Art of Loving a Greek Billionaire 3
Prologue
The whirring sound of a helicopter landing a short distance away reached the security team stationed outside the Panathenaic Stadium like the faintest echo, but it was enough to get everyone moving, all of them assigned to ensure just one thing: that no media outlet would ever know why Athens’ most famous and historic stadium was privately rented at this hour.
“These men have too much money,” one of them muttered in a low voice to his companion as he peered through his binoculars and saw the door of the helicopter open. It only had one passenger, and to anyone born in Greece, his face would be instantly recognizable. His name was Stavros Manolis, a billionaire whose reclusive workaholic ways made every young Greek lady wish that she would be the one to open his eyes to the charms of marriage.
He continued grumpily, “Renting the entire stadium for a secret meeting at three in the morning? No sane man does that!”
His younger companion said hesitantly, “Maybe they’re scouting the place for a corporate event—”
The older man cut him off, “I’ll give you some advice, Chucky doll. If you want to stay employed by the boss, you better start following Perez Hilton.”
Chucky, whose real name was Christophos but everyone in the team called Chucky as part of his initiation, was confused. “Who is Perez Hilton?”
His superior sighed. “Google it. If you want to keep your job, that’s the first thing you should do tonight. As one of Mr. Leventis’ bodyguards, we do not have to worry about dodging bullets.”
This came as a surprise to Chucky, who had thought it was his short but excellent stint with the US Air Force the reason he had been hired by the billionaire. “He’s a billionaire. There’s surely always a threat to his life—”
“The media’s the only threat to his life. He likes his privacy because he has a bat-crazy mother who doesn’t know how to mind her own business. He doesn’t allow any intrusions in his private life, and in the years I’ve been leading this team I’ve managed to keep his name out of any major scandal,” the older man said proudly. “But unfortunately, what happened in Ms. Diana’s school—”
“What happened then?” Since he had only been hired two days ago, Chucky found himself even more and more confused.
“It was hell. He broke his engagement to the Kokinos girl and then he proposed to his mistress right after. The media went crazy with that and when the footage was aired, the reporters started wondering what Mr. Manolis was doing there.”
“What was he doing there?”
“The idiots think Stavros is Ms. Leventis’ lover.” His loud snort was enough to express his opinion. “They’re sniffing in the wrong direction, and that’s exactly how Mr. Leventis wants it.”
Chucky could no longer keep up. “Mr. Artini, I’m more confused now – could you tell it to me straight? Why are these two billionaires having a secret meeting in the middle of the night?”
Mr. Artini looked at him in exasperation. “Why else, Chucky doll? Throughout history, why do two men, friends or foes, have a need to settle their differences? What can two men never compromise on?” He jerked his head towards the stadium, which from where they were standing, appeared like a golden arena for gladiators, its lights blazing brightly amidst the night’s darkness.
“They want the same woman and neither of them wants to give up.”
****
Damen Leventis waited wordlessly for Stavros to climb the last few flights of stairs leading to the topmost row of seats in the stadium. Made entirely of white marble, the stadium was the only one of its kind. It was also historic for being the place where individuals battled for personal glory and honor in the world’s first modern Olympics.
That fact appeared uppermost in Stavros’ mind when, upon reaching Damen’s side, he remarked blandly, “Should I have brought my fencing sword, Damen?”
A mirthless smile slashed Damen’s lips. “If that is your roundabout way of asking if I am giving up Mairi to you, then yes, you should have. But a fistfight would also do anytime.”
Both men’s faces were impassive as they considered each other’s words.
“I respect your claim to her,” Stavros said finally, “but I need to speak to her. Surely that is not asking much?”
An ironic laugh almost escaped Damen. Not much? It was obvious Stavros had never been in love. Perhaps he thought he had been with Mairi – a fact that bothered him immensely – but no, it had not been love. If it had been, then Stavros should know that anything that involved his woman and another man was too much.
The whirring sound of a helicopter landing a short distance away reached the security team stationed outside the Panathenaic Stadium like the faintest echo, but it was enough to get everyone moving, all of them assigned to ensure just one thing: that no media outlet would ever know why Athens’ most famous and historic stadium was privately rented at this hour.
“These men have too much money,” one of them muttered in a low voice to his companion as he peered through his binoculars and saw the door of the helicopter open. It only had one passenger, and to anyone born in Greece, his face would be instantly recognizable. His name was Stavros Manolis, a billionaire whose reclusive workaholic ways made every young Greek lady wish that she would be the one to open his eyes to the charms of marriage.
He continued grumpily, “Renting the entire stadium for a secret meeting at three in the morning? No sane man does that!”
His younger companion said hesitantly, “Maybe they’re scouting the place for a corporate event—”
The older man cut him off, “I’ll give you some advice, Chucky doll. If you want to stay employed by the boss, you better start following Perez Hilton.”
Chucky, whose real name was Christophos but everyone in the team called Chucky as part of his initiation, was confused. “Who is Perez Hilton?”
His superior sighed. “Google it. If you want to keep your job, that’s the first thing you should do tonight. As one of Mr. Leventis’ bodyguards, we do not have to worry about dodging bullets.”
This came as a surprise to Chucky, who had thought it was his short but excellent stint with the US Air Force the reason he had been hired by the billionaire. “He’s a billionaire. There’s surely always a threat to his life—”
“The media’s the only threat to his life. He likes his privacy because he has a bat-crazy mother who doesn’t know how to mind her own business. He doesn’t allow any intrusions in his private life, and in the years I’ve been leading this team I’ve managed to keep his name out of any major scandal,” the older man said proudly. “But unfortunately, what happened in Ms. Diana’s school—”
“What happened then?” Since he had only been hired two days ago, Chucky found himself even more and more confused.
“It was hell. He broke his engagement to the Kokinos girl and then he proposed to his mistress right after. The media went crazy with that and when the footage was aired, the reporters started wondering what Mr. Manolis was doing there.”
“What was he doing there?”
“The idiots think Stavros is Ms. Leventis’ lover.” His loud snort was enough to express his opinion. “They’re sniffing in the wrong direction, and that’s exactly how Mr. Leventis wants it.”
Chucky could no longer keep up. “Mr. Artini, I’m more confused now – could you tell it to me straight? Why are these two billionaires having a secret meeting in the middle of the night?”
Mr. Artini looked at him in exasperation. “Why else, Chucky doll? Throughout history, why do two men, friends or foes, have a need to settle their differences? What can two men never compromise on?” He jerked his head towards the stadium, which from where they were standing, appeared like a golden arena for gladiators, its lights blazing brightly amidst the night’s darkness.
“They want the same woman and neither of them wants to give up.”
****
Damen Leventis waited wordlessly for Stavros to climb the last few flights of stairs leading to the topmost row of seats in the stadium. Made entirely of white marble, the stadium was the only one of its kind. It was also historic for being the place where individuals battled for personal glory and honor in the world’s first modern Olympics.
That fact appeared uppermost in Stavros’ mind when, upon reaching Damen’s side, he remarked blandly, “Should I have brought my fencing sword, Damen?”
A mirthless smile slashed Damen’s lips. “If that is your roundabout way of asking if I am giving up Mairi to you, then yes, you should have. But a fistfight would also do anytime.”
Both men’s faces were impassive as they considered each other’s words.
“I respect your claim to her,” Stavros said finally, “but I need to speak to her. Surely that is not asking much?”
An ironic laugh almost escaped Damen. Not much? It was obvious Stavros had never been in love. Perhaps he thought he had been with Mairi – a fact that bothered him immensely – but no, it had not been love. If it had been, then Stavros should know that anything that involved his woman and another man was too much.