Save Me, Daddy

“I am not with Maia. I haven’t been in years, and I don’t want to be now. She’s done everything in her power to make you think we’re together, because she wants you out of the picture.” He laughs harshly. “The idiot actually thinks I could ever love someone else if you left me.”

I bite my lip, wanting to believe him, but unable to let my defenses down to trust. “What has she done?”

“She sent you those emails, for one.” He lifts a finger, as though counting off her deeds. “Speaking of, perhaps you noticed there wasn’t one reply from me in the pile? I ignored her. I should have responded bluntly, telling her I do not want her, but I didn’t know how to deal with it.” He shrugs. “You have had me so tangled inside that I couldn’t think logically about anything.”

“What else?”

“She tricked my assistant into giving her information about us, including about the miscarriage. He thought she was a friend of the family in Greece. Marco thought it was sweet that she called to discreetly check on us, because she didn’t want to intrude at such a private time.” Jayson rolls his eyes.

A sinking feeling hits my stomach, and I force myself to ask, “When we got married, was Satyros Corporation in trouble, capital-wise?”

Jayson frowns. “No. There were some financial difficulties years before I ever had anything to do with the company, but Dmitri had straightened it all out by the time he died.” His brows knit together. “Why?”

“I really am an idiot.” I close my eyes, unable to bear to look at him. How could I have believed Maia without even asking Jayson?

“What? Why?”

Haltingly, I relay the conversation I had with Maia. “She had all the paperwork pertaining to the stocks.” I run a hand through my hair. “She just sounded so believable.”

He curses again, but this time his anger seems to be directed at Maia. “She is a scheming, conniving piece of work, Harper. Only one thing motivates Maia, and that is self-interest. I was too young to realize it when we were engaged, but maturity brings perspective and wisdom. At least some of the time. I got over her a long time ago, even before I married you. I would not take her back under any circumstances.”

I can’t doubt the sincerity in his tone, or the genuine emotion in his eyes. I’m numb with shock at my own stupidity. Why had I been so quick to believe Maia, having already figured out what kind of woman she was?

The answer takes my breath away as it comes to me. I’d been so quick to believe Maia because I couldn’t understand why Jayson wanted to continue to be married to me. It seemed beyond belief that he would want me. In her disbelief, I managed to find all sorts of signs and clues pointing to his ulterior motives. Still, I do have reason not to trust him….

“Why didn’t you tell me about my father’s stock, and that I had inherited it?”

Jayson pauses, seeming to be looking for an answer. Finally, he says, “I would like to say it was something incredibly romantic—like my need to have you as my wife at all costs—that kept me from telling you. The truth is I didn’t love you when we got married. I barely knew you. As for the stock, I really didn’t think about it until we were about to be married. Sophie was so excited about the marriage and living with both of us. I was afraid of the setback to her recovery if you changed your mind.”

I nod, knowing he’s right about that. After telling Sophie of the forthcoming marriage, along with the white lie of leading her to believe we’d been dating for a while, she’d seemed reenergized and determined to get out of the hospital before the ceremony. “You might not believe it, but I would have gone through with the marriage, even if you had told me about the shares at the last minute.”

He smiles. “I know that now. You love Sophie as much as I do, and you wouldn’t have let her down.”

“Well, I’ll admit my reasons for agreeing weren’t completely altruistic, nor prompted by the need for financial security.” I lock eyes with him. “I’d had a crush on you since I was a teenager. When you offered me the chance to be your wife, a small part of me jumped at it, convinced I could make you love me." I sigh, thinking of my innocence. “I let go of that illusion after our wedding night. When you rejected me, I figured out you would never see me in any way besides your convenient, temporary wife.”

“Harper.” This time, he stretches to put his hand over mine, and this time, I don’t pull away. “I was so cruel to you that night.”

I nod. “Yes, but you got the point across. Pretty soon I convinced myself that the silly crush I’d had on you that had turned to love was all in my imagination. I knew I loved you, and it took every ounce of strength and self-delusion to come to the point where I believed I didn’t anymore.”

His hand tightens on mine for just a second. “Are you still under that delusion, agape mou?”

For a moment, I can’t answer. Whatever I say will determine the future for both of us. My distrust fades away, and under it, my love is as strong as ever. There’s no reason not to be with him.

Instead of answering immediately, I get to my feet, lifting the contract he’s placed before me in my hands. As he watches, looking baffled, I take the stack to the shredder and dump it in. “No, I’m not,” I say.

“What are you doing?”

I slide around the side of the desk to settle myself on his lap. “I’m giving you back your company. I don’t want it. I don’t want any of it.” I put my arms around his neck. “I just want you.” Brushing my lips against his, I can taste the trace of liquor remaining. “S’agapo, agape mou.”

His lips slowly form a smile. “You have been studying, haven’t you?” At my nod, he answers, “I love you too.”

I press my mouth to his, harder this time, enjoying the sensation of being in my husband’s arms. For the first time in our relationship, I actually feel secure. I lay my head on his shoulder. “I don’t understand one thing.”

“What’s that?” he asks, as his hands roam over my body.

I lightly slap away his hand when he cups my breast. “I’m trying to have a conversation here.”

“Talk quickly.” He tugs at the hem of my shirt and starts fumbling with the buttons as I speak.