by Marie Kelly
Giving a chuckle he had nodded back finally settling on the coffee as she had flipped on the kettle that was hidden in one corner of the expansive room.
“This is a lovely surprise” she had smiled, as her step-brother had moved closer to her, his face suddenly so serious.
“Can I ask you something Mina?”
Nodding, her mood becoming more sombre “Of course Alexander…of course you can” looking down at her he had come right out with it, “Who are you voting for?”
Mina had gasped in surprise, suddenly feeling uncomfortable and uneasy “I…I really don’t think that is any of your business” she had stuttered softly, her eyes looking beseechingly into his “It is a secret ballot Alexander”.
Stepping back, his features had become harder “If you and Nikos have an agreement then that seems very unfair to me don’t you think? I would hope that you would at least give me the courtesy of honesty”.
Savaging her lower lip she had looked back, her features full of indecision before she had finally given a small sigh “I am going to be voting with Nikos, Alexander. I promised him a long time ago that I would and I see no reason to change my mind”.
Nodding softly he had pulled something from his pocket, Mina frowning seeing a business card in his fingers “Maybe you should reconsider. If we vote against him then we stand to make a great deal of money…and I really need money Mina”.
She had moved further away from him.
“I’m sorry Alexander. I will not vote against him or for you to strip down his company”.
With her words, his pleasant exterior had slipped, a cold dark look on his handsome face
“This has nothing to do with OUR company…it is because you are sleeping with him”.
Mina had gasped in hurt shock as she had spun round to face him, her mouth open to deny his words, to tell him that she had promised him long before they had become lovers. He however, had stepped even closer to her, his eyes only just suppressing the fury his whole body showed in his rigid stance.
“Oh Nikos is clever Mina” Mina had raised her small chin glaring at her step brother.
“What do you mean by that Alexander?” she had asked, her voice low, seeing as he had laughed at her “He has you exactly where he wants you”.
The other man had become serious, his eyes blazing down at her “You were his deciding vote, his ace up his sleeve, but then your mother died sooner than he had expected”.
He had not even paused as the pain had crossed her face.
“He had to find some other way of controlling you….making sure that you remained docile and obedient”.
With a contemptuous look he had snarled at her “So he made you his mistress….and what a willing little thing you were”.
Mina’s eyes had flown open with disbelief, her head shaking vehemently “No…no you’re wrong” her voice lacking conviction as Alexander had continued.
“You really think that some nobody school teacher from England, and the illegitimate daughter of his worst enemy would really attract a man like Nikos Mina”
His eyes scathing as he had rounded on her.
“Grow up little SISTER. He is using you, and once the vote is over you will be thrown back into your sad little life”.
Continuing to shake her head, she had moaned softly “No, no, no……I don’t believe you” as Alexander had pulled her around as she had tried to turn away from him. Pushing a card into her hand his look had changed.
“You can beat him Mina. Make him pay for what he is doing to you…what he has already done to you. There are people willing to pay you five million dollars if you vote against him”.
With her head still bent, he had ploughed on.
“Take the money. You owe him nothing”.
As the card had slipped from her fingers, he had placed it onto the table beside her, before turning and leaving the room, Mina struggling to hold the tears within her. Moving over to the window, she had stared unseeing out of it, her insides churning so alarmingly. His words had struck a chord; Nikos was a man of the world, and she a teacher. What could she possibly expect from him? The knowledge that she was kidding herself hurting, her heart crying out for what she knew she could never possibly hold onto. Moving from the room, she had returned to their bedroom, her mind in turmoil. Curling up onto the bed she had felt the pain fill her. The pain of the loss of her mother and now the knowledge of the inevitable loss of the man she loved, too sore even for tears, sleep finally freeing her from the avalanche of hurt.
Several hours later, Nikos had moved back into his home. In his hand the large bouquet of flowers filled the room with fragrance as he had smiled, his eyes scanning the area for Mina. Frowning he had moved into the living room, before the dining room. With a small scowl he had made to leave before his eyes had fallen on the small card on the walnut table. Picking it up his eyes had widened in disbelief, seeing the name of his competitor and the number written on the back. Flinging the flowers to the ground, he had felt the anger swell within him, her betrayal making that anger turn to rage as he had strode from the room, running up the stairs looking for her.
Entering their room, he had found her curled up on the bed in a deep sleep, but not a relaxed one, her face not serene but drawn her features showing such pain. Pausing for a second, his body once more reacting to the woman before him, he had chastised himself reminding himself of her betrayal before moving forward and grasping her shoulders none too gently to wake her, feeling as she had jumped in shock.
As Mina had awoken from her nightmare-infested dreams, her eyes had opened abruptly frowning in surprise, shock filling her features. Seeing a furious Nikos before her, her mouth had opened to ask what was wrong, but silenced before the words could leave her mouth as he had cut over her, waving the card in her face.
“What the hell is this Mina?” his voice full of the anger his face showed.
“You are selling me out…after everything I did for you…you are voting against me?”
Still groggy from sleep, she had fought to understand what he was saying, before the memory of Alexander had returned to her. With a wary look, she had opened her mouth to explain.
