Chapter 24
TWENTY-FOUR
Arriving back at the apartments a little after six, I think about the evening ahead of me with Christos.
I wonder if he will take me to the club this evening, so he can keep an eye on things there?
I don’t mind if he does really; I would like another chance to visit the cool place.
Maybe we could have a photo together for my socials.
As I step out of the car, my phone pings with a text from Christos asking me what time he should collect me, so I suggest around an hour from now.
I take a shower then and change into a summery floral dress. Before I know it, Christos is standing outside my apartment carrying a bottle of red wine. He is dressed in black from head to toe, in jeans and black T-shirt looking as hot as hell.
‘I thought we could have a drink here before we head out,’ he suggests.
‘Um, sure,’ I say, thankful that I have tidied up the apartment as I lead him outside to the balcony.
I bring two glasses to the table and he pours us each a glass of red wine.
‘Oh, this is delicious,’ I say. Even though I know nothing about wine, I can tell this is good stuff.
‘I thought it would be, a supplier at the club recommended this,’ he tells me as he lifts the glass and examines its contents.
After drinking a second glass of the delicious wine, even though Christos is still nursing his first glass, I wonder where we might be heading tonight. It’s doubtful we are going to the club though, as he has driven over here in his car.
‘I thought I would take you to dinner somewhere not far from here,’ he tells me, answering my question. ‘There is a very special place I know of, where the sea laps the shore. You can also see the most amazing sunset.’
‘That sounds beautiful,’ I tell him, delighted that he is taking me to such a romantic-sounding location.
‘Just like you,’ he says meeting my gaze. His lines are smooth and practised, yet they manage to thrill me all the same.
We head inside, and as I am about to place the wine glasses into the sink, I feel Christos’s arms around my waist. He nuzzles my neck and I almost drop them.
I turn to face him then, and he takes my face in his hands, and kisses me on the lips.
‘You look wonderful tonight,’ he whispers. ‘I almost feel like staying here. Maybe we could go somewhere local later.’
I feel light-headed but somehow manage to keep my composure. When he kisses me again, I almost think that perhaps we ought to just stay here after all.
Just then, my stomach does the loudest rumble.
‘Although, maybe you are so hungry, we really ought to go and eat.’ He laughs, the moment between us passed.
‘I think that is probably best.’ I smile, thinking perhaps it is sensible to head out for dinner. I’m pretty sure of which way things will go if we stay here, as having drunk the wine on an empty stomach, it has gone to my head a little.
‘And perhaps I am being a little selfish. The restaurant we are going to really is quite something. Are you ready then?’ he asks as he picks his car keys up from the coffee table.
‘Ready,’ I say, following him outside.
There is a comfortable silence between us as Christos drives as the car radio plays some gentle ballads, fitting for a romantic evening out. Around fifteen minutes later, we pull up outside a restaurant, and as we step out of the car the setting takes my breath away.
As we walk along a crazy-paved path illuminated by large candles in storm vases, I take in the white-painted floorboards of the terrace that is dotted with palm trees in huge stone pots. The sea is so close you can almost touch it.
‘Wow, this place is something else,’ I remark as a waiter leads us to our table, where the sound of the waves can be heard crashing against the shore.
I notice most of the tables are occupied by smartly dressed couples sipping wine and chatting, the whole place giving off an intimate, romantic vibe.
A red-leather menu is handed to us, and as I glance over it, I can see that the food looks eye-wateringly expensive. Christos doesn’t flinch as he orders some bottled water and a glass each of champagne.
‘I don’t want you to think I am trying to get you drunk.’ He smiles. ‘Although I can get the whole bottle if you like?’ he offers.
‘A glass is fine,’ I tell him. ‘Champagne though, what is the occasion?’
‘Do we need one?’ He shrugs as he sips his water.
‘Perhaps not.’
‘Besides, what is the point of having a lot of money, and not enjoying it?’ he reasons. ‘I work hard, and enjoy my downtime.’
With how many women? I find myself thinking.
The waiter arrives with our ice-cold champagne then, and we place our food orders.
‘So here is to enjoying life, and making memories.’ He clinks his glass against mine, and locks eyes with me.
‘I’ll drink to that,’ I say, glancing around and thinking how lucky I am to be sitting with a handsome man in a place like this. The sky is already beginning to form a purple hue, the white sun tinged with streaks of red and orange as it begins its descent.
