Marriage Masquerade (Making a Family #3)

Chapter One

Gemma Green paused in the office doorway, holding a stack of files and letters. Her heart skipped a beat as she looked at her boss — Nikos Petropoulos.

She swallowed hard. He hadn’t a clue she was watching him. As long as she was quiet, stood still, he wouldn’t notice her. As usual, his concentration was fierce. He could tune out the rest of the world when he focused on one particular thing.

She loved looking at him. His dark hair was meticulously styled, but often became disheveled when he ran his fingers through it or came in from a windy day. At his dark straight brows, frowning now as he perused the spreadsheet. Over six feet tall, he stood a good seven inches above her own five-foot-six height. And every inch honed as if he worked out like a body builder instead of working in a high-rise office building in Manhattan.

The seconds ticked by as she studied him, memorizing every detail. How many times in the five years she’d worked for him had she done this? More than a thousand, she knew.

And in two weeks she’d be gone, she thought with a pang. She nearly faltered for a moment. It wasn’t fair.

Studying the spreadsheet before him, Nikos frowned as if he didn’t like the totals. She wondered what he was reading—and didn’t envy the writer. Nikos was ruthless in business. Which accounted for his meteoric rise in the company—through sheer ability, not nepotism.

During the afternoon, he’d discarded his suit jacket and loosened his tie. He rolled up his shirtsleeves, revealing his muscular tanned forearms. The snowy white shirt fit perfectly across broad shoulders before tapering to his waist. She couldn’t see his eyes as he read, but their dark gaze never failed to cause a shiver down her spine.

He was a beautiful man, exotic and exciting in a way that had the office secretaries sighing whenever he walked by. But he was her boss, and Gemma always kept that thought firmly in mind.

Besides, since the fiasco with James, she’d sworn never to become involved with another man. Once trust had been shattered, it became impossible to rebuild. She no longer had confidence in her judgment, her perception of others. And it’d be a long time before she’d trust anyone again.

It was late. The rest of the staff had already left for the weekend. Gemma was ready to go as soon as she gave Nikos the folders. She allowed herself the indulgence of watching him for a little longer.

For a second, she wondered how he’d take her resignation. He was a curious mixture of Western education and Mediterranean tradition, making it very hard to gauge his reactions. Their company operated more formally than many in the United States, the style set by their boss with his manner of treating everything rather distantly. Did he ever lighten up, she wondered suddenly.

She’d never know.

Dusk was falling, visible through the large windows at his back. The scattered lights from the windows of the other skyscrapers sparkled. She’d seen this expanse of Manhattan every day for almost five years. It felt familiar, like home.

She smiled wryly. Nikos would never approve of such blatant sentimentality. He was a tough, no-nonsense businessman first, last and always. As he expected his personal assistant to be.

And if she had emulated him, she would never have found herself in the fix she was in now. Too bad she’d learned that lesson so late.

“I have the analysis you requested, and I brought the McCaffrey file,” Gemma said, putting an abrupt end to her musing. “Elise finished the dictation you gave her, and those letters are on top. If you sign them now, I’ll post them on my way out.”

Elise Templer had been Nikos' secretary since before Gemma started working for him as his personal assistant.

She placed the stack on his desk, relinquishing her own letter of resignation reluctantly. She didn’t know what he was going to say, and hoped she could hold on to her control until she was alone.

Resigning proved far more difficult than she’d expected.

He looked up and nodded, his dark eyes focused on her.

“You read my mind about McCaffrey. I found a discrepancy in the latest numbers Hank reported. I need to compare them with our earlier report in their folder.”

She nodded with satisfaction. It had become almost a joke at first, when she’d started anticipating his needs. Over the past few years, however, they’d just accepted it as a part of their relationship. She knew the shipping business almost as well as he did, her ideas and thoughts usually paralleling his. And she always knew what information he needed almost before he knew.

“Does the merger still look promising?” she asked, perching gingerly on the edge of one of the visitor’s chairs opposite Nikos.

She let none of her impatience or trepidation show. He’d get to her letter when he got to it.

