The Greek's Blackmailed Wife

by Sarah Morgan

  Tom was glaring at Zander. ‘I won’t let you hurt her again. She loves you so much she’d do anything for you. When you’re around she does utterly crazy things and I won’t let you take advantage of that.’

  Lauranne gave a tiny moan. ‘Tom—’

  He ignored her plea. ‘You broke her into a million tiny pieces,’ he said hoarsely, his hands curling into fists by his sides. ‘Every morning I used to have to drag her out of bed and force her to go to work, when all she wanted to do was curl up and die. And you did that to her, Volakis. You threw her out and you didn’t once check that she was OK. You left that to me. I was the one who had to put her together again.’

  Zander sucked in a breath, his dark eyes glittering. ‘I’m well aware of that.’

  Tom shook his head. ‘Well, you’re not doing it to her again,’ he growled, taking a step forward, his fists clenched by his sides. ‘She may love you too much to say no to you, but I won’t let you take advantage of her. If you want the island then you do it without this pretence of getting back together.’

  Kouropoulos stepped forward, a disapproving frown on his face as he looked at Zander.

  ‘So Marina was right. This reconciliation was all a setup to persuade me that I should sell the island.’ He shook his head in distaste. ‘The deal is off, Volakis.’

  Zander didn’t even look at him.

  Instead his eyes were fixed on Tom. And then his gaze shifted to Lauranne, a funny smile that she couldn’t interpret touching his firm mouth. There was a strange light in his eyes and his breathing wasn’t quite steady. And then, without uttering a word, he turned and strode away from the villa without a backward glance.

  Lauranne watched him go and anxiety ripped through her. Did he still think that there was something going on between her and Tom?

  For a frantic moment was tempted to run after him, but she stopped herself in time. What was the point? Zander didn’t want her. He’d proved that by walking away. All he’d wanted was the island, and thanks to Marina he’d lost it.

  ‘Oh, dear, what a shame,’ Marina cooed smugly and Lauranne whirled on her, all thoughts of discretion forgotten as her anger rose to the surface with frightening speed.

  ‘How dare you? Do you know what you’ve done?’ Her voice shook as she stepped towards the other woman, totally ignoring the others, who were watching her passionate outburst in astonishment. ‘Do you know what you’ve done?’

  Marina lifted her chin but she took a step backwards, her expression suddenly alarmed. ‘I haven’t done anything,’ she said, her face a picture of innocence. ‘You and Zander have done it all with your deceit and your lies.’

  Lauranne shook her head, so angry and worried about Zander that she could barely speak. ‘There was no deceit. I love Zander and I always have. The only reason our relationship crashed five years ago is because you worked so hard to make it happen and you’re the reason it’s crashing again now.’ Her eyes sparked angrily and she saw the older woman tense, her expression startled.

  ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

  ‘Oh, yes, you do, Marina.’ Lauranne gave a humourless laugh. ‘You set us up five years ago, but do you know something? I don’t even care about that any more. All I care about is what you’ve just done to Zander.’ She broke off, not knowing whether to sob or scream, so angry and upset that her breath was coming in pants. ‘He wanted this island so badly. Not because it made good business sense but because he made a promise when he was a little boy. A promise to his grandmother, who he adored, made when he was hardly old enough to know what he was promising.’

  Emotion choked her and she broke off and covered her mouth with her hand, thinking only of Zander, oblivious to the silence around her.

  Kouropoulos was watching her with an odd expression on his face and he pursed his lips thoughtfully. ‘You knew that?’

  Lauranne lifted damp eyes to his and her hand dropped to her side. ‘Yes, I knew that. And I know how hard it was for him to tell me. Zander struggles to trust anyone and it’s because of women like you—’ she turned back to Marina, her eyes flashing with anger and contempt ‘—that he feels that way. You are a snake.’

  Marina flinched and glanced nervously at her boss but he was still looking at Lauranne.

  ‘You seem astonishingly committed to your role as Zander’s defender, young lady.’

  ‘I would do anything that helps give Zander a sense of belonging,’ she confessed hoarsely, ‘and if you’re wondering why he can’t commit himself to family life then just ask Marina for some clues.’ As she realised miserably that she had insulted her host and blown Zander’s chances of gaining the island her slim shoulders sagged.

