At the Tycoon’s Service

by Maya Banks

  “She might have mentioned that you were busy,” Isabella murmured.

  “Who is this?” Alannis’s mother asked imperiously.

  Theron turned and smiled reassuringly. “This is the girl I told you about, Sophia.” Then he looked back at Isabella. “Isabella, I’d like you to meet Alannis Gianopolous and her mother, Sophia. Ladies, this is Isabella Caplan, my ward.”

  Sophia immediately lost her guarded look and smiled warmly at Isabella. To Isabella’s further surprise, the older woman approached her, holding her hands out.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Isabella. Theron has told us so much about you. I think it’s wonderful that he’s taking the time to introduce you to potential husbands.”

  Sophia kissed her on either cheek while Isabella murmured her stunned thanks.

  “I’m very happy to meet you, Isabella,” Alannis offered with a shy smile.

  “Likewise,” Isabella said weakly. Her gaze found Theron’s again. She looked for any sign that he was miserable, but his expression was unreadable.

  “Was there something you needed?” Theron prompted.

  She made a show of checking her watch. “You told me to be here this morning. Well, here I am.”

  He frowned for a moment and then remembrance sparked in his eyes. “Ah, yes, of course. You’ll have to forgive me.” He flashed a smile in Alannis’s direction. “In the excitement of Alannis’s arrival, I completely forgot about your security team. They’re waiting out front. I’ve briefed them on my expectations. Madeline can go over the rest with you.”

  He walked over to his intercom and proceeded to tell Madeline that he was sending Isabella out to meet her security force.

  And just like that, she was dismissed.

  Sophia hugged her warmly while Alannis gave her a friendly smile. A moment later, Isabella found herself all but shoved from the office.

  Numbly she made her way back to Madeline’s desk. Madeline gave her a quick look of sympathy before getting up and circling her desk.

  “Come with me,” she directed as she all but dragged Isabella after her.

  Isabella allowed herself to be led into the same conference room as the day before. Madeline shut the doors behind them and then turned on Isabella.

  “I’ve changed my mind. I’ve decided to help you.”

  Isabella looked at her in surprise. “What do you mean?”

  Madeline sighed. “Alannis is a lovely girl.”

  “Now you’re making her sound like a poodle,” Isabella pointed out, remembering that Sadie had told her the same.

  “She’s truly lovely, but she’s all wrong for Theron. I knew it the moment I met her and her forceful mama. Alannis is a mouse while Theron is more of a lion.”

  “Maybe he wants a mouse,” Isabella murmured.

  “Have you given up then?” Madeline asked as she tapped her foot impatiently.

  Isabella gave her an unhappy frown.

  Madeline shook her head in exasperation. “This marriage would be a disaster. You know it and I know it. Theron has to know it somewhere behind that thick skull of his.”

  “I thought you had a strict policy against interfering in your employer’s personal life?” Isabella said.

  Madeline snorted. “I’m not going to interfere. You are.”

  Isabella raised her eyebrows.

  “He plans to propose this Friday night after the opera. He has the tickets, the ring, the entire evening planned. I’ve given you the information. What you do with it is up to you,” she said with a shrug.

  “So soon?” Isabella whispered.

  “Yep, which means you have to move fast,” Madeline said cheerfully.

  Isabella slowly nodded. Her mind was already racing a mile a minute.

  “While you’re pondering, let me introduce you to your security team,” Madeline said as she herded Isabella back toward the office where the men waited. “They have strict instructions to accompany you wherever you go.” She turned to Isabella and grinned. “Should make things interesting for you.”

  Isabella only half heard the introductions. She had to crane her neck to look up to the three really large men. They certainly fit the part of security, though she couldn’t imagine that subtlety was their strong point. But then subtlety wasn’t one of Theron’s strong points, either.

  As Madeline introduced the last man, Theron’s door opened and he and Alannis and her mother came out. Alannis’s arm was linked with Theron’s, and his head was bent low as he listened to something she said.

