The Maid's Best Kept Secret (The Marchetti Dynasty 1)

Maks’s expression turned grim, the bones in his face standing out starkly. ‘No intention of it. In fact I’m glad Nikos has done us all a favour in that regard.’

Maggie said, as lightly as she could, ‘You never know. I don’t think it was Nikos’s intention either, but...’ She blushed. ‘Things happen.’ She coughed, mortified that the conversation had taken this turn.

The grim expression faded from Maks’s face and he looked at her again. ‘Did you know it’s Nikos’s birthday tomorrow?’

She shook her head, realising there was still so much she didn’t know. ‘No.’

Maks said, ‘In a funny twist of fate—or not so funny—all of us three half-brothers have birthdays in the same month. Nikos is first, then Sharif, and me at the end.’

‘And your sister Sasha? Is she here tonight?’

‘God, no—you couldn’t pay Sasha to come to an event like this. No, her birthday is in spring.’

Then Maks’s expression changed again, his eyes narrowing on someone across the room. He muttered almost to himself, ‘What the hell is she doing here?’

Then he was gone, cutting a swathe through the crowd before Maggie could see who he was talking about.

Nikos reappeared. ‘I saw you talking to Maks again—he didn’t upset you?’

‘No, actually, he was sweet.’

Nikos made a rude sound. ‘I wouldn’t have ever described Maks as sweet.’

‘He apologised for showing me the pictures.’ Maggie looked at Nikos carefully, but he showed no sign of discomfort or guilt.

‘Did you know there would be photographers in the park?’

Nikos shrugged. ‘I guess I took it for granted that they might be. Does it bother you?’

‘Of course it bothers me that we can’t go for a walk without being photographed. That’s not normal.’

He shook his head. ‘It’s normal for us now.’

Maggie felt angry at his laissez-faire attitude. She stood directly in front of him.

‘Does it have to be, though? Just because you all grew up under the glare of the media, it doesn’t mean your own child has to. I don’t want Daniel living his life in a fishbowl. He deserves as normal an existence as we can give him. Plenty of rich and famous people have families and manage to keep them out of the public eye.’

Nikos was taken aback by Maggie’s passion. She looked like a warrior mother, protecting her young. The kind of champion he’d never had.

An unexpected and unwelcome surge of emotion made him suddenly reject the thought of Daniel being subjected to what he’d experienced. ‘You’re right. There’s no reason why we can’t live differently—or at least do our best to.’

She arched a brow. ‘Even if pictures of a happy family outing are good for your stock prices?’

Nikos’s conscience pricked. He’d taken more than Maggie’s innocence.

But he forced himself to say lightly, ‘Now who’s being cynical?’

The following evening Maggie was nervous. The next day they were due to travel to the South of France and nothing had been scheduled for tonight. Except this. The thing that was making her nervous.

When Maggie heard the sound of the door she and Marianne quickly lit the candles on the cake and waited for Nikos to appear. As soon as he did they both started singing ‘Happy Birthday’—but they trailed to a halt at the look of utter horror on his face.

He looked at Maggie and she’d never seen him so haunted. ‘What the hell is this? How did you know it was my birthday?’

‘Maks told me last night,’ Maggie replied. ‘I baked you a cake.’

‘He shouldn’t have told you.’

Nikos turned and left the room and Maggie looked at Marianne, beyond bewildered.