An Offer She Can't Refuse (5 page)

He might have won Theo over—for a day—but he’d won nothing from her.

‘We shall see,’ he repeated with that same arrogant confidence.

General goodnights were exchanged and finally he was gone.

But he’d left his presence behind with her mother raving on about him and Theo equally delighted with the nice man.

No relief from the trap.

Tina had the wretched feeling there never would be.

CHAPTER FOUR

M
AXIMUS
Zavros sat under the vine-covered pergola at one end of the vast patio which overlooked the Aegean Sea. It was where he habitually had breakfast and where he expected his son to join him whenever Ari was home. Today was no exception. However he was taking no pleasure in his surroundings and none in his son, which was obvious from the dark glower of disapproval he directed at Ari the moment he emerged from the house.

‘So, you come home without a woman to marry again!’ He folded the newspaper he’d been reading and smacked it down on the table in exasperation. ‘Your cousin, George, is two years younger than you. He does not have your engaging looks. He does not have your wealth. Yet he can win himself a wife who will grace the rest of his life.’ He threw out a gesture of frustration. ‘What is the problem with you?’

‘Maybe I missed a boat I should have taken,’ Ari tossed at his father as he pulled out a chair and sat down, facing him across the table.

‘What is that supposed to mean?’

Ari poured himself a glass of orange juice. This was going to be a long conversation and his throat was already dry. He took a long sip, then answered, ‘It means I’ve met the woman I must marry but I let her go six years ago and somehow I have to win her again. Which is going to prove difficult because she’s very hostile to me.’

‘Hostile? Why hostile? You were taught to have more finesse than to leave any woman hostile. And why
must
you marry her? To saddle yourself with a sourpuss will not generate a happy life. I credited you with more good sense than that, Ari.’

‘I left her pregnant. Unknowingly, I assure you. She gave birth to a son who is now five years old.’

‘A son! A grandson!’ The tirade was instantly diverted. His father ruminated over this totally unanticipated piece of news for several minutes before speaking again. ‘You’re sure he is yours?’

‘No doubt. The boy not only has a strong resemblance to me but the birth date places the conception during the time I was with Christina.’

‘Who is this Christina? Is it possible she could have been with another man?’

Ari shook his head. ‘I can’t even entertain that as a possibility. We were too intimately involved at the time. And she was a virgin, Papa. I met her when I was in Australia. She was at the start of a promising modelling career … young, beautiful, utterly captivating. When I concluded my business there I said goodbye to her. I had no plans for marriage at that point in my life and I thought her too young to be considering it, either. I thought her life was just starting to open up for her.’

‘Australia …’ His father frowned. ‘How did you meet again? You haven’t been back there.’

‘George’s wife-to-be, Cassandra … when they stayed overnight in the apartment at Athens, I discovered that she was Christina’s sister. Christina is to be bridesmaid at the wedding and her son, Theo—
my
son—is to be page boy. They were already in Athens en route to Santorini and I went to a family party to meet them.’

‘Is it known to the family that you are the father?’

‘No. They were obviously in ignorance of my involvement. But I cannot ignore it, Papa. Christina wants me to. She is appalled to find herself caught up in a situation with me again.’

‘She wants to keep the boy to herself.’

‘Yes.’

‘So … her mind-set against you has to be changed.’

It was a relief that his father had made a straight leap to this conclusion, although it had been fairly predictable he would arrive at it, given the pull of a grandson.

‘I intend to make a start on that tomorrow. It’s Theo’s fifth birthday and I managed to manipulate an agreement for the two of them to spend it with me.’

‘She was not a willing party?’

‘I made it unreasonable for her to refuse. The fact that she doesn’t want to reveal to her family that I’m Theo’s father gives me a lever into her life. At least until after the wedding. I suspect she doesn’t want to take any focus off her sister at this time.’

‘Caring for her family … I like that. Will she make you a good wife, Ari?’

He made an ironic grimace. ‘At least she likes children which cannot be said for Felicity Fullbright. I still find Christina very attractive. What can I say, Papa? I’ve made my bed and I shall lie in it. When you meet the boy you’ll know why.’

