It's All Greek to Me (25 page)
Read It's All Greek to Me Online
Authors: Katie MacAlister
“As a matter of fact .
.
.”
he began, bringing his feet down and standing just so he could tower over her.
She hated it when he used his height to his advantage.
“I don’t like it.
I didn’t like it when you first insisted on having a prenup, and I don’t like it now.
I mistrusted you once, Harry, for five whole minutes, and I’m not going through that hell again.
I know you don’t want my money.
I know you’re not going to take me for all I’m worth.
I trust you with everything I have.
I don’t want or need a prenuptial agreement.”
.
.”
he began, bringing his feet down and standing just so he could tower over her.
She hated it when he used his height to his advantage.
“I don’t like it.
I didn’t like it when you first insisted on having a prenup, and I don’t like it now.
I mistrusted you once, Harry, for five whole minutes, and I’m not going through that hell again.
I know you don’t want my money.
I know you’re not going to take me for all I’m worth.
I trust you with everything I have.
I don’t want or need a prenuptial agreement.”
“I will not marry you without one!”
“And I gave you one,” he said, shoving the paper toward her.
“Yes, you’re giving me half of everything you own!”
“Seventy percent, I think you’ll find,” he said, smiling.
She looked back at it, her fury rising at the sight of the scrawled number.
“You son of a bitch!
I won’t sign it!
You’ll give me one percent, or nothing, do you hear me?”
“You son of a bitch!
I won’t sign it!
You’ll give me one percent, or nothing, do you hear me?”
“Forty,” he said, narrowing his eyes at her.
“Two percent!”
“Forty-five.
And that, my little storm cloud, is my final offer.”
And that, my little storm cloud, is my final offer.”
“Well, it’s not mine,” she spat, snatching up the paper and stalking off.
“Where are you going?”
“To find a lawyer and get him to draw up a real agreement!
One that gives me nothing, the way it should be!”
She slammed the door, muttering rude things to herself when his laughter rolled out of the room.
One that gives me nothing, the way it should be!”
She slammed the door, muttering rude things to herself when his laughter rolled out of the room.
“Yacky,” she said that night as she emerged from the bathroom.
“Eglantine,” he said, hastily trying to hide something under a pillow.
Harry smiled to herself, amused by the fact that Iakovos didn’t want her to know that he read her books.
More than once she’d caught him reading the latest release, but for some reason she couldn’t figure out, he liked to pretend he had no interest in them.
She wondered if it was a matter of male pride, since her books had quite a bit of romantic elements mingled with the suspense.
“My lawyer says your lawyer has to stop being mean to me.”
More than once she’d caught him reading the latest release, but for some reason she couldn’t figure out, he liked to pretend he had no interest in them.
She wondered if it was a matter of male pride, since her books had quite a bit of romantic elements mingled with the suspense.
“My lawyer says your lawyer has to stop being mean to me.”
“How is he being mean?”
“He says he will personally call you to escort me from his office if I go in there to yell at him again.
My lawyer says that’s harassment.
Or something.”
She took a deep breath.
“It could also have been happiness.
I don’t quite know because Panoush’s accent is very thick.”
My lawyer says that’s harassment.
Or something.”
She took a deep breath.
“It could also have been happiness.
I don’t quite know because Panoush’s accent is very thick.”
“I would be happy to tell my lawyer to leave you alone, but you are being unreasonable about this whole thing.”
She waddled around the bed that was every bit as big as the one in his palace on the sea.
“I just want you to be protected.”
“I just want you to be protected.”
“I know you do, sweetheart.
I want the same thing for you.”
I want the same thing for you.”
“Then you’ll let me have one percent?”
“No.”
He pulled her close to him.
“I’ve changed my mind.
I’m not giving you a damned prenup at all.”
He pulled her close to him.
“I’ve changed my mind.
I’m not giving you a damned prenup at all.”
“But—”
“No.
It’s not going to matter, because we’re never getting divorced.
We’re going to grow old together and you’re going to make me crazy, and I’ll do my best to keep up with you.
That’s all.”
It’s not going to matter, because we’re never getting divorced.
We’re going to grow old together and you’re going to make me crazy, and I’ll do my best to keep up with you.
