CHAPTER SIX
DOWHATEVERAPPEASESthat sickness inside you.
That serrated knife of a remark from Ilona stuck itself deep in Leander’s gut and slowly turned.
You don’t know what they put me through, he had wanted to rail at her, but maybe she did. Maybe she did.
It was a disturbing thought that kept closing his hands into fists, as though he was trying to catch hold of something he hadn’t glimpsed long enough to identify before it was gone. His mind kept conjuring her stillness, her sadness beneath that cloak of dignity that had struck him as tattered and torn while she explained why she wouldn’t risk asking him to raise a child who wasn’t his.
It had sickened him to hear it. He hadn’t wanted to believe her.
But he had. Midas, it seemed, had not fallen far from the proverbial tree. His mother sounded equally sadistic and conscienceless.
So Leander was going ahead with this twisted alliance of theirs.
The rest of his week was nonstop meetings, allowing no time to see his fiancée. They mostly communicated through their assistants, much of it benign queries. Did he have opinions on wedding themes, menus or the font for the invitations? Leander did not. Did Ilona have a special request for their honeymoon? She did not.
The day of their engagement party arrived and it was one more appointment in today’s packed calendar. Leander was on his way to his barber when Androu handed him an envelope marked Private and Confidential. The return address was Ilona Callas.
It jolted him to a halt in the middle of his office, but he didn’t shy from whatever the envelope contained. He didn’t know what he expected. A scathing suggestion he go forth and multiply? Perhaps the ring he’d given her?
It was a report from Ilona’s physician certifying her pregnancy test was negative. She was also free of sexually transmitted infections and was deemed generally healthy, if slightly anemic. Her blood type was O positive.
Not pregnant. This was meant to satisfy any lingering doubts he might have, but it made him feel small. He swore tiredly.
“Kýrie?”Androu was hovering in anticipation of instructions.
“Book me an appointment with my doctor.”
“Blood tests are only mandatory if you’re marrying in a church. I looked it up.”
“Book me an appointment, Androu.”
“Immediately,” Androu mumbled into his shirt front and exited the room.
A few hours later, Leander stopped by the clinic for the necessary procedures before making his way to his yacht.
Ilona was already aboard. On his instruction, she’d been given his stateroom for whatever entourage was helping her dress. He was already in his suit and found her in the shade of the lido deck, eating finger foods off a plate while listening intently to a young man who was gesturing as he spoke.
Leander’s breath was punched out of him at the sheer beauty of her.
Her lightweight dress of ivory and seafoam green was pressed to her curves by the breeze. Most of her gleaming black hair had been gathered into a professionally messy pile of curls, but wisps drifted around her face. The style would allow the wind to muss it without damaging the look, he imagined, but that hint of dishevelment was sensual and touchable. Playful and enticing.
The young man splashed something invisible onto his own face and Ilona burst into laughter, covering her mouth. Her profile was so bright and naturally joyous, her body language so relaxed and graceful, Leander had to catch his breath again.
“May I bring you a drink?” someone asked at his elbow, forcing him to drag his gaze from her.
“Scotch over ice,” he said abstractly. When he looked back, Ilona had ironed her expression into an aloof mask. She offered him a cool smile.
“Leander. I don’t think you’ve had a chance to meet Feodor in person.” Ilona introduced the twentysomething who wore glasses and a goatee.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Kýrie Vasilou,” Feodor said with a respectful nod. He glanced at Ilona. “Shall I help with guest arrivals?”
“Thank you.”
Feodor melted away and Leander watched him go with a hostile gladness he’d never experienced before. Was he really threatened by his fiancée’s nerdy employee? How adolescent of him.
But the PA obviously knew Ilona very well. Well enough to make her laugh.