Chapter 9
Their arrival in Greece was not taken lightly. Leo had informed his father about his discovery shortly after their plane had left the States.
“I’m coming home.” He’d informed Vasil via teleconference.
“Did you get the stock certificates signed back over?” his father demanded.
“Not quite. I’m bringing someone with me I think you will very much like to meet. Alexi’s son. Your engonós.” His father went completely silent. Leo continued. “His name is Damien and his mother is Gemma Larsen—the woman Alexi signed his stock certificates over to.”
Leo had been prepared for his father to ask lots of questions, but he’d been shocked when his father didn’t even ask one. After a lengthy pause, Vasil, true to self, had simplified things for his son. “Marry her and the problem is solved.”
Marry her. Sounded like an easy task, but she was barely talking to him. Having a discussion about legally marrying each other wasn’t on the cards just yet. He would take things nice and slow. Hopefully he could convince her to sign over the stock certificates without having to go into a lot of detail about what she was signing.
A limo was waiting for them at the airport. After half an hour, it pulled up in front of the Moustakas estate. Situated on a mountainside, it was one of the largest residences in Thessaloniki. His father, Vasil, and mother, Tressa, were waiting anxiously for their arrival.
“Come, we’re here.” He reached his arms outto take the sleeping child from Gemma’s arms.
“I’ve got him,” she told him icily, trying to retain her hold on the boy.
“Let go. He’s too heavy for you.” Alexi took the child.
She groaned and released her hands, following closely behind him as he pushed his way into a small bedroom. He laid his sleeping package down on the bed. “Let him rest for a bit. Come meet my parents.” He pulled her from the room.
She dug in her heels, protesting. “I can’t! What if he wakes up and panics?”
Leo stopped a passing maid and had a conversation with her. He smiled as she entered the room. “Giatta will stay with Damien until you return.”
Gemma looked as if she wanted to refuse. She paused, seeming to latch onto the first excuse she could find. “Alexi, I’d really like to freshen up first…”
He studied her for a moment and nodded once. “Very well. Come down the stairs, turn right, and we will be in the fourth room to your left. Don’t take too long.” He left her, heaving a sigh of relief as Gemma closed the door behind her. He wasn’t sure why, but the sound rankled.
*****
Leo entered the small room where his parents should have been waiting for him. However, only his father was in attendance. “Where is…?”
“Your mother was not feeling well and sends her apologies to the American visitors. She hopes to see them at dinner this evening.”
Leo sank into the closest chair. “What is wrong with her?”
Vasil shrugged his shoulders. “When one becomes our ages, one does not ask what is wrong, but rather, one should focus on what is right.”
Leo nodded in agreement. “Very well said.”
“So, you married this American girl…”
Leo shook his head, mentally preparing for the lecture that was sure to follow. “No. I have not married her yet.”
“Why not?” Vasil demanded, his tone imperial.
“There wasn’t time.”
“How long does it take to exchange marital vows? Marry the girl already and fix this problem. No grandson of mine is going to be raised in near poverty, not if I can help it. It is up to you to do the right thing.”
The right thing? Yeah, that’s where things are going to get a little tricky. “I called you when we were already on the plane headed here—to Greece.”
Vasil nodded. “Very well, marry her now. Today even.”
Leo shook his head. “There is a small problem.”
Vasil eyed him. “Explain it to me.”
Leo took a breath. “She thinks I’m Alexi.”
“What?” Vasil asked in shock. “How could she think you are your brother?”
Leo resisted the impulse to roll his eyes. “We are identical twins.”
“Yes, but Alexi is dead. Why does she think you are him? Did you explain?”
Before Leo could explain, the butler announced the arrival of another guest. Leo and Vasil both watched as Petrina strolled into the room. “Kalimera, Leo. I’m so glad I found you at home today.”
Leo held onto his patience. “What are you doing here?”
She walked across the room and laid a hand upon his chest, caring not that his father was in the room.“Well, I heard you were back and figured we might as well get started on the wedding announcements.” Her voice was grating.
Leo discovered he no longer thought she was beautiful. She was too skinny, too condescending, and too…everything Gemma was not. The realization hit Leo like a ton of bricks. He turned away from Petrina so that she wouldn’t see. She was far too perceptive where he was concerned.
His father cleared his throat and Leo stepped away from Petrina’s hand. “I’m afraid now is not a good time. Allow me to escort you out.”
“Out? I think not.” Petrina seated herself on the edge of a small couch. She examined her nails and prepared to ignore him. Leo took a calming breath and was about to force his will upon hers, when the door opened. Gemma stood in the doorway.
He stood, going to her side. “Come, let me introduce you to my father.”
Gemma gave Petrina a curious look. “Your mother is so young,” she whispered.
Leo glanced at Petrina, cringing at the look of jealousy displayed on the woman’s face. Dekára! I can’t let her get to Gemma. “That is not my mother. She was not feeling well and hopes to meet you this evening.”
Mentioning his mother’s poor health brought forth a look of sympathy and compassion from Gemma he would never see from Petrina. She nodded, whispering back, “Is she your sister?”
Before he could answer, Petrina advanced on them both. having heard Gemma’s last question. “You ilíthios korítsi!” She continued her rant in Greek.
Leo put himself between Petrina and Gemma, hoping to shield her from more verbal attacks.