Taking a deep breath, she held it a moment before letting it slowly out. It didn’t calm her. So much for that theory.

Nikos tossed down his pen and leaned back in his chair.

“Yes. Though the rate of return may not occur as quickly as I initially thought.”

He glanced at the stack, distracted.

Gemma swallowed and waited patiently. She wouldn’t look at her watch again. Doing so wouldn’t change the pace of time.

Nikos reached out and lifted the first of the letters, tilting it as he quickly read. When he finished, he scrawled his signature and tossed it aside, picking up the next. In only a couple of moments, he’d signed the lot.

He pushed the folders aside and spotted her letter. With a quick glance in her direction, he picked up the envelope and withdrew the single sheet.

Gemma studied him quietly as he read, vowing she wouldn’t cry, even though she felt the threat of tears. It was her decision, the only one she felt she could make. But it hadn’t come easily.

She owed Nikos a great deal. She’d learned so much from him. He’d talked her into taking night courses until she got her degree, made sure she understood all the regulations governing the shipping industry and freely shared his own thoughts about the business. He’d made her job interesting and exciting and rewarding.

She enjoyed working with him despite the long hours and the hectic pace he set. She’d miss being his personal assistant. Miss living in New York.

Too late now for regrets. Months too late.

“What the hell is this?”

He looked up right into her eyes, his own narrowed.

She cleared her throat. “My resignation.”

He stared at her for a long moment with the full force of his dark eyes, then he slapped the paper down and rose. Gemma watched as he strode to the window and gazed out over the busy street below. Leaning one shoulder against the glass, he slipped his hands into the pockets of his trousers.

As the silence stretched out, Gemma’s mind wandered. She studied him, taking in the tall, lean frame. Memorizing as much as she could. A London tailor made his clothes. The dark somber colors and continental style did nothing to distract from his innate masculinity, his dark good looks.

Should she say something? Try to explain?

That would be dumb. The entire reason for leaving was to avoid explanations and excuses she knew would result once people knew she was pregnant.

And deserted by the baby’s father.

She couldn’t endure the pity or the gossip. She had to leave, and soon. Because at four months pregnant, the extent of her folly was about to be known.

Gemma knew Nikos would demand some kind of explanation. She shifted in her seat to gather up the signed letters, quickly folding them and inserting in the accompanying envelopes. Elise had made copies earlier. These were ready to be posted. She’d drop them in the mail room before she left.

Glancing at her watch, she saw it was after seven. Still, someone was on duty in the mail room until eight. The letters would go out late, but at least they’d go out today.

“Is there anything else you need?” she asked, longing to escape.

Wishing she was already home. Wishing even more that she hadn’t been put in this position at all. She didn’t want to leave, yet felt she had no alternative.

“You could start by explaining that letter.”

“I’m leaving New York,” she said to his back.

“Going where?”

“I thought California.”

It was as far from New York as she could go.

He turned at that and stared at her in surprise.

“Why? Joining some man?”

Heat stole into her cheeks and Gemma looked away.

“No. There is no man.”

Not now. And in reality, never. She’d been such a fool.

“Then why? I know your parents are dead. You have no other relatives, right? What is the allure of California?”

Startled, Gemma looked up. Nikos' dark brows were straight as he frowned. He was angry. She recognized that instantly. She could practically feel waves of energy emanating from him—which was totally unlike the normally cool, controlled man she’d worked with for so long. Businesslike and contained, that was Nikos Petropoulos.

She’d always admired that. And had done her best to be the same way. To be the perfect personal assistant.

Did she owe him a full explanation? She hated to see the disappointment in his eyes. He didn’t suffer fools gladly, and what she’d done was beyond foolish. Of course, he didn’t have a very high opinion of women to begin with, thanks to his wife. Ex-wife, she corrected herself.

So her own circumstances would only confirm that opinion.

When she’d started working for him, Nikos had been married to a renowned British super model. But that union hadn’t lasted long. Katrina had been beautiful, elegant and sophisticated, but also greedy, conniving and unfaithful.

He’d divorced her three years ago.

