In every way.
And never more so than this week.
He had arranged the funeral, dealt with the legalities and the only calls he had made to Amber had been regarding work.
His own mood even he could not begin to gauge.
There was a sense of relief tempered by unexpected grief.
He had no fond memories of his father, so it didn’t really make sense, but there was a hollow feeling that resided within him now and an ache of sadness that he had not anticipated.
Yes, it had been a difficult year, though not on paper.
The talks with Garcia had become more productive and there was now a hotel and restaurant in Manhattan and another soon to open in Singapore. A lot of his time had been spent divided between Athens, where his mother had had her treatments, and Xanero, where she had recuperated in between.
The luxurious complex was large enough that he certainly had no need to temper his ways—after all, his family were hardly living over the fence.
He had tempered them, though.
Because he still wanted Cece.
Unable to face yet another sympathy card, he got back to staring out of the window.
And then Luka decided that it really had been too long, because he thought for a moment that a woman walking down the street might be her.
On too many occasions in the past year Luka had thought that he’d seen Cece.
Confidently he had once tapped a woman on the shoulder in a bar, and had then found himself staring into the wrong face.
But now, as he craned his neck for a better look, there was something about this woman’s posture that held Luka’s attention.
‘Slow down,’ he told his driver, because he no longer trusted himself to be certain when it came to her.
She looked slimmer, and the usually immaculate blonde hair that she wore tied back was more strawberry blonde and fell in untidy curls around her shoulders.
The uncertainty was short-lived, because he suddenly remembered the morning she had undressed for him and he had found out she was a redhead after all.
It really was her.
She wore a navy shift dress and flat sandals.
And it was not a designer handbag that was strapped to her shoulder.
From the way she held the sling, her burden seemed far more precious than that.
And then he saw her look down and smile and realised that she was holding a baby.
No!
He hauled himself back from the appalling assumption that the baby might be his and reminded himself that she had been a nanny once.
But she had told him how much she had hated it and had said she would never be a nanny again.
The baby was hers, Luka knew it, from the way she smiled down and caressed its head.
‘No.’
He said it out loud this time and Amber looked up. ‘Is everything okay?’
Luka didn’t answer her, his mind was moving too fast.
It had been a year since he’d been with Cecelia.
Not quite to the day, although it would be soon.
And he remembered the very date of their parting.
Even the time.
It had been just after nine when she had left the building.
In fact, he recalled so many details.
Because life had got crazy since then, he told himself.
And life had just got a whole lot more complicated now.
‘Pull over,’ he instructed the driver. ‘In fact, turn around.’
His driver did not point out that this busy street was not the place to execute a U-turn, and instead he complied.
Luka could feel the thump of his heart in his chest as he searched the pavement for another sight of her but she was nowhere to be seen.
His face remained impassive but his eyes scanned the crowd until he caught sight of her again and instructed his driver to pull over.
Safe from view behind tinted windows, he watched Cecelia.
She was certainly a touch slimmer than he remembered and, from what little he knew about pregnancy, if the baby was hers, shouldn’t it be otherwise?
Luka took out his phone and the number he had considered calling far too many times was dialled now.
He watched as Cecelia reached for her phone.
‘Hello?’
She would not know it was him, Luka realised, for after he had fired Sabine he’d had no choice but to change all his numbers.
‘Cecelia.’
At the sound of his voice the world stopped.
The traffic, the noise, the shoppers on the busy street all faded to nothing at the sound of her name on his lips.
She knew instantly it was him, yet she did not reveal that. Instead, Cecelia played for time. ‘Who’s this?’ she asked, and ran a nervous hand through her hair.
‘Luka.’
‘Oh.’
‘Have I caught you at a bad time?’
‘No, no, I’m just...’ And he watched as she held the baby tighter to her, ‘I’m actually on my lunch break.’
‘Well, I need to speak with you. I was wondering if you could call by the office. There are a few issues we need to discuss.’
‘Luka, I haven’t worked for you in a year.’
‘It’s just a couple of accounting queries. Nothing serious but my accountant needs to verify a few things...’ He wasn’t even lying, because if indeed this was his baby there were certainly some things that needed to be discussed!
He was suddenly surprised that he hadn’t already been fleeced.
‘Can you come in?’
‘I told you, I’m working.’
‘After work,’ Luka said. ‘It won’t take long. I’ll have Marco stay back.’
‘It’s not terribly convenient.’
‘Life isn’t, is it?’ he said, and ended the call.
* * *
She couldn’t breathe.
In the middle of a packed London street she was as panicked as she had been on the day she had found out she was pregnant.
More so, for she hadn’t loved her baby then.
He couldn’t know about Pandora, Cecelia told herself.
No.
It must be work related.
Some document she hadn’t signed or some expense that hadn’t gone through.
After all, just last week she’d had to go into the diplomat’s office and tie up a few loose ends.
Then, though, she had taken in Pandora.
She could hardly do the same with Luka.
