by Pamela Ann
“Okay, see you in a bit,” I said before cutting the call short. “Fuck. Guess I’ll have to choose another day to rip you a new hole, Claudine,” I growled to myself. I could almost taste how sweet it would be to throw sparring words at her. She made my blood boil. Women like her didn’t care if the guy loved them or not. They were willing to use emotional or mental ways to get their attention and needed a hefty reality check. Since Dimitris wasn’t too aggressive on that score, I would be more than willing to use my “artfully convincing ways” to drill it into her hard head.
The good juice simply called hormones that was escalating in my blood at the prospect of seeing Claudine went on a sour turn after Dimitris’s phone call. I needed someone—her—to unleash these pent up emotions on.
Turning on the engine with a regrettable sigh, I retraced the route I had taken beforehand, gearing back towards his villa with a heavy heart.
It didn’t take long until I was back where I had started, almost sad to get out of the lethal red Enzo. I was already dressed in spades to meet Claudine; therefore, I didn’t bother to retouch my make-up and such, but I did choose a different outfit to meet Dimi in.
Changing out of my wool skirt, I chose black, wool-blended tights with my black Louboutins over-the-knee boots, pairing it with a baby blue cashmere sweater dress. Since my hair was down, I opted to pile it high atop my head before pulling out my all-black aviator Ray Ban sunglasses. Then, with a spritz of some lovely rose scented perfume, I headed downstairs to meet Vassilis.
For the entire duration of the ride, I tried to keep my thoughts at bay, hoping the meeting wasn’t anything serious. My stomach was in knots by the time we reached his office building, and when I reached his floor and knocked on his door, I was in borderline fight or flight mode when he greeted me with a surprising bear hug, almost devouring me on the spot.
As it turned out, my fears had been for nothing, because he simply planned to take me somewhere nice to spend our New Years together. Alone. Just the two of us. It was something I had been waiting to happen because he and I needed some quality time together, to heal and fall in love again. Over. And over. And over again.
Of course we loved each other, but sometimes, when something caused a rift between the couple, I believed it was best for both parties to spend time together without interruption to reflect on how they had been treating each other. Although it was high time we did this, I knew it wasn’t easy for him to set aside work so he could spend time lazing with me. He was showing great effort in making amends, and I couldn’t fault him for that.
After a quick trip using his helicopter, we flew to his mega yacht that awaited us out in the Aegean Sea. Upon landing, I was as giddy as a little kid, wondering what was in store over the next few days for us.
“Which islands are we checking out this time?”
He beamed, making me drool on the spot. “I want to take you to Aspasia first. You know”—he smiled shyly—“I thought it would be lovely to go back to where it all began. I can still picture you … that very first time I met you in Bass and Emma’s cottage, looking like a breath of fresh air.”
“Well, hey, I always get that kind of reaction from most people since I’m irresistible and all.” I was joking around, but he merely growled and palmed both of my butt cheeks, slowly sliding me down his readily hard, perfect member.
“Tonight, there will be no escaping me. I’m going to annihilate that naughty cunt of yours with my tongue. Slaughter it with my cock,” he informed me in all seriousness.
I believed him too. He was an insatiable beast.
“Promises, promises. We’ll see, shall we, Mr. Kosta?” I challenged him before he guided us towards the main deck. Though the air was a tad chilly, with him next to me, my insides were thoroughly warm, as if to say they were quite ready for him.
“I had it refitted. Do you like it?” he asked the second we entered the main salon.
Slowly spinning in a circle, I marveled at the high end, top-of-the-line décor. “It’s really nice, though I didn’t find the past design horrible.” It was far from that. Heck, why would people pour millions upon millions into these palatial floating vessels anyhow? Seeing these things merely proved the kind of wealth he had, which was as unnerving as it was fascinating.