Since then, he’d played the field, never drawing close to any woman. And sometimes his remarks the day after a particularly trying date demonstrated to her he didn’t think highly of her gender.

“Is it something wrong with your work here?” he asked.

She shook her head.

“I think it’s time for a change. I need to leave New York.”

Rubbing her palms nervously against her long black skirt, she tried to remain calm.

“Leave New York? Why? Is it too expensive? Do you need more money?”

Gemma flashed him an indignant look.

“No, and if money were the issue, I’d list all I’ve done during the past year and let the record speak for itself.”

He stifled a smile at her flare of temper.

“It was unusual for you to advocate for yourself before. You know your work is excellent. You miss nothing, Gemma.”

Warmth spread through her. She smiled in genuine pleasure and wry amusement. He could have volunteered that information earlier. But it probably had never crossed his mind to do so.

He glanced at the letter again, a thoughtful expression on his face.

“I need to get this resolved,” he said slowly. “Your timing couldn’t be worse.”

“There is nothing to resolve. I’m formally giving notice. I’ll leave in two weeks.”

“Do you have another job?”

“Not yet. I need to move and get settled first.”

He crossed to the desk and leaned against it, looking down at her.

“Tell me what’s going on, Gemma. You’re moving across the country with no job, no family, nobody waiting. What’s the deal? You owe me an explanation, don’t you think?”

Did she owe any man anything?

Twisting her fingers, she looked at them, wondering what to do. She just wanted everything to go back the way it had been, but that would never happen. Everything was changing, out of control. She wondered if she could cope.

“I’m pregnant,” she blurted out.

Silence.

She ventured a glance to find his dark gaze steady on her.

“And the father doesn’t live here in New York?”

“Oh, yes, he does,” she said bitterly.

“Then why are you leaving?”

“Because he wants nothing to do with his child.”

She raised her chin, drawing her pride around her like a cloak.

“I don’t want people to know how dumb I’ve been. I thought if I moved away, I could pretend to be a widow or something. No one would know my baby doesn’t have a father willing to acknowledge it.”

“Good grief. Isn’t that drastic? Moving away from your friends, your job? You wouldn’t have any kind of support network.”

“I can manage. I’ve saved some money, and I know I can get another job.”

“Single women have babies all the time. You don’t need to move clear across the country,” he snapped.

“Maybe single women have babies, but it’s tacky to be an unwed mother in my hometown. Small towns in Ohio frown on that kind of thing. And I didn’t realize how much of those values stuck. I’ve lived here for years, but still feel…I don’t know, embarrassed, I guess, is the least of it. And a certain amount of shame. I’d hate for my baby to know his daddy didn’t want him. Or her.”

“So you plan to keep the baby?”

Gemma nodded.

It was odd. With all the anger she felt toward James, she thought that some of it would have transferred to the baby, that she might even come to resent the child. But she already loved this infant growing beneath her heart.

Gemma had no family. Once her baby was born, it would be the two of them against the world. The thought of that precious new life was the only bright spot in her day. Despite the complications of an unexpected pregnancy brought, she was looking forward to holding her baby.

“Who’s the father?”

“Just a guy.”

“I don’t buy that, Gemma. You aren’t the type for casual sex. Who is he? That James you’ve been quietly dating for a year?”

She shrugged, a bit annoyed by the inquisition. Then nodded.

“I thought he was wonderful. Bright, funny, charming. I really enjoyed being with him. I thought I loved him. He said he loved me. But I know better now. I’ll never trust a man again.”

Or her own judgment.

She had been confident in the feeling of being loved. How could she have been so wrong?

“He heard about the baby and left?” Nikos guessed shrewdly.

“Two months ago.”

“Want me to track him down and make him marry you? Or at least provide child support?”

She widened her eyes. Nikos could do it if anyone could. Slowly she shook her head.

“No. In the first place, I wouldn’t marry him now if he were the last man on earth. Not that I could. He’s already married—has been for years. A minor little detail he conveniently forgot to mention to me. I was just on the side, so to speak.”

Tears threatened as she remembered how ashamed she’d felt when James had told her the cold, hard facts. How ashamed and scared and furious.