That’s all.”
“But—”
“No!”
There was something in his eyes that warned her he was at the end of his patience with regard to the subject.
“What if I suddenly decide I want a sex change, and become a man?
You’d be stuck being married to a man, and people would think you were gay.”
You’d be stuck being married to a man, and people would think you were gay.”
“Then they would think I was gay.
We’re still not getting a divorce, and I am through discussing the matter.”
We’re still not getting a divorce, and I am through discussing the matter.”
“All right, then.”
She climbed into bed.
“If you insist on being completely unreasonable—”
She climbed into bed.
“If you insist on being completely unreasonable—”
“I insist.”
“—then I want to talk about this wedding.”
“What about it?
I thought you were happy with the civil ceremony.”
I thought you were happy with the civil ceremony.”
“I was.
I am.
But somehow, it’s gone from just being you and me and Elena, to everyone in the Eastern Hemisphere wondering where their invite is.”
I am.
But somehow, it’s gone from just being you and me and Elena, to everyone in the Eastern Hemisphere wondering where their invite is.”
“Tell them the wedding is private.”
“I have been, but there’s still a couple of people who I think would be hurt if they weren’t there.”
“Sweetheart, you’re the bride.
The only person I want to be there is you.
Everyone else is optional.”
The only person I want to be there is you.
Everyone else is optional.”
“Well,” she said, fluffing the pillows behind her.
“We have to have Elena, and Dmitri.
They’d be very hurt if we didn’t have them.
And then there’s your friend Peter and his wife.
I liked them.”
“We have to have Elena, and Dmitri.
They’d be very hurt if we didn’t have them.
And then there’s your friend Peter and his wife.
I liked them.”
“Good.
They liked you.”
They liked you.”
“It sounds like he’d be hurt if they didn’t get to come.
You went to school with him, didn’t you?”
You went to school with him, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“So he’s your oldest non-family friend.
And then there’s Theo.”
And then there’s Theo.”
She looked at him out of the corner of his eye.
“Theo can come if he wants,” he said, his voice flat.
“Is he even in Greece?”
“No.”
“I think we should give him the date, don’t you?
In case he wants to come back for it?”
In case he wants to come back for it?”
“I’ll give him the date.”
Something was wrong.
There was something in his voice that wasn’t at all like Iakovos, but she knew he wouldn’t tell her what it was until he was ready to do so.
At least she’d gotten him to promise to tell Theo the date.
“Have you ever thought about giving him something .
.
.”
She hesitated, not sure how best to put her concerns.
“Something a little less stressful to work on?”
There was something in his voice that wasn’t at all like Iakovos, but she knew he wouldn’t tell her what it was until he was ready to do so.
At least she’d gotten him to promise to tell Theo the date.
“Have you ever thought about giving him something .
.
.”
She hesitated, not sure how best to put her concerns.
“Something a little less stressful to work on?”
“Stressful?”
“Well .
.
.”
She made a vague gesture.
“‘Delicate,’ perhaps is a better word.”
.
.”
She made a vague gesture.
“‘Delicate,’ perhaps is a better word.”
“What are you trying to say, Harry?
You don’t think my brother should be working for me?”
You don’t think my brother should be working for me?”
“No, I—”
“You’re the one who told me I need to learn to delegate more, and I agreed.
I put Theo in charge of the Brazilian project because it’s exactly the sort of thing he’s perfect at—wining and dining the Brazilian consortium, charming the wives and being the perfect host.”
I put Theo in charge of the Brazilian project because it’s exactly the sort of thing he’s perfect at—wining and dining the Brazilian consortium, charming the wives and being the perfect host.”
“Yes, but—”
“I don’t tell you how to write your books,” he said with stony finality.
“I would hope you’d give me the same consideration.
Now, do you want me to rub your back?”
“I would hope you’d give me the same consideration.
Now, do you want me to rub your back?”
She looked at the closed expression on his face, and knew that the discussion was over, at least for that moment.
After having lived with Iakovos for seven months, she had learned that there were subjects he was willing to let her probe, and others about which he simply wouldn’t entertain discussion.
The subject of Theo’s drinking, and the potentially devastating effect it could have on his life, was one of those subjects.
