Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 234281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1171(@200wpm)___ 937(@250wpm)___ 781(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 234281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1171(@200wpm)___ 937(@250wpm)___ 781(@300wpm)
“Umm...” Mairi bit her lip very hard. This was like a scene straight out of Fifty Shades. She only realized she had said the words out loud when Leon started to laugh.
“The fuck did you say?”
She turned red. “Sorry, but I couldn’t help thinking it—-”
He shook his head, amusement still underlining his voice as he said, “It’s definitely not that, trust me.” He winced at the thought. “I know about the books. My sister told me about it. And it’s not that.”
“Umm, sorry?” she said weakly.
“My mother is more like...Esther Leventis.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh.”
“I know about your mother-in-law. I’ve read about you two in the papers.”
“Yeah, she totally loves talking about me,” Mairi said miserably.
He snorted. “I guess you could say that.” He sobered. “My mother’s from the same mold. Bitchy as hell, rich as fuck, and unfortunately – beautiful, too. She fell in love with my father, who hadn’t a euro to his name. She gave birth to me, didn’t find his life that nice, so in the end, she dumped my father and me and married the man her parents had chosen for her. End of story.”
“Oh.” She asked slowly, “Does that mean, you thought by...with me, maybe you could turn the tables around and hurt me?”
A short hard laugh escaped him. “I wasn’t that diabolical. Actually, I thought the opposite. I thought maybe I could show everyone that with me, it could work.”
“But I’m married,” she protested.
“So was she when she fell for my father.”
“Ah.” She gave him a disconcerted look. “I’m in love with my husband, though.”
He said flatly, “I know.”
“Super in love.”
“You don’t have to super stress it out,” he returned mockingly.
“Sorry.”
When Mairi flashed him a peace sign, he had to shake his head in amusement. She was such an intriguing mix of maturity and childishness he didn’t know what to make of her. And to think, the Greek billionaire had to deal with this every day. Something to envy and pity him for, definitely.
By the time desserts were served, they were both at ease, and no mention was made again of what had led to this meeting. There was no need actually. Mairi only had to talk about Damen or her daughter, and it was there for him to see.
The love they had was unshakable.
If his parents had the same thing, they would never have separated either.
Mairi excused herself afterwards, telling him she had to feed her daughter. When she came back down, it was to find Leon waiting for her by the entrance hallway, clearly ready to leave.
“I wouldn’t want to overstay my welcome, Ms. Yay.” Again, a look at the CCTV.
She rolled her eyes. “He’s not watching, I told you.”
“Probably not now but in time, he will. And I’d like him to know from here on, you will always be Miss Yay to me.”
“It was nice talking to you, Leon,” she said dryly.
“It was my privilege, Professor.” He held out his wrists, and the cuffs were removed.
She hesitated for a moment before blurting out, “I’m really sorry about your parents.”
He nodded.
“Please don’t let it color your view of life.”
He nodded again.
She saw in his face that he no longer wanted to talk about it. “Goodbye, Leon. Oh, and tomorrow, just in case you’d think you’re the reason – I won’t be at school. I don’t have classes to teach and I need to fly to Greece.” She hesitated. “Also, there may be reports coming out about me causing parents to withdraw their children from CU.”
Leon frowned as Mairi explained why. “That’s bullshit.”
“It will die down in time so...” She shrugged. “Anyway, I thought I should let you know because I’ve also been told by Dean Blanchard that the media may know about...you.”
Leon blinked. He hadn’t thought about how his actions would affect her in that way. “Fuck.”
The self-accusation in his face made her say quickly, “It’s not your fault.”
“No. I should have thought about that. I apologize, Professor.” He reached for the doorknob. “I’ll make sure no one in the class speaks about it to the media.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “You have that much power in school?”
Leon only shrugged.
She was visibly impressed. “That’s so cool.”
“I didn’t say it to impress you,” he said irritably. Dammit, he didn’t like how the way she was looking at him made him feel good. “I’m going now.” He looked up at the CCTV again. “Take care of her, Leventis, or I’ll do more than kiss her next time.”
Mairi’s gasp made him feel really good about himself, allowing Leon to leave with a smirk.
Chapter 10
“YOU’RE SURE YOU’RE all set?” Damen asked over the phone, his voice made sharp by worry. It was the first time his wife and daughter were traveling without him, and it didn’t feel right. At all.
Biting back a curse, Damen said, “I don’t think this is a good idea—-”