Chapter 18
18
S oft sunlight poured into the bedroom through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the room in a warm golden glow. The gentle rustle of leaves outside and the distant chirping of birds created an atmosphere of calm. Aurelia lay nestled against Michalis’s chest, her silk nightie cool against his skin, her hand resting lightly over his heart. His steady breathing soothed her, and for a moment, she a strange sense of peace settled over her.
Michalis's fingers combed lazily through her hair, his other arm wrapped loosely around her waist. “You’re quiet this morning,” he murmured, his voice rough with sleep.
“Just thinking,” she replied softly, tilting her head to look up at him.
“About what?” he asked, his blue eyes scanning her face.
She hesitated. “About…everything, I suppose.” She gave him a small smile, trying to deflect. “What do you have planned for today?”
He chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound in his chest. “Meetings I’d rather skip. But unfortunately, not everything runs itself.”
“And here I thought you ruled the world,” she teased, her tone light.
“Only most of it,” he replied, his lips curving into a faint smirk. “What about you? What’s on your agenda, Mrs. Giannopoulos?”
She flushed slightly at the way he said her name, the possessiveness in his tone. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “I might wander around again. Check on the car, maybe.”
“You’ve become quite the sensation among the men,” he said, his fingers brushing against her temple. “They’re still talking about how the boss’s wife fixed their carburetor.”
Aurelia laughed softly, her cheeks warming. “It wasn’t a big deal. Just a little adjustment.”
“To them, it was,” Michalis said, his tone carrying a trace of pride. He paused for a moment, his hand stilling in her hair. “They bought the car with their own money. I’m just supplying the shop.” He chuckled, “And perhaps an expert mechanic, if you want the job?”
“Really?” she gasped. “I mean, you know, if they want me, sure.”
“Do you think you could be happy here?”
The question made her freeze. She shifted slightly, resting her chin on his chest as she looked up at him. “Why do you ask?”
“Because I need to know how to make you happy; what will make you want to stay,” he said simply, his gaze steady.
Aurelia hesitated, then slowly sat up, avoiding his eyes. “I’m not sure how to answer that,” she admitted. “I don’t want to argue about it again. You know how I feel about the world you want me to live in.”
Michalis frowned, sitting up slightly. “I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about us.”
She sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I don’t know. I’m…conflicted.” Her voice softened. “I don’t think I should be happy—not when you do the things you do.”
Michalis studied her, his expression unreadable. “Are you talking about the things I do with you,” he asked slowly, “or the things I do to keep you safe?”
“Both,” she said quietly.
Before he could respond, she shifted to straddle him, her hands resting on his chest, her legs to either side of his waist. “Maybe we shouldn’t talk about this right now,” she said, leaning down to kiss him.
He caught her wrists, stopping her. “Aurelia,” he said firmly. “We’re not avoiding this. Answer me.”
Her shoulders sagged, and she leaned back slightly. He released her wrists so she could lean back against his propped up legs, the perfect backrest. “I don’t know, Michalis. I’m happy when I’m with you, but I don’t know how I feel about…everything else. You’re very…you want to control everything.”
“And you don’t like that.” He watched her squirm, a slow grin replacing his frown. “Or maybe you don’t want to like it, but you do?”
She tugged against his hold in frustration. “I don’t know. I’ve been on my own for a long time. It’s hard to let someone else make decisions for me.”
“But how do you feel when I do it? Have I ever made you feel unsafe?”
Uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation, she forced herself to answer anyway. “No, but that doesn’t mean I agree with––”
Their conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door.
“Breakfast,” Michalis said, his tone lighter now. He nodded toward the door. “Come in.”
Aurelia started to climb off him, but his hands moved to her hips to stop her. “Stay,” he said, his voice firm.
Her cheeks flushed. “Michalis?—”
“You’ll stay,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
The maid entered, carrying a tray laden with food. She hesitated for only a fraction of a second before crossing the room to set it down on the small table by the window. Her expression remained carefully neutral, though Aurelia’s cheeks burned with embarrassment.
“Thank you,” Michalis said curtly, dismissing the maid with a nod. The door clicked shut behind her.
“That was humiliating,” Aurelia muttered, glaring down at him. “See? This is exactly what I’m talking about.”
