The Innocent Behind the Scandal (The Marchetti Dynasty 2)

Zoe nodded. ‘My father was a photographer.’

‘Who was he? I might have met him.’

Before Zoe could avoid answering that question she felt a presence behind her. Maks. She’d been aware of him all day on the sidelines, watching carefully.

‘If you’re finished with Zoe?’

Pierre looked at Maks, a twinkle in his eye. It was scary how he’d transformed from raging to benevolent—a temperamental maestro, indeed.

‘Sure, she’s all yours, Maks.’

Maks took her hand and led her away. Zoe waved goodbye to the other crew and models, who had all been very sweet with her. She felt buoyed up, fizzing with energy.

When they got back to Maks’s car and sat in the back she faced him. ‘Thank you so much for giving me that chance. It was terrifying...but amazing.’

Maks’s mouth tipped up. ‘I’ve never seen Pierre conduct a shoot without having at least one tantrum directed at his assistant, but he couldn’t seem to find fault with you.’

Zoe made a face. ‘That could have had something to do with your presence.’

Maks shook his head. ‘You’re a natural, Zoe, and more qualified than you think. After today, do you still want to do it?’

She nodded. ‘Yes. More than ever. Except...’ She trailed off, conscious that Maks might not really be all that interested in what she was saying.

But he prompted her. ‘Except what?’

‘Except I’m not really interested in promoting the façade of perfection. I’d love to work with models who are unique and diverse. Promote a healthier ideal. Not just size, but skin colour, scars... Handicaps. I really admire the model Kat Winters.’

Maks said, ‘She’s the supermodel who had the accident and lost her leg?’

Zoe nodded. ‘Below the knee, yes. She’s inspirational.’

Maks smiled. ‘I think the industry could benefit very much from someone like you. Perfection is boring.’

Zoe felt self-conscious. She wanted to divert attention back onto Maks. ‘Did you always want to go into the family business? Did you have other ambitions?’

* * *

Maks looked at Zoe. He wasn’t used to people asking him such direct questions.

As if sensing she’d overstepped, she blushed and said, ‘It’s okay, it’s none of my business—’

But Maks took her hand, stopping her words. She looked at him with those huge eyes, still sparkling with excitement and wonder. Things he rarely saw in anyone any more. The realisation that he felt a level of intimacy with her when they hadn’t even slept together should make him uncomfortable. But it didn’t.

He said, ‘For a long time I wanted nothing to do with the business. I hated my father that much. But I expended so much energy hating him and protecting my sister that I didn’t leave much space for figuring out what I wanted. When our father died, my brother Sharif called a meeting with Nikos and me. He made me realise that the business was now ours. And that we had a duty to rebuild the name with respect and honour—things that my father had decimated through greed and debauchery.’

Maks’s mouth twisted.

‘Even though we didn’t grow up together, and I wouldn’t call us close, Sharif had done his research, and put us in positions that played to our strengths. Nikos took over the PR and hospitality side, and he gave me the fashion and brand side to work with. I think the fact that he wanted to work with us...trusted us...had more of an effect than either Nikos or I expected. Sharif could have taken over the company alone, but he didn’t. And I do enjoy what I do... I enjoy the challenge of dragging this company into the twenty-first century. It’s about so much more now than just image. Things are changing, and people like you will be at the forefront of that change.’

Zoe’s eyes were wide. Maks felt a prickle of exposure. He’d never told anyone all that before. He’d never really articulated out loud what it had meant for his brother to show such trust in him.

He realised the car had stopped outside the hotel. He hadn’t even noticed.

Maks’s phone rang.

Zoe blinked.

Maks answered the call as he got out of the car and came around to help Zoe out. Her hand slid into his and fitted there in a way that had him wanting to drag her to a private space so he could shut out the world entirely and expose her need for him. He wanted to feel her under him, all around him, milking his body until he didn’t have to acknowledge that she did something to him that no other woman ever had.