“How wealthy are you, Dimi?” I blurted out loud. “I mean, there’s rich, and there’s wealth.” I made a face that portrayed pure and utter wonderment. “My parents and their friends … I mean, I was always surrounded by rich folks and kids, but you and your friends—Callum, Luca, Jacques, and let’s not talk about how freaking insane Andrés’s net worth must be seeing as he’s a Duke …”
He paused, frowning at me. “This is a joke, I hope?”
It was my turn to frown. “What do you mean? I’m just wondering, is that so bad? You don’t have to answer me if you feel offended. I know these are sore subjects that are off-limits, but since you and I are together, I just thought, you know …”
He shrugged. “You amaze me.”
“What?” I frowned deeper.
“You married and divorced me, and yet you have no idea how much money you let get away.”
“I wasn’t interested,” I vehemently stated. “I didn’t marry you for money to begin with.”
He nodded, gazing at me curiously. “Okay, I do believe you when you say that, but why marry me in the first place when you clearly didn’t love me, hmm?”
“Honestly?” I raised my brow at him. “Well, since we’re already on this subject, let’s air out all the dirty laundry. First off, I was enthralled by your charms and your insanely wicked ways of persistence. I had never met anyone like you. Ever. So, can you blame me for being so fascinated with you?
“Second off, you fuck like a stud—”
“No kidding,” he remarked, appearing bemused.
I rolled my eyes. He clearly loved this part of the conversation. “Shut up and let me finish. For the stud part, let me emphasize,” I started again, giving him a look that said he better not interrupt me again. “You have the stamina of a bull, and that’s rather hard to accomplish, let alone find a freaking god that’s sex on legs in this day and age. The size of your cock never fails to make me feel like I’m about to orgasm when you thrust into me—a crazy feat that most men couldn’t achieve, honestly.
“Third off, you adore me to bits, and even in my less than stellar times that should’ve been a warning for you to run for the hills, you stuck with me and still pursued me like no man has ever done.
“Fourthly, your heart purely loves me. In all my wild and wicked shades, you truly love me.”
Giving him a wry smile, I cocked my head to the side, shrugging. “I could go on and on as to why and how I decided to marry you, even though my heart didn’t have you in it back then. Maybe it was fate trying to give me a hard lesson, or maybe you were just a force I knew I couldn’t pass without experiencing. But I did marry you, and the depth of that kind of commitment didn’t sink in until you asked when I’d move to Athens with you. I think that switched on the bulb in my head, and I couldn’t handle that, so I ran as fast as I could, as far as I could, hoping you wouldn’t come after me. I should’ve known then that you would. You’re not the kind to easily give up, even if the odds are against you.”
He made a face. “I’m one of a kind, what can I say?”
“You are, and I will forever try to make up for that,” I murmured, promising him everything.
“The last time I checked, my family is worth billions. I can get you a precise estimate by tonight if you’re really interested in knowing. I’m worth sixty percent of that amount from the company stake. My personal finances without that sixty percent are actually about almost nine hundred million.
“If you wonder why and how I have acquired so much outside of the family’s assets being this young, well, from a young age, I would always go with my father to meetings, learning the ropes of the world market and current trends. I also learned that being up to date with worl
d news can actually be turned into a monetary investment if I chose wisely. For example, during hurricane season and winter months, disasters abound, so investing in wood and other building materials before a major disaster hits can multiply your investment.
“Another point would be the recent legalization of marijuana in some U.S. states. If one invested a year or two before this ever happened, that very first few days of the bill passing would increase their investment exponentially. It’s a skill one needs to acquire—learning to trust their gut-feeling and following through.
“So, that’s basically the gist of how I accumulated much of my wealth in the beginning. The rest of it came a little easy. But, yes, love, you walked away without a dime to your name. Shame, isn’t it? I was willing to hand you half of that, though I doubt you read much of the paperwork that was handed to you last year during the divorce proceedings.”