Michalis smirked. “She didn’t seem to mind.”
“I did!” she said, swatting his chest.
He chuckled, his hands steady on her hips. “You worry too much.”
She rolled her eyes but settled back against him with a sigh. “We should eat before it gets cold.”
“It can wait a few minutes,” he said, his voice softening. “If it’s cold, they can bring fresh food.”
She made a face but didn’t argue. “I’m not that hungry anyway,” she said quietly. “I think I might be coming down with something.”
Michalis stilled, his gaze sharpening as he studied her. She looked healthy—beautiful, even—but her comment sparked something in the back of his mind. “Do you think you could be pregnant?”
“What? No.”
He didn’t respond immediately, instead adjusting the pillows behind him so that his back was propped up better, bringing her closer. He spread his palm gently across her abdomen. “We could start trying.”
“That’s the last thing we need to do. In fact, I think I should go see the doctor. We can’t keep taking risks like this.”
“And I was thinking,” he said after a moment, ignoring her statement. “If you’re interested in planning a big party, I could use your help.”
She glanced up at him, surprised. “A party?”
“We host one every couple of months. It’s good for business.”
Aurelia sat up straighter, her curiosity piqued. “What kind of party?”
Michalis smiled faintly. “Big. Fancy. Lots of people. But don’t worry—there’s a party planner coming this afternoon to help with the details. I’d appreciate it if you took charge, though. I don’t enjoy this sort of thing. If I give you another phone, you’ll have to promise not to toss this one in the coffee.”
Aurelia’s face lit up, and she turned to look at him fully. “Really? You want me to do it?”
He nodded. “I think you’d be good at it.”
She grinned. “Okay. How many guests are we talking about?”
“Enough to fill the ballroom,” he said, laughing softly. “Don’t worry about the logistics. Just tell the planner what you want.”
“What about the guest list? I have no idea who to invite.”
“We have a basic list we use for these events,” he said. “But you can add anyone you want, as long as they pass the background check.”
She nodded thoughtfully, already thinking of ideas. “Who’s on the list so far?”
“Mostly people on the legitimate side. My family has a diverse portfolio. It will be a who’s who in the business world, and a few politicians, Chief Thompson, people like that.”
“Chief Thompson? Who’s that?”
He smirked. “Chief of Police.”
“Are you serious?” she frowned. “Wait. Are you saying he’s on your payroll?”
“Actually, no. He’s totally legit. A fucking boyscout.”
“Then why invite him?”
“What’s the saying? Keep your friends close..”
She snorted. “But your enemies closer? Seriously?”
Michalis chuckled. “What better way to appear legitimate than to befriend the most honest man in the room?”
“That’s not nice.”
He kissed the tip of her nose, laughing. “Don’t worry, agápe mou . His feelings are not hurt. He plays the same game with me.”
“Fine,” she grumbled. “Anyone else I should be aware of?”
“I’ll be adding Antonio Bonetti and his sister, Carmen,” he said, his tone turning serious. “That might cause a few waves, but I want them to be there.”
Aurelia frowned. “Why? I mean, Carmen seemed nice, but I got the feeling she was testing me. I’m not sure I like her.”
Michalis’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Everyone likes you. That’s not something you need to worry about.”
Her irritation flared, but she let the matter drop. She climbed off him, and this time, he didn’t stop her. “I’m going to shower and get dressed,” she said.
Michalis watched her closely as she crossed the room, his gaze softening as she stopped by the food tray and grabbed a handful of grapes, grumbling under her breath about not wasting food.
A knock at the door drew Michalis’s attention. He rose and crossed the room, opening the door to find Ajax standing in the hallway.
“Come in,” Michalis said quietly.
Ajax entered, his expression grim.
The soft click of the door closing behind Ajax broke the quiet of the bedroom. Michalis crossed his arms and leaned against the dresser, his sharp gaze fixed on one of his most trusted men. He was extremely intelligent and just as ruthless.
Ajax, ever composed, stood tall but with a faint crease between his brows—a subtle sign of concern.
“We’ve been digging into David Morrow’s background, as you requested,” Ajax began, his voice low and steady. “There’s not much there. Too little, actually. It feels deliberate.”
Michalis’s jaw tightened. “Deliberate how?”
