Playing by the Greek's Rules (Puffin Island 0.50)

‘Good plan.’ Spy glanced at his watch. ‘You get your clothes off, I’ll get us a room.’

‘Not funny.’ Lily glared at him. ‘I am going to pick someone I don’t know, don’t feel anything for and couldn’t fall in love with in a million years.’

Brittany looked doubtful. ‘Now I’m second-guessing myself. Coming from you it sounds like a recipe for disaster.’

‘It’s going to be perfect. All I have to do is find a man who doesn’t tick a single box on my list and have sex with him. It can’t possibly go wrong. I’m going to call it Operation Ice Maiden.’

* * *

Nik Zervakis stood with his back to the office, staring at the glittering blue of the sea while his assistant updated him. ‘Did he call?’

‘Yes, exactly as you predicted. How do you always know these things? I would have lost my nerve days ago with those sums of money involved. You don’t even break out in a sweat.’

Nik could have told him the deal wasn’t about money, it was about power. ‘Did you call the lawyers?’

‘They’re meeting with the team from Lexos first thing tomorrow. So it’s done. Congratulations, boss. The US media have turned the phones red-hot asking for interviews.’

‘It’s not over until the deal is signed. When that happens I’ll put out a statement, but no interviews.’ Nik felt some of the tension leave his shoulders. ‘Did you make a reservation at The Athena?’

‘Yes, but you have the official opening of the new museum wing first.’

Nik swore softly and swung round. ‘I’d forgotten. Do you have a briefing document on that?’

His PA paled. ‘No, boss. All I know is that the wing has been specially designed to display Minoan antiquities in one place. You were invited to the final meeting of the project team but you were in San Francisco.’

‘Am I supposed to give a speech?’

‘They’re hoping you will agree to say a few words.’

‘I can manage a few words, but they’ll be unrelated to Minoan antiquities.’ Nik loosened his tie. ‘Run me through the schedule.’

‘Vassilis will have the car here at six-fifteen, which should allow you time to go back to the villa and change. You’re picking up Christina on the way and your table is booked for nine p.m.’

‘Why not pick her up after I’ve changed?’

‘That would have taken time you don’t have.’

Nik couldn’t argue with that. The demands of his schedule had seen off three a

ssistants in the last six months. ‘There was something else?’

The man shifted uncomfortably. ‘Your father called. Several times. He said you weren’t picking up your phone and asked me to relay a message.’

Nik flicked open the button at the neck of his shirt. ‘Which was?’

‘He wants to remind you that his wedding is next weekend. He thinks you’ve forgotten.’

Nik stilled. He hadn’t forgotten. ‘Anything else?’

‘He is looking forward to having you at the celebrations. He wanted me to remind you that of all the riches in this world, family is the most valuable.’

Nik, whose sentiments on that topic were a matter of public record, made no comment.

He wondered why anyone would see a fourth wedding as a cause for celebration. To him, it shrieked of someone who hadn’t learned his lesson the first three times. ‘I will call him from the car.’

‘There was one more thing—’ The man backed towards the door like someone who knew he was going to need to make a rapid exit. ‘He said to make sure you knew that if you don’t come, you’ll break his heart.’

It was a statement typical of his father. Emotional. Unguarded.