Chapter Four #2
He barred her headlong exit with his body. He was so very tired of her defiance already. ‘Just don’t, Bethan.’
She glared up into his eyes, clearly spoiling for a fight. He was too. Their unstoppable chemistry still burned out of control. And if it wasn’t lust, it was anger. But he would resist.
He made himself step back, holding up his hands. ‘You’ll have your own room. Surely you can compromise?’
‘No.’
Ah, there was the rejection again and he was so tempted to prove just how willing he could get her in about three minutes flat. ‘You’re the one who started this, Bethan. I just wanted you here to get the paperwork done with the notary.’
‘Right, that’s why you launched on me the second you got me alone.’
‘Oh, so in your world, I’m the one who started it? I get to be the bad guy who took advantage.’
‘Again. Yes.’
‘Because you somehow lost the ability to say no? You’re so good at lying to yourself. I didn’t do anything you didn’t beg for. In fact I’m pretty sure you were begging me to do even more.’
She pressed her lips together tightly and quite obviously counted to three.
‘Then what is it you want?’ she finally muttered. ‘Why have you dragged me here?’
Well, she’d hardly been kicking and screaming.
He couldn’t help smirking—actually she had been screaming his name less than an hour ago.
‘Your ill-judged decision not to make our lack of relationship clear to my business associates has ramifications that you’re going to have to endure for a little while longer. ’
‘Your business associates? Wasn’t that your stepmother?’
‘Gia is no kind of mother to me and never has been.’
His snap instantly silenced her. In fact Bethan looked stunned.
Ares felt a qualm inside. Yeah, that was about the most he’d told her about his relationship with Gia.
But honestly he’d thought his distance from Gia and the rest would be obvious, given he didn’t spend time with them.
Plus he’d simply assumed Bethan’s loyalty in any interactions.
Perhaps that hadn’t been fair. There was no doubt her family would have been wildly different.
But the Vasiliadises didn’t discuss family—indeed anything personal—with anyone.
They were too proud, too powerful. The sheer dysfunction was kept behind closed doors.
He’d taken their lessons deep. Say nothing.
But he would do it all now—show not tell.
Only that was what he’d thought he’d done back then. ..
Bethan circled like a sparring opponent sizing him up before striking her blow. ‘What are the ramifications?’
He took a moment to focus. ‘Next Friday there’s an important gala at the headquarters. Nothing and no one will overshadow the success of that night so you’ll remain here this week and attend—gracious and smiling.’
Her jaw dropped. ‘Why on earth would you want me there?’
‘Because I said you would be and now it’s expected. If you don’t show up, then it will be a distraction.’
‘Won’t it be more of a distraction if I am there?’
His fury mounted. He’d never intended to tell her how personally important the foundation was to him. Acknowledging that felt like weakness. She might use it against him and he didn’t trust her. Or anyone. ‘You’ll quietly accompany me and afterwards you’ll discreetly disappear again.’
‘Did I discreetly disappear last time? What did you tell people?’
He’d said nothing, as it happened. As always. He’d iced up when people asked and people had stopped asking very quickly.
She cleared her throat when he didn’t answer. ‘I didn’t think you cared about what others think.’
‘I don’t, other than in connection to the business.’
‘It really is all about the money for you,’ she said caustically.
‘It is the one constant in my life,’ he agreed glibly.
And that was true—money had been at the core of everything.
The lack of it when he’d been young and still living with his mother.
The endless amount when his father had died and his grandfather had been hell-bent on securing a direct blood heir.
Money had brought him freedom and was one thing he’d truly been successful at in spite of them all. Including her.
‘What about Sophia?’ she muttered, twisting her bangle.
‘What about her?’ He tilted his head, confused by the change in topic.
Bethan cleared her throat. ‘I saw her engagement ring.’
Her what? Ares stilled. ‘And you thought I gave it to her?’ Amazed, he watched Bethan avoid his eyes and couldn’t contain a small chuckle. ‘Are you jealous of Sophia?’
Oh, this was good. That she was territorial over him, sexually at least, felt fantastic and was a little payback for how jealous he’d felt of that man she’d dined with last night. He savoured it a second longer before relenting. ‘Sophia is engaged to someone else.’
The tips of Bethan’s ears reddened. ‘So you expect me to stay in Greece for an additional week just to show up at one of your work functions.’