  Isabella stared unhappily at them until Madeline elbowed her in the ribs.

  “You’re being far too obvious, my girl,” Madeline whispered. “Smile. You don’t want mama bear to be suspicious. I get the impression she can be a barracuda when it comes to her daughter.”

  Isabella forced a smile to her lips just as the three approached.

  “I trust you found your security team to your liking?” Theron asked politely.

  Isabella nodded and smiled more broadly. Then in an even bigger effort to kill them all with kindness, she turned her attention to Alannis. “How was your trip? Everything went well, I hope.”

  Alannis’s smile lit up her entire face. “It did,” she said in only slightly accented English. “I’m very happy to be here.” She glanced up at Theron, and Isabella flinched at the open adoration in her expression.

  “We look forward to seeing you again Thursday evening,” Sophia said.

  “Thursday?” Isabella parroted. She glanced at Theron in confusion.

  “The cocktail party,” Theron said smoothly. “I, of course, extended an invitation to them, as well.”

  “Of course,” Isabella said faintly.

  Though his almost fiancée stood at his side, clinging to his arm like seaweed, Theron’s gaze was on Isabella, his dark eyes probing. His eyes traveled a path of awareness over her skin.

  Did he love Alannis? Did he feel a certain affection for her? She was older than Isabella, but not by much. Maybe a few years? There was youthful innocence in Alannis’s eyes that made Isabella feel older and more jaded.

  Isabella swallowed the rising knot in her throat and she turned brightly to Sophia. “I too look forward to seeing you again. Perhaps you can tell me all about Greece. I’ve heard it’s such a lovely place to visit. Maybe I can honeymoon there after I marry.”

  Sophia beamed at her while Theron’s face darkened.

  “We should go now,” Theron said to Sophia. “You and Alannis have had a long trip. I’ll have your luggage delivered to the hotel at once.”

  He nodded in Isabella’s direction as he and the other women walked past. “Let me know if you have any problems, Bella.”

  She nodded, unable to speak past the lump in her throat that she couldn’t quite make go away.

  Chapter Seven

  He couldn’t stop thinking about her. Theron rubbed his face in annoyance as he focused on what Alannis and Sophia were talking about. He’d taken them to lunch after they’d settled into their suite, but he was only reminded of having eaten with Isabella at this same table just before kissing her senseless in the elevator.

  Sophia was overjoyed with his plan to propose to Alannis after the opera. He’d planned the evening meticulously, buying tickets for Alannis’s favorite performance with a plan to end the evening with an after-party at his hotel.

  So why wasn’t he more enthused?

  Alannis was obviously excited. Theron was sure Sophia had hinted broadly of his plan to ask Alannis to marry him, although he’d asked Sophia to keep the details secret.

  It seemed everyone was thrilled except him.

  “Have you found suitable candidates for Isabella?” Sophia asked.

  “Pardon?” Theron asked as he shook himself from his thoughts.

  “You mentioned that you were trying to find her a husband,” Sophia said patiently. “I wondered if you’d found a suitable match yet.”

  “Oh. Yes, of course. I plan to introduce her to a few carefully scr
eened men at the cocktail party Thursday night.”

  Sophia nodded approvingly. “She’s a beautiful young girl. She seems lonely, though. I doubt she’ll have any problem in finding a husband.”

  Theron frowned. No, she wouldn’t have any trouble in that area. Men would line up for a chance to be her husband.

  Sophia leaned forward, excitement lighting her eyes. “You know, Theron, I’d love to sponsor Isabella myself. She could return to Greece with me. Myron would be more than happy to introduce her to any number of fine young men from good families.”

  “That’s a wonderful idea, Mama,” Alannis said.

  “I’ll bring it up to her when I speak to her next,” Theron said. He wasn’t sure why, but the idea of her leaving the country and marrying someone so far away left a very bad taste in his mouth.

  Not that her marrying closer made him feel any better.