After having lived with Iakovos for seven months, she had learned that there were subjects he was willing to let her probe, and others about which he simply wouldn’t entertain discussion.
The subject of Theo’s drinking, and the potentially devastating effect it could have on his life, was one of those subjects.
Harry slid onto her side, going through the nightly tussle when Iakovos wanted her to remove her nightgown, and she refused on the grounds that she was as big as a tanker.
By the time he wrestled the nightgown off her, and started stroking her lower back, she decided she’d simply have to tackle the issue of Theo a different way.
By the time he wrestled the nightgown off her, and started stroking her lower back, she decided she’d simply have to tackle the issue of Theo a different way.
“Now would be the perfect time for you to tell me just how much you love me,” she cooed as he rubbed away all the aches in her lower back, his big hands making long, sweeping strokes that worked magic on the tightness that seemed to spasm after too long on her feet.
He nuzzled her neck, his chest hair tickling her back as his hands began to roam.
One hand cupped her behind, slipping down between her legs while the other slid under her until he found a breast.
Gently, because he knew she was sensitive, he caressed it, sending waves of languid pleasure rippling through Harry’s body.
One hand cupped her behind, slipping down between her legs while the other slid under her until he found a breast.
Gently, because he knew she was sensitive, he caressed it, sending waves of languid pleasure rippling through Harry’s body.
“Are you up to this tonight?”
he murmured, kissing her ear and neck and shoulders, his magical fingers sliding between her thighs to find sensitive flesh.
he murmured, kissing her ear and neck and shoulders, his magical fingers sliding between her thighs to find sensitive flesh.
“Oh, yes, please,” she said on a sigh, squirming as his fingers danced in her warmth.
He rolled her over onto her back, his hair brushing her chin as he kissed a path across her collarbone, dipping even lower to catch a nipple in his mouth and gently, ever so gently, rolling his tongue around the tip.
He rolled her over onto her back, his hair brushing her chin as he kissed a path across her collarbone, dipping even lower to catch a nipple in his mouth and gently, ever so gently, rolling his tongue around the tip.
She moaned with the feel of his mouth, her hands tracing the muscles of his arms and shoulders as he moved over to pay tribute to her other breast.
She felt a momentary qualm as he moved lower, kissing his way down her big belly.
She felt a momentary qualm as he moved lower, kissing his way down her big belly.
“I’m as big as a house,” she said, moving restlessly when he rubbed his cheek against the side of her stomach.
“Yes, you are.”
She propped herself up on her elbows to glare at him.
He crawled up her body with a wicked look in his eye as he lay next to her, one arm around her belly.
“Do you have any idea how erotic it is for me to see you lying there, swollen with my children?
Do you know what it does to me, here?”
He caught her hand and pressed it to his chest, where his heart beat so strong and true.
“I know you feel ungainly and awkward, but to my eyes, you are a goddess, a vision of beauty that will give me something I never expected to have, and the only thought that consumes me is to be a part of this miracle the only way I know how.”
He crawled up her body with a wicked look in his eye as he lay next to her, one arm around her belly.
“Do you have any idea how erotic it is for me to see you lying there, swollen with my children?
Do you know what it does to me, here?”
He caught her hand and pressed it to his chest, where his heart beat so strong and true.
“I know you feel ungainly and awkward, but to my eyes, you are a goddess, a vision of beauty that will give me something I never expected to have, and the only thought that consumes me is to be a part of this miracle the only way I know how.”
“Oh god, they really need to move you up to the number one spot, because there isn’t a woman in the world who wouldn’t sell her soul to have you,” Harry told him as he rolled her onto her side again, and pulled her leg back a little until it lay over his.
“Didn’t I tell you?”
he whispered into her ear as he slid slowly, oh, so very slowly into her body.
“I resigned my spot on the list.
I told them my wife wouldn’t let me remain on it any longer.”
he whispered into her ear as he slid slowly, oh, so very slowly into her body.
“I resigned my spot on the list.
I told them my wife wouldn’t let me remain on it any longer.”
Her body tightened around him as his fingers gently stroked her.
He was so tender with her, so gentle it brought tears to her eyes.