“It’s not what…” she had begun as he had contemptuously moved back from her, his eyes wracking her scathingly “What? It’s not what I think Mina?” giving a non humorous laugh.
“Please do not insult my intelligence. It is exactly what I think…and I’m damn sure that I am not putting up with it”.
Clamping her mouth closed, she had looked imploringly at him, his eyes not meeting hers as he had moved back to the door.
“I will beat this Mina…this vote is only the first step, you and Alexander are making a big mistake.”
Once more she had tried to speak, as he had raised his hand silencing her, his finger pointed accusingly at her “I thought you were different…I really did, but you and Alexander are the same, and I want you the hell out of my house…now”.
Gasping, Mina had jumped to her feet; protestations on her lips as he had strode from the room, moving quickly down the stairs before slamming the front door the sound of his sports car being gunned angrily reaching her ears.
Dropping back onto the bed, Mina had stared disbelievingly at her hands. He had not even given her a chance to explain, to tell him what had happened. With her mouth set, and her eyes full of pain she had risen, pulling her suitcase once more from the closet.
Fifteen minutes later she had finished packing, taking with her only those few possessions she had brought to the villa only a month previously. So much had happened in that short space of time, and Mina had felt numb with the emotions tearing through her. Moving down the stairs, both Yanis and Theresa had stood at the bottom, both looking at each other, before Yanis had moved forward.
“Mina…is everything OK?” he had asked gently, seeing as she had shaken her head, upset so clear on her features.
“No, no it’s not”.
Looking at the two before her, she h
ad given a half-hearted attempt at a smile “I’m leaving”.
The other two had shaken their heads quickly talking over each other “Nikos is just angry… he doesn’t mean it”, “You have to stay….he will calm down”.
Both trying so hard to make her stay, seeing as she had looked sadly at them both.
“If he can think that badly of me, then I am better off away from here. I’m sorry”.
Dropping her bag, she had moved to pull in the housekeeper for a hug “Take care Theresa” she had whispered tremulously, moving to hug Yanis, who had wrapped his arms around her “Good luck with your wedding Yanis…she is a lucky girl”, her smile full of sadness.
“I will drive you to where you want to go” Yanis had insisted, as she had shaken her head.
“Thank you Yanis… I really appreciate it…but I already phoned a taxi”.
At that the car had drawn up in the driveway, Mina moving out to meet it, before stopping to take one last look at the villa she had grown to love.
“Thank you for everything and for your kindness” she had muttered softly, before moving inside the taxi, moisture making her eyes blurry, no longer able to see the lovely estate as the car had moved away.
Mina still had the lease on the Villa Aqua, but the thought of moving into the home where her mother had died had filled her with even more pain, choosing instead to give the driver instructions to a small hotel she had spotted when exploring the island with Nikos. As she had booked into the family-friendly cheap and cheerful hotel sitting so picturesquely overlooking the sea, she had felt all her insides closing down, no longer able to process all of the pain her young body was feeling.
Her room was basic, a studio apartment with a bed and a small wet room built in, but it was the French doors which opened out onto the sea that gave her the serenity she so badly needed. Here she sat allowing the soothing sound of the water as it musically washed up onto the sandy shore to envelop her, to calm her shattered nerves, her eyes staring unseeingly over the aqua green waters.
For three days she had holed up in the small room. Unable to eat, she had survived on water, the sight of Nikos’ and her mother’s faces pushing themselves constantly into her thoughts, often when she least expected it, each time the dagger of pain turning so deeply within her. She had come to the island to make one’s dying wish come true, and found her own dream, only to have it so cruelly ripped from her, Mina chastising herself often for her own stupidity. Alexander had been right about one thing. What could a woman like her, an everyday school teacher, born to a man he despised expect to get from a man like Nikos Dupris? A man who had women falling at his feet, women so much more sophisticated and beautiful than her, these thoughts just adding fuel to her already enflamed hurt.
Mina had only left her room to arrange her flight home, ensuring that it left as soon after the vote as possible, not willing to remain on the stunning island any longer than was necessary. On the morning of the vote, she had pulled on her suit, the memory of wearing it to first visit Nikos’ office once more pushing its way into her mind. Calling a taxi, she had then given instructions to the office in which she had known the vote to take place.
Inside both Alexander and Nikos were already waiting. Alexander had moved forward to smile welcomingly to her, Mina feeling her whole insides shrivel at his gloating. Moving her eyes, she had seen as Nikos had scowled, his face full of contempt as he had ran his eyes scathingly down her before turning purposefully away. Mina had held back from her urge to run to him, to tell him she loved him. She had felt sick. Seeing him once more she had experienced her insides churning, gulping down the tears which had risen to her eyes. She wanted to talk to him, to tell him that he was wrong, but he had moved as far from her as possible his whole body screaming leave me alone, as finally she had moved to sit on one of the chairs away from both men, her shaking hands clasped tightly before her.
