‘Can we pass on the social niceties and go straight to the matter at hand?’
He regarded her carefully for several long seconds, and she glimpsed a muscle tighten at the edge of his jaw.
‘By all means,’ he concurred with deliberate indolence. ‘Then we’ll eat.’
Alesha was so tempted to vent. Anger had built to a point where throwing a hissy fit would at least relieve some of her angst. Yet, conversely, it was probably exactly what he expected of her.
‘The terms of my father’s will are unconscionable.’
He didn’t pretend to misunderstand. ‘Apropos the marriage clause?’
‘You agree with it?’ Her eyes widened measurably. ‘What manner of man are you?’
‘One who prefers to embark on marriage with an honest foundation at its base.’
The look she gave him should have shrivelled him on the spot. Except it had no effect whatsoever.
‘Oh … please. Let’s not forget the primary focus.’
‘Karsouli?’
Alesha allowed herself a faintly bitter smile. ‘Dimitri’s trump card.’
Loukas offered a thoughtful look. ‘Perhaps.’
She stilled, suddenly alert. ‘What are you saying?’
‘Dimitri made a few errors in financial judgement in recent months.’
Her shock was real and barely masked. ‘I don’t believe you.’
‘The global economic climate worked against him, so too did his failing health.’
Failing health? ‘He was killed in a car accident.’
Loukas’ gaze didn’t waver. ‘Your father risked heart failure unless he agreed to undergo heart transplant surgery. He refused, and bartered a deal with me to safeguard Karsouli.’ He waited a beat. ‘And you.’
No. The word echoed as a silent scream, and the blood chilled in her veins.
Oh, dear God.
‘Karsouli needed a large injection of cash in order to remain solvent.’
‘How much?’ The demand almost choked her.
‘Half a billion dollars.’
That much?
Selling off a twenty-five-per-cent share represented the injection of cash. The gift via Dimitri’s will, conditional on marriage, would have been a sufficiently attractive enticement.
Karsouli would survive and flourish beneath Loukas Andreou’s skilled leadership.
Of which she would become a joint partner and director. There was just one major snag … In order to achieve both, she had to agree to marry Loukas Andreou.
Two pluses versus one minus.
Alesha took a deep calming breath … not that it had any effect. ‘I’ll need to verify those facts.’
‘Of course. I have certified copies of relevant documentation for you to peruse.’
Somehow she didn’t expect any less of him. Even given the advantage of his father’s success, Loukas appeared very much an achiever determined to forge his own destiny, both professionally and personally.
She accepted the paperwork, took time to read and absorb the data, aware of a sinking heart with every page.
The slim hope there might be a mistake disappeared as she was forced to face the inevitable.
With care she placed the papers onto the table, then met his hooded gaze. ‘Why did you sanction Dimitri’s terms?’
One eyebrow lifted. ‘The truth? His request coincided with a promise I had made to my own father to marry and provide an heir.’
‘How noble,’ Alesha accorded sweetly. ‘To sacrifice yourself out of duty and family loyalty.’ She sharpened a figurative barb. ‘Were none of the many women who attach themselves to you suitable wife material?’
His features assumed musing cynicism. ‘No.’
‘What if I choose to contest the marriage clause?’
His eyes speared her own, dark with dangerous intent, and belying the quiet purpose in his voice.
‘Should you refuse, the purchase will fall through. I’ll sell the twenty-five-per-cent shares comprising Dimitri’s bequest, and you will be placed in an invidious financial position.’
Forced to take on a partner and possibly face a takeover bid. Thereby losing everything her father had achieved. All she’d lived and breathed for as long as she could remember.
Anger, resentment, dammit—grief, welled up inside. So many emotions … consuming, invasive, and in that moment uncontrolled.
She stood and turned towards the door. ‘Go to hell.’
CHAPTER TWO
‘I SUGGEST you think before you walk out that door,’ Loukas cautioned with dangerous quietness. ‘Or the hell you’d consign me to will be your own.’
His meaning was icily clear, and had a sobering effect.
Pride and anger held no place in Dimitri’s diabolical scheme.
Walk … and Alesha would lose the one thing she considered to be the most important entity in her life.
Could she trust Loukas? Dear heaven. If not him … who?
At least he had a vested interest in Karsouli; he possessed the skill and expertise to assume dual directorship; add considerable financial resources …
It was no contest.
Except she was damned if she’d give in easily.
For the space of a few seconds she closed her eyes, then opened them again, took a deep calming breath and turned slowly to face him.
There was an inherent strength apparent, an entity that went deep beneath the surface. An indomitable sense of power that made him both an invaluable ally and feared adversary.
But as a husband? Lover?
An instant recall of what she’d suffered at Seth’s hands sent apprehension feathering her spine.
Don’t go there.
One man’s manic proclivities were not those of all men.
Unbidden, her teeth worried the inner fullness of her lower lip.
Yet how could she know for sure?
Seth had played the perfect part as loving fiancé, adoring new husband … until she had refused to concede to his demands.
A sudden bleakness clouded her eyes. A shadow of pain which appeared so fleetingly Loukas almost missed it, and his gaze narrowed.
‘If the deal didn’t include marriage, I’d be ecstatic.’
‘Nevertheless, it does.’
‘Unfortunately.’
On some level she got the loyalty thing. Matchmaking suitable partners from two eminently suitable families. A little devious manipulation added to the mix, and voilà … the convenient marriage scenario intended to safeguard the family fortunes and ensure the continuation of a dynasty.
‘Yes or no, Alesha.’ His expression was unreadable, his eyes dark and unwavering as they regarded her.
It had to be yes.