planned to put the time to good use and convince her he had her best interest at heart. The sooner she forgot the agonizing morning in court the better for both of them.
He approached his lawyer. “Ted, the consultation room suggested by the judge isn’t comfortable. Call a meeting in my office right away. Bring Ashley and her lawyer with you in the limousine. Don’t let her leave on her own.”
“Sure.” Ted took off to talk to Ashley while Stefano meandered to the staircase and inconspicuously left the building to search for his car that should be parked near the dock, knowing his skipper’s love for the sea. As expected, Mikhali sipped a Greek coffee and played backgammon at a nearby café while watching half a dozen boys ogling the black limousine.
“Yassou, Mikhali. We need to go.” The young man left a tip on the table and followed his employer. “Bring the car to the courthouse,” Stefano ordered after he slid into the front seat next to his faithful skipper who doubled as a driver or a steward when needed. “We’ll wait for the others and then you take us to my office.”
A moment later, the limousine stopped in front of the courthouse. Stefano remained in his seat, protected from passersby’s curious gazes by the tinted windows, and isolated from the backseat occupants by the opaque sliding window. He’d rather avoid adding to Ashley’s distress by sitting in the back. In her present state, she’d probably refuse to ride with him.
Ted and Anton came out of the courthouse escorting Ashley and approached the limousine. Ted opened the rear door and held it for the young woman who paused, peered inside, and then slipped into the car. The men followed her.
The separation window slid open for just a crack. “Mikhali, you can go,” Ted said, without sliding back the window. “I’m glad we were able to reach an agreement,” Ted continued. Stefano stiffened, anxiously waiting for Ashley’s response, and hoping her anger had subsided—if only a little.
No answer came from the back.
“I am very satisfied with the outcome,” Anton said after a minute. Stefano stifled an aggravated humph. Who cared about Anton’s opinion?
“How about you, Ashley? Aren’t you pleased that the Pink Villa will be renovated? Your grandfather seems so happy now,” Ted insisted.
Stefano tented his ear toward the rear. An ominous silence hovered.
“Ashley?”
“Huh? I have a headache and haven’t paid attention to what you said.”
“I said—”
“I’d rather you don’t say anything, at least to me. I’m trying to get rid of my headache.”
“I’m sorry about your headache. Can I get you—”
“All I ask is a few minutes of quiet. Thank you.” Her crisp tone spoke volumes about her mood.
Ted must have nodded since a deep silence followed her icy order. Stefano stifled a groan of frustration and sank back into his seat. Convincing her to see things his way was going to prove difficult. Counselor Sheppard was one aggressive lawyer— and a very strong woman.
Twenty minutes later, the limousine stopped. Stefano debated whether to wait in the car until his guests entered the building. Not a man to hide from problems, he climbed out, opened the rear door for Ashley, and extended his hand to help her. She looked right through him and stepped out of the limo.
“This way, please.” He waved toward the rotating glass door into the building. “My office is on the fourth floor.”
“Is the building part of your company?” Her calm question stunned him more than thunder on a sunny day. Had she decided to stop giving him the cold shoulder?
“Yes. The building houses the Kostapoulos Enterprises.”
“I noticed it’s one of the tallest in Mykonos, at least in the part of the island I’ve seen.” Her voice remained plain as if she was discussing the weather report. He couldn’t tell if he detected a trace of irony or admiration in her question.
“In fact, it is the tallest building in Mykonos.”
She shrugged and raised her chin. With an inward sigh, he led them to the elevator and then to his office. She scanned the spacious elegant room and faced him, a scowl darkening her forehead. “I don’t see any conference table.” So much for any comments of admiration about his prized office and antique desk.
“Please have a seat.” He indicated the plush burgundy couch and matching chairs.
“Is this your idea of a business meeting? To cozy on a comfortable sofa?”
Her eyes shot daggers at him. By Zeus, they reminded him of a tempest on the Aegean Sea, dark green sparkled with blue. Swallowing his inappropriate compliment, he tried for a reasonable explanation. “We’re just going to take a break and—”
“No thank you. I’m fine. I’d rather discuss the project. If you don’t have a conference room available, we should return to the courthouse.” Her chin tilted up in a snobbish way.
The sun bathing the bay window lit fiery streaks through her reddish curls. The goddess of war, Athena, could learn a thing or two from the American lawyer about annihilating the adversary without using a weapon. If they were alone, he’d have pulled her into his arms and smashed her arrogance under blazing kisses.
Patience was a virtue he’d learned when he started his own business. It didn’t pay to lose his temper when his opponent was determined to annoy him—especially one as lovely and confident as Ashley Sheppard. He counted to ten in his mind and plastered a pleasant smile on his lips.
“We will have a quick lunch and then reconvene in the conference room—one with a big conference table that I’m sure will meet with your approval.” His arms opened wide to indicate the dimension of the table.
“We don’t need to eat lunch yet.”