  Kouropoulos looked at her thoughtfully. ‘You love him that much?’

  ‘Yes. And I’d do anything to make him happy. Absolutely anything.’ She turned to Tom with an apologetic shake of her head. ‘I know you think I’m crazy—’

  He rolled his eyes but then stepped forward and gave her a hug. ‘What I think is that you can’t help yourself,’ he said gruffly, wrapping his arms around her and glaring at Marina. ‘And I also think you’ve done enough. I’ll be taking Lauranne home when she’s had a chance to pack.’

  Lauranne felt tears prick the back of her eyes and blinked them back. She was not going to break down in front of Marina and Kouropoulos. Despite her emotional outburst and her frank confession, she still had some pride.

  Now that the deal had fallen through, Zander certainly wouldn’t need her any more and she didn’t want to hang around any more than she had to or she’d make an utter fool of herself. She might as well go home with Tom.

  The fact that Zander had walked off told her everything she needed to know.

  He didn’t want her.

  Kouropoulos turned to Tom, his expression impossible to read. ‘There is no flight until this evening. Why don’t you come up to the house with us and give Lauranne a chance to gather her things together—’ he hesitated slightly ‘—and do whatever else she needs to do?’

  Lauranne looked at him suspiciously. What exactly did he mean by that remark?

  There was nothing left to do except go home.

  CHAPTER TEN

  HAVING packed her things, Lauranne found that she couldn’t face joining them in the house so she walked up the path to the white cottage and this time made her way down to the private beach. The path was narrow and steep and she stumbled several times but eventually she made it, and slumped down on the sand, her arms clasped round her legs.

  Her emotions were changing so rapidly that she couldn’t keep up with them. Anger had turned to misery and then back into anger. How could Zander have just walked out like that? Was he still suspicious of Tom, even after everything she’d told him? She was so furious she could hardly think and she didn’t know whether to sob out loud or hit something.

  And she had no idea where he’d gone. He’d just vanished. Exactly like last time. Just seeing her within a few metres of Tom seemed to fuse his brain cells and she was forced to admit that what she and Zander shared was so fragile that the slightest puff of wind sent it splintering into pieces.

  Couldn’t he see what Marina had done?

  Was he really that blind?

  But then they didn’t really have a relationship, she reminded herself, sniffing hard and brushing away a stray tear with the back of her hand.

  Zander Volakis wasn’t worth crying over.

  He was too self-absorbed, too stupidly jealous, too—too—Greek!

  And she loved him so much it was just agony.

  At least this time he hadn’t exploded, she reflected miserably. He hadn’t even tried to throttle Tom. He’d just given her a really funny look and then stalked off into the distance without a word, leaving them staring after him.

  Remembering the astonished look on Kouropoulos’ face and the smug satisfaction on Marina’s, Lauranne gave a groan. There was no way that Zander was going to get his island now.

  Marina had
once again achieved exactly what she’d set out to achieve.

  Havoc.

  She struggled to her feet and then froze as a familiar dark drawl came from behind her.

  ‘If you don’t stop hugging Farrer when you’re almost naked then I won’t be held responsible for my actions.’

  She whirled round, tears making her eyes bright. She couldn’t believe it was him. Standing there. Looking as if he wasn’t entirely sure of his reception. ‘You stalked out and left me standing there—’

  He sucked in a breath and his dark head tilted backwards, strain visible around his eyes. ‘Because I was angry—I didn’t trust myself—’

  She stared at him in an agony of seething frustration. ‘Why don’t you ever use that legendary brain when you’re with me? Marina set that up! It was obvious right from the moment that you stupidly told her that we were staying married that she was going to try and mess everything up—you knew that—’

  ‘Yes, I knew that.’

  She opened her mouth and closed it again, completely deflated by his response. ‘Then why were you angry?’

  His jaw tightened. ‘You were half naked and in his arms. Again.’

