Sodefensive and wasn’t that interesting.
He rubbed the backs of his fingers against the nap of whiskers under his chin, biting back a smug grin.
“You don’t want children?” he prodded.
Her averted gaze widened as though he’d sucker punched her. She recovered in a blink and swiveled her head to look him dead in the eye.
“No.”
Such a lie. One she baldly made straight to his face. That ought to be ringing all sorts of alarms inside him, but he was far more interested in why she refused to admit she wanted children. He had always assumed he would have a few one day, after he’d achieved the justice he sought.
His desire to marry her took on a new angle, one where he would have the time to pry out all these little secrets and evasions she was hoarding behind her standoffish exterior.
Don’t, he warned himself. She was a means to an end. That’s all.
“So, it’s agreed,” he stated, having discovered years ago that those words made his wishes come true. “We’ll marry and live in the same home, but within our separate spaces. We’ll confine our marital duties to public appearances and hosting events like family dinners...” He grinned in anticipation of that bloodbath.
“It is not agreed,” she said, quiet, but firm. “I cannot marry a man who hates me. How can you even consider tying yourself to someone you loathe? Unless the point would be to make my life as uncomfortable as possible?”
“On the contrary,” he assured her. “In exchange for switching your allegiance to me, I would provide you with a more comfortable life than ever. You would take full control of your company and all of my wrath would be directed toward the other members of your family.”
“Mmm. And I’m sure being extorted into a marriage of revenge would soon provoke my affection toward you.” Her pained smile fell away. “But I’ve thought of a new avenue I can pursue.” She rose so abruptly he practically heard the burr of wings in his ears. “Keep your shares. I’ll sell mine to my employees. If you then wish to harm the company, you’ll be destroying the livelihoods of invested co-owners who have nothing to do with your thirst for vengeance. If you need a referral for a good PR firm to help weather that scandal, I’m happy to provide some names. Thank you for your time today.”
“You’re really going to walk away from all of this?” The bold black line of her hair down her spine was as enticing as a ribbon to a cat. He wanted to snare it with a claw and drag what was attached into his mouth. “You don’t care that I intend to level Pagonis? You’ll be impacted, too.”
She turned, appearing collected, but he scented the adrenaline running through her. Her throat flexed as she swallowed and her lips were thin with tension.
“I’ve already expressed my concern for innocent people. It’s a global economy and small disruptions in supply chains can have far-reaching consequences. I would hope you’re not so overcome by antipathy you want to cause harm all around the world, but I can’t stop you if that’s your goal. I certainly don’t believe marrying you will give me the power to change your mind.”
“What are you going to tell your brother about this meeting, then?”
“Nothing. As I said, my company is the pawn, not me. If you wish to convey a message to him, I’ll have my assistant forward his contact details. Antio sas.”
Ilona walked straight from his office to the powder room across the lounge. It was as well-appointed and sumptuous as the rest of this top floor with subdued lighting, a selection of her competitor’s luxury soaps and lotions, even a change table and a rocking chair suitable for nursing an infant.
She sat down and did her slow breathing exercises, clearing her mind and bringing her heart rate back to normal before she allowed herself to react.
Marriage?
Her heart took a skip and she clenched her eyes shut, counting to ten as she inhaled, then backward as she exhaled.
Marriage wasn’t remotely possible, she assured herself. She didn’t have to consider it at all. No. She only had to focus on the other piece, where she divested her company to save it. Heartbreaking as that would be, she was proud of arriving at that solution. From a financial and personal standpoint it would be a horrific loss, but she had built it with her own sweat and tears. She could start over with something new. Perhaps she would start a cat café. She could paint cats on the dishes she used to serve spanakopita and souvlaki.
That was such a lovely thought, she actually smiled at her reflection when she rose and dabbed a cool towel at her temples.
She smoothed her hair and examined her makeup. When she was satisfied there was nothing to criticize, she left the powder room, still mentally planning her new life.
“Ah. Good. You’re still up here. That saves security detaining you.” Leander halted midcharge from his office. “Tell them to stand down, Androu,” he said to the young man who caught himself a hair’s breadth before slamming into his boss’s back. Leander held Ilona frozen with his sleet-colored gaze. “Let’s continue our conversation over lunch.”
Ilona fought to speak around the pin that seemed to have punctured her chest. “I have other appointments.”
“Advise Kyría Callas’s assistant to clear her schedule,” Leander told Androu over his shoulder.
“Very good, sir.”
Very not good, but at least Leander was waving her toward the elevator. Ilona gladly made for the exit, needing out of this building and away from this man.
You don’t want children?