by Marian Tee
“I’ll hold you to that.” She let out a nervous giggle. God, she was giggling too much these days, it was getting humiliating.
“What do you want to talk about then?”
“Umm…I’m wondering if you could come home early tomorrow – like seven-ish in the evening?” Knowing he was likely to ask why, she hurriedly told him, “I just want to have dinner with you...if you have time.”
“Then I will come home at exactly seven.” He paused. And then Damen heard himself lying, “I might not be able to come home tonight though.”
Her heart stopped beating at his words. This was his first time not to come home to her. Could it have something to do with his meeting with Alina Kokinos? She wished she had the courage to ask it, but she was scared of looking like a jealous, nagging insecure girlfriend.
Swallowing convulsively, she said, “I’ll miss you.”
“I will miss you, too.”
Unbidden, their early morning conversation returned to her. It had sounded exactly like this, like she was saying the words with desperation and he was returning the words mechanically.
They spoke for a few more moments, but the earlier intimacy, brief as it was, had been dispelled and they were both stiff with each other by the time Damen excused himself to talk with another investor.
She wiped the tears from her eyes. She really did love him, really did miss her Greek billionaire, but she didn’t think she could take more of this. Before she knew it, she was sending a chat message to her aunts.
Vilma: Good of you to remember you still have aunts.
Mairi: It won’t work, Aunt Vilma. I know you’re just being cranky because you miss me.
Norah: When can we fly there?
Mairi: Not until I’m convinced that you two would behave yourselves around Damen.
Vilma: How dare you? I admit that both Norah and I find Greek billionaires irresistible, but we draw the line at seducing one who belongs to our niece.
Mairi giggled again, imagining how her two aunts would no doubt have Damen uncomfortable in seconds. They had told her that she better have Damen prepared when they finally flew in for a visit. Nothing would stop them from asking the burning questions in their minds, accumulated over the decades they had spent devouring Mills and Boon paperbacks.
Norah: Have you asked him yet?
She shook her head at the question. Norah had wanted her to ask Damen the percentage of Greek billionaires with and without chest hair. Like heck she’d ask something like that!
Mairi: NEVER. And you mustn’t ask him that either!
Vilma: What about mine? Did you ask him?
Aunt Vilma’s question was just as bad. She wanted to know the average age with which Greek billionaires lost their virginity. Seriously!
Mairi: I love you, Aunt Vilma, Aunt Norah.
Norah: We love you even more.
Vilma: We love you ALWAYS.
****
Half an ocean away, Norah and Vilma exchanged looks with each other. They had been enjoying an early breakfast in the kitchen. It was five in the morning and the sun was barely out in the sky. All in all, it was definitely too early for her heart to be broken like this, Norah thought.
“She’s hurting.”
“I know.”
“We must do something,” Vilma insisted.
“Not yet. She’s not a little girl anymore. We need to let her learn from her own mistakes.”
Vilma knew her sister’s words made sense, but it went against everything she believed in to simply stand aside and allow Mairi to be hurt. And she would be hurt, in a way that terrified Vilma.
“Were we so wrong?” Vilma whispered. “It had seemed so harmless at the beginning, letting her dream about stupid Greek billionaires.”
Norah reminded her gently, “You didn’t think they were so stupid before.”
“Yeah, so color me stupid, too.”
Glancing down at her phone, Norah’s heart became heavier. She said quietly, “It can’t ever be wrong to let someone dream.” It was just a sad reality of the world that most people found joy in destroying another person’s dream.
Stay strong, Mairi, Norah whispered in her heart. Please God, let her be strong enough to love and dream even when she was alone.
Chapter Twelve
“You’re pronouncing it wrong.” He was on his way back to the field, stray baseball in his hand, when he spotted her sitting under the tree, knees up with an open book balanced on them.
The girl was startled into looking up from her Greek language manual. As always, her loveliness struck him. She was not beautiful, but then beauty was skin deep and vastly overrated. He had been surrounded by beauty his whole life, and those people had a tendency to be excessively shallow individuals.
But this girl…
He had always liked how pretty she was, the kind of pretty that came from within. She was quiet but vibrant, a combination that told him she would be a very interesting person to know – if she allowed him to get to know her.
“Sorry,” she mumbled, not looking at him as she shyly tucked her hair behind her ears.
Knowing he would not come by this kind of chance again, he discreetly threw the baseball away from behind. If his teammates came to get him, he’d tell them that he hadn’t found it yet. He took a seat next to her on the grass, which caused her eyes to dart towards him in surprise.
He didn’t blame her. They had never talked even though they were in the same grade. He had always noticed her every time they’d pass each other in the hallway. She tended to have a busy or distracted look on her face, though, which had caused him to hesitate making small talk with her.
With other girls he was confident and assured of their interest in him. But with her... Well, let it be said that he considered it a gift of fate their hitter had ended up batting the ball in this direction.
Pretending he didn’t notice how skittish she seemed in his presence, he leaned close towards her, enough for the sides of their heads to almost touch. Pointing to the word she had mispronounced, he told her gently, “Here’s how you say it.”
