17. Tia
“This way,” Dimitrios said as he led me into the VIP section of the huge stadium. Aristides, as usual, was walking several paces in front, not bothering to look back to see if we were following.
I was in awe of my surroundings, and of the private jet that brought me here, but struggled not to show it. I’d never been to Belgium before—and never in a private jet. The sheer enormity of the luxury on board boggled my mind.
Even though the flight was four hours long, we’d been fed a sumptuous meal cooked by an onboard chef, washed down with champagne. I’d even been offered the chance to take a shower on board. I declined.
The pilot came back into the chrome and leather-lined cabin to shake the hand of Chrys’s father and uncle … and to kiss mine.
I couldn’t wait to tell my mom about it, though lately she’s been different. Whenever I called her, she seemed distracted or tired even though she asked the right questions and encouraged me like she always did. Something was different.
We were in Belgium to witness one of Chrys’s most important and most hotly contested races, one he’d been training for and focusing on for weeks.
I hadn’t seen him since we’d left Thalassía a week ago.
He’d left me feeling sun-kissed, blissfully happy, and a hell of a lot more knowledgeable about driving and sex.
“Tia!” a familiar voice called out.
I turned to see Kayla hurrying toward me, her vibrant sundress billowing around her legs. Behind her, Konstantin followed at a more measured pace, his posture impeccable as always.
“Kayla!” I squealed, rushing to meet her halfway.
We embraced tightly, rocking back and forth like excited teenagers. I hadn’t seen her since Konstantin had carried her away mid-hair appointment a month ago .
“Look at you!” she exclaimed, stepping back to examine me from head to toe. “I’m glad you found someone to finish what I started!”
“Me too,” I laughed.
I’d found an African braider in Athens who was willing to finish my style the day after Kayla’s unexpected “wifenapping.” The relief when she was done with the style was inexplicable.
Konstantin stepped forward with a slight bow. “Ms. Massey, a pleasure to see you again.”
His personality was opposite Kayla’s effervescence, but I caught the warm look he gave her when she wasn’t looking.
Aristides cleared his throat from the doorway of our private box. “If you’re quite finished with the reunion, the race begins in twenty minutes.”
We filed into the luxurious viewing area, taking our seats with a perfect view of the track where Chrys would soon be pushing his limits.
There were many other races taking place, and I tried to take them in, focusing on the smell of burning rubber, fuel, and excitement. The energy was electric: engines roared, cameras flashed, and people chattered and roared.
And yet, I couldn’t shake the sensation of people staring. Was I being paranoid? I looked around and froze .
There, at the far end of the VIP section, sat Kat, surrounded by a small entourage. They huddled close, whispering and shooting glances in my direction, their expressions filled of disdain. My stomach twisted into knots.
I ignored them, focusing on the race taking place, wondering where Chrys was. “Will Chrys…anthos come here?” I asked Aristides, who sat to my right.
“My son never emerges from the pit. You won’t see him until it’s all over.”
I nodded. “Do you come to all of Chrys’s races?” I asked.
“I come to as many as I can, but I am a busy man.”
I eyed him carefully, noting that despite his air of cool, he seemed tense, probably concerned for his son’s well-being in one of the most dangerous sports in the world. Despite the fact the two men frequently clashed, Aristides loved his son. I wondered why Chrys didn’t realize that.
I leaned back in my seat, my thoughts drifting to the past month. The time Chrys and I had spent together on Thalassía had been nothing short of transformative.
Every sunset shared, every swim in the clear waters, every night in each other’s arms had deepened my feelings for him in ways I hadn’t thought possible .
The island itself had changed dramatically, too. Work crews now bustled about daily, hauling away decades of neglect from the villa.
The overgrown pathways had been cleared, allowing us to walk barefoot without being ambushed by weeds and thorns. Even the cottage had been transformed.
Chrys had surprised me by completely replacing the leaky roof and furnishing it with comfortable pieces. We spent days at a time there, talking until dawn about everything and nothing.
What amazed me most was how easily we’d fallen into a rhythm together. Our conversations flowed from architectural theories to childhood memories, from silly debates about movies to profound discussions about our futures.
I’d finally opened up about my father’s abandonment and how he’d never answer my calls. Chrys held me as I cried.
Chrys had been equally forthcoming, confessing his promiscuous past with openness. The number of women in his history was staggering, and sometimes late at night, I wondered if I was just another warm body. But each morning, he looked at me with such love that my doubts would dissolve.
The blissful month passed without a single appearance from Kat, which felt like a gift. Her absence until now had allowed our relationship to flourish without constant attacks .
Our only source of distress was my rapidly approaching return date to the U.S. Chrys brought it up repeatedly, asking me to extend my stay.
“Just until the villa is restored,” he’d plead. “The island will be even more beautiful in autumn.”
Each time I’d smile noncommittally, torn between my life back home and the new life blooming here with him. It was the one conversation we never quite finished.
“What are you thinking about?” Kayla whispered, nudging me back to the present.
“Just how much has changed so quickly,” I admitted quietly. “Two months ago, I was fighting what I felt for Chrys. Now I can’t imagine my life without him.”
She squeezed my hand, her eyes flicking to Konstantin. “I know what you mean.”
The announcers began introducing the drivers, and my heart raced in anticipation of seeing the man who’d become the center of my world.
I spotted a young man moving closer. He was tall and impeccably dressed in a designer suit, with carefully styled hair and the confident air of someone in his early thirties. The moment we made eye contact, I felt unsettled .