  He listened as Alannis recounted the details of her trip and her excitement over visiting New York for the first time. But his mind simply wasn’t on the present. His thoughts were occupied by a vibrant, dark-haired temptress with a smile that would melt a man at twenty feet.

  As if he’d conjured her, he glanced up and saw her across the room. She was walking beside the host as he directed her to a table by the window.

  Remembering Sophia’s assertion that she seemed lonely, he took the opportunity to study her. Sophia was right. Isabella did look lonely. Even a little sad.

  She was dressed in jeans and a plain T-shirt. Her hair was drawn into a ponytail, and the smile that he’d just pondered over was absent.

  She was seated by herself, and then she smiled up at the waiter as he attended her. But her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

  For the first time he reflected on her circumstances. How difficult it must be for her to be alone in an unfamiliar city. No family, and if she had friends, he hadn’t been made aware of them. Guilt crept over him as he remembered his eagerness to rid himself of her.

  Now he was glad he’d planned the cocktail party for Thursday night. Maybe instead of making it a bland gathering at his penthouse with polite conversation, he could turn it into a party at the hotel welcoming Isabella to New York. He could still introduce her to the men on Madeline’s list, but at least she would have some fun if he livened things up a bit. A girl her age would be bored silly at the kind of gathering he’d first envisioned.

  Feeling marginally better, he refocused his attention on Alannis and reminded himself that in a few days’ time, he’d be asking her to be his wife. She’d be his lover and the mother of his children. She was the woman he’d spend the rest of his life with.

  Cold panic swept over him until sweat beaded his forehead. Instead of infusing comfort and contentment, the idea of making such a commitment filled him with dread.

  Why was he reacting so badly now when a week ago he looked forward to a life with Alannis? It didn’t make any sense.

  Again his gaze wandered to where Isabella sat. She stared out the window, a pensive expression on her face. Her fingers twined in a strand of her hair as she twirled it absently. She sipped at a glass of water, her gaze never breaking.

  Theron reached into his pocket and pulled out his Black-Berry. He thumbed a quick message to Madeline asking her when his shopping trip was scheduled with Isabella. After all, he didn’t want to commit to an appointment with Alannis at the same time.

  After a moment, Madeline returned his message. He frowned when he read it and then glanced up at Isabella again. She was going alone? She didn’t want him to go with her?

  Still frowning, he keyed in his response to Madeline.

  Find out when she’s going. Clear my schedule.

  As soon as Isabella left her suite, a man fell into step beside her. She still hadn’t gotten used to this whole security team thing, and it made her nervous to have men dogging her heels everywhere she went.

  He got onto the elevator with her and stood in the back as they rode down. When they got to the lobby, they were joined by the other members. Trying to pay them no mind, she headed out the front where the taxis waited.

  Before she got two steps toward the first in line, one of the men stepped in front of her, barring her path. She drew up short and sighed in exasperation.

  “Look…what is your name?” They had been introduced to her yesterday, but she’d been reeling from the news of Theron’s upcoming engagement. “Or should I just call you Huey, Louie and Dewey?”

  The man in front of her flashed white teeth as he grinned. So they did have another expression besides the stone statue look.

  “You can call me Reynolds.” He gestured to the two men on either side of her. How had they gotten there anyway? “The one on your left is Davison and the other guy is Maxwell.”

  “Okay, Reynolds,” she said patiently. She addressed him because he seemed to be in charge, and he was the one blocking her way to the taxi. “I need to get into that taxi. I’m going shopping. There isn’t any need for you guys to follow me on a girly trip. You could wait here at the restaurant.”

  He smiled again. “I’m afraid I can’t do that, Ms. Caplan. Our orders are to go everywhere you go.”

  She muttered an expletive under her breath and watched as amusement crossed his face again. “Even to the bathroom?” she asked sweetly.

  “If necessary,” he said, wiping the smile right off her face.

  “Well, hell,” she grumbled. And then she pointed out the obvious. “There’s no way we’ll all fit in that cab.” She smiled as she waited for him to agree.