The last month or so, when she had started to feel so unwieldy, she had offered to give him pleasure with her mouth and hands, but he had gravely declined the offer, saying he preferred to wait until such times as she was ready to receive his attentions, no matter how long that might be.
He was so tender with her, so gentle it brought tears to her eyes.
The last month or so, when she had started to feel so unwieldy, she had offered to give him pleasure with her mouth and hands, but he had gravely declined the offer, saying he preferred to wait until such times as she was ready to receive his attentions, no matter how long that might be.
She moaned her release as he moved against her, the feeling of his warmth behind her sending her spiraling into a well of absolute pleasure that was made perfect when his voice turned hoarse with his own climax.
Chapter 20
H
arry ran into Patricia the following day at an afternoon tea given by one of the leading socialites in Athens, in aid of a children’s charity.
Harry had let herself be talked into attending by Elena, who told her that it was a cause that Iakovos had long supported.
arry ran into Patricia the following day at an afternoon tea given by one of the leading socialites in Athens, in aid of a children’s charity.
Harry had let herself be talked into attending by Elena, who told her that it was a cause that Iakovos had long supported.
“Well, if it isn’t the happy homemaker,” Patricia said when she spotted Harry, standing somewhat awkwardly on the fringe of a group of chattering women.
Patricia stopped, her face a picture of horror as she gazed at Harry’s belly.
“Good god, are you having a
litter
?”
Patricia stopped, her face a picture of horror as she gazed at Harry’s belly.
“Good god, are you having a
litter
?”
Harry was too uncomfortable to put up with any crap from the infinitesimally small blonde.
“Thus speaks the woman who doesn’t have a child,” she snapped.
“Thus speaks the woman who doesn’t have a child,” she snapped.
Patricia’s face froze.
“You inhuman bitch,” she growled before pushing past Harry and quickly leaving the tea.
“You inhuman bitch,” she growled before pushing past Harry and quickly leaving the tea.
Harry had a horrible feeling that she’d said something wrong, but she had no idea what.
When she returned home shortly thereafter, pleading a very real headache as her excuse to leave, she tackled Elena, who was out next to the pool sunning herself.
When she returned home shortly thereafter, pleading a very real headache as her excuse to leave, she tackled Elena, who was out next to the pool sunning herself.
“How’d the tea go?”
she asked, looking up from a stack of fashion magazines.
she asked, looking up from a stack of fashion magazines.
“It was fine.
What do you know about Patricia?”
Harry asked, getting right to the point.
What do you know about Patricia?”
Harry asked, getting right to the point.
“Patricia?
You mean Iakovos’ Patricia?”
You mean Iakovos’ Patricia?”
Harry grimaced.
“Iakovos’ previous girlfriend, yes.
Do you know if she has any children?”
“Iakovos’ previous girlfriend, yes.
Do you know if she has any children?”
Elena frowned, slowly shaking her head.
“I don’t think she does, no.
She never mentioned a child, but I didn’t see her much.
She and Iakovos were only together for a little while, you know.”
“I don’t think she does, no.
She never mentioned a child, but I didn’t see her much.
She and Iakovos were only together for a little while, you know.”
“Two years,” Harry said grimly.
“Well .
.
.
yes, but that’s really not very long.”
.
.
yes, but that’s really not very long.”
“If she doesn’t have children, why did she get so .
.
.
oh, lord.”
She must be infertile.
Perhaps she’d been trying to get pregnant and couldn’t, and then the very pregnant Harry waddled up and snapped at her.
“Nice job, Harry.”
.
.
oh, lord.”
She must be infertile.
Perhaps she’d been trying to get pregnant and couldn’t, and then the very pregnant Harry waddled up and snapped at her.
“Nice job, Harry.”
“Are you talking to yourself?”
Elena asked, sitting up.
Elena asked, sitting up.
“No.
Yes.
Oh, hell.”
She went back into the coolness of the apartment, feeling horrible.
“Dammit, I’m going to have to apologize.”
Yes.
Oh, hell.”
She went back into the coolness of the apartment, feeling horrible.
“Dammit, I’m going to have to apologize.”
She called Dmitri, being too embarrassed by her bad behavior to admit it to Iakovos.
