The Santorini Marriage Bargain

If he hadn’t kissed her, she would probably never have thought along those lines, and even though she had explained away the kiss to her own satisfaction there was one tiny part of her that knew she must be on her guard at all times. Not from Zarek, but from the feelings that had amazingly risen inside her when their lips had touched.

It didn’t take long to finish packing, to drop her toiletries into a holdall, and her shoes into carrier bags. When she was finished, she looked around the room. She had shared this flat with Annie for three years. It wasn’t sadness she felt, though, but anger that her friend had cheated on her.

‘I’m ready,’ she announced crisply.

Zarek’s eyes met hers, and he looked at her steadily, saying nothing, simply picking up her bags and carrying them down to his car. He wished that there was something he could say or do to make Rhianne feel better. Her face was deathly pale, and he was afraid she was going to pass out. But he knew that to even touch her again would be a mistake.

She was proudly beautiful in her unhappiness. Her long eyelashes shading her incredible blue eyes, her chin high and haughty, her mouth—well, he preferred not to think about her mouth because he wanted to kiss it again. He wanted to feel its softness; he wanted to encourage a response. Because he had felt a tiny one, even though she had told him off.

Give her a few days, a week or two at the most, and she might return his kisses. Not that this was his prime aim. He felt inordinately sorry for her; he didn’t want to see her walking the streets looking for work.

But that earlier kiss had told him that she wasn’t immune, and he liked the fact that she was fighting him. In fact, it had been a long time since he had met anyone who intrigued him as much as she did.

The journey to her friend’s house was accomplished in silence. Rhianne did not seem disposed to talk, and Zarek respected that. Karen was already home from work, and as she welcomed Rhianne, she looked curiously at Zarek.

But Rhianne didn’t introduce them. She simply turned to him and said, ‘If you give me your business card, I’ll see you at nine sharp in the morning.’

Zarek bowed his head, plucked a card from his wallet and silently handed it to her. ‘Do not be late,’ he warned.

‘Who the hell was that?’ asked Karen the moment he had driven off.

‘My new employer.’

‘You’re changing your job?’

Rhianne nodded. ‘I’ve been forced to. I was told this morning to clear my desk and get out.’

‘Are they allowed to do that?’ asked Karen curiously. ‘How does that guy fit into the equation? How did you meet him?’

‘It’s a long story,’ Rhianne answered. ‘I need a drink before I tell you. Preferably something stronger than tea.’

‘A G&T it is, then,’ said her friend. ‘And I’ll join you. Why don’t you put your stuff into my spare room while I’m mixing it?’

As soon as they’d sat down, Rhianne blurted out the events of the day, from discovering Angus and Annie to being hit by Zarek.

‘Oh, Rhianne, I’m sorry.’ Karen clapped a hand to her mouth, her eyes as wide as saucers. ‘What a terrible day you’ve had!’

‘Don’t I know it. Luckily I escaped with a few bruises, and that guy who dropped me off was the one who knocked me down. Whether it’s because he felt guilty I don’t know, but he’s giving me a job.’

Her friend’s mouth fell open. ‘Talk about landing on your feet.’

‘It’s only temporary, but it will do while I look around.’

‘You don’t sound impressed,’ said Karen. ‘He’s truly gorgeous. Just the man to get you back on your feet.’

Tell me about it, thought Rhianne. Angus had been good-looking, but Zarek was doubly so. With added charisma. Which would be difficult to ignore. ‘I couldn’t care less what he looks like,’ she told her friend fiercely. ‘I’m seriously off men for the foreseeable future.’

‘I don’t blame you,’ agreed Karen. ‘I still find it hard to believe that Angus has cheated on you with Annie. Did he really think he could get away with it? I wonder how long it’s been going on?’

‘I don’t think it’s the first time he’s done that sort of thing,’ acknowledged Rhianne bitterly. ‘Someone at work told me ages ago that she’d seen him with another woman. He denied it, of course, and I stupidly believed him. He’s away such a lot with his job, how do I know what he gets up to? But to cheat with my best friend…I shall never forgive him. In fact, I shall never trust another man as long as I live.’

‘They’re not all the same.’

‘No?’ she queried, her eyes rising disdainfully. ‘My father cheated on my mother, it’s why they got divorced. I always swore it would never happen to me.’

It was late when they went to bed, and Rhianne slept fitfully, thoughts of both Angus’s betrayal and Zarek’s kiss whirling round and round in her mind. Contrarily, when it was time to get up, she was in her deepest sleep. The alarm woke her, and she jumped out of bed, forgetting her injuries until she put her foot to the floor. It was stiff and painful, and in the full-length mirror on the wardrobe door she saw a huge bruise on her thigh, a vivid reminder of all that had happened yesterday.

And today she was starting a new job!

She actually felt fit for nothing. She wanted to stay in bed and wallow in her anguish. Both physical and mental. But jobs like the one Zarek had offered didn’t come along very often. The salary he’d mentioned was virtually double what she’d been earning. She’d be a fool to throw it away.