  ‘I’d been swimming,’ she pointed out. ‘And of course I hugged him. He’s my friend—’

  Zander swore violently in Greek, cutting her off. ‘Theos mou, do you think I need reminding of that fact?’ He ran a hand through his sleek dark hair, displaying all the signs of maximum discomfort. ‘How do you think I feel knowing that he was the one to comfort you when I hurt you so badly—knowing that I drove you into his arms—?’

  ‘Zander—’

  ‘And how do you think I felt today when I saw you in his arms again?’ Zander clenched his teeth. ‘He came here to pick up the pieces. To take you home. Just as he did last time.’

  Lauranne looked at him. ‘No,’ she said quietly. ‘He came because Marina somehow set it up again because she knew it would cause trouble. And it did.’ She looked at him miserably. ‘I’m so sorry about the island.’

  His eyes were fixed on her face. ‘I don’t give a damn about the island.’

  For a moment she thought she must have misheard. Of course he cared about the island. Hadn’t she given him a new image so that he could buy it? ‘But you wanted it so much—’

  ‘I thought I did.’ His mouth twisted. ‘I discovered that there’s something that I want a hell of a lot more.’

  Lauranne stared at him, deprived of her powers of speech by a hope so powerful that it threatened to overwhelm her. What was he saying? She didn’t dare ask the question, so desperate was she to prolong the fantasy a little longer.

  He took a step forwards. ‘When I saw Farrer standing there I was so afraid that you’d go with him.’

  Finally she found her voice. ‘You were afraid?’

  ‘For probably the first time in my life,’ he confessed. ‘He’s always been there for you. He’s never let you down, whereas I—’ his voice cracked and he ran a hand over his face, struggling with the words ‘—I have let you down repeatedly. I’ve treated you very badly, agape mou, and I’m more sorry than you’ll ever know.’

  Lauranne looked at him, stunned. Zander was apologising?

  Her heart tumbled inside her chest. ‘I was at fault too,’ she said softly, stepping closer to him and taking his hands in hers. ‘I was the one who made you jealous.’

  He gave a wry smile. ‘Not a good idea to intentionally make a Greek man jealous.’

  ‘I know that now.’

  His smile faded and he stared down into her eyes, a muscle working in his hard jaw. ‘All those things Farrer said, about you loving me so much you’d do anything for me—’ his voice was hoarse ‘—were they true?’

  Lauranne felt her face heat. It was the first time that her true feelings had been exposed and she suddenly felt shy and unsure.

  ‘Lauranne?’ He prompted her gently, his hands sliding over her shoulders and forcing her to look at him. ‘Would you do anything for me?’

  She nodded, mute, and he let out a long breath.

  ‘That’s good to hear.’ He pulled her against him and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. ‘Because what I want more than anything is your forgiveness.’

  ‘Forgiveness?’

  ‘For hurting you so badly.’ His arms tightened. ‘For not trusting you. And then for crashing back into your life and blackmailing you.’

  She pulled away slightly and smiled up at him. ‘I’m glad you blackmailed me or we’d never be here now. We’d be divorced.’

  He shook his head and framed her face with his hands. ‘I would never have given you a divorce.’

  Finally Lauranne summoned the courage to ask the question that she’d been longing to ask.

  ‘Why, Zander?’ Her voice faltered slightly. ‘Why wouldn’t you have given me a divorce?’

  A strange expression crossed his handsome face. ‘Because I love you.’ He said the words softly, as if he was trying them out, and then he smiled and said them again. ‘I love you. And I’ve never said those words to anyone before.’

  Lauranne stared at him, the tension in her body holding her rigid. ‘You really love me? You’re sure?’

  Please, oh, please—

  ‘Very sure. I think I’ve always loved you,’ he admitted, a wry smile on his face, ‘but I didn’t recognise it. Or maybe I was too stubborn to recognise it. Five years ago I was terrified by the effect you had on me. It was another reason I removed you from my life so hastily.’

  Was it?

  Suddenly she wanted to just smile and smile. ‘Why did you bring me to the island?’

  ‘Because there was no way I was letting you out of my sight and I wanted to get you away from Farrer,’ he said immediately. ‘All my instincts told me that it was a bad business decision, but I was determined to do it anyway.’