“Should I be insulted that you honestly think I’d change my mind had I truly known your net worth, Dimi? It’s yours, and I wouldn’t dream of taking a dime from you, not even if I’m vengeful. I can make you pay in a different way.”
He bellowed a deep laugh. “Ah, Lindsey, only you can feast on that idea. Though, you do have a mad skill in driving a man crazy. So much so that one could find relief being dead and buried rather than endure your kind of crazy.”
I smirked. “Too late to back out now, Dimi. You’re stuck with me for good.”
“That I am, yineka mou.” He kissed the side of my head before pulling me close. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Crazy or not, you’re meant to be with me. So hand me all the craziness you can muster and take comfort in knowing I’ll still be standing next to you at the end of the day. I’ll still be right there, sleeping next to you in our bed, holding you close, bidding you the sweetest dreams. I’m not going anywhere.”
Swooning had become a constant thing lately with me. Sigh.
“Well, then, I’ll most likely take you up on your offer of handling my crazy soon enough. Just you wait.”
“I’m sure you will,” he murmured before kissing me whole-heartedly.
There was meaning behind my threat because, once we got back on land, I still planned to confront Claudine. Come hell or high water, I would achieve it, no matter the cost.
Chapter 22
Dimitris
“Seafood … yum!” Lindsey declared the second she got a whiff of the grilled lobsters being brought to our makeshift table sitting on the sands of the island of Aspasia while our toes were awash in the soft tides of seawater.
After last night, I had decided that waiting for my schedule to clear up would take too damn long before I could take her somewhere out of the city. By then, the damage that was gradually getting wider by the day would have stretched, ripping us slowly apart. Therefore, after last night’s dinner, while she was being entertained by my family at Pappou’s villa, I took a moment to navigate through my schedule, keeping important meetings to be set-up via video chats while the secondary ones were going to be handled by my father.
The man had retired, but after the turmoil I had been in for the past several days, he didn’t even hesitate when I told him I needed to take Lindsey somewhere without the nuisance of my hectic lifestyle. He understood completely, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have such supportive parents. I had made some questionable decisions that would surely raise worry to some. However, my mum and dad had given their support. Whether it was good or bad, they unwaveringly stood behind me, loving me unconditionally.
The short, mini-vacation with Lindsey was meant to woo her again. I wouldn’t rest until I had her heart in full, without the haunted look of fear in those beautiful dark eyes.
There were developments that I wished to share with her, yet I had been hesitant since nothing had been fully finalized. There was one vital report, which stated the paparazzi behind those lurid photos had been tipped off by a person hiding behind a voice-altering device. Since then, my team had been working on tracing that call. So far, nothing had surfaced, because the caller had used a dummy phone.
Even so, I wasn’t one to easily give up. Despite Lindsey being bent on not letting me finish what I meant to tell her, the moment I got everything together, she wouldn’t have a choice other than to hear my confession.
Earlier that day, Pappou had made an impromptu visit to the office, bearing a breakfast prepared by my mother. Of course, I wasn’t shocked that my family already had a plan of its own, but it would have been great if, for once, they didn’t interfere and let me take care of it. I knew Pappou had become attached to Lindsey and didn’t want to lose her; regardless, their lack of confidence in me was insulting.
“My boy, you know I don’t like to lecture you. I find you too intelligent at most times, but you’re relationship with Claudine …” he had trailed off, pausing to shake his head disapprovingly. “Does it need to continue? You have informed your father and I that you haven’t fully told Lindsey, and she hasn’t taken the inclination to investigate herself, but must you continue hurting the poor child? Do you even remember the time when you were on your knees, begging this same woman you’ve just hurt to stay and remain as your wife? Do you recall how you fell apart when she decided to walk away from you again?”
Staring at Pappou with a grim expression, I hadn’t needed to clarify that, yes, I bloody well recalled how often Lindsey had hurt me. I doubted I would ever forget it. Those types of scars never went away, no matter how healed. They remained with you until death released you from this world.