He smiled broadly at me, and I returned it politely before refocusing on Kayla. Still, he moved a seat closer, sidling up to me and leaning in to whisper.
“It’s okay. I understand your predicament.”
“What?” I asked, shifting away.
“We’re in the same boat, you and I,” he said in a Swiss-tinged accent.
“Sir, do you mind—” I began, but he cut me off.
“I’ve got genital herpes, too. So it makes no difference to me.”
I recoiled in horror, but my disgust didn’t deter him. He subtly opened his jacket, revealing a breast pocket stuffed with euros.
“Name your price,” he murmured. “Whatever it is, I can afford you. You’ll get it all after you’ve spent the night with me.”
Was he soliciting me? Here?
From across the room came barely suppressed laughter. I glanced over to see Kat and her friends watching the scene unfold with malicious delight.
Kayla stepped in. “Get away from her before I—”
The man sneered, turning his attention to Kayla. “Mind your business, sweetheart. This doesn’t concern you.”
“I’m not for sale, and even if I was, you couldn’t afford me. Your behavior is repulsive. Leave us alone. ”
The man scoffed, leaning closer. “Don’t act so high and mighty. Everyone knows why Christakis keeps you around.”
Before I could respond, Konstantin appeared behind him. He gripped the man’s shoulder and yanked him backward, shoving him forcefully away from our seats.
“You will apologize to both ladies immediately,” Konstantin demanded.
The man stumbled, straightening his jacket with a glare. “Do you know who I am?”
“Someone who’s about to be escorted out,” Aristides replied, standing and gesturing to security. “Unless you’d prefer I handle it personally.”
As two suited men approached, I noticed Kat’s smile had vanished completely. Security grasped the man by the arms and dragged him away, with him protesting all the way.
I thanked Konstantin, but I could tell immediately the damage had been done. Nobody was watching the race anymore. All eyes were upon me and I heard the awful things Kat’s entourage were saying.
“Does she have the gall to be here, among decent people?”
“Did you hear? She has an STD. Gave it to him.”
“Wonder how many men she’s given it to, the slut. Shameless. ”
Aristides rose slowly, his massive frame commanding immediate attention. The whispers died instantly.
“Enough.” His voice cut through the room. “The Christakis family doesn’t tolerate slander. Our lawyers will be contacting anyone continuing these disgusting rumors.”
Kat’s voice cut through the murmurs, loud and toxic. “How can you defend a woman who’s offering her prostitution services here, while Santo is racing?”
My first instinct was to cry. To run. To let them win. But then I felt my mother’s voice rise in my chest. I wasn’t built to be quiet anymore.
“Oh, so we’re just saying anything now?” I began. “Just making up fake stories? You’ll are really bold whispering, but not bold enough to say it to my face. Let’s go down the list, shall we?”
I turned my attentions to the girl who’d first floated the comment about my having an STD. She was in her twenties and wearing Givenchy. Her eyes had been nipped and tucked one too many times, so she looked like a cartoon alien.
“You—yes, I’m looking at you. You must be talking from experience, huh? Because the way you jumped to that conclusion tells me something between your legs has been burning.”
Someone at the back of the gathering giggled at that, and the bitch turned beet red. She looked like she wanted to crawl under one of the tables that were laden with delicacies, and I wished she would.
The man who’d called me shameless was next on my shit list. “I’d rather be shameless than shaped like a damn rotisserie chicken, but go off.”
I wasn’t lying. The looked like a Bantam rooster—chest puffed out, booty like a shelf, and all perched atop two spaghetti sticks. Talk about skipping leg day at the gym!
Snickers ran around the room at my remark, and slowly he backed away, not catching my eye.
I wasn’t nearly done yet. I turned my attention to sour-faced Kat.
“Let’s be real. The only reason you’re mad is because Santo took one look at me and hasn’t been able to take his eyes or hands off me since.
” I let my hand slowly skim my hip. “Couldn’t keep his eyes off this ass, and I don’t blame him.
Besides having a flat ass your soul’s even flatter, boo. ”
I was on a roll, fueled by sheer rage, fed up with staying meek and mild, while indignities were heaped upon my head. There wasn’t a single pair of eyes in that weren’t fixed upon me.
I let my gaze move from face to stunned face, as I intoned: “You people sit here, dressed like you have money, but acting like you ain’t have home training. Talking about me like I’m the problem when half of you’ll wouldn’t survive a day without your trust fund.”
A young woman flinched, and I knew I’d hit home.
“It’s giving broke behavior. Not in your wallet, but in your spirit.
I know who I am. And I don’t need your approval to breathe, to love, or to win.
Now, sip your champagne like your life ain’t miserable, and let me watch my man’s damn race in peace. ”
Kayla erupted in applause, beaming with pride. “That’s my girl!” she exclaimed.
The Christakis men had fallen silent, watching me with newfound respect. Even Aristides’s stern expression had softened into what seemed like amusement.
Dimitrios’s smile was broad. When he passed by me, he extended his hand for a low five, which I returned with trembling fingers.
“Impressive,” he whispered, leaning close. “Mental note. Never, ever cross Tia Massey.”
I retook my seat, crossing my legs and taking a sip of my now-flat champagne to disguise my trembling hands. My vision blurred as I tried to refocus on the track.
I felt good … great, even. I’d stood up for myself and finally put Kat in her place.