“It’s too much of a coincidence that Jodie has returned when we need this alliance with the Volakis family. She’s out for revenge.”
His mother scoffed at the idea. “She’s not the type who would follow the financial news or understand your long-term plans for the Antoniou Group. Jodie is not that smart. For goodness’ sake, she’s a finishing school dropout.”
“Jodie wasn’t kicked out of all those schools because of her academic performance,” he reminded her.
“She has no interest in destroying us,” his mother said. “She wants to be one of us.”
“Sometimes the enemy is within the family.”
Silence pulsed between them. Stergios inhaled sharply as he firmly pushed back the memories. He sensed his mother turning to face him. Stergios mastered his troubled thoughts and didn’t flinch when she tentatively placed her hand against his shoulder.
“You don’t need to protect us against Jodie.” Concern wavered in her voice.
His mother was wrong. He must always remain alert. Build enough power and wealth that nothing could touch them. He didn’t want anyone in his family to know the bleak and cruel world he had experienced.
“She’s a problem but we’ve dealt with worse. In fact, we won’t need to do anything,” Mairi said brightly, dropping her hand before she turned away. “Jodie can’t pretend to be demure and innocent for long. Her true colors will show. They always do.”
“And while we wait, she’ll seduce Dimos and stop the wedding,” he predicted.
His mother gasped. “No, Dimos won’t betray us like that.”
“Dimos will bed Jodie the first chance he gets,” he countered. He knew his cousin would view Jodie as the one who got away.
“He won’t,” she argued. “He knows how important this merger is to the family.”
That didn’t stop Dimos four years ago, Stergios thought grimly. If anything, the need to claim Jodie was more imperative to his cousin now. But Mairi Antoniou had a blind spot when it came to family. It was his duty to recognize and eliminate any threats.
“Jodie knows the importance, as well,” he warned as he grasped his mother’s elbow and guided her back to the party. “She has returned because she has some unfinished business and the money to fund it. She’s a real threat to the Antoniou-Volakis marriage. We need this alliance and I won’t let Jodie Little destroy it.”
* * *
Some things never change, Jodie told herself. She flashed a friendly smile at one of the older Antoniou women. The curmudgeon in unrelieved black didn’t reciprocate as she drew the lovely heiress away to the other side of the garden. It was as if this family believed Jodie could corrupt the young woman with just her presence.
She strolled along the garden, sipping from her water glass as if she didn’t feel all eyes on her. Jodie knew she was being paranoid. Many of the relatives had been indifferent to her when she had lived in Athens. Yet no one seemed happy that she had returned.
Jodie sensed a strange undercurrent that hung in the late summer breeze. These people were convinced she was going to make a mistake or cause a scandal. It was as if the Antoniou family was waiting for disaster and bracing themselves for impact.
They were in for a long wait. Jodie locked her smile into place. That was the old Jodie. She was wiser now, and more in control of her emotions. This time she was determined to fit in. She straightened her shoulders and took a deep breath, inhaling the fragrant garden flowers. This time she would belong.
“Jodie?”
She gave a start when she recognized the male voice. She whirled around and saw her cousin Dimos Antoniou. Jodie instinctively took a step back and wished she hadn’t shown any sign of weakness. She corrected herself and welcomed him with a smile before he embraced her with a strong hug.
“It has been so long,” Dimos said as he kissed both her cheeks.
“It has,” she agreed, not allowing his touch to linger. He looked exactly as she remembered, with his long face, lanky build and black hair that flopped over his forehead. “Thank you for inviting me to your new home. It’s beautiful.”
“Zoi’s family gave it to us as a wedding present.”
“I think you and your fiancée will be very happy here.”
He thrust his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his feet. “Can you imagine me getting married?” he asked.
She silently shook her head. Dimos was three years older and she had been grateful for his friendship, but he had always seemed immature for his age. “And you’re a vice president with the Antoniou Group.”
He ducked his head. “That won’t be official until I come back from my honeymoon.”