A starter arrives in no time, and is arranged like a piece of art on a plate.
‘So was your father from a business family?’ I ask Christos as I spear some food onto my fork, interested to know if he was born into a wealthy family or self-made.
‘He had quite a good start,’ he tells me. ‘My grandfather owned a fish restaurant, and his father before was a fisherman.’
He slices into a scallop and takes an approving bite.
‘My father had a lot of ambition and expanded the restaurant,’ he tells me. ‘Soon he had a string of restaurants on the island, as well as a few shops.’
‘And the nightclub?’
‘Yes, of course, although I did a lot of the work developing that,’ he says proudly. ‘It was nothing more than a quiet bar to begin with.’
‘You were given an opportunity though, not like a lot of people,’ I can’t help saying, and his face changes.
‘Maybe.’ He shrugs. ‘But even with an opportunity, it takes hard work to make a success of things,’ he says, barely acknowledging his father’s input.
‘I don’t doubt that.’ I feel like adding how much more I admire people who start with nothing, but I don’t want to ruin the mood.
Christos clearly doesn’t appreciate that he has been lucky to have been given a good start in life, and I think of how many people make a success of life when they have nothing to begin with.
I had to work really hard to build a following on social media, spending hours making videos that are only now beginning to reap benefits.
My thoughts are distracted by the food when it arrives which is utterly delicious. The beef in my stifado is beautifully tender, the sauce rich and deep. A plate of warm olive bread sits beside it on a plate, along with a small mound of delicately fragranced rice.
‘This is just fantastic,’ I say to Christos as I eat my food. ‘How is yours?’
‘Amazing,’ he says as he dives into a delicious-looking veal dish served with a peppery sauce.
‘Do you come here a lot?’ I ask, noticing how the waiter shook him warmly by the hand when we arrived, and how they laughed and joked together in Greek.
‘Maybe not a lot, but regularly,’ he reveals. ‘The food and location are exceptional; I am sure you would agree?’
‘Oh, I do.’ I smile, wondering how many other women he has brought here.
Over dessert, Christos seems distracted and glances at his phone several times I notice. After he has settled the bill, he seems keen to leave.
The sky has darkened now, and the sound of the crashing waves entices me towards the beach. I wonder whether Christos would be keen to take a little walk after dinner, but instead he suggests we head back to my apartment.
‘Are you sure you wouldn’t like to have a little stroll along the beach first?’ I press. ‘Walk off some of that delicious dinner?’
‘It is a pebble beach, I am not sure I have the right footwear,’ he says, glancing down at his expensive-looking leather shoes. ‘But we can certainly come here again, if you would like that?’
‘Sure.’ I smile but feel slightly disappointed. I thought a romantic stroll beneath the stars might have finished off the evening nicely.
On the journey home, I realise he never asked me any questions about my life back home, despite me asking him about his father and the family business. And I wonder why he seemed a little preoccupied with his phone over dessert? Not to mention being in such a hurry to leave.
Despite these reservations, as I sit next to him in the car, I can feel the simmering chemistry between us, and almost wish I couldn’t. When he momentarily squeezes my hand on a quiet stretch of road, I feel the familiar desire in the pit of my stomach.
Stepping out of the car, Christos hangs back for a moment, waiting for an invite inside. As he stands close and I take in his scent, I open the door with anticipation, as he quietly follows me indoors.
‘Would you like another drink?’ I offer, about to take some wine from the fridge, when suddenly his lips are on mine, making me catch my breath.
‘Only if you want one.’ He presses his body against me and my resolve to hold back a little seems to be disappearing by the second, when all of a sudden my phone rings.
My first instinct is to ignore it, but when I see it is from Patsy, I feel compelled to answer.
‘Patsy, hi, is everything okay?’
‘Oh, Mia, I’m so sorry to call you, but it’s Irene.’ She sniffs.
‘Irene? Is she okay?’ I ask anxiously.
‘She’s having some tests. I am at the hospital with her now. She collapsed in the street, went down without warning.’ She talks quickly. ‘She’s cut her head; gosh she looks awful,’ she tells me, her voice catching.
‘Do you want me to come to the hospital?’ I offer at once.
‘Oh no, don’t ruin your evening. I’m just so worried about her, I think I just needed someone to talk to, and I didn’t want to bother Tasha on the last day of her honeymoon,’ she says.
I can tell Patsy is worried, and most definitely needs someone with her right now.