“Gemma—”

She jumped up.

“Don’t say anything, Nikos. I know I was an idiot. But you don’t have to worry I’ll repeat that dumb mistake. I have to do what’s best for me and my baby, and staying here isn’t an option. I’ve really enjoyed working with you.”

Backing toward the door, she tried to keep a bright smile on her face, but from her trembling lips, she knew she was failing.

Nikos watched Gemma as she bid him goodnight. His gaze continued to follow her as she entered the outer office. Her thick chestnut hair caught back in a long ponytail at the base of her neck was tidy, even after a full day at work.

She always appeared immaculate. Slender, perhaps too slender, she dressed conservatively. Mostly in black and silver, he noticed.

Today, her black skirt swayed seductively against her long legs as she walked away. It hit her mid calf, a soft feminine garment. She had fastened her silvery blouse to within two buttons of the neck, but it displayed the generous curves that enhanced her femininity. The gold necklace that nestled against her throat warmed the honey tones of her skin. Beautiful, confident, poised—he admired all those features in his personal assistant.

Almost as much as he admired her business acumen.

She didn’t look pregnant. How far along was she?

Surprised at the turn of events, he shook his head. Timing was everything—and he’d just received a second major blow.

Never in all the years she’d worked for him had Gemma been anything but totally professional. He’d taken her for granted, he realized. She’d been the perfect personal assistant. He couldn’t even remember their first few months together, but he knew they must have been awkward. There had been so much for her to learn. But she’d caught on faster than anyone he’d ever worked with.

Gemma had quickly become invaluable to him. Since talking with the legal department, he’d wondered if Gemma could prove equally valuable to the company—managing it in his absence?

He frowned, not even wanting to imagine giving into the inevitable. He had time, a week at least.

Frustrated with the turn of events, he moved back to his desk. He came from a family with strong loyalty, unbreakable family ties. How could a man betray his wife by having an affair? And especially betray someone like Gemma? His own family was large, but close. He’d do anything for them. They had only to ask.

Nikos often felt Gemma would do the same for him, which was rare in employees these days. Was her loyalty to the company or to him alone? Could he keep her on board? If his own situation didn’t improve, this would be the worst time for her to leave.

Her resignation was not an option. He had to convince her to stay. To hell with what people thought. She was a colleague, a close confidante, as well as an employee. Her departure would end that.

Nikos refused to even consider the idea.

He didn’t need this added problem. The documents delivered earlier reclaimed his attention. His visa had expired. Someone on the legal staff had screwed up and not applied for the extension when it was time. Now he had to figure out how to fight deportation.

He was in the midst of negotiations for new contracts with the longshoreman's union. Had just completed the buyout of a small domestic shipping line. Merging that into the parent company would also take time and his skills. He couldn’t afford to be gone for a week, much less the months it might take for him to return to Greece and wait for a new visa to be processed.

He wasn’t giving up. It’d take thought and an innovative strategy to address the problem. The problem was time was running out.

Hearing a noise in the outer office, Nikos looked up.

Gemma.

Blast it. He was slow today.

Why hadn’t he thought of her immediately? He quickly crossed to the door.

Gemma had gathered her purse and the tote that held her dress shoes. She’d already changed into low walking shoes for her trip home.

“Did you need something?” she asked.

“Come back in for a moment, Gemma. I may have an answer to our problems—yours and mine.”

He waited until she’d placed her things on her desk and walked toward him before continuing.

“Yesterday, the US Immigration Department served me notice. My visa expired some time ago, and Phil Mannering in legal failed to ensure its renewal. I’m being deported back to Greece.”

Gemma appeared stunned.

“Can they do that? You run this place. Can’t you get an extension or something?”

“Apparently, your federal law is such that citizens in my country need to be living there when applying for a new visa. Since the old one expired, I am required to apply for a new one. Had the current visa been extended before it expired, I wouldn’t be in this fix.”

“How long does that take to renew?” she asked.