  He looked sternly at her. “We have strict instructions that when you go anywhere, you’re to take the car that Mr. Anetakis provided for you. This morning, however, you’re to wait here for Mr. Anetakis to arrive.”

  She frowned and then stared at Davison and Maxwell. If she expected confirmation or denial from them, she was sorely disappointed. They simply stood, their gazes constantly moving around and beyond her as though looking for potential danger.

  “You must be mistaken,” she said to Reynolds. “I’m not meeting Theron today. I’m going shopping for my apartment.”

  Reynolds checked his watch and then looked up as a sleek, silver Mercedes vehicle pulled up and stopped just a few feet from where they stood.

  To her never-ending surprise, Theron stepped from the car and strode in her direction. As he drew abreast of her, he pulled his sunglasses off and slipped them into the pocket of his polo shirt.

  He reached for her hand, his fingers curling firmly around hers. Then he turned to Reynolds. “Is there a problem?” he asked with a frown.

  Reynolds gave a quick shake of his head. “Ms. Caplan was about to leave in a cab. I was in the process of explaining to her why she couldn’t.”

  Theron nodded his approval and then turned back to look at Isabella. “It’s important that you heed my instructions, pethi mou. The arrangements I have made are for your well-being and safety.”

  “Of course,” she murmured. “I won’t keep you. I’m sure you’re here to see Alannis.” She glanced over at Reynolds. “Will you call for the car since I’m not allowed in a taxi?”

  Theron raised one eyebrow. “A few days ago, you wanted me to accompany you. Have you changed your mind?”

  Confusion crowded her mind, and she scrunched up her brow as she stared up at him. “I assumed that since you have guests here, that you wouldn’t have time to go with me.”

  “Ah, but you’re my guest, too,” he said as he pulled her hand. He guided her toward the still waiting Mercedes and gestured for her to get into the back. Then he spoke to Reynolds over the door. “You’re excused until we return. My team will handle her security.”

  Isabella scooted over and settled into the comfortable leather seat. Theron ducked in and sat down next to her. As the driver pulled away, Isabella shook her head and smiled ruefully.

  “When was the last time you didn’t get your way about something?”

  He gave her a puzzled look.

&nb
sp; “And why all the security?” she asked in exasperation. “It seems a little pretentious.”

  His face immediately darkened. “Before they were married, Chrysander’s wife was abducted and held for ransom. She was pregnant at the time. Her kidnappers have never been apprehended. I take no chances with the safety of those under my care.”

  “How are Chrysander and his wife?” she asked softly.

  “They are well. Marley prefers the island so they stay there. Chrysander occasionally leaves for business purposes but he doesn’t leave Marley or their son very often.”

  “I can’t imagine Chrysander so in love,” she said with a laugh. “He seems so intimidating.”

  “You obviously don’t feel the same around me,” Theron said dryly.

  She let her gaze wander slowly up his body until she stared into his eyes. “The way I feel about you in no way compares to how I feel around Chrysander.”

  There was a surge in his expression, an awareness that he fought. Such conflicting emotions shooting across his face. Before he could respond to her enigmatic statement, she turned to look out the window.

  “So what made you come along this morning?” she asked cheerfully.

  Though she was no longer facing him, she could feel his every move. She could feel him breathe so tuned into his body was she.

  “I would have thought you’d be far too busy with work and entertaining your…guests.”

  “I’m not too busy to renege on a promise I made,” he said. “I told you I’d go shopping with you and here I am.”

  She turned then and smiled. “I’m glad. Thank you.”

  They spent the morning going down the list of items she wanted for her apartment. Theron seemed appreciative of the fact that she didn’t take forever making her selections. But the fact was, she didn’t really labor over furniture styles because if things went the way she wanted, then she wouldn’t be staying in the apartment long term. And if they didn’t go her way, she wasn’t going to stick around New York City only to watch Theron with another woman.