Joe, whom she had met at her first charity night where she had gone specifically to meet the other members of the board with Nikos had entered the room with another younger more arrogant man, both greeting the three already in the room. Mina had noticed as Nikos had only shaken hands with his own lawyer, his eyes cold daggers as he had regarded the other.
“The process is simple” Joe had spoken, his voice calm “Each will move into the room next door and cast your vote. Are there any questions?”
All three had shaken their heads, the rules and process needing no further clarification. The two men were to be first with Mina voting last, and Nikos had been the first to move into the room. He had quickly returned, his eyes avoiding meeting hers, as decisively he had pulled open the door striding purposefully from the room, Mina’s heart once more breaking into a thousand pieces.
Next had been Alexander’s turn, his greasy smile directed at Mina, who had felt her insides crawl once more as he had winked at her. As he too had returned she had then moved into the room, quickly marking her vote. As she had left the voting room, Alexander had been stood waiting for her, a huge grin on his face.
“Well Mina. Looks like we are both going to be very rich” he had smiled, Mina frowning softly, not enjoying his gloating.
“And why is that Alexander?” she had replied softly, seeing the look of confusion light his eyes, his smile faltering.
“You voted against Nikos right?” he had questioned, his voice not as sure as it had been, his face changing in a flash as she had shaken her head at him.
“You voted FOR him?” he had cried in disbelief, moving closer to her, stuttering “But…but he used you. You saw that…why the hell would you vote with him?” his voice growing higher and angrier as a manic light had entered his eyes, as he had yelled at her “You damn little bitch….Do you have any idea what you have done?”
At this Mina had stood taller, her eyes flashing brightly as rage had filled her, finally having someone to vent her anger and hurt on “I know exactly what I have done Alexander” she had bit out coldly.
“Nikos did not use me. Did you really think I would not see past your attempts to manipulate me? I knew what I was getting into when I moved in with him and I am grown up enough to accept the consequences. I am not some spoiled little brat like you”
Before her the taller man had gone silent, his mouth open wide as she had whipped him with her words as she had continued, her face showing her contempt for her step-brother.
“You have no right to expect anything from him. He has single handedly pulled this company back from the brink, and you…you have done nothing, not lifted a finger to help, only expecting to strip it down for your own profit. Well our father would be ashamed of you Alexander and I will not be a part of it. I voted for Nikos because he has never used me or lied to me. He made promises to me, which he kept, which is more than you have ever done. So crawl back under your rock and stay the hell away from me”.
Turning to the two lawyers who still stood in the room, their eyes wide staring at the scene unfolding before them she had given a solemn look at Joe.
“Did you bring the papers that Nikos asked you to draw up Joe?”
Shaking himself the man had nodded, his mouth still gaping as he had pulled the contract from his briefcase. A contract he had been informed only an hour earlier would no longer be required. Mina had taken it from him, sitting to quickly read the contents, before pulling out a pen from her bag. Alexander had moved forward, his eyes shifting from his lawyer to her “What are you doing?” he had demanded, his eyes full of confusion and uncertainty.
“I have no right to any of this, and I made a promise which I intend to keep. Unlike you Alexander my word is my bond, and I promised Nikos that I would sign over all my rights to his company once the vote was taken, and that is what I am doing”.
Alexander had blanched visibly, his mouth opening and closing wordlessly, watching as she had signed the document, before passing it over to the lawyer to witness. Rising to leave, Joe had regarded Mina with respect, taking her hand and shaking it softly.
/> “What are your plans now?” he had asked gently, seeing as she had looked so sad.
“I am flying out today…time to go home”.
The lawyer had frowned slightly.
“Perhaps you should stay” he had said softly, his eyes looking deeply into hers.
“I am sure that Nikos…” Mina shaking her head adamantly as she had fixed him with eyes full of such hurt.
“Thank you Joe…I appreciate the thought, but there is nothing here for me now” more pain filling her beautiful features.
“I achieved what I came here for…my mother had a peaceful end…and now it is time that I got back to my own life…and this is not it Joe”.
The final part said in almost a whisper, as her voice had wavered slightly. Taking her hand Joe had dropped a small kiss on it, his smile warm and genuine.
“Take care Mina Lane, and if you ever need help…please feel free to call me” he had said gently, as she had given him a small sad smile, nodding her head before silently leaving the room, satisfaction giving her a small glow of warmth as Alexander had still stood his face full of disbelief and panic.
Outside the taxi still waited for Mina, her small case already stowed in its trunk.
“The airport” she had said softly, as the car had moved off, Mina feeling some peace at having put the vote behind her, having kept her word to the two people she loved most, her mother and Nikos.
She had just made the plane, taking her seat and breathing a small sigh, so happy to be returning to her own life she had told herself, her insides still so cold.
A week later Mina sat in her class. While due time off to get over her grief at her mother’s death, she had returned to work needing to have something to do, something to keep her mind from constantly filling with images of the man she loved.
Her students had watched as she had demonstrated a brush technique, her soft voice the only sound in the room as the children had concentrated on her words, their young faces attentive. The small tap on the door had seen her smile broadly at them, placing the brush back down onto the easel as she had stood to answer the knock.