“Dmitri, I’m going to ask you to do something and not only not ask questions about it, but also don’t mention it to Iakovos.”
“Dmitri, I’m going to ask you to do something and not only not ask questions about it, but also don’t mention it to Iakovos.”
“Is it anything illegal?”
he asked, the hint of a smile in his voice.
he asked, the hint of a smile in his voice.
“No.”
“Then I’ll do it.
What do you need?”
What do you need?”
“I want Patricia’s phone number and the hotel she’s staying at in Athens.”
“She has an apartment here, actually, assuming you’re talking about the Patricia who does design work for Iakovos.”
“That’s the one.”
“All right.
Here’s the address.”
Harry wrote down the information, thanking him for not telling Iakovos.
“I don’t normally like keeping secrets from him, but so long as you’re willing to take responsibility for this, I’ll keep quiet.”
Here’s the address.”
Harry wrote down the information, thanking him for not telling Iakovos.
“I don’t normally like keeping secrets from him, but so long as you’re willing to take responsibility for this, I’ll keep quiet.”
“I’m not going to do anything to hurt her,” Harry reassured him.
“Quite the opposite, as a matter of fact.
Not only am I going to apologize, I’m going to give her some work.”
“Quite the opposite, as a matter of fact.
Not only am I going to apologize, I’m going to give her some work.”
She could have sworn Dmitri choked at that news, but as he didn’t say anything more, she hung up, gathered together her purse and her digital camera, and called a cab.
Forty minutes later she pressed the buzzer outside Patricia’s door, clutching a bottle of local wine.
Patricia’s expression upon seeing her when she opened the door was not pleasant, but Harry had never shirked a duty when it was necessary.
“What are you doing here?”
Patricia asked.
Patricia asked.
“I’m here to apologize.”
“You can’t come in,” Patricia said stubbornly.
Harry held out the bottle.
“I brought booze.”
“I brought booze.”
“All right, you can come in, but you can’t stay long.”
Patricia snatched the bottle and turned on her heel.
Harry followed her into the apartment.
“I assume you’re not going to have any of this wine.”
Patricia snatched the bottle and turned on her heel.
Harry followed her into the apartment.
“I assume you’re not going to have any of this wine.”
“You would assume correctly.”
Patricia’s mouth twisted as she brought the opened bottle and a glass into a sunny living room.
Harry looked around and acknowledged that she was right to do what she was about to do.
Harry looked around and acknowledged that she was right to do what she was about to do.
“You have a cute apartment.
Did you decorate it yourself?”
Did you decorate it yourself?”
Patricia shot her a glare that should have at least stunned Harry.
“Of course I did.
Look, I don’t know what you want from me, but I really am not in the mood to play nice, so why don’t you get off your chest whatever you came to say, and we’ll move on.”
“Of course I did.
Look, I don’t know what you want from me, but I really am not in the mood to play nice, so why don’t you get off your chest whatever you came to say, and we’ll move on.”
“I came to apologize for what I said at the tea.
I don’t know why it upset you so much, but it did, and I feel bad about that.
So I’m sorry.”
I don’t know why it upset you so much, but it did, and I feel bad about that.
So I’m sorry.”
Patricia sat down, taking a big swig of the wine while Harry stood awkwardly, unsure whether she should sit or just leave.
“So you say you’re sorry, and it’s supposed to make it all good again?”
“I don’t know what else I can do,” Harry said, feeling at a loss.
“Obviously, I touched on a sensitive area.”
“Obviously, I touched on a sensitive area.”
Patricia closed her eyes for a moment, then poured herself another glass of wine, and gestured toward the door.
“All right, you apologized.
Now get the hell out of here.”
“All right, you apologized.
Now get the hell out of here.”
Harry was silent for a moment, then nodded and started for the door.
“No, wait a minute.
Oh, Christ, this is ridiculous.
I don’t want to talk to you.
I don’t want you in my house.
I don’t want to see you in that stupid dress, standing there feeling sorry for me.”
Oh, Christ, this is ridiculous.
I don’t want to talk to you.
I don’t want you in my house.
I don’t want to see you in that stupid dress, standing there feeling sorry for me.”
Harry turned around slowly.