Cecelia looked down at her tiny baby. The world was closing in and she knew she had to tell him.
Calmly.
She did not want Pandora to be exposed to any negative reaction, even if she was far too young to understand.
And for the very same reason, she would not be calling her aunt!
She arrived home all flustered, and of course Mrs Dawson wanted to stop for a chat.
‘My daughter’s just found out she’s having twins!’ Mrs Dawson said.
‘How many grandchildren will that make?’ Cecelia asked.
‘Eight!’ Mrs Dawson beamed. ‘How’s Pandora?’
‘Wonderful,’ Cecelia said, and watched as the old lady made Pandora smile.
‘She’s such a happy baby,’ Mrs Dawson said. ‘I never hear a peep.’
‘Mrs Dawson...’
Cecelia loathed asking for help or being an imposition but she simply didn’t know what else to do and Mrs Dawson had offered on several occasions.
‘Could I ask you to look after Pandora for a couple of hours this afternoon?’
‘I’d love to!’
‘I’ll pay you, of course.’
‘You certainly won’t. It will be my absolute pleasure.’
Why, oh, why could her aunt not have said that?
* * *
Cecelia dressed as if for an interview.
The navy suit was put on again for her visit to Kargas Holdings.
And even though she would only be gone for a couple
of hours and Pandora had just been fed, she made up two bottles just in case. And her blanket and loads of nappies as well as Cecelia’s phone number...
She was terribly nervous at the thought of leaving her, but Mrs Dawson was so friendly and seemed thrilled to have been asked.
‘I really shan’t be long,’ Cecelia said. ‘I just have to pop into work and I’ll come straight back.’
‘Pandora will be fine.’
And Pandora would be fine, Cecelia knew as she took the Tube.
But would she be?
Cecelia couldn’t fathom what Luka’s reaction might be, and she actually felt a little sick as she came out of the escalators and the building loomed up.
Cecelia could remember sitting in the café opposite and willing herself to go in and tell him.
She had no choice now.
The doorman smiled and then frowned and instead of waving her through she was told to go to Reception.
There a call was made and she stood with pink cheeks, feeling like one of his exes.
Which she was.
Sort of.
Finally, she received a visitor’s pass and the code for the elevator.
Cecelia’s hand was shaking as she punched in the numbers.
The air-conditioner should have been blissful, but instead she could feel the sheen of perspiration on her face. She rubbed her palms on her skirt, just in case he decided to shake her hand.
As the elevator doors opened there was no Bridgette to greet her; instead, it was an unfamiliar woman who sat at Cecelia’s old desk.
‘I’ll just let Luka know you’re here,’ she said. ‘Perhaps you’d like to take a seat.’
‘Actually, I think I’m seeing Marco. If you could let him know that I’m here...’ She would get work out of the way and then she would speak with Luka, Cecelia decided.
‘Marco?’ She shook her head. ‘He isn’t in today.’
And then Cecelia heard Luka. ‘I’ll deal with this.’
For the first time in a year she felt his presence and she prickled all over at the sound of his voice.
Her head wanted to spin to face him but she resisted and instead slowly turned to him.
‘Cecelia,’ he greeted her.
‘Luka.’
She had forgotten the absolute impact of him.
The year that had passed had dimmed him in a way she had not expected. His ruthlessness and playboy ways had been somewhat tempered by the memories of them in bed.
And he did not look in the least pleased to see her.
‘Come through,’ he said.
‘But I thought I was seeing Marco.’
‘I’m sure you soon will be,’ Luka said as he led her through to his office. ‘Please, take a seat.’
Cecelia was very glad to, for her legs felt as if they were made of rubber, and not just because she was nervous—yes, she had forgotten the absolute impact of him.
He looked incredible.
Gleaming was the word that came to mind.
His raven hair was worn shorter than she ever remembered it being and it accentuated his sharp features. He was tanned, and although there had never been an ounce of spare flesh on him he now looked leaner.
Meaner, Cecelia thought, and her heart kicked into a gallop, though she did her level best not to show it.
Yes, being away from him for a year had certainly tempered Luka in her mind, for now she was back she remembered her despair at his reckless ways; the constant stream of women; his wealth and the power that came with that.
And he was her baby’s father.
There had never been a doubt as to that, of course, but only now, back in his world, did it truly hit home.
He had essentially fired her on the last occasion she had been here. He had had her marched out of his life over the smallest slight.
Cecelia thought of his legal team and the constant battles they waged, for he would step over anyone to get a property he wanted.
And he was Pandora’s father!
Cecelia did her best to meet Luka’s eyes, which seemed no longer a velvet brown but as black as night as they appraised her. There was no hint of a smile on his mouth.
‘Where are you working?’ Luka asked.
‘At the same place that I left here for,’ Cecelia answered.
‘You never did say where.’
‘Didn’t I?’
Oh, let the games begin, Luka thought.
He was turned on and enjoying the silent fight.