Her head cocked to the side as she listened to him, an attentive look on her face.
Liking the feeling of having her look at him, he continued reading the other lines in perfect Greek.
She had a shy smile on her lips when he finished. “Th-thank you.”
The blush was natural, and so was the stammer. He had always been enchanted by her simplicity, and now he was even more so.
“Why are you studying Greek?”
“Because I…like reading about the myths.”
He raised a brow. That was an uncommon answer. “There are English translations.”
“There’s something different about them when you read it in their original language,” she told him seriously.
He did his best not to smile. Like any Greek, he was raised to respect the myths even if they were just myths. It was refreshing to find someone outside Greece who seemed to feel the same. “What are your favorites?”
Interestingly, she blushed.
He was even more intrigued. He told her with a grin, “Now I’m even more determined to know what your favorite myths are.” He looked at her thoughtfully. “I’m going to guess you probably like those with love stories?”
She gave him a small nod.
“Umm…Cupid and Psyche?”
She nodded, quickly, as if she was hoping he wouldn’t catch her doing so.
He grinned. “You girls always do.”
She made a face, as if his words had so irritated her that she forgot about being shy with him. “There’s nothing wrong about happy-ever-after love stories.”
He was even more amused, and he decided to tease her, drawling, “I don’t know about that. They can be cheesy, don’t you think? Also, it follows a formula. Boy meets girl, girl likes boy—”
“It’s the little things that happen between boy meets girl and girl likes boy that make these stories special.” Her eyes were glow
ing now. “And each story has a unique couple, and that makes it special, too.” A dreamy look settled on her face. “You gotta be more imaginative. Like Cupid and Psyche – did they go on dates? Surely they had? But how’s that gonna happen if he’s invisible? Do they walk hand in hand? And what if a guy happened to see Psyche and try to hit on her? Cupid would be jealous, but since he’s invisible he can’t blame the other guy—”
She stopped, as if only realizing how much she had said.
He told her honestly, “Don’t worry, I didn’t find any of it boring. Your imagination’s unbelievable though.”
“Only with love stories,” she confessed.
“Ah. Maybe you want to be an author someday and write romance novels?”
“No.” A mysterious smile played on her lips. “I don’t want to write the stories.”
The smile was as secretive as Mona Lisa’s, and it was only months later that he would come to know the truth behind it. By then of course it was too late. Everyone knew the truth, too, but it had been terribly twisted, the beauty of it marred by malice.
Mairi Tanner hadn’t wanted to write the stories she loved reading so much. She had wanted to live them instead. In her mind, Greek gods were Greek billionaires in life, and she – an ordinary girl – played the role of a mortal woman. Unfortunately, the others called her by a different name. In their minds, the role she played was that of a gold digger.
****
Stavros was pulled out of his thoughts by the ringing of his phone.
The detective he had set on Mairi’s trail said, “She’s come home, sir.”
“And Leventis?”
“Still in his office.”
“Keep me informed of his movement.”
It was time.
He was done waiting.
****
Mairi had just finished setting up the aquarium on the carpeted floor next to Damen’s luxurious recliner seat when her phone rang, almost causing her to jump.
Damen!
Did he remember now? Would he apologize?
But when she looked at her phone’s screen, an unidentified number flashed on it. Since she had caller ID installed, it only meant that it was a private number, purchased by someone who took his – her – privacy very seriously.
She answered the call hesitantly. “Hello?”
“Hello, Mairi.”
She gasped, instantly recognizing the voice. “Stavros?”
Chapter Thirteen
“Yo, Mairi.” Stavros Manolis’ voice was grave when he said the words, but his eyes had an amused gleam that threatened to put Mairi’s cheeks on fire as his gaze slowly traveled all over her from head to toe, taking in her outfit. Cap worn inverted, dark glasses, large baseball jersey that she stole from Damen’s closet, and an old pair of denim shorts – also of Damen’s – which she had tightened with a chain belt. It was the best disguise she could come up with at such late notice.
The coffee shop Mairi had chosen as their meeting place was crowded and noisy, but his voice seemed gratingly loud and cheerful, each word coming to her perfectly clear.
“Yo.” She flashed him a weak smile. Yay, her: she had succeeded in making the normally stoic-looking Stavros Manolis laugh. Not.
She couldn’t believe she was sitting across Stavros Manolis. It felt like she was back in high school again, and anytime now she would be bullied because she thought it was her fate to marry a Greek billionaire.
Stavros inhaled, trying to get a better grip of his senses. After all these years, he had finally found her. He only had a brief time to look at Mairi when he had been at GAYL, but now that she was this close, he did not hesitate to look his fill.
Her hair was longer, her eyes beautifully dark like before, and her body as shapely as Aphrodite’s. She was also paler, thinner, and looked extremely stressed.
Stavros said quietly, “I’m sorry I’ve forced this meeting on you.”