She knew the sound of pain when she heard it, and although she had no love for this woman, she would never forgive herself if she just walked off and left another person in pain that had its origins in her actions.
She knew the sound of pain when she heard it, and although she had no love for this woman, she would never forgive herself if she just walked off and left another person in pain that had its origins in her actions.
“My dress,” she said, smoothing a hand down over her giant belly, “is extremely cute.
I ordered it online.
It’s from New York.”
The dress
was
cute—the empire bodice was navy blue and white stripe, while the flowing skirt was in matching navy.
It was very sailor-like, and Harry had fallen in love with it when she saw it online.
“And as for feeling sorry for you, I’m not, but mostly because I have no idea why you were so upset about what I said, unless you’re infertile, and thus my comment was unusually cruel.”
I ordered it online.
It’s from New York.”
The dress
was
cute—the empire bodice was navy blue and white stripe, while the flowing skirt was in matching navy.
It was very sailor-like, and Harry had fallen in love with it when she saw it online.
“And as for feeling sorry for you, I’m not, but mostly because I have no idea why you were so upset about what I said, unless you’re infertile, and thus my comment was unusually cruel.”
Patricia swore, standing up, the wineglass still in her hands.
“I loved Iakovos, you know.”
“I loved Iakovos, you know.”
Harry stood very still.
“Then I do feel sorry for you.
I can’t imagine anything worse than loving him, but not being loved in return.”
“Then I do feel sorry for you.
I can’t imagine anything worse than loving him, but not being loved in return.”
Patricia’s face twisted into a cruel mask.
“You think you’re so different from me, don’t you?
You think he won’t get tired of you, too, in the end?
Oh yes, you were right there, damn you.
He got tired of me; he said that we no longer had anything to offer each other.
God damn it, I was going to dump him, and he dumped me first.”
She sat back down, poured more wine, and tossed it back.
“You think you’re so different from me, don’t you?
You think he won’t get tired of you, too, in the end?
Oh yes, you were right there, damn you.
He got tired of me; he said that we no longer had anything to offer each other.
God damn it, I was going to dump him, and he dumped me first.”
She sat back down, poured more wine, and tossed it back.
“If you loved him, why did you want to break up with him?”
Harry asked slowly.
Harry asked slowly.
“Because I didn’t love him.”
She ran her hand through her perfect blond hair.
“Oh god, just shut up and sit down.
I can’t stand looking at you.”
She ran her hand through her perfect blond hair.
“Oh god, just shut up and sit down.
I can’t stand looking at you.”
Harry sat down in a straight-backed chair as Patricia stomped off to the kitchen.
She returned in a minute with a tall glass of orange juice that she shoved into Harry’s hands.
She wasn’t terribly fond of orange juice, but sipped at it to be polite as Patricia poured herself another glass of wine.
She returned in a minute with a tall glass of orange juice that she shoved into Harry’s hands.
She wasn’t terribly fond of orange juice, but sipped at it to be polite as Patricia poured herself another glass of wine.
“Just so we understand each other,” Harry said after a minute of silence, “you’re not going to make me jealous of your previous relationship with Iakovos.”
“Because you’re so perfect for him?”
Patricia sneered.
“Because you think he won’t get tired of you like he did me?”
Patricia sneered.
“Because you think he won’t get tired of you like he did me?”
“Yes,” Harry said.
“Because he loves me, and I believe that love is not just infatuation.”
“Because he loves me, and I believe that love is not just infatuation.”
“Maybe you are perfect,” Patricia said, her face twisting again.
“Maybe he is.
I hope he is.”
“Maybe he is.
I hope he is.”
“You hope he’s happy with me?”
“Yes.
Because then when I take him away from you, it’ll be that much more satisfying.”
Her smile was glittering, as cruel as the sun is bright.
“You don’t think I can do it, do you?
I can.
I know what he likes.
I know what drives him wild.
I know what he wants from a woman, and I can give it to him.
I
have
given it to him.
I kept him by my side for two years, longer than any other woman, longer than you.
If I wanted him again, I could take him away from you.
And do you know what?
I’ve just decided I want him again.”
Because then when I take him away from you, it’ll be that much more satisfying.”
Her smile was glittering, as cruel as the sun is bright.