‘When do they arrive on Santorini?’

‘Today.’

‘Staying where?’ ‘The El Greco resort.’

‘I shall call the management personally. All expenses for their stay will be paid by me. Fresh fruit and flowers in their rooms. A selection of our best Santorini wines. Everything compliments of the Zavros family. They need to be acquainted with our wealth and power. It tends to bend people’s minds in a positive manner.’

Ari kept his own counsel on this point. His father could be right. Generosity might have a benign influence. However, he was well enough acquainted with the Australian character to know they had a habit of cutting down tall poppies. However high people rose on their various totem poles, it did not make them better than anyone else. Apart from which, Christina had already demonstrated a strong independence. He doubted she could be bought.

‘The mother might be favourably impressed,’ he commented. ‘Her name is Helen and she is a widow. It might help if you and Mama pay her some kind attention at the wedding.’

His father nodded. ‘Naturally we will do so. As a grandparent she should be sympathetic to those who wish to be. I will make my feelings on the subject known.’

‘She is Greek. So was her husband. The two daughters were born and brought up in Australia, but she would be familiar with the old ways … arranged marriages between families. If she understands it could be best for Christina and Theo to have the support and security our family can give them.’

‘Leave it to me. I shall win over the mother. You win over the daughter and your son. It is intolerable that we be left out of the boy’s life.’

That was the crux of it, Ari thought.

Whatever had to be done he would do to be a proper father to his son.

Ten hours was a long ferry ride from Athens to Santorini. Theo was fascinated by the wake of the boat so Tina spent most of the time on the outer rear deck with him while her mother relaxed inside with a book. They passed many islands, most of them looking quite barren and unattractive, and to Tina’s mind, not the least bit alluring like the tropical islands back home. It was disappointing. She had expected more magic. However, these islands were obviously not the main tourist drawcards like Mykonos, Paros, Naxos, and most especially Santorini.

When the ferry finally entered the harbour of their destination, she easily understood the stunning attraction of the landscape created from the volcanic eruption that had devastated ancient civilisations. The water in what had been the crater was a gorgeous blue, the semicircle of high cliffs was dramatic, and perched on top of them the classic white Greek island townships glistened in the late afternoon sunshine.

She wished Ari Zavros did not live on this island. She had looked forward to enjoying it, wanted to enjoy it, and decided she would do so in spite of him. If he had any decency at all, he would let the paternity issue drop, realizing he didn’t fit into the life she’d made for herself and Theo, and they were not about to fit into his with his obvious bent for a continual stream of
charming episodes.

Transport was waiting for them at the ferry terminal. Theo was agog with how the mini-bus would negotiate the amazing zig-zag road which would take them from the bottom of the cliff to the top. As it turned out, the trip was not really hair-raising and the view from the bus-window was beautiful.

The El Greco resort faced the other side of the island, built in terraces down the hillside with rooms built around the swimming pools on each terrace. The buildings were all painted blue and white and the gardens looked very tropical with masses of colourful bougainvillea and hibiscus trees. The reception area was cool and spacious, elegantly furnished and with a view of the sea at the far end. A very attractive place, Tina thought. A place to relax. Except relaxation switched instantly to tension when they started to check in at the reception desk.

‘Ah, Mrs Savalas, just a minute please!’ the receptionist said quickly, beaming a rather unctuous smile at them. ‘I must inform the manager of your arrival.’ He ducked away to call through a doorway, ‘The Savalas party has arrived.’

A suited man emerged from a back office, beaming a similar smile at them as he approached the desk.

‘Is there a problem with our booking?’ her mother asked anxiously.

‘Not at all, Mrs Savalas. We have put you in rooms on the first terrace which is most convenient to the restaurant and the pool snack-bar. If there is anything that would make you more comfortable, you have only to ask and it will be done.’

‘Well, that’s very hospitable,’ her mother said with an air of relief.

‘I have had instructions from Mr Zavros to make you most welcome, Mrs Savalas. I understand you are here for a family wedding.’