Karen had already left, so Rhianne had the house to herself. She showered and dressed carefully in a charcoal-grey suit, teaming it with a white blouse and medium heels. She brushed her thick hair and fastened it up on top of her head, and, with a final glance in the mirror, she pronounced herself ready.

The address was in the centre of the city, and she caught the tube in. Living in London, or even its suburbs, there was no point in having a car—even if she could have afforded one. Limping the last few yards to Zarek’s office, her heartbeat quickened.

This job offer had been so sudden, so unexpected, that she wasn’t sure whether she was up to it. He was a hard taskmaster, he’d said. Which also meant that she wouldn’t have time to dwell on what had happened. This had to be good. So why wasn’t she feeling happy? Why was she feeling that she would regret taking on this job?

Diakos Holdings occupied the top two floors of an impressive building. She was shot upwards in a high-speed lift and was evidently expected because she was shown straight through to Zarek’s office.

He stood up from his desk the moment she entered. ‘Good, I’m glad you made it.’ He wore a navy suit and a pale blue shirt and he looked the epitome of a successful businessman. His silk tie was navy also with pale blue polka dots. Everything about him screamed elegance and good taste.

‘Did you have any doubts?’ she enquired, looking curiously around her once her perusal of Zarek’s attire was over. His office was state-of-the-art efficient, cool colours, sleek furniture. There were no paintings on the walls, nothing to take his mind off the job in hand. There was a view over the Thames, but the venetian blinds were angled so that they blotted it out.

‘I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t,’ he answered. ‘We did meet under rather exceptional circumstances, and my offer of a job was not done in the normal way. I would have perfectly understood if—’

‘Mr Diakos,’ interrupted Rhianne. ‘I gave my word.’

‘Of course you did,’ he said. ‘I should never have doubted it. You’re a woman of integrity, and I like that. How are you feeling this morning?’

‘Stiff and painful,’ she answered.

‘Up to working?’

‘Of course.’

‘Then we’ll begin.’

Her office was next to Zarek’s with an interconnecting door. In business mode he was very different to the man she had met yesterday.

She discovered that this was the newest branch of Diakos Holdings, and that Zarek was here to oversee things. Their head office was in Athens, and they had other branches in Europe and the United States. It was a world of high finance, and the sort of figures that were tossed around caused Rhianne’s head to spin.

He worked her hard, giving her no opportunity to think about her problems and when Zarek said they were finished for the day, she was amazed to see that it was nearly seven o’clock.

‘You’ve done well,’ he told her. ‘I didn’t expect you to keep up.’

‘Do you always work this late?’ she asked.

‘Sometimes later. Is it a problem for you?’

Rhianne shook her head. ‘It helps take my mind off…’ She tailed away, but Zarek knew what she was talking about and nodded. ‘I’d like to repay your hard work by taking you out to dinner. You must be starving.’

Almost immediately Rhianne recalled her suspicions. Her eyes blazed and, with a defiant lift of her chin, she declined his offer. ‘My friend is expecting me. She’ll have a meal cooked by now. In any case, Mr Diakos, I don’t believe in mixing business with pleasure.’

‘Of course,’ he answered evenly. ‘But bear it in mind for another occasion. Dining with me is part of the deal. It would certainly be business because I rarely switch off. You’d find yourself taking notes.’

Rhianne looked long and hard into his dark eyes and saw nothing other than complete honesty—or was there something more? The intensity she saw there made her heart leap and unwanted heat flood her skin. She felt raw vibes crossing the divide between them. With a shake of her head she turned away, picking up her bag and heading for the door. ‘Goodnight, Mr Diakos.’

‘Goodnight, Rhianne.’

The next few days followed a similar pattern. He worked her hard, but Rhianne didn’t mind, and then on Friday afternoon Zarek asked whether she would be prepared to work the next day.

‘Is this what you mean by being a hard taskmaster?’ Rhianne asked. ‘Seven o’clock every night and then weekends.’

‘So it’s a no?’ A wry smile curved his lips as though it was what he had expected.

‘You push yourself too much,’ she pointed out. ‘Is it really necessary to work on a Saturday? I thought everything was up to date.’ Heavens, he’d worked like there was no tomorrow every day, what else was there left to do?

‘On this occasion, yes, because I have to go home to Santorini. My father’s not well, and I want to be on top of things before I go.’

‘Then of course I’ll come in,’ she answered quickly and quietly. ‘I’m sorry to hear about your father. Is it serious?’

‘I’m sure it’s not, but my mother needs me. Will you be all right in my absence? I know you must still be hurting over your fiancé’s indiscretions. Have you spoken to him yet?’

Rhianne shook her head, and the pins came out of her hair, causing it to tumble about her shoulders in a cloud of auburn waves. She had always been so careful to keep it neat and tidy for work that she felt embarrassed, putting her hands to it and trying to fix it back up.

‘Don’t,’ said Zarek at once. ‘Your hair is your crowning glory; leave it loose. I like it that way.’

He liked it! What was that supposed to mean? He wasn’t supposed to like anything about her except her efficiency. Personal issues were not allowed. Hadn’t they straightened that out after The Kiss?