Gemma didn’t appear to be offended. “What did she just say?”
“It does not matter. Come, I would introduce you to my patéras.”
“Patéras? Does that mean father?” Gemma asked.
“It does. Patéras, may I introduce Gemma Larsen from the United States.”
Gemma shook the hand that was extended towards her. “It is a pleasure to meet you.” She paused. “Does he understand me?”
Leo shook his head. “No, but I will translate for you.” He spoke to his father and then again to Gemma. “He welcomes you to our country and hopes you have a pleasant stay.” Leo didn’t add that his father had all but demanded the two of them get married immediately.
Petrina, tired of being ignored, advanced on Gemma. “Who are you?”
“Gemma. Are you the housekeeper?”
Petrina puffed up in outrage.
Leo mentally sighed. “Petrina, it is time you left.”
Petrina pretended she hadn’t heard him. “What is a provincial girl like you doing with the Moustakas heir? I assure you he doesn’t have time for anything right now.”
Gemma fixed her eyes on Petrina. “Are you his girlfriend?”
“No. His arravo niastikiá. His fiancée.” Petrina smiled in triumph. “At least I will be once he stops acting the playboy and traipsing all over Europe.” Petrina sent a calculating grin towards Leo and he growled in response. She laughed, a brittle sound that grated on his nerves, and then turned back to Gemma. “Whatever it is you thought you had with him, I can assure you it’s over. He was only playing with you. I mean, have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror? Shabby clothes. No makeup. A man like him needs someone equally as polished who knows how society works. Something you could never be.”
Leo was furious. Petrina intended her words to hurt Gemma. One look at the American’s face showed that they were having an effect. He just wasn’t sure what the outcome would be. He strode across the room, but before he could intervene, Gemma’s expression changed.
She hurried towards the door. Giatta stood in the doorway holding Damien who had obviously been crying for his mother upon waking and finding himself in strange surroundings.
*****
“Momma?” Damien lunged for his mother’s arms. He hid his face in the crook of her neck.
Gemma ignored Petrina’s gasp of outrage and gathered her son up in her arms. She whispered to him, wiping away his tears. It was several minutes before she turned back to the rest of the world. She intended to excuse herself, but Petrina wasn’t finished with her yet.
The Greek woman took one look at Damien and said to the room in general. “You brought an American and her brat, here? Whatever were you thinking?”
Before Petrina could continue her diatribe, Leo took her by the shoulder and physically pushed her out the door of the room. “Go home!”
“But—” Petrina’s voice was whiny, but Leo didn’t seem to be influenced by it. He came back into the room and shut the door firmly behind him. “Gemma, come and introduce Damien to his grandfather—his pappoús.”
Gemma wanted to leave. She opened her mouth, intending to demand he take her and her son back to the airport, and get as far away from the awful woman as possible. It was plain to see that Petrina had a thing for Alexi and thought the two of them were to be married—but the rush of jealousy that thought created inside of her held her silent.
Why should I care if Alexi has a girlfriend? Just because I slept with him again… That was a one-time thing. It has to be. I can’t have feelings for him again. I have to think about Damien.
But no matter how much she tried to convince herself that she didn’t care for Alexi, the chemistry between them was ever present. What if I fall for him all over again?
She took a deep breath, struggling to control her reactions. I pulled my life together once before, but I have Damien and Tyler to think about now. I don’t know that I can do it again.
But I really miss his touch and the way he made me feel…
“Gemma, don’t let Petrina get to you. She’s a horrible human being and only after my wealth and position in society.”
Gemma looked at him. “You used to date her?”
He nodded and his expression showed his regret. “Unfortunately, yes. I assure you that whatever we had in the past is over and has been for a long time.”
Gemma watched him carefully and thought about how vile the woman had been to her. “She’s jealous.”
“I don’t care.”
Gemma swallowed. “She thinks she’s going to marry you.”
“She’s a sore loser. Now, come. We’ve kept my father waiting long enough.” He led her over to the waiting man, taking obvious joy in introducing her and Damien to Vasil.
His father enjoyed meeting Damien, even though the boy wasn’t very social. Gemma assured him that after Damien got to know his surroundings he would be a much happier young man to be around.
Vasil merely nodded and then left Gemma alone with Alexi, with only a few terse words for his son. Gemma wished she spoke his language. It would be much easier to communicate if she didn’t always have to rely on someone else to translate for her. Alexi didn’t seem inclined to require more of her presence.
He returned her and Damien to their suite of rooms. “Get some rest before dinner.” He looked at her tenderly, cupping her chin and kissing her lightly on the lips before leaving. It was easy to think he might have feelings for her.
Gemma shook her head. Remember Petrina. She seems to think he has feelings for her as well.
Gemma settled Damien down for a light nap, trying to make sense of her emotions. The more she tried, the more confused she became. When her head started to hurt, she decided to just take things moment by moment. There was too much at stake for her to completely lose her perspective. I need to be calm, and learn as much as I can about Alexi’s family, so that when the time comes to take a stand I can do so in a clear and concise manner. There was no room for the overwhelming confusion and chaos of her current thoughts.
She owed it to herself and to Damien to be mature and make informed decisions. Even when those decisions involved her feelings for Alexi. No matter what, I’m going to think before I act. I will not let my emotions or the situation control me. I’m stronger than that.