“I can’t renew it at this stage. I need to apply for a new one. And that will take at least several weeks. Maybe longer. I don’t know where the United States stands with quotas from Greece. I’ve had that visa for so long I don’t even remember all I had to go through to get it initially. And who knows how much more red tape there is now in that massive bureaucracy?”

“Can’t Allessandros help? Doesn’t he have some pull in Washington?”

Nikos' cousin, Allessandros Petropoulos, visited the United States for several months every year. His wife was originally from Washington, D.C., and now his family split their time between their two homes.

“I called him as soon as I found out. He’s looking into it. But unless something comes up quickly, it’ll be too late. I’m scheduled to depart next Friday.”

Gemma leaned against the doorjamb and stared at him, her mind whirling as she wrestled with the problem. At the moment, the challenge reminded her of countless other times when they had discussed impossible situations. This was serious.

“I don’t know what to say. I know nothing about immigration laws and procedures.”

“I believe I’ve come up with the perfect solution,” he said easily.

Nikos looked just like he did when making a huge coup in business—arrogantly confident, supremely assured, and a bit like the cat who swallowed the canary.

“Marry me,” Nikos said.

“What?”

The room seemed to whirl around, then dimmed. For a moment, Gemma thought she might faint. Only the pull of Nikos' dark eyes held her, anchored her.

Was she hallucinating? Had he just asked her to marry him?

He stood close enough she could see the depth in his eyes, notice the fine lines that radiated from the corners.

“At least consider it before raising objections,” he said. “I haven’t worked out all the details—we can do that together. But I believe this will work. You wouldn’t be an unmarried mother and I’d make sure you didn’t go through this pregnancy alone. You’d be my wife until I get permanent residency. Longer if it works out. We can each provide the other something we need.”

She shook her head, unable to tear her gaze from his. Her heart pounded, and she tried to think. But her emotions threatened to overwhelm her. Nikos wanted to marry her? As in kisses and living together and—

“It’s the perfect answer,” Nikos said. “You wouldn’t have to quit your job. You can continue to work as long as you feel like it.”

“And after? When the baby is born and you have your residency, then what?”

Amazed that her voice sounded so normal, Gemma still leaned against the doorjamb.

“We’ll see how things go. We can get a quiet divorce. I’ll make sure you are adequately situated financially.”

“I don’t need your money,” she said hotly.

Did he think he could buy a wife? That she was so desperate she’d consider such a move?

“Fine, then. I’ll establish a small trust for the child.”

“It won’t work,” she said.

The last thing she wanted to do was depend on a man for anything. Too much could go wrong with this idea. Just thinking about it had her heart racing, her knees wobbling. She couldn’t possibly consider marrying Nikos.

She didn’t possess the same level of sophistication as the women he usually dated. And before much longer, she’d be as big as a house. Was he seriously proposing that she become his wife to save him from deportation?

There must be fifty thousand women in New York City alone who would jump at the opportunity.

“Why me? Why marriage?”

“A marriage of convenience is not unheard of,” he replied. “People marry for expediency all the time. It’s not at all uncommon to find arranged marriages throughout Greece. Often the families of the couple arrange the alliance.

A marriage based on mutual respect and common interest will work, Gemma. On paper we’ll be married, and in reality little will change. You’ll continue to work as my personal assistant as long as you can. After the baby is born, we’ll separate, sever the legal tie. But I’ll keep your job for you.”

“You can’t marry merely because you don’t have a current visa,” she protested, dazed at the thought.

Though wary of his suggestion, the idea was growing stronger in appeal. She wouldn’t be an unwed mother. Wouldn’t have to worry about gossip and feeling shame and moving clear across the country when she really loved New York. She wouldn’t have to leave Nikos or her job.

His features tightened slightly. He narrowed his eyes.

“I wish to remain in America. To leave for even a few months would be inconvenient. The idea has further appeal—I attend many functions during the year, and it’s awkward to go alone all the time. And if I wish to reciprocate, I need a hostess. So you see, it’d benefit me in other areas to have a wife.”

She stared at him. Realization gradually seeped in. Here was another man barreling through life at her expense, just as James had. Nikos wanted a marriage in name only, not because he cared for her, but for his convenience.

