Sale or Return Bride

A lump formed in her throat. She loved him so much and she just hated the fact that he felt obliged to look after her.

Lacking her sensibilities, Dimitrios Philipos gave a derisive laugh. ‘Face it, Fiorukis, I’ve won. You may have the company back but you must know by now that nothing can save it and you may pretend that you don’t care about children, but we both know the truth about that. You’re Greek. Enough said.’

Alesia was frozen to the spot in shock. She stared at Sebastien, waiting to see signs that he was intimidated by the man in front of him, but Sebastien merely studied the older man in grim-faced silence and then, when he finally spoke, his voice was scathing. ‘Firstly, the company has been returned to its rightful owner—the Fiorukis family. Your poor business decisions may have virtually brought the company down but my skills will rescue it and rebuild its reputation. As for Alesia—’ he tightened his grip on her waist ‘—she has proved herself to be loyal, strong and loving—the three most important characteristics in a Greek wife.’

Dimitrios gave a snort. ‘She can’t give you a son and the contract you signed means that you can’t get yourself a new wife.’

‘Then it’s fortunate that I have no desire for a new wife,’ Sebastien drawled, his sharp gaze resting on Charlotte’s shocked face for a moment before returning to his enemy. ‘I think the strain of seeing you has exhausted Alesia’s mother. So I want you to leave. Now. It’s over. Finished. You are no longer welcome near my family.’

Dimitrios’s lip curled. ‘They’re my family too, Fiorukis. If I choose to stay, I stay.’

‘I think not. And it’s time to look at some facts.’ Sebastien’s tone was gritty and hard. ‘You lost the right to call them family when you exiled them from Greece and denied their existence. You lost the right to call them family when you failed to offer any provision for them, even though Charlotte’s only crime was loving your son. You lost the right to call them family when you shamefully used Alesia as a tool of your own revenge. They are no longer your family, Philipos, they’re mine.’ His dark eyes gave a dangerous flash. ‘And I always protect what’s mine. Unlike you.’

Dimitrios looked at him warily. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘You blamed my family for the explosion on our boat,’ Sebastien delivered softly, ‘but we both know that you—and you alone—arranged that explosion. You were responsible for the death of your own son.’

There was a hideous silence and Alesia heard her mother give a soft gasp of disbelief and shock.

Dimitrios glanced at her, a brief flash of panic in his eyes, and then he turned back to Sebastien, his eyes blazing. ‘You think I was trying to kill my own son?’

‘No.’ Sebastien’s gaze was hard. ‘I think you were trying to kill my father because he’d been trying to persuade Costas to bury the ridiculous feud between our families once and for all and merge the businesses.’

‘It was a ridiculous idea! My son should not have been on that boat!’

Sebastien inhaled sharply. ‘The explosion was meant for my family but circumstances changed and when they finally boarded the boat your son and his wife were with them. And it was your son who died along with my uncle. And you were responsible. Don’t you think it’s time to end this feud, Philipos?’

Breathing rapidly, his eyes wild, Dimitrios rushed for the door, but it was blocked by several men.

‘The Greek authorities wish to speak to you,’ Sebastien said in a tone of utter disgust. ‘They’re very interested in several events that have taken place, including some of the recent investments you’ve made.’

Dimitrios paused in the doorway and glared at Sebastien. ‘She’s going to cost you a fortune.’

At that, Sebastien gave a flicker of a smile. ‘I live in hope. I keep giving her my credit card and she refuses to use it. She is utterly unique. Again, I thank you for the introduction. I’d given up hope of ever finding a woman like her.’

As Dimitrios was led from the room Alesia sank on to a chair, her legs shaking too badly to support her weight.

‘Is it true?’ Charlotte’s voice was a croak. ‘He planted the bomb?’

Sebastien nodded, closing the door to ensure privacy. ‘We always suspected that he was responsible but there was never any proof.’

‘And now?’

Sebastien shrugged. ‘There is still very little actual proof, but he has been conducting some extremely shady business deals over the past few years. I think his place of abode for the foreseeable future will be behind bars. Perhaps the reason for putting him there no longer matters.’