He was no longer eighteen.
So what was his excuse this time?
He resisted the temptation to turn the full force of his anger onto the woman standing in front of him. ‘You told him that you were crazy about me. That we were madly in love.’ Angelos struggled to keep his voice level. ‘As far as my father is concerned, the next step is marriage.’
Her gaze softened. ‘He is such a lovely man. I thought that at the time.’
I’ll just bet you did. Angelos made a mental note not to leave her alone with his father for too long. Despite her protests, he had no doubt that once she discovered her ‘relationship’ with him had no long-term prospects she would have no compunction about turning her attentions to his more vulnerable father. ‘Before you start congratulating yourself on your success, remember that this is me you’re dealing with—not my father.’
‘You want me to go to Greece with you? That’s what you’ve brought me here to ask me?’
‘I don’t want you to go to Greece with me. But that is what is going to happen.’
Obviously the two men she’d duped hadn’t been able to see past those sapphire eyes, he thought grimly. And this time she’d obviously decided to go for the jackpot. The sheer audacity of her plan amazed even him. His views on marriage were well known, as were his views on his father’s two very public and very expensive divorces. The fact that she’d believed that she might be successful said a great deal about her ego.
‘I don’t understand why you would think it’s a good idea. Your father would never believe that we were together!’
‘Thanks to your convincing display at the ball, he already believes that we are together,’ Angelos told her. ‘Your role is simply to produce more of the same. It shouldn’t be too hard. I’ll be working for most of the day. You will get to sit by a pool with a drink in your hand and a view of the Aegean Sea, singing my praises. From what I can gather, you’re in between men at the moment. Think of it as a free holiday—which isn’t quite on the same level as a meal ticket for life, but given the stunt you pulled you’re lucky even to get that from me.’
She watched him, and he could almost see her brain working as she thought about what he’d said.
‘No.’
‘Don’t try and negotiate with me,’ he warned softly. ‘There won’t be a better offer.’
‘I’m not hoping for a “better offer”.’
‘Then why refuse?’
‘Because it wouldn’t be fair on your father. I don’t understand why you think it’s a good idea.’ She frowned slightly. ‘When he finds out that you’re lying, he’ll be devastated.’
The same uncomfortable truth had occurred to Angelos, but he’d been unable to find any other solution. ‘It is a shame this conscience of yours didn’t emerge a little sooner. Thanks to you, I don’t have a choice. When my father is stronger, I’ll tell him that we weren’t as compatible as we thought.’
‘It would never work.’
‘Why not?’
‘If you glare at me the way you’re glaring at me now, he’s never going to be convinced that our relationship is real.’
‘The mere fact that I am bringing you to the island will be enough to convince him.’
‘Why?’
Angelos tensed. ‘I don’t take women there.’
Her eyebrows rose. ‘Never?’
‘It is a place for family.’
‘And none of your previous women have earned that distinction?’
‘You are not family either, Isabelle,’ Angelos warned her softly. ‘Do not forget that. You’re merely a necessary part of my father’s convalescence.’
She frowned. ‘I’m not sure—’
‘I don’t understand why you’re hesitating. I’m offering you an all-expenses-paid luxury holiday.’
She looked at him, her gaze disturbingly direct. ‘That’s why I’m hesitating.’
He thought he could buy her.
But she didn’t accept gifts from men, or hospitality. Ever. She lived her life by that principle.
Chantal gave a shiver, acknowledging the irony of her situation. She’d taken the ticket of a woman who clearly didn’t share her scruples.
‘I can’t do it,’ she said hoarsely and his eyes narrowed.
‘You will do it—if I have to drag you there myself.’
‘No. My answer has to be no.’ Something dark and ugly uncurled inside her and she gave a little shake of her head. ‘You don’t understand.’
‘I understand perfectly. And that’s what frightens you, isn’t it? For once you’re dealing with a man who does understand you. All your declarations about liking my father have proved to be as meaningless and empty as I believed them to be.’
‘That isn’t true.’
‘If it were true then you would be doing everything possible to aid his recovery.’
Chantal turned away, remembering just how kind his father had been to her that night of the ball. She remembered the warmth of his hand on hers and how he’d stood next to her, protecting her.
She owed him her help. She wanted to help. But how could she when helping meant accepting Angelos’s hospitality?
The obvious solution would be to pay for herself, but given the pathetic state of her finances that wouldn’t be possible. She might be able to scrape together enough to cover the cost of her flight ticket, but there was no way she’d have anything left over to cover her living costs.
‘The fact that you are even hesitating shows me that you are every bit as cold-hearted as your reputation suggests.’ His tone was harsh. ‘I have explained that your presence would help my father, but as usual all you are thinking of is yourself.’
Stung by the injustice of that accusation, Chantal turned. ‘That is not true.’ She lifted her fingers to her forehead, trying to think the situation through.
Would it be so very wrong to say yes?
It wasn’t as if she and Angelos were having an affair. Despite the chemistry between them, it wasn’t that sort of relationship. All they’d ever shared was one dance and a lot of cross words. She would be living in the villa as a favour to him. To help his father.
That was quite different from—
Pushing aside her reservations, she gave a swift nod. ‘I’ll do it. But I insist on paying for my flight ticket.’
A stunned expression crossed his handsome face and then he gave a humourless laugh. ‘It’s a little late to try and impress me,’ he drawled, ‘and anyway, I don’t issue tickets when I fly by private jet.’
The colour poured into her cheeks and she felt a rush of humiliation. Private jet. Of course. How could she have been so stupid? She should have known that this man wouldn’t exactly fly budget airlines.
‘Wait—what I mean is, I don’t want you paying for me,’ she stammered, and he raised an eyebrow.
‘I could probably calculate your share if you wanted me to. But it would have several noughts attached to it. If you’re trying to persuade me that you’re not interested in my wealth, then you’re wasting your time. The evidence is stacked against you.’