The words were unexpected and confusing, forcing Mairi to look at him again. The last time she had seen him, Stavros had been a teenager like her, a boy who had broken every girl’s heart when he only ever smiled at Mairi and ignored the rest.
Now, he was a man, solidly built and extremely attractive. Add the fact that he was also a Greek billionaire, and the way all the women in the restaurant were ogling at him was entirely understandable. Maybe if she didn’t have her own Greek billionaire to love, she would have been ogling him, too.
Mairi answered just as quietly, “I don’t consider myself forced to meet you in any way, Stavros.”
“I know the truth, Mairi. Damen told me you needed more time—”
She was incredulous. “You talked to Damen?”
A frown formed on his forehead. “Did he not tell you?”
The truth dawned on them both.
Stavros said grimly, “He lied to me.”
“Stavros—”
“Knowing you are with him, it is with the utmost respect for your relationship that I went to him first and asked permission to talk to you.” His jaw hardened.
She knew he wouldn’t say anything anymore. Stavros was not the type to backstab anyone, even if that someone had clearly lied to him. But then – he didn’t really have to, Mairi thought, still bemused. Clearly, Damen had lied to him, prevented them from meeting. But why? Surely he didn’t think she still loved Stavros?
“He must have his own reasons. Please don’t let this ruin your friendship.”
Stavros said curtly, “If it is fine with you, I do not plan wasting our time talking about Leventis.”
Her heart sank. Earlier he had called Damen by his first name. Now he was more formal, and it didn’t bode well.
She heard Stavros sigh, a harsh sound that confused Mairi. It was as if she had hurt him.
And then—
“Did you know I tried looking for you?”
Her head jerked up. “You did? Why would you?”
He was disbelieving. “Why wouldn’t I? It was my fault you were expelled!”
Oh, these Greek billionaires. They could drive a girl insane. Did Stavros and Damen know how alike they were, with their tendency to blame themselves for something that was not and could never be their fault?
“It was not your fault, Stavros, and I never thought that.”
“I’m not surprised you think so. You have always been too nice.”
She shook her head, smiling wryly. “I threatened Principal Childress with a lawsuit just to make sure not a single word about the incident got out. So you know, I can be a bitch if I want to.”
Stavros allowed himself a slight smile even as he said firmly, “You are not and will never be a bitch. But I do know about what you did and again I think you were too lenient on her.”
“I couldn’t risk embarrassing my aunts,” she admitted.
He nodded. “I knew it was probably your reason for letting her get away with her unethical actions.” His lashes fell, partially hiding his gaze as he murmured, “I made sure she lost her job when you left. It was the least I could do for you.”
Mairi was stunned. It was her first time to hear that. The moment she had been expelled, she had decided that part of her life was over and she had taken pains to avoid any kind of news about her old school and everyone else associated with it…and that included Stavros.
She asked tentatively, “Why did you want to meet with me?”
The way her eyes nervously darted to and away from his face was so reminiscent of how she had been when she was young, it made Stavros’ chest tighten. The years might have passed, but what made Mairi Tanner the girl who had so quickly ensnared his attention without trying was still there.
And she was more beautiful than ever.
And she would never be his because it was obvious that her heart had already been claimed by another man.
In that instant he knew that whatever he had subconsciously thought to tell her were words he should never speak out loud.
The gentle smile on Stavros’ face made Mair
i remember how he had been so kind to her all those times they had talked about Greek myths, with Stavros never telling her she was letting her imagination get the better of her.
Only now did she realize how much she had missed his friendship when she had left their school.
“Mairi?”
“Y-yes?”
“I am happy that you didn’t lose the courage to make your dream come true.”
Oh.
How was it that her mind had conveniently neglected to consider that Stavros would know about that horrible blog, the one that had exposed her dreams and turned it into a living nightmare?
She choked out, “Stavros—”
“I just hope that your Greek billionaire knows how lucky he is to have a woman like you to love him. Because if I had been the one your heart had chosen, I would do my best not to fail you again.”
Chapter Fourteen
On the center of Damen’s table was the envelope his unexpected visitor had thrown at him, as silently insidious as the sly gaze of the snake in the Garden of Eden. Inside it was knowledge forbidden and tempting, and even though hours had already passed he still could not decide what to do about it.
Glancing at his watch, he realized with a little surprise that it was already nine in the evening. He put a call to Mairi’s mobile and she answered at the first ring. “Damen?”
“I just called to make sure everything is well with you.”
“Of course it is,” she assured him right away. “I’m in bed already.”
“Early night?”
“I need to try to sleep, otherwise I’ll just stay up and keep missing you.”
She was so fucking sweet. If only he didn’t have so many goddamn doubts about her now.
Mairi tried not to be hurt when it took a while for Damen to answer, “I miss you, too.”
I miss you.
I miss you, too.
She pressed her hand to her mouth, hard. She mustn’t let him know how hearing him say “I miss you, too” made her want to cry these days. But God…oh God, why didn’t these words sound like how they used to sound? What had she done wrong?