“Maybe you don’t, but Ted, Anton and I have larger appetites. We can’t starve because of a meeting.”
The two men’s chuckles echoed his. A hint of a smile lightened Ashley’s face. Finally! But she quickly turned her head and exhaled a loud sigh.
“Besides, we are going to have many more such meetings,” Ted added with a knowing smile.
“I bet. At this rate, we’ll never be done.” Ashley sat in one of the armchairs and daintily crossed her perfectly shaped legs. The rising hem of her beige skirt tantalized Stefano with a generous
expanse of sunburned thighs that his fingers longed to soothe with a cooling lotion.
Distracted by the provoking view, Stefano breathed deeply to control his reaction and regulate his racing pulse. If only they could turn back the clock.
“Well?” Ashley insisted.
Ted nudged him in his side. Before Ashley had the time to throw more caustic comments, Mikhali entered with a tray decked with a bottle of ouzo, a bucket of ice and several glasses. Behind him, Maria, the young maid who cleaned the office, rolled in a cart with several plates.
“Perfect timing, Maria. We are quite hungry.” Stefano smiled.
Maria blushed, and set the plates and silver on the glass and chrome cocktail table. “I prepared the yogurt salad you like with cucumbers, garlic, and mint. Is there anything else you want?” The incandescent flame in her chocolate eyes indicated she meant she’d give herself to him if he asked.
Ashley’s sarcastic humph slammed him harder than a whip.
“Yes, please serve our guests.” His dry voice brought a quiver to the maid’s lips, but she stopped casting adoring glances on him, and busied herself with the lunch.
After filling a plate with slivers of turkey, goat cheese, olives, minted yogurt, and a roll of bread, Maria handed it to Ashley together with an embroidered napkin. “For you, kyria.”
“Thank you... Efkharisto.” Ashley unfolded the napkin on her lap and set her plate in front of her on the table.
Stefano discreetly signaled to Mikhali. The steward poured the ouzo over ice cubes and presented a glass to Ashley.
“Ouzo, now?” She accepted the drink but arched dubious eyebrows. “You guys don’t plan to work today?”
Not doubting for a second that his American guest would protest and refuse any drink or food from his hand, Stefano decided to keep a low profile until she loosened up. He sent a discreet glance at Ted.
His lawyer understood the message and sat on the sofa, his drink in hand. “First, we need to celebrate. To be honest, I never expected things to work out so well at the courthouse.”
“Oh.” When Ashley raised her head, Stefano caught the shadow of sadness darkening her eyes.
Ted clinked his glass against hers. “To a cordial working relationship.”
Ashley nodded without comment and placed her drink on the table.
Under the circumstances, it was the best Stefano could expect at the moment. He would give her time to accept the situation before taking the next step.
Patience. Respect her feelings, his mind coaxed, while his body ached with need and his heart knotted at the sight of her effort to remain calm.
Chapter 7
How could she possibly spend a whole month in Greece, locked in an office with Stefano, when she wanted to run away after only a few minutes in his company? If her grandfather’s health hadn’t been so precarious, Ashley would have rejected his demand without hesitation, and sent Stefano and his project to hell.
“You’re not drinking?” Ted said while his boss continued to look at her as if he’d decided to memorize every inch of her face.
Hadn’t he learned that staring was not polite? Especially when his eyes sent fiery messages she refused to receive.
Her gaze focused on the glass clutched between her nervous fingers. A tighter grasp would easily break the crystal. She forced herself to ease her grip. An irresistible urge to fling the icy drink in Stephano’s face or splash it over his crotch seized her. The thought of ice cubes cooling the cause of her grief gave her an inner giggle, followed by a sigh. Pouting over her disappointment would not diminish the pain gnawing at her heart.
“To a good working relationship.” Erasing all emotion from her face, she raised her glass and sipped her ouzo. She needed to calm down and devise her next course of action with a lawyer’s mind.
Wear a blank mask and confuse them. After setting the glass on the table, she tasted a spoon of yogurt salad and licked her lips slowly. “Delicious,” she added with a pleasant voice and a demure glance at her host.
The stunned look Stefano and his lawyer exchanged soothed her heart. I scored a point. She’d get over that jerk if it killed her. And she’d never let him see the extent of her pain. And she’d get her revenge. Soon.
“I’m glad you like the yogurt salad,” Stefano said with a smile that faded when the door burst open after a brief knock.
“Stefano, congratulations.” A gorgeous brunette molded in a tight white skirt and low cut printed blouse flew into the office and threw her arms around his neck. “I heard you won the hearing and smashed that old snake Zanis.”
Her honeyed voice grated on Ashley’s ears. Next to her, Ted mumbled something under his breath, while Stefano tried to extricate himself from the arms coiling around him.
A secretary? Or a girlfriend? The woman wasn’t shy about displaying her affection.
