The Greek's Virgin Bride
Nikos turned to her briefly.
'Yannis will drive you to the apartment. You must make yourself at home. I am sorry not to be able to accompany you myself, but something has come up—hence Demetrios's reception committee. I am sorry, but I could not avoid it. I will escape from the office as quickly as I can and we will have the evening together. Until then—'
He bent forward to kiss her.
She could not bear it. She jerked her head sideways, con scious, if nothing else, of the PA's presence. Nikos's kiss landed on her cold cheek.
Can you feel your heart break? thought Andrea, as Nikos climbed out of the car after his PA. Because mine broke, I know, just then.
She shut her eyes, leaning back into the seat. The car moved off.
Tears misted over her eyes.
After a while, she realised she would have to give the driver new instructions. He seemed surprised when she asked him to drive her to the airport, but did it dutifully enough.
On the way there she wrote a note. Every word drew blood from her heart.
Dear Nikos
I am going back to England. We have both got what we wanted out of this marriage. You got Coustakis Industries. I got my money. Thank you for our time together in Crete— you were a wonderful first lover. I'm sure you'll make a huge success of running Coustakis Industries. Please ask your lawyers to sort out our divorce as soon as possible. Thank you.
Andrea.
It was all she could manage. And it cost her more than she could bear to pay.
She left it with the chauffeur to deliver it to Nikos.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
'What do you think, Mum? Down on the coast or further up in the hills? Where do you want to live?'
Andrea's voice was bright and relentlessly cheerful, just as it had been since she had arrived back two weeks ago, bursting with the wonderful, glorious news that her grandfather, so she had told her mother, had given them enough money to settle their debts and allow them to move to Spain.
But, for all her determined high spirits, Andrea could see her mother was worried about her. Oh, she had been bowled over by the fantastic news about the money, which had settled their debts with a single cheque, and she had commented on how well Andrea looked with her sun-bronzed skin and burnished hair, and how she was walking, it seemed, with much greater confidence and assurance, but even so Andrea could sense Kim's concern.
She didn't want her mother worrying. Not about anything— least of all her. So she chattered away brightly as she prepared their evening meal, talking about Spain and the imminent prospect of living there. She was desperate to move as soon as possible. Perhaps, in Spain, starting her new life, she could start to forget Nikos...
Nikos—
Pain clenched at her heart. No—she mustn't trunk, mustn't remember. It was gone, over, finished. She was starting a new life now—that was the only important thing to think about.
tat and making Kim happy. She mustn't, mustn't let Kim suspect anything...
She mustn't see your heart is broken...
She smiled determinedly at Kim.
'It's going to be all right, Mum. Everything's going to be just wonderful from now on! Just wonderful!'
Kim smiled and took her daughter's hand. 'You are the best daughter a mother could have—always know that, my darling girl,' she said softly, her eyes searching her daughter's face.
'I love you so much,' Andrea choked, realising it had been worth everything just to know that she could at last repay her mother for her years of devotion. What did a broken heart matter? The sudden imperative knocking on the front door made them both start.
Kim immediately looked nervous, and Andrea pugnacious. 'Ignore it, Mum. They'll try somewhere else.' Increasingly wild and aggressive kids often did the rounds at this time of day, the early evening, knocking on doors to see if they could cadge money from anyone inside.
Thank God we 're getting out of here, thought Andrea feelingly.
They would be in Malaga in forty-eight hours—not for good, just for a fortnight's flat-hunting—and Andrea could hardly wait. Searching for an apartment would occupy her mind. Stop her thinking, remembering...aching...