“Akis and I had the same relationship with our father.” Everything she told Vasso rang so true with him about his own life he had trouble finding words. “I’m glad the priest prevailed on me to interview you. He’s very persuasive.”
Another quick smile appeared. “He is that. The other day when the doctor saw me for my six-weeks checkup and told me I was still cancer-free, something changed inside of me. I didn’t want to stay there any longer and realized I’d come out of the worst of my depression. Father Debakis knew about my wanting to work for your foundation. So for you to give me a chance is like another miracle.” Her voice trembled. “Thank you for this opportunity. I promise I won’t let you down.”
“I’m sure you won’t.”
The waiter brought their food, but Vasso hardly noticed what he was eating because emotions got in the way of anything else. Their conversation had reminded him of the father he and Akis missed. Their dad had treated them like buddies. He had laughed and joked with them.
Vasso always marveled over how smart he was. Their father knew everyone and had taught them to treat other people with respect. That was how you got ahead. He and Akis remembered everything their father had told them.
She finished her meal before looking up at him. “Your money saved my life and it’s saving the lives of everyone at the hospital. Not just the patients, but the staff too. My oncologist is thrilled to be working there. You and your family have done more for others than you will ever know.”
“I hear you, Zoe. Now no more talk about gratitude. Because you’ll be living on Paxos, I know of several places you can rent. By the time you reach the island, I’ll have lined up some apartments for you to look at.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you, but I can do that myself.”
“I’m sure you could, but you’ll need a place close to the center and they’re not easy to come by.”
“Then I take your word for it. Thank you.”
“If you’ve finished, I’ll run you by the shelter.”
She got up from the table. “I’ll phone you as soon as I’ve made my flight plans.”
“I’ll be expecting your call and we’ll go from there.”
As he walked her out to the limo, he felt as if he too had undergone a life-changing experience. Of course he realized the foundation was helping many people. But for the first time since he and his brother had established the two centers, he had a personal interest in one of the former patients who had recovered.
She’d been so open about her family it triggered memories for him about his father and the life the three of them had enjoyed together before he’d died. Despite their poverty they’d had fun, too. He’d forgotten that aspect until Zoe started talking about her life. Because of her comments about family, he was seeing his own past through fresh eyes. Her story tugged at his heart and Vasso found he was no longer the same emotionally closed-up man who’d flown to New York on business.
August 17, Athens, Greece
Prickles of delight broke out on the back of Zoe’s neck as the plane made its descent through a cloudless sky toward the runway. From her coach-class window seat she looked out at the sea, the islands. Closer still she made out the clay-roofed houses lining Athens’s winding roads. This was Vasso Giannopoulos’s world.
A sense of wonderment accompanied these sensations because she still couldn’t believe she was coming to a place where she’d never been before and would be working. No doubt her ancestors experienced the same feelings when they arrived in the US, ready to embark on a new life.
How easy her life was by comparison! Instead of reaching the US by ship, she was on an airliner. Instead of having to undergo a holding time for immigrants, she’d been given safe passage right through to the Athens airport where she’d be taken care of. A job was waiting for her. So was the man who’d made all this possible. He was so wonderful she couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have met him.
Kyrie Giannopoulos and his family were responsible for everything that had happened to her since she’d been admitted to the Giannopoulos Center in Astoria a year ago. Somehow he’d made it possible for her to work for his foundation. He’d said he’d be waiting for her when her plane landed.
The thought of seeing him again gave her butterflies. Surely meeting him a second time wouldn’t cause her legs to almost buckle as they’d done the first time. The mere sight of such a magnificent-looking man had haunted her thoughts whether she was awake or asleep.
After the plane touched down and taxied to the hangar, the seat belt came off and Zoe reached for her secondhand overnight bag. She followed the other passengers out of the plane to the terminal lounge where they went through customs. Her bag was searched. After she’d presented her passport and answered a few questions, a female airline attendant came up to her.
“You’re Zoe Zachos?”
“Yes?”
“Come with me, please.”
She got on a cart and was driven some distance to an elevator that descended to the ground floor. After another little ride the airline employee stopped the cart in front of a door. She got out and opened it. “Your ride is waiting out there.”
The second Zoe walked through the door onto the tarmac where the hot sun beat down she saw a limousine in the distance. Once again her legs seemed to go weak when she spotted her benefactor lounging against the passenger side wearing sunglasses. This morning he’d dressed in a light blue sport shirt and tan chinos. He looked so wonderful she moaned before she realized he could have heard her.
“Thespinis Zachos, welcome to Greece.”
No man should be this handsome. Zoe felt out of breath. “Thank you for meeting me.”
“Of course. I hope you had a good flight.” He took her bag and opened the rear door for her to get in.
“It was fine.”
He went around the other side and got in with her bag so they sat across from each other. The interior smelled of the soap he must have used in the shower. Her reaction to him was over the top. Maybe there was something wrong with her.
“My driver will take us to the complex where my brother and I work. We’ll stay in the penthouse. It’s where we entertain guests and business people who must stay overnight. Tomorrow we’ll fly to Paxos.”
The limousine moved into the center of Athens. Another time and she might enjoy the scenery more, but right now she couldn’t concentrate. After what he’d just told her, Zoe felt like a tongue-tied high school girl with a giant-sized crush on a man so far out of her league it was outrageous.
Glomming onto the safer subject of business she said, “Does Kyrie Megalos know you’ve hired me?”
“Not yet. I want him to meet you first.”
She eyed him directly, but couldn’t see his eyes behind the glasses. “Something tells me you’re pulling the same thing on him that Father Debakis pulled on you.” Vasso laughed hard. “He may not want me to be his assistant.”
“In that case he’ll give you another position. Don’t worry. He won’t suggest that you join a nunnery.”
Laughter escaped her lips. His sense of humor was very appealing. “I shouldn’t have said anything about Ms. Kallistos’s remark. It wasn’t kind of me.”
“She should have known better than to say anything, so put it out of your mind.”
“I have. Do you mind if I ask you some questions? Would you please tell me what kind of business you’re in? I don’t have a