‘Don’t you think you should speak to him?’ he asked quietly. ‘His defection was a turning point in your relationship. You need to tell him that; you need to make it perfectly clear that he has no part to play in your future— unless you’re hoping that—’

‘You think I haven’t tried?’ she cut in crossly. ‘His mobile phone’s always turned off. He never answers his house phone either. I’ve even tried going round, but there’s never anyone at home.’

‘So the whole thing is still an issue between you?’

‘I suppose so.’

‘How about your wedding plans?’

‘I’ve cancelled them,’ she announced firmly.

‘And your friend, the one whose flat you shared,’ he persisted. ‘What does she have to say about the matter?’

Rhianne’s eyes flashed a furious blue. ‘She’s uncontactable as well—if there is such a word. It’s my guess they’ve run away together, gone into hiding somewhere. And if she can’t be decent enough to speak to me and apologise, then I never want to see her again.’ Her voice rose until she was speaking far more shrilly and loudly than she realised, verging on the hysterical.

Zarek immediately took her into his arms—and, foolishly, Rhianne didn’t stop him. The whole issue had been building all week. Not being able to contact either of them was too frustrating for words. She could have thrown herself into the Thames for all they seemed to care.

‘You are right, Rhianne,’ he said gently. ‘They are not worthy of you. Why don’t you come to Santorini with me.’

Rhianne felt her heart stop beating. Everything around her stilled. The world grew silent. And then, just as suddenly, she felt a roar in her ears, and she clutched the back of her chair for support.

‘I think you know what my answer will be,’ she said coolly. ‘I like working for you, Mr Diakos, and I like the job, but as for anything else, it’s out of the question. I’ve learnt a huge lesson, and I am nobody’s fool. I’m grateful for the job, but if you want more from me, then I’m afraid I will have to quit.’

She snatched up her bag and would have walked out of the door if he hadn’t crossed the room in double-quick time and grabbed her arm.

‘I have no ulterior motive.’ His voice was icy-cold now, his eyes, more grey than brown at this moment, were like flint. ‘How could you think like that? I didn’t have to come to your rescue. I could have left you lying right there in the road. Your attitude sometimes makes me wish I had.’

‘Then you shouldn’t make improper suggestions,’ she shot back, trying unsuccessfully to snatch away.

‘Improper?’ He turned her to face him, gripping both her arms, effectively making her his prisoner. ‘You have no idea what you’re talking about. And if this is all the thanks I get for helping you out then perhaps it would be as well if you did leave.’

He let her go, but he didn’t move away, and Rhianne found that she couldn’t move either. For some reason she was transfixed to the spot, her eyes locked into his, her wild heartbeat echoing in her ears.

‘The offer to come to Santorini was because I thought you could do with a break. There won’t be much work for you here in my absence, and I didn’t want you to spend time worrying about your broken love life.’

Rhianne began to feel slightly foolish. ‘I appreciate your concern, but I really will be all right.’

‘Do you still want to quit?’ he asked, his tone quieter now, but his eyes remained hard as they looked into hers.

She shook her head. ‘I’d be a fool. Good jobs are hard to come by.’

‘So I’ll see you when I get back?’

She nodded.

He fetched a card out of his pocket and scribbled something on it. ‘This is the number of my private cell phone. If you need me, just ring, even if it’s only to talk.’

Rhianne’s fine brows lifted, and her eyes widened. He sounded as though he really meant it. ‘I don’t think I’ll be doing that.’ Nevertheless she took the card and slipped it into her bag.

It was not until she got home that the full implication of what he had done hit her. He was, in fact, offering her a lifeline. He still thought she was cut up about Angus’s defection—which she was but was bravely trying not to show it—and he wanted to act as her—counsellor. She could ring him and talk things through; that was what he was saying. He clearly felt involved after the accident. First he had taken her home, then he’d given her a job, and then offered her a holiday in Santorini.

She was sorry to hear his father was ill—it was not going to be a pleasant visit. And she’d done the right thing in refusing to join him. He’d need to spend time with his family, he wouldn’t want or need her hanging around. It was not as if they were friends—they were nothing more than acquaintances, really. They’d met by accident, and now she worked for him. Full stop. That was it. Nothing more, nothing less.

When Rhianne went in to work on Saturday morning, she was half afraid that Zarek might ask her again to accompany him to Santorini, and she didn’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed when he never mentioned it.

Instead, he was in full business mode, and she felt none of the electricity that had passed between them. It could have been in her imagination, of course, but somehow she doubted it. Zarek was too masculine, too gorgeous, not to let it intrude into his everyday life.

She imagined that most women would fall at his feet, and she probably intrigued him because she was different. It wasn’t that she didn’t see what a striking man he was—she saw everything—but she had no intention of getting involved with him or any man. She’d lost her trust in men. And Zarek was so incredibly sexy that it would be easy to fall for him—and she couldn’t afford to do that. Not to be tossed to one side again when he had finished with her. Admittedly, some affairs lasted, some marriages were happy and lasted, but they were the exception rather than the rule. She had no intention of becoming another statistic. Once was enough.

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