‘I think it’s the least you can do.’ He wanted to win something here.
She would be his wife for one more week—superficially a convenient arrangement to suppress scandal, but still his wife. They would see this out in every way. What had happened during their separation wasn’t his business, but these next few days, she would be his. Only his.
‘You will do it, Bethan.’ He leaned forward, reckless determination pouring through him.
‘Because if you don’t pose as my happily reconciled wife for the next week and come to the gala, then I’ll argue that we’ve been together this whole time.
That will reset the clock for our divorce.
Two more years tied to me, you ready for that? ’
‘You’re dreaming,’ Bethan said scathingly, unable to believe her ears. ‘No one will ever believe we’ve not been separated. I’ve been living in London.’
‘And I’ve made frequent trips to London over the last two years.’ He smiled at her evilly. ‘Who’s to say you weren’t in my bed each and every one of the nights I was there?’
Her heart thudded. ‘I am,’ she whispered. ‘I will say that.’
And she was devastated to learn that he’d been to London that often and known where she was yet never been tempted to see her. She actually felt cut off at the knees and had to sit down to hide the hit of weakness.
‘So it will be your word against mine.’ He cocked his head and took the seat opposite. ‘I have dates. Hotel receipts—’
‘Proof of female company there?’
‘You know the answer to that already. I have the best lawyers—can you even afford a lawyer?’ He jeered. ‘I can create doubt. They’ll believe me.’
‘Because you’ll shamelessly lie?’
‘In this particular instance, I’ll do whatever it takes.’
‘To get what you want.’ She shook her head.
He always got what he wanted. And he had no qualms about lying. Apparently it was effortless for him.
‘You really want me at this party?’ she asked after another pregnant moment.
‘Yes.’
Clearly she was missing something. Ares needed no one’s support or approval—ever.
‘Why is this one so important?’ she asked.
‘If you stay, then, the second the gala is over, I won’t contest the divorce. In fact I’ll ensure the process is expedited. We will go to the notary first thing, the morning after.’
It was so incredibly important, he’d just completely avoided answering. And she was utterly intrigued.
She considered her options. ‘I want it in writing that this one week won’t delay our divorce at all.’
His tension eased. ‘Sure. We can even itemise what can and cannot happen between us in this next week.’
‘Nothing else is going to happen between us.’ But she couldn’t suppress an inner flare of anticipation. At the very least she would spar with him for the next week. Hell, she wanted to win one over him.
‘Nothing you don’t want to happen, no.’ He smiled as if he knew.
‘But you’re lying to yourself. We both know something will happen again.
It’s always been like this with us and maybe it will remain like this unless we do something to get rid of it.
Maybe we should be realistic about what happens when we get near to each other. ’
‘Maybe we should admit that’s more reason to get apart quickly and stay apart.’
‘You’ll still ache for me,’ he said.
Bethan looked at him. Quiet. Compelling. Correct. Maybe she would always ache for him but that moment in his office tonight had scalded her in a way she wasn’t sure she could survive a second time. It wasn’t about denying him. It was about saving herself.
His gaze narrowed. ‘Just to make it clear, you won’t be going on any other dates this week.’
‘Just to make it clear, the same applies to you.’
‘As I’ve already said, I’ve been utterly faithful to you this entire time.’
She sent him a sceptical look. ‘I thought you were just being dramatic.’
He stretched out, apparently calm, but she knew he was more tense than he was trying to appear. Her rebellion built the longer he didn’t respond. He’d said some, but not enough and still she ached. Why him? Why only ever him?
‘What is it about this particular event that’s so special?’ She was determined to find out and so twisted the one blade she had. ‘Or is it just a tragic excuse to force me to spend more time with you this week because you want your last bit of me?’
His eyes bored into hers—a flicker of fire.
‘Because that isn’t going to happen,’ she added. Far too late.
His smile appeared—infuriatingly knowing. ‘Whatever you say.’
Blood rushed, burning the back of her neck. ‘Isn’t it better for me to know so I can ensure to behave accordingly?’
‘I’m sure you’ll behave perfectly adequately.’
‘Wow. Faint praise.’ She swallowed. ‘You said I didn’t trust you and maybe there’s some truth to that but, given you won’t tell me, you don’t trust me either. You never have—you didn’t trust me before I walked out.’