Defying Drakon

Angela scowled. ‘Exactly when did you develop claws?’

‘Oh, they were always there,’ Gemini assured the other woman. ‘Merely sheathed for my father’s sake. So which is it to be, Angela? Paris or the villa in Spain? Whichever one you choose, I will give you two days to vacate Bartholomew House and leave England for good,’ she added. ‘Oh, and I also expect you to return the rather large deposit you received from Lyonedes Enterprises when you agreed to sell them a property you knew you didn’t actually own.’

The older woman seemed to fight an inner battle with herself for several long seconds, as if she were exploring each avenue of escape open to her, and her shoulders finally dropped in defeat as she obviously found they all ended in a cul-de-sac.

‘You should have just burnt the new will,’ Gemini said.

‘Yes, I should.’ Angela sighed. ‘I just couldn’t quite bring myself to do it. For what it’s worth, I did love Miles,’ she finally admitted tightly. ‘In my own way.’

Gemini gave a weary shake of her head. ‘I’m not sure whether that makes your behaviour better or worse.’

‘No,’ Angela acknowledged heavily before glancing at Drakon and Max. ‘Touché, gentlemen. Now, if you will all excuse me,’ she drawled, ‘it appears I have a lot of packing to do. And a visit to make to my bank to return funds to Lyonedes Enterprises. I take it you will deal with the legal side of things?’ She looked enquiringly at Drakon.

‘Already being dealt with,’ he confirmed.

Angela nodded again before turning on one three-inch heel and leaving. The door downstairs closed quietly behind her seconds later.

Gemini sank down weakly into one of her armchairs, more relieved than she could say that the situation had finally been resolved in such a way that it took Angela out of her life for good and at the same time gave her back Bartholomew House.

And it was all thanks to Drakon…

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

DRAKON had watched and listened proudly as Gemini completely dominated the woman who had taken advantage of the deep love Gemini felt for her father in order to manipulate and steal from her.

But at the same time he’d felt a heavy weight in his chest at Gemini’s insistence that she considered him only as a friend.

‘I’ll go too now, if that’s okay?’ Max murmured.

‘Gemini?’ Drakon prompted gruffly.

She roused herself enough to look up and smile at Max. ‘Thank you once again. For everything.’

‘No problem.’ He nodded to them both before leaving.

Drakon was unsure what to say in order to breach the tense silence left behind by the other man’s departure. Uncertainty, in any given situation, was not an emotion that sat well on his shoulders.

Gemini looked across at him. ‘Do you think we’ll—I’ll—ever hear from Angela again?’

He smiled confidently. ‘Somehow I think not. You were like a tigress just now in defence of your…friends.’

She nodded. ‘And I meant every word. You and Max, and poor Markos, have all been wonderful.’

‘I believe I may speak for the others when I say it was our pleasure,’ Drakon said. ‘I should leave now as well,’ he added. ‘You will no doubt need time and space in which to properly absorb your change of circumstances.’

Gemini gave herself a mental shake, knowing that this was Drakon’s way of saying goodbye. ‘Did Markos really take Angela out to dinner last night in order to make sure she was out of the house for several hours?’

‘Yes.’ Drakon’s mouth twisted. ‘He felt it was the least he could do after his error earlier this week.’ He shrugged those broad shoulders. ‘I believe he also likes you.’

And Gemini liked Markos too.

But she loved Drakon…

Completely.

It was a discovery, an admission she had made to herself, as she’d lain awake and alone in her bed in the hotel in Verona the previous night…

She loved everything about Drakon. The way he looked obviously made her feel weak at the knees, and when he kissed her, made love to her, she simply melted. But it was so much more than that. She loved his obvious love and loyalty towards his family, his integrity in business, his self-confidence in any situation, his ability to make Gemini feel protected while at the same time respecting her freedom of choice.