“He didn’t get rid of me the moment he could. I hadn’t just turned eighteen,” she reminded him. “If that had been his reason, he would have kicked me out months before.”
Stergios knew he had wounded her. Her rigid stance and cool tone didn’t give her away. It was in the way she tried to give a scornful smile. Her tremulous lips ruined the effect.
He had dug in and exposed a fear that had settled deep in her heart. It gave him no pleasure. But Stergios knew he couldn’t hold back if he wanted her to leave. He had to go in for the kill.
“It’s common knowledge that Gregory wanted to become a father so he could eventually live off the child support.”
Her forced smile tightened. “Yes, I’ve heard what was said during the divorce proceedings. That was one lawyer’s argument and it doesn’t make it true.” She took the last step and headed for the music room to join the others.
“Why would you want a relationship with a man who only showed an interest in you for the money?” he called after her.
“Perhaps you should ask your mother that question.” She whirled around. There was restrained anger in her movement but her expression was coldly polite. “My father married Mairi for money. She married him because he’s a respectable escort. He’s not a danger to her fortune or family like your father was.”
Stergios’s head snapped back. No one discussed Elias Pagonis in this house. In front of him. No one. Stergios had shed his father’s name years ago but he couldn’t rid himself of the memories and the damage Pagonis had created.
Jodie took a step closer as if she wasn’t aware of the emotional grenade she’d just lobbed. “Mairi and my father have been married for ten years and they have grown fond of each other. Is it really outside the realm of possibility that my father can grow to love his only child?”
Stergios struggled to focus as old anger swelled inside him. He wouldn’t allow Jodie to distract him with the mention of Pagonis. “Are you going to buy Gregory’s love with your inheritance and hope it becomes the real thing one day?”
“Do you think that’s the only way I can get love? By paying for it?”
Stergios heard the crack in her voice and the weak sound pulled at him. “Be careful with this plan,” he said roughly as he fought for control over his emotions. “You’ll soon run out of money. And when that happens, Gregory will have no use for you.”
“Why are you giving me advice, Stergios? I can’t believe it’s from the goodness of your black, withered heart. If my father loses interest in me, that will suit your purposes.”
“Because I don’t believe that’s why you’re here.” Rejection was the one thing Jodie Little couldn’t excuse. “You can’t accept that Gregory got rid of you.”
“He didn’t get rid of me.” She leaned forward and he noticed the suspicious moisture in her blue eyes. “He had to make a choice between his wife and his daughter.”
“And he’ll make the same choice over and over again.” Stergios almost missed the flicker of pain before she blinked. “You have money now but it’s nothing compared to what we have. We have more money, influence and power. You can’t compete.”
“I’m not trying to take him away from your mother.” Her voice was rough with annoyance.
“Oxi, it’s worse. You’re trying to become part of this family.” He viewed her plan as an invasion and he would use all of his resources to prevent that. “Do you actually believe we’re going to lower our guard and let you in?”
“No, of course not. It didn’t happen before. Why should it now?” She shook her head as if she was suddenly weary. “I am not the enemy, Stergios. I don’t have the power to hurt anyone.”
Stergios wanted to scoff at that declaration. “I disagree. I’ve seen the damage you cause without even trying.”
Jodie set her mouth into a grim line. “Don’t put all the blame on me.”
“You have always been trouble.” He raked his hand through his hair. “If you weren’t causing me headaches, you were destroying everything important to me. I can’t have you anywhere near Dimos’s wedding.”
Jodie stared at him silently for a moment before she raised her chin. “Sorry to hear nothing is going your way, Stergios,” she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “You better get used to it while I’m around.”
The woman didn’t understand, Stergios decided. His gaze rested on the sway of her hips as she strutted to the music room. Jodie assumed he played fair but when it came to protecting his family, he wasn’t constrained by a gentleman’s code of conduct. He had learned early in life what it took to fight to the death. He followed the law of the jungle and always won. Always.