The Greek Tycoon Box Set: The Complete Serial: Books 1-10 (22 page)

“And I love you,” Atreus said. “More than life itself.”

“Let’s go,” Carla said.

Atreus handed Dios over to her and they left the office, a family again. It was like Carla had been awakened from a horrible, evil trance.

Once they were out on the tree-lined avenue, Carla turned to Atreus.

“How did you find me?
 
How did you know I was there?”

“I took a private flight right out of there as soon as I could get the door unlocked,” he said.

“I’m so sorry,” she said.

“It’s okay,” he said. “I understand, under the circumstances. But, darling, I would never ever cheat on you, with anyone. You’re my everything.”

“I know that,” said Carla. “And I
knew
that. I don’t know why I lost my head. I should have just asked you and let you explain yourself.”

“Never mind that, it’s in the past,” he said, pulling her close. “I’m here now.” He kissed Dios on the top of the head. “I knew you’d come to your grandparents’ and after a lot of explaining, they told me where you were.”

Carla smiled.

“I hope granddad didn’t give you too much of a hard time.”

“Well, I’m still alive,” said Atreus. “That’s what counts.”

They laughed together and embraced. Carla felt happy again.

*****

“To say sorry,” Atreus said as they drove through the gate.

Charles leant forward to look between the front seats and gawped.

“A blooming expensive apology, that looks like.”

Tatbury Country House Hotel
, a gold engraving read on a stone sign at the entrance to the driveway.

As the taxi crawled up the gravel path, they all took in the view of the imposing manor house that stood imperiously at the end of the freshly cut lawns.
 

“Look at that,” said Mary, pointing out the pristinely manicured gardens. “That’s what you should do at home, Charles, for the summer.”

“It is beautiful,” Carla said. She watched as a fountain of water poured from a jug that a little statue boy held above his head, and splashed into a wide, clear pool below.

It was even more breathtaking inside. They mounted the wide stone steps to meet with two doormen who pulled back the doors and revealed the wood-paneled luxury of the lobby. The cream carpet was so thick that Carla felt she might almost sink into it. She placed Dios on the floor and let him crawl along it, giggling madly a its soft texture. A chandelier cast golden patterns throughout and glimmered on the mahogany furniture.

“Well, isn’t this nice,” Mary said.

“Good afternoon,” the receptionist said, standing up at her desk. “Welcome to the Tatbury.”

“Good afternoon,” Atreus said to the receptionist. “The name’s Kostas and we’re here for afternoon tea.”

“Wonderful, Mr Kostas,” said the receptionist. “We have your booking here.”

She nodded to a young man in the doorway who stepped forward.

“Good afternoon. Would you prefer to take tea in the library lounge, one of our other lounges, or perhaps the orangery?”

“That’s a sort of conservatory, isn’t it?” Charles said.

“Yes, Sir,” the young man said.

“I like the sound of that,” Carla said. “Do you, Gran?”

“Why not?” Mary agreed.

Atreus smiled at the young man.

“The orangery it is.”

“Excellent, Sir. If you’ll please follow me.”

Carla scooped up Dios and followed them all through the hotel.

“Look at the ceiling,” Mary whispered to her as they entered yet another wood-paneled room.

Carla looked up to see an exquisite mural of angels dancing in a celestial sky.

“Wow, isn’t that something?”

They soon came to the orangery. Flooded with the soft spring light from the glass ceiling and walls, the room abounded with orange trees and exotic flowers between the tables. The polished stone floor clicked under Carla’s heels and reminded her of Little Ekali.

Once they had all settled at the table, the young man set their napkins on their laps.

“Would you like our afternoon tea selection with champagne?”

“Absolutely,” said Atreus. He took Carla’s hand from across the table when the young man had left. “Do you like it, darling?”

“I adore it,” she said.

Dios clapped his hands in his high chair, his face so illuminated by happiness that everyone smiled. Mary cooed after him.

It was glorious to chat about nothing, there in their beautiful surroundings. Carla was so glad to be able to finally relax, not having to think about Brian or Serene or any other stresses. Atreus and Charles talked about football and cricket for a while, then the conversation turned to a ballroom dancing television program Mary was keen on.
 

Soon the food came; a spread of sandwiches cut into perfect triangles; a cake stand, complete with cupcakes on top and a sponge cake at the bottom; and a plate of scones with plenty of jam and cream to spread on. A china teapot with a gold detail floral pattern was surrounded by matching cups and saucers. The young man and a waitress laid out matching plates before them and before long they were all tucking in, conversation long forgotten.

A sommelier arrived a short while after and poured champagne into flutes for them all.

Carla picked out a scone with jam and cream first, followed by an egg and cress sandwich, then a piece of sponge cake. She fed Dios tiny morsels as she went along and he clearly enjoyed them, his face spreading into a wide, cheeky smile. Not remembering the last time she felt so truly happy, she looked up at Atreus and gazed deep into his eyes.

“Thank you,” she said.

“You’re so welcome,” he replied, then leaned over the table to kiss her. “And thank you, for
everything
.”

The sound of his ring tone began to echo around the vast orangery.

“Oh, sorry, sorry,” he said, scrambling in his pocket. He took a quick look at the screen and a shadow fell over his face. “I have to take this. One moment.”

Carla watched him stride out of the orangery, his phone to his ear, and felt a nausea churn in her stomach. Something wasn’t right, she could tell. Suddenly everything on her plate looked unpalatable. She sipped her champagne and regretted it instantly as it swirled in her throat.

“Is everything all right?” Mary asked, nodding toward Atreus’ as he departed.

“I… I don’t know,” said Carla.

