Chapter 23
As I walked back into my home, I found Makis sitting at the kitchen table, his laptop before him and his head in his hands.
I must have startled him when I walked into the kitchen, as he slammed the laptop lid down and his eyes flickered away as soon as they met mine.
If I didn’t know better, I’d say that he looked a little guilty.
But just a split second later, his face broke into a beam, in the same way that his brother’s did, and he stood to greet me with a brief hug, which was a little strange. The air felt thick with something but I couldn’t put my finger on what.
‘Good day, Michelle?’
I thought about what an emotional rollercoaster the day had been and some of the decisions I’d made.
‘Yes, it actually was a good one, thank you. What have you been up to?’
‘Up to?’ His clenched jaw indicated that I’d offended him. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Bad choice of words.’ I laughed to lighten the mood. ‘What have you been doing to fill your time today?’
‘Ah.’ He physically seemed to relax, the tension in his shoulders, which I hadn’t noticed before now, easing a little. ‘I’ve made some calls. Spoke to Demetri actually and was telling him about the opportunity we’ve been handed to grow your business.’
There was just a tiny bit of me that didn’t like the way he kept saying the word ‘we’.
I noticed it earlier that morning, but thought I was being pernickety.
But right then it was actually winding me up a little bit more than it probably should have.
After my chat with Jacqui, I had realised that I needed to take back control.
‘And what did he say about the opportunity I’ve had for my business?’ I smiled sweetly to emphasise my point and it seemed to reach him quite quickly.
‘Sorry, yes, I was getting carried away. I get so invested with the people I work with you see.’
It was nice really that he was so interested.
‘And what did he say?’
‘That he was really pleased for you. He said that Mama was doing well, and that she definitely seems to have turned a corner.’
‘Did he say anything else about me at all?’ I asked, nervous to hear the answer.
‘No, he didn’t. He had to rush off because Katrina was calling him as their dinner was ready.’
My stomach dropped the way it did every time I heard her name. It was a feeling I really didn’t like. Maybe it was envy; jealousy even – which I always thought was a more dangerous emotion. Intuition told me there was more to this woman that I might learn in time.
‘Tell me about Katrina. What’s she like?’ I asked as I turned to put the kettle on, both wanting to know more details about this mysterious woman but at the same time, not wanting to hear it.
‘She’s a good girl. Stunningly beautiful, long dark hair, big brown eyes, a figure to die for and a heart of gold. That’s it really. Nothing else to tell.’
Oh, great. Now I really wished I hadn’t asked.
‘And she lives in the same house as your mother? Where Demetri is staying?’
I thought I saw a slight smirk on Makis’s face but I might have been wrong.
‘Well, Katrina lives in a little annexe in the garden of the house. The other side of the pool really, so I suppose you’d call it the pool house. She gets to use the pool as her own. It’s probably nearer her home than Mother’s.’
The thought of Demetri living in the same house as this stunning woman, who clearly cavorted around in a skimpy red bikini, gave me a nauseous feeling in my stomach.
‘He was a fool to let you go, Michelle. She’s nothing like you.’
I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
Makis stood and walked towards me, tucking a stray hair behind my ear. His hand brushed against my face and his eyes looked deeply into mine. Big brown soulful eyes that were exactly the same as his brother’s. I closed my eyes, not wanting to think about Demetri. It hurt too much.
And then before I knew it, his lips were on mine.