The Renegade Billionaire

“With a father like yours, I realize you can’t comprehend it. Unfortunately, the time has come where I have to be a step ahead of mine because I’ve worked years to see the fruition of my business plans. As I told you earlier, if I fail, it’ll be letting down my colleagues, not to mention hundreds of employees with families. I can’t risk that.” Or you...

She drew in a deep breath. “What favor do you want from me?”

“In the next few days I have to visit some quarries in Thassos not owned by my family in order to negotiate contracts for their marble refuse.”

“But you’re supposed to be resting your leg or it might not heal.”

“That’s why I need someone to drive me around and be my mouthpiece. I can’t expect my colleagues to do this. I’ve let them know I’m laid up for a few days. In that amount of time, I can get this other work done. Is it possible your boss would give you the time off? I’ll pay you for your time.”

She bit her lip. “I don’t want your money. You saved me from the stingray. That’s payment enough. Since I’m leaving Greece so soon, I think Sakis has kind of given up on me doing much work. He would probably okay me for one more day off. I already asked him if I didn’t have to come in until Tuesday.”

His heart did a swift kick. “You did?”

“Yes. The doctor told me you shouldn’t try to go to work before then, and he wants to see you back on Friday. But, Stavros—riding around in the Jeep would never do.”

“We’ll go in the Mercedes. I’ll rest my leg across the backseat. By Tuesday we should have covered four or five quarries. Hopefully I’ll come home with enough contracts to keep the plant running in case my father carries out his plan.”

Andrea got up from the chair. “I’ll phone Sakis first thing in the morning. If he’s in agreement, then I’ll be happy to drive you around. But tomorrow’s Sunday, and you have to stay down.”

“I’ll be good.”

“Ha! The doctor and I had a discussion about you.”

He smiled. “What did he say?”

“It’s a secret. Now, is there anything I can do for you?”

“One thing.”

She shook her head. “Just not that one.”

“You’re still afraid of the way you feel about me.” He loved it because it meant her feelings for him ran so deep.

“Good night.”

When she’d gone, he turned off his lamp. At least she hadn’t left him yet.

* * *

Andrea got up early and dressed in jeans and a short-sleeved, botanical-printed blouse. She hadn’t heard a peep out of Stavros. After fixing him a breakfast tray, she took it through to his bedroom and discovered he wasn’t in bed.

She put the tray on the dresser and waited for him to come out of the bathroom. In a few minutes, he emerged shaved and wearing a navy toweling robe. His hair was still damp from his shower. She could smell the soap.

It wasn’t fair that one man should be endowed with the kind of male attributes that made a woman breathless at the very sight of him. The fact that he was limping did nothing to take away the sheer vital essence of him.

“Good morning, Stavros.”

His gaze zeroed in on her. Maybe it was the color of his robe that made his gray eyes look almost black. “How long have you been waiting?”

“For just a minute. I brought breakfast for both of us. Though I’m sure that shower felt good, you need to get right back in bed. I’d like to take a look at that wound. You probably need a fresh dressing. If you’ll lie facedown, this will only take a moment.”

He limped to the bed and stretched out. She pulled one clean dressing from the box and leaned over to undo the old one. “There’s been a little drainage, but that’s to be expected. Everything looks good.”

Andrea applied the new one and discarded the other one. “If you’ll turn over while I wash my hands, then we’ll eat.” Satisfied he was able to get on his back with less difficulty than last night, she hurried into his bathroom and came right back. “If you’ll make some room, I’ll put the tray on the side of the bed and we’ll eat.”

She brought their food over. “As you see, I can make toast and coffee, just like you. I also brought you some fresh water to take your pills.”

He took them first, then lay propped on his side while they ate. She’d peeled an orange and pulled the wedges apart for them. “How’s the pain?”