Blackmailed For Vengeance(45)

“This island was my mothers” he said softly “It was the only thing my father did not drink away” he said sadly

“My father used to run the biggest shipping company in Greece, but after my mothers death he lost it all”

Lee had looked at him with surprise. It was as if a door had been opened and suddenly Yanis was bursting to tell her about himself, starting with the story of his child hood, something he had never told any other woman, but for some reason needing to tell her. He had also never brought a woman to this island, not fully understanding his need to have her there with him.

“Jim’s father was wonderful. He made sure that I finished my education, and helped me to start my business. I started small, first transporting people between the islands, then freight and by the time I was 22 I had the largest shipping company in Greece”

Lee could see his eyes shining with pride

“I had always sworn that I would get that back” he had said with determination “and then my father died”. Suddenly his voice became sad, as the memory returned to him as she slipped her hand into his and squeezed it gently. Lifting his head he had smiled down at her soft expression

“I kept going, and before I knew it mine was the largest company in Europe, then the world” He had sighed wistfully

Lee had looked at him gently

“And yet you don’t look happy Yanis” she said softly, as he had frowned at her

“Who of us really are” he had asked her with a small edge to his tone

“My mother and father were, and despite everything so where your mother and father” she had replied her eyes looking so deeply into his

For a moment he had looked as though he wanted to say something, before he had once more sighed and looked back at the pier they were approaching

“Well that kind of happiness seems to destroy everything around it” he had said softly “and I for one never want to have to deal with it”

Lee had felt her heart break at these words, not really sure what she had expected. The realisation finally dawning on her that she could never be anything more to him than a mistress and that he would move from one woman to another never letting any one woman have his heart. She had felt like crying at this realisation, but as they had now berthed he had helped her climb out onto the wooden pier, the island exuding a serenity which stilled the tears in her eyes.

With a soft sigh she had walked beside him as he had led her towards the small car which was to take them to the house at the very heart of the island.

As they drove up the windy road, Lee was amazed at the breathtaking greenery of the place. It was a wild place, and she imagined him growing up running through the vegetation growing as wild as the island itself. She could feel the connection between the two, both as untamed as the other.

“It’s beautiful” she had breathed, as he had smiled beside her

“Yes, I love this place more than anywhere else in the world” he had said softly “yet I find that I seem to come here less and less”

Lee had heard the sadness in his voice as he told her this, wondering what it was about this place which affected him so. At this point they had turned a bend and she had opened her mouth with wonder at the villa which they drove up to.

It was the perfect Mediterranean villa. Large with white washed walls and terracotta tiles it had large windows which looked out over the hillside on one side and the sea from the other as it perched near the edge of the cliff.

Lee had sat completely stunned, as he had watched her reaction, not understanding the need in him for her to love it as much as him. As they had moved into the cool interior she had admired the tiles and Greek architecture, updated with beautiful furnishings. He had led her up the grand stairs which swept up before splitting to branch off at different areas within the upstairs hallway.

As he had led her into one of the rooms, she had moaned with pleasure on seeing the large balcony on which she could look out to sea, closing her eyes to take in the sounds of the gulls noisily fighting overhead, while the sea swished against the rocks gently, the sound musical to her ears. She could feel the wind on her face and the smell of the salt, enjoying the cocktail of sensations which filled her.

With shining eyes she had looked over at him, as he stood so still watching her

“It is the most beautiful place I have ever seen” she had finally said, her whole body mirroring her words. With a smile he had moved over to wrap his arms around her, her head tucked neatly under his chin, as he had breathed in the island, his body relaxing as it always did when he came there.

“Apparently this was where I was conceived” he had smiled softly, as she had laughed back.