Ajax shifted his weight, his hands clasped behind his back. “The basics check out—where he went to school, where he works—but there’s nothing that makes sense for someone with his level of resources. No deep connections, no real history. It’s too clean.”
Michalis’s expression darkened, his mind working through the implications. “And his employees?”
“That’s where it gets interesting,” Ajax said, leaning forward slightly. “His housekeeper is Romanian. We’re still looking into her background, but if she’s tied to Khomenko…” He let the sentence hang, knowing Michalis didn’t need him to spell it out.
“Khomenko,” Michalis muttered, the name dripping with disdain. He straightened, pushing off the dresser and pacing to the window. The golden light filtering through the curtains seemed almost mocking, given the tension in the room. “How certain are we?”
“Not certain enough,” Ajax admitted. “It’s a direction, but it’s thin.”
Michalis turned, his piercing blue eyes locking onto Ajax’s. “Keep digging. If the maid is connected to Khomenko, she’ll lead us to something—or someone. If she’s connected, David probably is too.”
Ajax hesitated. “What do you want us to do if he shows his hand?”
Michalis was silent for a long moment, his gaze drifting to the door Aurelia had disappeared behind moments earlier. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet but laced with steel. “Nothing. Not yet.”
Ajax raised an eyebrow. “You want us to sit on this?”
“I want him at the party,” Michalis said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Ajax’s brow furrowed deeper. “If he’s tied to Khomenko, that’s a risk.”
Michalis smirked faintly, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s a controlled risk. If he’s working for Khomenko, he’ll want to come. People like him can’t resist getting close to their target.”
Ajax crossed his arms, his posture stiffening. “And if he’s not?”
“Then he’s a fool who’s in over his head,” Michalis said simply. “Either way, I’ll know the truth by the end of the night.”
Ajax nodded slowly, his mind clearly turning over the plan. “And your wife?”
Michalis stepped closer, his voice dropping lower, as though the walls themselves might betray them. “My wife will invite him,” he said. “She’s conflicted about him—about all of this. If I push her, she’ll dig in. But if I let her think it’s her choice…”
Ajax nodded in understanding. “She’ll bring him to you.”
Michalis’s lips curved into a cold smile. “Exactly. And once he’s here, I’ll have the advantage. The house will be locked down, every guest watched. If he’s working for Khomenko, he’ll reveal himself. If he’s clean, he’ll walk away none the wiser.”
“And if she finds out?” Ajax asked, his voice quieter now.
“She won’t. David was obviously careful not to tell her who he was, or his connection to her father, so he won’t tell her now and risk losing what little advantage he still has,” Michalis said, his tone hardening. He crossed his arms again, his gaze sharp. “He’ll also know that I’m bringing the fight to him. This is as much about sending a message as it is about finding the truth.”
Ajax tilted his head slightly. “Risky. And if he’s just foolishly in love with your wife?”
“Then I’ll enjoy setting him straight.”
Ajax considered this for a moment, then nodded. “It’s a gamble.”
“It’s a calculated one,” Michalis corrected. “David’s presence gives us the opportunity to gather intelligence and potentially force Khomenko to react—all on our terms. The risk is minimal, and the potential gains are significant.”
Ajax smirked faintly, a rare expression on his otherwise stoic face. “You’re putting a lot of faith in Mrs. Giannopoulos.”
Michalis’s tone remained firm. “I think it’s time to find out where her true loyalty lies.”
Ajax nodded, his expression turning serious once more. “Understood. We’ll keep digging into David and his connections. If we find anything, I’ll let you know.”
“Good,” Michalis said, his voice dropping to a low murmur. “Because if he is working for Khomenko, he won’t leave that party alive.”
Ajax hesitated as he moved toward the door, his hand resting on the handle. “One more thing,” he said, glancing back at Michalis. “There’s chatter. A shipment Khomenko’s crew was expecting has gone missing. He’s blaming you.”
Michalis’s smirk returned, this time sharp and dangerous. “Let him. That’s the least of his problems right now.”
Ajax inclined his head, opening the door and stepping out. As the door clicked shut behind him, Michalis turned back to the window, his mind already calculating the next steps. The party wasn’t just a social event anymore—it was a battlefield. One he intended to win.