  She stared at him in fascination, utterly captivated by his uncharacteristically emotional response. ‘Why was it a bad business decision?’

  ‘Because you were angry with me and I knew you could blow the whole deal if you’d wanted to.’ He gave a rueful smile. ‘My lawyer has aged ten years since I announced that I was taking you.’

  She smiled. ‘The moment you told me about your grandmother there was no way I could have ruined it for you. I wanted you to have the island.’

  ‘I know.’ His expression was strained. ‘You’re a good, generous person and I’ve treated you very badly.’

  She shook her head. ‘I was stubborn and stupid. I never should have tried to make you jealous.’

  He nodded assent. ‘But the fact that you could, should have told you something.’

  She smiled. ‘Apart from the fact that you’re Greek?’

  ‘It should have told you that I was in love with you,’ he said hoarsely, bending his head to kiss her mouth. ‘I can’t let you do it, Lauranne. I ought to be generous and tell you that Farrer is right. That I’m a selfish bastard and you’re probably better off without me. But I can’t do it. I can’t be that generous. I won’t give you a divorce. You’re mine. And I intend to spend the rest of my life making up for hurting you so badly.’

  Her heart warmed but she lifted her chin, unable to resist teasing him. ‘And what if I want a divorce?’

  He shook his head and pulled her close once more. ‘You don’t.’

  ‘And what makes you so sure of yourself, Mr Volakis?’

  ‘Your reasons for marrying me five years ago.’ His arms tightened around her. ‘If you were truly after my money, why didn’t you ever spend any?’

  ‘Because the only thing I really wanted wasn’t for sale.’ She hesitated, her eyes soft as she laid bare her heart. ‘I wanted you to let me close. I wanted you to let me love you. And I wanted you to love me back.’

  ‘I did. And if I wasn’t so stubborn, I might have realised it earlier,’ he confessed with a groan. ‘If you hadn’t kissed Farrer to make me jealous, if you’d flung accusations at me instead of trying to beat me at my ow
n game, we might never have reached the point we did. But I know now that I should have trusted you.’

  ‘You’re forgetting Marina,’ Lauranne pointed out. ‘She still would have found a way to break us up.’

  He grimaced. ‘But I would have listened to you if I hadn’t been so enraged with jealousy.’

  ‘You fired me on the spot.’

  He groaned and ran a hand over his face. ‘Don’t remind me. All I can say in my defence is that I was so shattered by the effect you had on me that I wanted to get you out of my life. You were the first woman who had ever made me believe in love and I was afraid of it.’

  She reached up and touched his cheek with her fingers, her expression soft. ‘Your father was unlucky, Zander.’

  ‘I know.’ His eyes burned into hers. ‘Whereas I’m extremely lucky, agape mou—’

  ‘So what happens now?’ Her eyes were sparkling as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

  His eyes dropped to her mouth, his expression uncertain. ‘How would you feel about having full and personal responsibility for my public image for the rest of our lives?’

  Wanting to tease him just a little longer, she lifted an eyebrow. ‘You’re employing me full time?’

  He gave a frustrated groan and lowered his mouth to hers. ‘I’m asking you to stay married to me,’ he murmured against her lips, ‘for ever. I want you. By my side. As my wife.’

  She kissed him back, deeply touched by his uncharacteristically emotional words. ‘Yes,’ she breathed, ‘yes, yes—’

  He dragged his mouth away from hers long enough to mutter, ‘Farrer will kill me—’ and then kissed her again long and deep until she clutched at his shirt, breathless and dizzy.

  ‘I think he’s washed his hands of me,’ she confessed, ‘and he definitely thinks I have very bad taste in men.’

  Zander gave an unsteady laugh. ‘You probably do. Why else would you want to stay married to me? Apart from the great sex and the credit card without a limit?’

  She grinned. ‘I probably shouldn’t have said that.’

  ‘No. I deserved it. I gave you no reason to think the relationship was anything other than physical even though the evidence to the contrary was staring us both in the face. I didn’t recognise love then.’ He kissed her again. ‘But I do now. And I’m going to be uttering words of love until I lose my voice.’