But what about her convenience?

He tilted his head, watching her.

“What’s your answer?”

“I have a choice?” she asked.

She should stick with her original plan.

Only…the thought of relocating was overwhelming. It’d be far easier to stay where she was, have adequate help while she needed it, keep the job she loved.

“You may decline,” Nikos said, his expression giving nothing away.

The coolness in his tone let her know he wouldn’t be pleased if she refused.

Another thought flashed through her mind—if she didn’t marry him, he’d likely turn to someone else. Which would leave Gemma no choice but to move.

Or you could stay.

Why not accept, she thought frantically. James had proved how fickle love could be. She didn’t plan to fall in love again, ever. She’d make her career the most important thing in her life—after her baby.

Would marrying Nikos help in that regard? Probably. So why not a temporary marriage of convenience?

“What about my baby? Would you truly be willing to let people think it’s yours? What about when we divorce?”

She surprised herself with how calm she sounded. Maybe he couldn’t hear the pounding of her heart, the blood thundering through her veins, almost drowning out her own voice.

“The baby is yours. While we are married, I will let people think it's mine. When we separate, I’ll provide for the child. I believe that's more than fair.”

She nodded. He must really want to remain in the States to give so much to another man’s child.

What was she thinking? They had nothing in common. He was a wealthy Greek shipping magnate. She was the daughter of a small-town banker. Was he crazy?

Or was she to even consider saying yes?

Just then, she felt a fluttering deep inside. The baby was moving again. She wasn’t alone anymore. She had her child. And needed to do the best she could for that child.

“This arrangement will suit us both,” he went on. “I think Americans have a peculiar romantic view of love and living happily ever after. Arranged marriages often prove extremely successful. I believe this choice is better than your plan. You’re what—twenty-seven?”

“Twenty-eight.”

Her birthday was three months ago, and he never acknowledged it, she thought wryly. Would anything change with a marriage license between them?

“Why uproot yourself on the chance of finding a good job on the West Coast when you have a good one here? Stay here where you can continue living the life you’ve made for yourself.”

“Would I keep my job when we annul the marriage?”

“We work well together. I see no reason to change that.”

He crossed to his desk and riffled through his appointment calendar.

“If I get Elise to reschedule some of next week’s appointments, we’ll have time to get married and notify Immigration before Friday. I’ll have Mannering get to work on everything first thing on Monday.” He looked up. “Does that suit you?”

“I’m not sure this is such a good idea.”

There was no way she could marry Nikos Petropoulos. Why was she even discussing the matter?

His gaze caught hers, but he kept silent, as if the sheer force of his personality could convince her. The effect almost knocked what little sense Gemma possessed right out of her head. He looked incredibly assured, determined, sexy.

Sexy?

She was losing her mind. The last thing she wanted was involvement with another man. She’d learned that lesson well. This had to be a case of spiking hormones.

He studied her for another moment.

“At least I know up front you’re not marrying me for my money or with some false declarations of my undying love. That will save a lot of heartbreak later.”

“I never said I’d marry you at all,” she protested.

How like the man to just declare what he wanted and assume she’d fall in with his plans. Swallowing hard, she tried to focus on the possibility. It proved impossible.

“So say it and end the suspense. I don’t have a lot of time here, Gemma.”

She swallowed again and opened her mouth. Then shut it. Sanity took over. She needed some time to consider his outrageous idea, no matter how short he was on the commodity.

“I need to think this through,” she said.

Would he kiss her as her husband? Expect more from her than she could give? Or would it be a paper marriage only? Just an appeasement for the US Immigration Department?

And a way to save face for her?

That alone should have her leaping at the chance.

He nodded. “I can understand that. Until Monday, then.”

Gemma hesitated, wishing he’d say something else, something that gave her a clue what would truly be their best course. But he seemed to have accepted her request and already turned his attention elsewhere as he picked up the spreadsheet in front of him and began to review the numbers.

Gemma left, still feeling dazed. She couldn’t concentrate on anything except the echo of Nikos' words, Marry me .