On cue a knock sounded at the door causing Alex’s head to swerve around.
“Uncle? I’ve brought your dinner.” The next thing she knew Leon came into the room wheeling a tea cart laden with food. “I hope you’re hungry because the cook outdid—”
He paused mid-sentence when he saw her standing next to the bed holding up the costume.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“It’s all right, Leon. My secretary was just showing me what she had made for me to wear for the initial television interview to open the trade fair. What do you think?”
Leaving the cart, his nephew stepped closer to examine everything. His brown eyes moved in fascination from one item to the other, then he looked at her with a dumbfounded expression.
“This is fabulous,” he whispered. “You picked his namesake.”
“I told you she was clever, Leon.”
“But Uncle, this is really fantastic!” He kept looking at it, then at her.
“Do me another favor and try it on so I can see what I’ll look like in it.”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” Alex encouraged him. “You’re almost the same height as your uncle. If something’s wrong, I’ll be able to get the alterations done in time.”
He took the costume from her. “How did you know about Saint Dimitrios?”
“I love European art history.”
“So do I! It’s too bad you can’t see some of the icons and stained glass windows in the monasteries on Mount Athos.”
“That’s the holy mountain where women aren’t allowed.”
“You know that, too?”
She smiled. “I would suppose every woman who has studied Greece has heard of it. I think it’s sad only men get to see its beauties. If it weren’t for women, those monks would never have been given life in the first place.
“In fact I think it’s sad they can’t marry and worship at the same time. They miss out on so much. Can you imagine never watching the birth of your own baby?”
She’d said the last without thinking. Between the way Dimitrios’s face darkened, combined with the hostile glance Leon suddenly flashed his uncle, she knew her words had been offensive to both men.
Leon’s eyes slid away from hers. “If you’ll both excuse me, I’ve just remembered something I have to do.” He handed the things back to her and strode out of the room.
Alex felt sick.
Leon was always so polite and deferential in front of his uncle. For him to leave like that meant she’d really affronted him.
“I’m so sorry.”
“For what, Ms. Hamilton? Speaking your mind?”
She shook her head. “I’m the one who drove him away with my remarks. I meant no irreverence, but I’m sure that’s how they sounded to him.” And you.
“If you must know, he’s at a crossroads in his life and feeling it. His hasty departure from the room had nothing to do with you. Personally I find your opinions refreshing. Now I think we’d better eat dinner before it grows cold. Perhaps by the time we’ve finished, Leon will come back to say good-night and we can prevail on him to model that fabulous costume for us.”
Dimitrios was doing his best to shield her because that was his nature, but it was clear her comments had upset both him and his nephew. What Alex would give if there’d been no accident. She’d be at the hotel right now where she belonged.
After laying the things on the end of the bed, she pushed the cart next to Dimitrios. All he had to do was put his feet on the floor. But her heart was heavy because she knew Leon wouldn’t make another appearance tonight, at least not in front of her.
Even if it meant defying her boss, she would leave tomorrow morning to inspect the silk exhibits in Soufli. Being so close to Dimitrios had caused her to lose all perspective.
With the opening of the trade fair only two days away, she needed to focus on that and make sure everything was ready. Afterward, she would return to Thessalonica and check into the hotel.
She needed other people. Michael and his friends would provide laughter and camaraderie. As soon as Yanni arrived, he could join in. With their help she’d make it through this bittersweet experience. She had no choice.
DIMITRIOS awoke the next morning feeling much more his old self. Although he was still sore here and there, the dizziness had pretty well disappeared.
He realized he hadn’t been in his right mind for the last few days where his secretary had been concerned. Determined to reestablish professional distance with her, he started out the day by asking Serilda to send breakfast trays to their separate rooms.
Now that he’d showered and dressed, he was anxious to get to the office. He hoped Ms. Hamilton was ready to go.
When he entered the dining room looking for Leon, he found Ananke eating breakfast alone. He greeted her before asking why his nephew hadn’t joined her. She looked at him with wounded eyes.
“Did you think he would stay around after the way you hurt him yesterday?”
He poured himself a cup of coffee from the buffet, then stood staring at her while he drank. “What exactly did he tell you?”
“That you had discussed his personal life with your secretary, and she’d had the nerve to offer her opinion as if it were her right!” Her voice shook. “You know how he adores you. How could you betray him like that?” she cried.
“Aside from the fact that I’ve never discussed Leon with Ms. Hamilton, it might interest you to know she’s on your side without realizing it.”
Ananke’s eyes rounded. “What do you mean?”
In a few words he told her what had happened. “Her opinion obviously hit a nerve, otherwise he wouldn’t have left the room so fast.” As far as Dimitrios was concerned, it was exactly the kind of thing his nephew needed to hear before he made a final decision about his future.
“Nevertheless you can see why Leon’s so upset,” Ananke persisted. “Since you came from New York, you’ve been virtually inaccessible.”
Even Ananke had picked up on his preoccupation with Ms. Hamilton. Damn. Well, that was over now.
He finished his coffee. “I recall spending part of yesterday afternoon with you and my nephew.”
“But nothing was resolved!”
“We have to give him time to talk this out, Ananke. Maybe that’s all he needs to realize this is a phase that will pass.”
The irony of those words weren’t wasted on Dimitrios when he considered his own alarming state of mind since he’d left New York. His interest in Ms. Hamilton better be a phase.
Ananke jumped up from the chair. “There’s something different about you since your return.”
No one knows that better than I do.
“If I’m different, it’s because I’m feeling the weight of a father’s responsibility without being a father. Perhaps it’s time you knew that my brother never wanted to be a part of the family business, either.”
She shook her head. “That’s not true!”
“I wouldn’t lie to you. Leon always preferred to be out-of-doors.”
“Surely you’re not saying he would rather have had a career in forestry than