“I like Claudine. I believed she would’ve been a great addition to the family and would have done justice as a wife by your side. But you made a choice, a choice that any honorable man should never forget. Even if temptation seeks your participation, a man of honor always resists.”
“Pappou, drunk or not, I sure as hell would remember if I had someone the night before,” I had grounded out, almost angry that he hadn’t bothered to give me the benefit of the doubt. My love for Lindsey, whether I felt belligerent or not, wouldn’t sway, even if the woman who would choose to tempt me was an angel of beauty. My love was rooted strongly into my decisions, and I couldn’t fathom committing such a terrible deed.
“Well”—he studied me for a moment—“that does change things a bit, now doesn’t it?”
I sighed. “It does. I know it does. I would never hurt Lindsey, especially not after she told me the kind of childhood she went through. I would never be that crass as to cheat on her the way her mother treated her father. I’m not a selfish bastard, and if I had chosen that route, I’d rather leave her to get back to her life rather than ruin more of her bright, beautiful flame. She already had a twisted way of handling things; I won’t be the reason for her to believe that her mother’s action can be a normal occurrence between people in committed relationships.”
He nodded, those sharp eyes that mirrored so much of my own gazing at me with immense scrutiny. “Please see to it that this is resolved, Dimitris. We Kosta men aren’t known as cheaters, though most of the male populous running with wealth does. We are a different caliber of men, and I’d hate to die thinking that you, my precious grandchild, had chosen to taint that honorable image. When we love, we love hard, so give up all these fanciful ideas of friendships or pitiful ideas of becoming business partners with Claudine. It’s either you want Lindsey or not. And by choosing to keep your ex in your life, Lindsey will leave you for good this time.” He sent me a warning look. “And I do believe that’s not what you want, is it?”
I had ground my teeth. “I wouldn’t try to argue with you if that wasn’t my intention, Pappou.”
“Good,” he murmured before taking a long sip of his coffee. “A fiery woman like Lindsey Mason need not have a man who can’t fight for her. Secure her love. Secure it forever if you must.”
Staring at him, I had barely made an audible sound as I tried to weigh where his thoughts were heading. I was closest to Pappou, compared to my own father, but sometimes, the
old man liked to broach certain subjects I had no intention of discussing. He was as stubborn as I was, and though I loved him to no end, it was that very emotion that made it his privilege to throw “suggestions,” as he would likely put it, to my attention.
Recalling Pappou’s visit as I watched the fire in the nearby torch dance about Lindsey’s beautiful eyes made me feel like a man who was drowning and in dire need of some rescue. However, that was the thing, rescuing myself wouldn’t do any good. The helplessness wouldn’t go away until I had righted my wrong. And, since I couldn’t immediately resolve the shadiness of the situation right that instant, I settled on relishing in the very bright beauty that was beaming with smiles, eyes glittering before me as she sipped her champagne.
“I don’t want to sound like a spoiled brat, because we both know you always throw that at me whenever you’re angry, but I do love it when you spoil me. Much more so when it’s just you and me. So, thank you. Thank you for taking a break in your hectic schedule to spend some time with little ol’ me.”
Christ, she was too adorable sometimes, even more so when she had this child-like fascination in her.
“Don’t thank me. This is merely a simple gesture I intend to do throughout the years. I know being with me and loving my stubborn arse can take a toll on anyone. Ask Pappou. He’d attest to that sentiment. But, yes, I already cleared my schedule. I’m bound to take a short hiatus from work to enjoy some time with you every three to four months or so, depending on father’s availability to take over those certain days. His life is rather hectic with all the European golf vacations he’s been rather too fond of.”
“Really?” Her eyes grew wide and big. “Elias is willing to do that for you?”
“No, not me.” I shook my head. “But for us, he’s willing to sacrifice some of his precious retirement time for you and me.”
“Aww, that’s too freaking sweet.” She seemed like she was about to cry as she pressed her lips together.