The Renegade Billionaire

She shook her blond head. “You didn’t promise her anything! He has no just cause!”

“That doesn’t matter to him,” he said in a gravelly voice. “He most likely owns the judge in question. Come in the den with me while we get my attorney on the phone. Everything’s coming into play even faster than I had thought.” His gaze shot to hers. “With Draco on the warpath, my father’s threat will be realized. Thank providence you were here to help me get around to those quarries.”

This couldn’t be happening, but it was. “While you do that, I’ll be happy to call the quarries we didn’t get to visit on the mainland and set up conferences on Skype for you.”

She heard him inhale sharply. “How did I ever function without you?”

How am I going to live without you, Stavros?

They walked to the den. “Go ahead and sit at my desk. The file is open with all the phone numbers. Call the ones that don’t have a check by them.”

Andrea was thankful to be able to help and got busy making the calls. Stavros sat in one of the chairs near his bookcase and got on the phone with his attorney. He was still on the phone when she’d finished lining up appointments.

“Andrea?” He covered the mouthpiece of his phone. “Since you’re sitting in front of the screen, would you be willing to speak with my attorney over Skype now? He can take your deposition this way and present it in court without you having to be present.”

“I’ll do anything you ask.”

His eyes thanked her before he spoke to his attorney once more. In another minute, they rang off. Stavros walked over and set everything up. His hands slid to her shoulders from behind. He squeezed them gently.

“I know how horrendous this is for you,” he said in a low voice near her ear.

“It’s you I’m worried about,” she murmured shakily.

“It’s another form of harassment to wear me down, but it’ll be over soon. My attorney’s name is Myron Karras.”

Within seconds, Mr. Karras appeared before her. “I can see you just fine, Despinis Linford.”

“I can see you too, Kyrie Karras.”

“Fine. We’ll do this in a question-and-answer format. If you’re ready, we’ll start now.”

She eyed Stavros. “I’m ready.”

“Please state your full name, nationality, age, marital status, address and occupation please.”

Andrea complied.

“When was the first time you met Stavros Konstantinos.”

“At quarry three on Thassos Island.” She named the date and time.

“Why did you specifically come to the quarry?” After she’d explained, he said, “When the teen wasn’t found, what did you do?”

Her cheeks went hot. Stavros had sat down on another chair, studying her through veiled eyes.

“Though the police had started a search for him, Kyrie Konstantinos said he was going to go look for Darren because he knew the mountain well and felt somewhat responsible.”

“Why would he say that?”

“Because he was the one who gave permission through the quarry manager to let our tour groups come to the quarry. I asked if I could go with him because I’m the one who planned the student-teacher tour to the quarry in the first place and also felt partially responsible.”

“Did you two go alone?”

She shivered. “Yes. I followed him to his villa, where I left my rental car. He packed a hamper of food and we left in his Jeep. We were out all night looking for him and eventually found Darren hiding in a truck on the morning ferry ready to leave Thassos for Keramoti. The police lieutenant in charge of the case took Darren into custody.”

“What did you do then?”

“Kyrie Konstantinos drove us back to his villa, where I got into my rental car and left for Thessaloniki.”