“You don’t think I can do it, do you?
I can.
I know what he likes.
I know what drives him wild.
I know what he wants from a woman, and I can give it to him.
I
have
given it to him.
I kept him by my side for two years, longer than any other woman, longer than you.
If I wanted him again, I could take him away from you.
And do you know what?
I’ve just decided I want him again.”
Harry stood up slowly, looking down at the beautiful, bitter blond woman.
“I don’t play games when it comes to Iakovos,” she finally said, her heart heavy.
“So I’m not going to tell you to go ahead and try.
I love him.
I know he loves me.
We’re getting married in three days, and having twins in less than two months.
If you want to spend your time and energy trying to destroy that, then that’s what you’ll do.
But you have to ask yourself if what you’ll destroy is my relationship with him, or your own soul.”
“I don’t play games when it comes to Iakovos,” she finally said, her heart heavy.
“So I’m not going to tell you to go ahead and try.
I love him.
I know he loves me.
We’re getting married in three days, and having twins in less than two months.
If you want to spend your time and energy trying to destroy that, then that’s what you’ll do.
But you have to ask yourself if what you’ll destroy is my relationship with him, or your own soul.”
Patricia swore, and Harry went to the front door again, intending to wash her hands of the woman.
As she reached for the door, Patricia made a horrible moaning, gasping noise.
“I’m not infertile.
I had a daughter.
She was killed.”
As she reached for the door, Patricia made a horrible moaning, gasping noise.
“I’m not infertile.
I had a daughter.
She was killed.”
Goose bumps crawled up Harry’s back as she turned around.
Patricia’s face was a mask of indifference, but her fingers were white around the stem of the wineglass.
Patricia’s face was a mask of indifference, but her fingers were white around the stem of the wineglass.
“I’m sorry.”
Patricia made a gesture with the glass, then splashed more wine into it, her hand shaking.
“It was six years ago.
She would have been ten this year.”
“It was six years ago.
She would have been ten this year.”
Harry returned to her chair, not wanting to ask what had happened, but curious nonetheless.
Patricia took a long, shuddering breath.
“My husband fought me for custody when we divorced.
He told the judge that a workaholic wasn’t any sort of mother for Penny.
When the judge didn’t agree and gave me custody, my husband .
.
.”
“My husband fought me for custody when we divorced.
He told the judge that a workaholic wasn’t any sort of mother for Penny.
When the judge didn’t agree and gave me custody, my husband .
.
.”
Harry had a horrible feeling of what was coming.
She wanted to comfort Patricia, but there was an air of tense fragility about her.
She wanted to comfort Patricia, but there was an air of tense fragility about her.
“He grabbed her and ran.
Right into the side of a commuter train.
The bastard.”
Right into the side of a commuter train.
The bastard.”
The last word was spat out as Patricia’s face crumpled.
Harry moved awkwardly to the couch, her arms around the now sobbing Patricia, her own eyes streaming in sympathy.
“I’m sorry.
I’m so sorry,” she kept saying, wishing there was something she could do.
I’m so sorry,” she kept saying, wishing there was something she could do.
In time Patricia pulled away, mopping at her face with a couple of tissues.
“Don’t think this changes anything,” she said in a low, ugly voice.
“I don’t like you.
I plan on taking Iakovos from you.”
“I don’t like you.
I plan on taking Iakovos from you.”
“No, you won’t,” Harry said, sliding forward on the couch so she could hoist herself up.
“Shows what you know,” Patricia said, blowing her nose with more tissues.
“You won’t because you know how precious life is, and you would never take away my babies’ father.”
Patricia’s jaw worked, but she said nothing, just looked away.
“Leave me alone.
Just take your fat body away and leave me alone.”
“Leave me alone.
Just take your fat body away and leave me alone.”
Harry went to the door for a third time, looking back to say slowly, “I want to hire you.
I want you to redecorate our apartment before my babies come.
I know you’re expensive, and busy, but I want you to do this.
I think you are very talented, and I know that you’ll help me transform our apartment into a home.”
I want you to redecorate our apartment before my babies come.
I know you’re expensive, and busy, but I want you to do this.
I think you are very talented, and I know that you’ll help me transform our apartment into a home.”
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