‘Yes, but …’ She threw a puzzled look at Tina whose fists had instinctively clenched at the name that spelled danger all over this situation. ‘It’s very kind of Ari Zavros to.’

‘No, no, it is Maximus Zavros who has given the orders,’ the manager corrected her. ‘It is his nephew marrying your daughter. Family is family and you are not to pay for anything during your stay at El Greco. All is to be charged to him, so put away your credit card, Mrs Savalas. You will not need it here.’

Her mother shook her head in stunned disbelief. ‘I haven’t even met this Maximus Zavros.’

It did not concern the manager one bit. ‘No doubt you will at the wedding, Mrs Savalas.’

‘I’m not sure I should accept this … this arrangement.’

‘Oh, but you must!’ The manager looked horrified at the thought of refusal. ‘Mr Zavros is a very wealthy, powerful man. He owns much of the real estate on Santorini. He would be offended if you did not accept his hospitality and I would be at fault if I did not persuade you to do so. Please, Mrs Savalas. I beg you to enjoy. It is what he wishes.’

‘Well …’ Her mother looked confused and undecided until a helpful thought struck. She shot Tina a determined look. ‘We can talk to Ari about this tomorrow.’

Tina nodded, struggling with the death of any hope that Ari might disappear from her life again. She couldn’t believe this was simply a case of a rich powerful Greek extending hospitality. The words—
family is family
—had been like a punch in the stomach. She couldn’t dismiss the sickening suspicion that Ari had blabbed to his father. It was the only thing that made sense of this extraordinary move.

‘Let me show you to your rooms. A porter will bring your luggage.’ The manager bustled out from behind the reception desk. ‘I want to assure myself that all is as it should be for you.’

Their adjoining rooms were charming, each one with a walled outside area containing a table and chairs for enjoying the ambience of the resort. Complimentary platters of fresh fruit and a selection of wines were provided. The gorgeous floral arrangements were obvious extras, too. Her mother was delighted with everything. Tina viewed it all with jaundiced eyes and Theo was only interested in how soon he could get into the children’s swimming pool.

Their luggage arrived. Tina left her mother in the room Cassandra would share with her the night before the wedding and took Theo into theirs. Within a few minutes she had found their swimsuits in her big suitcase, and feeling driven to get out of the Zavros-permeated room, she and Theo quickly changed their clothes and headed for the water.

She sat on the edge of the shallow pool while Theo dashed in and splashed around, full of happy laughter. Her mind was dark with a terrible sense of foreboding and it was difficult to force an occasional smile at her son. Ari’s son. Maximus Zavros’s grandson.

Did they intend to make an official claim on him?

People like them probably didn’t care how much they disrupted others’ lives. If something was desired, for whatever reason, they went after it. And got it. Like the rooms in this resort. Almost anything could be manipulated with wealth.

She couldn’t help feeling afraid of the future. She was on this island—their island—for the next five days and it would be impossible to avoid meeting Ari’s family at the wedding. Ironically, throwing his fatherhood in his face in Dubai was no longer such a hideous mistake. He would have figured it out at the wedding. There would have been no escape from his knowing. She’d been on a collision course with Ari Zavros from the moment Cassandra had agreed to marry his cousin.

The big question was … how to deal with him?

Should she tell her mother the truth now?

Her head ached from all the possible outcomes of revealing her secret before she absolutely had to. Better to wait, she decided, at least until after she’d spent tomorrow with Ari. Then she would have a better idea of what he intended where Theo was concerned and what she could or couldn’t do about it.

Tomorrow … Theo’s fifth birthday.

His first with his father.

Tina knew she was going to hate every minute of it.

CHAPTER FIVE

T
INA
and Theo were about to accompany her mother to breakfast in the nearby restaurant when a call from Ari came through to her room. She quickly pressed her mother to go ahead with Theo while she talked to
the nice man
about plans for the day. As soon as they were out of earshot she flew into attack mode, determined on knowing what she had to handle.

‘You’ve told your father about Theo, haven’t you?’ she cried accusingly.