“Sophia, what brings you here when I’m holding a meeting with the lawyers?” The frost in his voice spoke volumes about his displeasure with the untimely arrival of the lovely woman.
“The lawyers? Maria told me that you had a celebration in your office.”
Ashley suppressed her frustration and plastered an amiable smile on her lips. “Of course, we’re celebrating. Please, join the fun.” Completely at ease now, she stood and held a hand to the Greek beauty. “I’m Ashley Sheppard. Mr. Zanis’ granddaughter and lawyer. And you are?”
“Oh.” Sophia’s eyes rounded, like a juvenile caught red-handed.
“Sophia, Ms. Sheppard will work with us on the new resort’s project.” Stefano’s curt tone betrayed his annoyance. “And I expect you—”
“Stefano, I am sooo happy for you,” another newcomer chimed in from the door. “For our company—”
“Ireny, meet Ms. Sheppard who is Mr. Zanis’ granddaughter.” The fast explanation torpedoed out of Stefano’s mouth.
The lovely blonde twirled toward Ashley and frowned. “Ah.”
Amazing how the sight of her rendered all female employees speechless. Gorgeous employees to be sure. She had to give it to Stefano, he had impeccable taste. One day she’d ask him if he chose them in a beauty pageant. Right now, she rotated her glass between her palms, the temptation to toss her drink at him stronger by the minute. How many beauties had he been sleeping with, before her?
The tension in the room was palpable. Stefano’s glances darted from one woman to the other and back to Ashley. Somehow, his discomfort soothed her nerves. She crossed her arms and speared him with a sharp look.
“Pleased to meet you, Ireny. Are you also working on the project?”
“Yes, I am the decorator, and Sophia is one of the architects.”
“Wonderful, we’ll make a great team, and we’ll be together all the time. With Stefano too, of course. Please, have a seat, and share a drink.” Ashley sat on the sofa and patted the spot next to her. “Ted makes fantastic drinks, right?”
The lawyer glanced at her and shrugged. “Ouzo for you, Sophia?” he asked.
“Ne separakalo, yes please.” Sophia dropped next to Ashley and crossed long legs ending in high-heeled white sandals.
“Me too, Ted.” Ireny plopped on the other side of Ashley, her skirt hiking to reveal a set of perfectly tanned thighs. Hmm, was Stefano a benefactor of a Gorgeous Legs club?
Leaning a hip on the corner of his massive cherry wood desk, a scowl knitting his forehead, Stefano studied the view of the sea through the open glass doors leading to the balcony. Was he trying to ignore them or plotting his next move?
Ashley extended her arms behind both women’s shoulders, and basked in their floral perfumes. “See, Stefano, you’ll have a lovely team working with you, if I may say so myself.”
He faced her, arching an eyebrow. His stare riveted her to the back of the sofa. “I see you have taken full control of that team.”
Yes, and she’d taken full control of her senses too, but the effort threatened to overwhelm her. Time to take off while she still projected an aura of self-assurance. “Ge
ntlemen, thank you for the drink and appetizers.” Ashley stood, her glass of ouzo still in her hand.
“It’s too early to leave,” Ted said.
“I will drive you.” Anton straightened.
“I’ll see you tomorrow when we start working.” Her gaze encompassed the display of glasses and feminine legs. “Preferably without ouzo and with a more professional atmosphere.”
“Whatever you say.” Stefano shrugged. “If you want to leave, I’ll be the one driving you,” he added in a voice that brooked no arguments and stirred a wild rage inside her.
“Is that so, Mister Kostapoulos?”
In two steps, he was beside her, his firm—and way too warm—fingers enveloping her wrist.
“No,” she protested, snatching her arm away. With the brusque movement, the glass flew from her fingers. “Oh dear.”
“Ash...ley.” Stefano caught the glass as it struck his stomach and he jerked back. Cold white liquid drizzled over his shirt and pants.
“Oh gee.” Her shaking hand flattened on her mouth. Eyes wide, she stared at his pristine white shirt now plastered to his chest. “I...I’m—” She swallowed her apology. Heck, he deserved it.
Her gaze lowered to his crotch highlighted by a wet halo. A giggle started low in her throat and threatened to burst out in the horrified silence of the room. She stuffed a nervous fist between her teeth to stifle an inappropriate hilarity. To think she’d been wanting to do just that a moment ago. “It’s your fault,” she muttered through quivering lips. “You grabbed my arm.” Lifting her chin, she returned scowl for scowl.
“Aw,” the guests mumbled.
Armed with napkins, Ireny and Sophia rushed to dab the wetness on Stefano’s pants with eager pats, while Ted and Anton hardly suppressed amused grins.
“Enough.” His voice menacing, Stefano snatched the napkins and flapped them in the air.
“We are just helping you,” Ireny explained with a nervous laugh.
In spite of herself, Ashley chuckled, and then controlled her expression. “Maybe you should use a hair dryer. It’ll work better and faster.”