He watched her pink tongue run a nervous path along her lips. He looked at her cool green eyes and he fought not to walk right around that desk and shake the news from her.
He was certain the baby was his.
Why?
Because there had been no one else since that night.
Nearly a whole damn year—and not for the lack of options or opportunity.
And if he hadn’t screwed his way out of the problem, then he was certain that neither had she.
Whatever had happened that night, or rather that morning, had taken a lot to get over.
He still hadn’t.
And now he knew why—this morning he had found out he was a father.
But he had only found out by chance.
‘How have you been, Cecelia?’ he asked.
‘You mean since I was marched out of the office?’
‘Please,’ he dismissed, ‘you exaggerate.’
‘How did Sabine work out?’ Cecelia asked, remembering again the humiliation of that morning.
‘She didn’t,’ he said. ‘In fact, I did have her marched out of the office and I considered taking a restraining order out against her at one point.’
‘Well, if you will insist on mixing business...’ Cecelia started, but then she faltered. She just could not stand the thought of him with Sabine enough to pursue her line. ‘Where’s Bridgette?’
‘She’s on annual leave.’
Well, at least that sounded nice and normal.
‘So what is it that you want to see me about?’ Cecelia asked.
‘There were a couple of expense forms that were flagged and Marco needed—’
‘Could he not have emailed?’
‘I guess,’ Luka said, ‘but I wanted to see you myself.’
She could not tell him now, Cecelia knew, for she simply couldn’t make herself say it. She could barely look him in the eye, let alone tell him news that would turn his world upside down. Or maybe it wouldn’t.
She needed to think this through properly, because Luka didn’t play nice, she well knew it.
Luka Kargas had an entire legal team that worked on his behalf and if he decided she was the enemy then God help her.
Cecelia knew she must leave and go and get some proper advice and then she would tell him. ‘Well, if you can have Marco email me when he’s next in...’ She picked up her bag. ‘Anything else?’
‘I’m not sure,’ Luka said. ‘Why don’t we go and get dinner and catch up?’
‘I don’t think so.’
‘A drink perhaps?’
‘No.’
‘It’s been almost a year,’ Luka said.
‘How sweet that you remembered.’ She gave a tight smile. ‘You must celebrate a lot of one-night-stand anniversaries.’ It looked like she could not do this without it descending into a row. ‘Luka...’ She stood. ‘I’m going to go.’
The door looked a very long way off when Cecelia turned to face it. She had no idea the game he was playing but, whatever it was, she wanted out.
No way could she watch the anger flare in his features, for already the air was thick with tension.
But a tension she could not define.
Sex, with a dash of...
Cecelia didn’t know what and she would not be staying to find out.
Her hand was on the handle of the door when he called to her.
‘Have you forgotten something?’ Luka asked.
Foolishly, she patted her bag. ‘No.’
‘I meant,’ he
said in a voice that was like a dagger wrapped in velvet, ‘did you forget to tell me about my baby?’
The caress of his voice and then the knife to her back.
Her back was to him, but if there had been any doubt Luka knew now for certain that the baby was his, for her shoulders stiffened, followed by the slight buckle of her knees before she righted herself, although she still did not turn around.
‘Sit down, Cecelia,’ Luka said.
She did not follow orders any more.
Instead she stood there, trying to fathom how he knew. And, given that he did, Luka’s reaction was the antithesis of anything she had expected. Cecelia had been sure that when she told him, the majority of any ensuing discussions would be convincing him that Pandora was his.
She was unprepared for this. Her reactions when around Luka were always extreme for he turned her from ordered to chaotic, and so, instead of turning around and calmly facing him, Cecelia wrenched open the door.
‘Don’t you dare walk off,’ Luka warned in an ominous voice.
Except that was exactly what Cecelia did.
The was no one at her old desk and no one at Reception as she swiftly made her way through the vast space. There was just the gleam of furniture and the scent of flowers in the air as she headed speedily for the lift.
She desperately wanted distance between them. She pressed the button for the lift, yet no light came on to indicate that it was on its way.
Cecelia pressed it again.
No, the lifts weren’t out, she quickly realised, Luka must have changed the code! Usually it was altered to stop ex-lovers making their way up to him, never to prevent them from getting out!
Well, she’d take the fire escape, Cecelia decided, and turned angrily in time to see Luka calmly walking towards her.
‘Come and sit down, Cecelia, and we will talk.’
‘I’ll take the stairs.’
‘You can try.’ Luka shrugged.
Cecelia knew he’d have no scruples about going after her and hauling her straight back.
‘You can’t keep me here, Luka,’ she shouted. ‘You had me come to the office under false pretences and you have no right—’
Oh, she knew she had said the wrong thing for even Cecelia stopped in mid-sentence as he walked towards her.
‘Don’t you dare speak to me about rights when you have denied me mine,’ Luka warned, and he came so close that she shrank back against the cool wall of the elevator. ‘Now you are to get back to my office so we can talk.’
Claiming His Hidden Heir Page 10