They ate in uneasy silence until he returned. The color had drained from his face.

“What’s wrong?” Carla said.

“Nothing,” said Atreus, averting his eyes. “Why don’t we have our afternoon tea and enjoy ourselves.”

“I can’t until you tell me what’s wrong.”

Atreus sighed and looked at her. The pain in his eyes was palpable.

“All right. It was Nikolas.”

Carla’s heart skipped a beat.

“What did he want?”

“He told me he’s making legal moves to cut me out of Kostas Shipping.”

“But he can’t!” said Carla. “It’s
your
business.”

“It’s his, too,” said Atreus. “I don’t know how he’s going to do it but if he succeeds I’ll have nothing. Nothing at all.”

“Oh my goodness,” Mary said.

Carla swallowed.

“We’ll love each other no matter what,” she said. “Whether rich or poor.”

“Yes,” Atreus said. “There is no doubt about that. But if I have no money, no assets, and the huge debts Nikolas has threatened, Serene would have a case to take Dios.”

Carla’s pulse raced.

“So what are we going to do?”

Atreus looked her straight in the eyes.

“Find the best lawyers money can buy and fight to the death.”

Carla looked right back at him.

“
Let’s do this.
”

The End
(of Book 5)

Continue on to read Book 6…

THE GREEK TYCOON

Book 6:
 
Fighting For His Life

By Kay Brody

Chapter 1

Dear Atreus,

You are the only man I have ever truly loved. There is no man in the world who can compare to you.

Serene’s platinum charm bracelet slid over her slim, manicured hand and interrupted the flow of her Caran d’Ache pen. She shook it back down her bronzed arm and its jangle made Nikolas glance up from his papers. He had caught a glorious tan that made his blue eyes more piercing than ever, but revulsion churned in her stomach. She had made a dreadful mistake.

He smirked at her, his eyes intense with lust. She could tell he was imagining stripping her down and ravaging her on the floor of the private plane. The thought of it would have excited her tremendously just a month ago. How quickly things can change.

“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” he said.

Serene forced her cheeks into a smile. “Things have been great.”

“Yes, and soon they will be even better.”
 

He leaned up out of his seat and his tone sharpened.
 

“Cameron,” he added, “bring us some of that champagne.”

Serene’s heart pounded. She felt she would die on the spot if he proposed.

“Why are we having champagne, baby?”

“Do you have to ask?”
 
He smiled.

He leant back in his seat and cast a contemptuous look over the Bahamian staffer as the man scrambled to pour the champagne.

“We’re taking Atreus down. So far down into the gutter that he’ll never even remember what money
looks
like. You’ll see how quickly that little gold-digger Carla runs out on him, baby, don’t worry. We’ll hurt him a million times more than he hurt you.”

Serene accepted a champagne flute from Cameron and clinked it against Nikolas’. It was getting tiresome smiling in the face of all his unwanted affection, but she knew her only way to take Atreus down was to keep up the pretense.

Sipping the bubbly sweetness, she picked her pen back up.

“Now be quiet,” she said, with a teasing grin. “I’m writing something.”

“Something for
me
?” he asked, leaning forward to snatch it.

Serene was too quick for him and jerked it out of his reach.

“You’ll just have to wait and see,” she said coyly.

He grinned.

“I’m looking forward to that.”

If you only knew
, she thought, turning back to writing.

I love you, Atreus. I really do. I never knew how much until I left you. They say you never know what you have until it’s gone. It tears me up every day and night missing you. Missing Dios. As soon as you drop your charade and send Carla packing, I’ll be waiting for you. We can go back to our villa and raise Dios together, just as we had always planned. And we’ll get rid of Nikolas.

Until then, my love, Nikolas’ scheme will unfold. There is nothing I can do to stop him. He is a tyrant.

She paused, trying to think of what she could say to make Atreus feel sorry for her.

He beats me.

She read the last few lines again and smiled. It was perfect. She had Atreus backed into a corner. It was powerful enough to get him crawling back to her, and if for some reason it
didn’t
work, then Nikolas’ plan would surely drive him back into her arms. And when Nikolas ruined him, Atreus would finally know what it felt like to lose everything, just as she had lost everything.
 

As she sipped her champagne she imagined how romantic it would be when they were finally reunited. Atreus, lost and broken, leaning on her for strength while she stroked his hair and whispered words of comfort in his ear. They’d interlace their fingers and he’d vow that he’d never leave her again. Then they’d fight Nikolas, to the death if they had to, to recover all of Atreus’ estate. She’d have all the inside information and could help get it done.
 

Maybe then Atreus would realize how much he needed her. The fool.

“You’re going to completely ruin him, right?” she asked, looking up at Nikolas with a smirk.

Nikolas leaned over to run his hand up her thigh.

“Absolutely. As soon as we land, I’m on the case. It’s over for Atreus.”

*****

The tropical evening breeze made the flames that danced up from the three stones splutter and crack. The wholesome, waxy smell of the roasting fruit drifted upon it.

“Nothing can beat roast breadfruit on a night like this,” said Atreus. Then he nodded toward his friend and the head groundskeeper for the estate. “And there’s nobody better at preparing it than Peterson!”

He put his arm around Carla and drew her close in a hug.
 

“You’re going to love it,” he said.

Atreus smiled and Carla managed a half-smile back. She pushed her feet into the warm sand and flicked her sea-stiffened waves away from her face. She was so glad to be at Little Ekali, but knowing that they were to leave the next morning for an uncertain future prevented her from losing herself in its tranquil glory. She looked out over the ocean’s stillness and wondered what the future would bring for them.