Secret Heirs: Baby Scandal. Кейт Хьюит
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where are you? Not in Greece, by any chance, with your handsome fisherman?’
The teasing tones of Sally’s words made her smile, despite the weight of what she wanted to confide in her sister.
‘As a matter of fact, yes.’
‘That’s such good news. I’ve been worried about you.’
Guilt washed over Serena. The last thing Sally needed was more worry than she already had, but she’d always been mothered by her elder sister. She had stepped in when their parents had been too busy avoiding each other instead of being around for their daughters.
‘I’m fine—but what about you?’
‘It’s not good news, I’m afraid.’
The wobble in her sister’s voice nearly broke Serena’s heart. She sat down on the bed, her dizziness making the room slowly turn.
‘I’m sorry, Sally.’ She closed her eyes, feeling the cage Nikos had used to trap her shrinking. There wasn’t any escape now. She had to accept his barbaric terms.
‘It was the last time. I’m never going to be a mother now.’
She could hear Sally’s pain searing at her from across the miles and wished she was there to hug away her hurt. Instead she placed her hand over her still flat stomach and a tear slid down her cheek. Guilt mixed with grief was threatening to overpower her. She couldn’t confide in her now. Not tonight, anyway.
‘We’ll find another way. I promise.’
Serena’s body had turned cold. There was only one other way.
‘Now, you get back to your Greek,’ her sister said, and she could hear her effort to remain bright. ‘And, Serena...?’
Serena’s breath caught in her throat as she registered the pause in the conversation. ‘Yes?’
‘Stop using Mum and Dad’s marriage as an example. Create something better for yourself. If you find love, grab it and hang on to it. Be brave, Serena. Be brave.’
Serena nodded, not able to form any kind of reply, knowing her sister’s advice was well meant. But what if the man you loved didn’t want to love you?
More tears prickled in her eyes and she knew she had to end the call. ‘I will. See you soon.’
With Sally’s goodbye ringing in her head, she cut the connection and lay on the bed, desperately needing to sleep. But her sister’s advice played over and over again in her head. Were her parents and their unhappy marriage the reason why she’d never had a long-term relationship? Had that been why she’d pushed everyone away?
With shock, she realised the truth of her sister’s words and knew it was time to stop hiding from life—and love. The father of her child might not love her, but she loved him. Was that enough—for her and her child?
Other people’s happiness now rested on it. It would have to be.
NIKOS’S MOOD WAS dark as he called a halt to his meeting. It had been intense, and there had been moments when his usual ruthless and determined manner had been nudged sideways by thoughts of the redhead he’d left sleeping peacefully in his apartment.
Yesterday his life had been normal. Uninvolved and normal. Now, with Serena’s return, it had been turned completely inside out.
Impatience to end the meeting and return home had made him even more aggressive in his approach to the final stages of the takeover than he would usually be. Abruptly he’d put his deal on the table, insisting further negotiations were off the agenda. He wanted the company badly, but right now he had far more pressing things to worry about.
The most important deal he had to strike was keeping his child in his life—and to do that he had to ensure Serena became his wife. The cruise company could wait.
As he arrived at his apartment several photographers rushed forward and he cursed what he’d told that one opportune photographer last night, when he’d been asked who Serena was. Not for the first time when he was around her, he hadn’t thought of the consequences of his actions. He had known his playboy reputation and current business dealings would make him tabloid fodder.
‘Where is your fiancée?’
They hassled him, their Greek words fast and furious, their cameras clicking.
‘Did you get the deal as well as the girl?’ Another asked as he reached the front doors of his apartment block, with the traffic rushing by almost drowning out the bombardment of questions.
‘I do not have answers to your questions yet, gentlemen, but soon.’
He used the charm he was renowned for, keeping a cool exterior. Inside, emotions he was unfamiliar with mixed with irritation.
He pushed open the door, making sure it was firmly shut behind him as he walked into the cool quietness of the lobby. Several flashes bounced off the white walls as he waited for the lift, his back to the doors and reporters, so as not to give them the photo they wanted.
Since Serena’s text had come through nothing had gone to plan. The business deal he had previously been sure of clinching now hung in the balance, due to his earlier hardened dealings, and he had no idea if Serena would still be there. He’d left her alone purposely, to think through the offer he’d put to her and also give her ample opportunity to leave and get a flight home. Had that been what the reporters meant when they’d asked where she was? Had they witnessed her leave? Seen her get a taxi to the airport?
The thought of being denied his child sent a storm-surge of anger charging through him. Even if she chose to run she was never going to be able to keep him from his child.
The lift swiftly moved upwards. A small part of him wished it would stop, and along with it the whole world, so that he didn’t have to witness and acknowledge that the only woman who’d made him want more had walked away from him. Just as his mother had.
Outside the door of his apartment he paused. Why did this feel so raw? Why was it like standing on the beach as a six-year-old boy waiting, hoping, for his mother to return? For a long time he hadn’t believed his mother had meant it when she’d told him she didn’t love him and that he’d be better off without her, but her continued absence had backed up her cold claim.
Enough. The word snapped in his head like an arrow from a bow. Now was not the time to dwell on the past. He couldn’t influence that any more, but he could control the present.
With renewed determination he unlocked the door and walked in.
The balcony doors were open and sounds from the street drifted up and into the apartment. He strode towards the balcony, feeling as if his heart was in his throat. He wasn’t quick enough to smother a sigh of relief at the sight of Serena, sitting in the shade, typing away on her laptop.
So she was preparing her story, was she? What headline would she use?
‘Working?’ He threw the word at her gruffly, accusation bound tightly up within it.
She physically jumped, her head turning towards him so fast her silky red hair splayed out like a fan around her before falling neatly to her shoulders in a way that snared his attention, reminding him of the times he’d seen it spread across a pillow.
She smiled at him, her green eyes sparkling and alert after a night’s sleep. ‘I wasn’t expecting you back for hours yet—a busy man like you. What with your shipping company to run and the glamorous social life you lead.’
The sarcasm in her voice was not lost on him and he moved closer, lured by something he didn’t yet understand—something he didn’t want to understand.
She returned her attention to her laptop, saving her work before