scrambled for a logical explanation.
‘The hotel was booked from London. We planned to honeymoon in Paris.’ Please, God, let that be the truth.
He slapped the palm of one of his hands with the envelope. ‘There’s more to it than that. You expected him to be with someone. You weren’t surprised to see him with this woman.’
The effort of keeping all her lies straight was causing her head to throb. ‘Don’t be so paranoid. It’s probably someone he just met.’
His eyes narrowed. ‘I don’t think so.’
‘Why not? It happens. You’ve always maintained that Spiros doesn’t really love me.’
‘You knew he was in Paris before I told you.’
She angled her chin up. ‘It was logical. I thought he was probably waiting for me to show up at the hotel.’
‘He’s not waiting anymore. He’s already checked out.’
That must mean Susie and Spiros were on their way to Greece. They’d been in Paris, so Susie must have a new passport and already be married. If so, they should arrive in Greece any day now, just as they’d planned.
‘He’s met someone else.’ She tried to mislead him. ‘You can see it yourself. He’s not interested in me anymore. Let me leave.’ She might be a coward, but she didn’t want to be here when Alex learned the truth.
‘I think you know where he’s headed,’ he persisted.
‘Even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you.’
‘If you cooperate with me, you’ll be free to go much sooner. Otherwise —’
‘Otherwise, what?’ she asked with disdain. ‘You’ll keep me here forever? I don’t think so.’
‘That would be playing into your hands, wouldn’t it?’ He closed the distance between them. ‘Because that’s your aim. As much as you deny it, you still want me.’
She tried to sound scornful as she backed away, but her vocal cords trembled. ‘You’re starting to sound like a broken record.’
Another step closer. ‘Why fight it? We both know it’s what you want.’
Fighting attraction was not something Susie would have done, but if Leah gave into her desire and had a quick fling with Alex, she’d be scarred for life. Besides, the second she succumbed, the masquerade would be over. He’d have irrefutable proof she wasn’t Susie.
She summoned up every bit of nerve and acting skill she possessed. ‘You have the arrogance of Zeus! Watch out, Alex. Soon Mt. Olympus will be rocked to its very foundations.’
He gave her a considering look. ‘You’re hiding something, and somehow it involves this woman.’
‘You’ve got a suspicious mind.’
‘I will find out what you’re up to, and when I do, you’re going to regret lying to me.’
Alex sat at his desk late into the evening, staring at the photos of Spiros and the blonde. What the hell was his brother playing at? Who was the woman in the photo? Every bit of intuition he had told him it wasn’t someone Spiros had just met. Spiros might be overindulged and self absorbed, but he’d never been a playboy. As far as he knew, his brother had been loyal to Elena — until Susan.
She must know the woman in the photo with Spiros. The tension in her face had eased when she’d looked at the pictures. Why had she been so relieved to see Spiros and the blonde woman together? He willed his brain to slow down and think logically.
Susan had accused him of pushing Spiros to marry Elena because he’d gain something from their marriage. In part, that was true. A union between the Kristidis and Moustakis families would bring the shipping company his father had built — and that Con Moustakis had taken over — back into the family. But that was of secondary importance compared to his brother and Elena’s happiness.
Alex could’ve prevented the takeover of the shipping company at the time, although it would’ve stretched every resource he possessed. He’d offered to save his father’s company, but his father hadn’t been interested. Con Moustakis was a close family friend, and Spiros and Elena were
‘The hotel was booked from London. We planned to honeymoon in Paris.’ Please, God, let that be the truth.
He slapped the palm of one of his hands with the envelope. ‘There’s more to it than that. You expected him to be with someone. You weren’t surprised to see him with this woman.’
The effort of keeping all her lies straight was causing her head to throb. ‘Don’t be so paranoid. It’s probably someone he just met.’
His eyes narrowed. ‘I don’t think so.’
‘Why not? It happens. You’ve always maintained that Spiros doesn’t really love me.’
‘You knew he was in Paris before I told you.’
She angled her chin up. ‘It was logical. I thought he was probably waiting for me to show up at the hotel.’
‘He’s not waiting anymore. He’s already checked out.’
That must mean Susie and Spiros were on their way to Greece. They’d been in Paris, so Susie must have a new passport and already be married. If so, they should arrive in Greece any day now, just as they’d planned.
‘He’s met someone else.’ She tried to mislead him. ‘You can see it yourself. He’s not interested in me anymore. Let me leave.’ She might be a coward, but she didn’t want to be here when Alex learned the truth.
‘I think you know where he’s headed,’ he persisted.
‘Even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you.’
‘If you cooperate with me, you’ll be free to go much sooner. Otherwise —’
‘Otherwise, what?’ she asked with disdain. ‘You’ll keep me here forever? I don’t think so.’
‘That would be playing into your hands, wouldn’t it?’ He closed the distance between them. ‘Because that’s your aim. As much as you deny it, you still want me.’
She tried to sound scornful as she backed away, but her vocal cords trembled. ‘You’re starting to sound like a broken record.’
Another step closer. ‘Why fight it? We both know it’s what you want.’
Fighting attraction was not something Susie would have done, but if Leah gave into her desire and had a quick fling with Alex, she’d be scarred for life. Besides, the second she succumbed, the masquerade would be over. He’d have irrefutable proof she wasn’t Susie.
She summoned up every bit of nerve and acting skill she possessed. ‘You have the arrogance of Zeus! Watch out, Alex. Soon Mt. Olympus will be rocked to its very foundations.’
He gave her a considering look. ‘You’re hiding something, and somehow it involves this woman.’
‘You’ve got a suspicious mind.’
‘I will find out what you’re up to, and when I do, you’re going to regret lying to me.’
Alex sat at his desk late into the evening, staring at the photos of Spiros and the blonde. What the hell was his brother playing at? Who was the woman in the photo? Every bit of intuition he had told him it wasn’t someone Spiros had just met. Spiros might be overindulged and self absorbed, but he’d never been a playboy. As far as he knew, his brother had been loyal to Elena — until Susan.
She must know the woman in the photo with Spiros. The tension in her face had eased when she’d looked at the pictures. Why had she been so relieved to see Spiros and the blonde woman together? He willed his brain to slow down and think logically.
Susan had accused him of pushing Spiros to marry Elena because he’d gain something from their marriage. In part, that was true. A union between the Kristidis and Moustakis families would bring the shipping company his father had built — and that Con Moustakis had taken over — back into the family. But that was of secondary importance compared to his brother and Elena’s happiness.
Alex could’ve prevented the takeover of the shipping company at the time, although it would’ve stretched every resource he possessed. He’d offered to save his father’s company, but his father hadn’t been interested. Con Moustakis was a close family friend, and Spiros and Elena were
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