Bought for the Billionaire's Revenge(18)

He didn’t acknowledge her rejoinder. Marnie watched with consternation as he took the stairs two at a time, then she turned away and wove her way to the kitchen.

It was another stunning evening. The sun was almost completely out of sight, leaving inky streaks in the sky and a sprinkling of sparkling lights that heralded night’s arrival. She flicked the kettle on to brew tea and then thought better of it. She had a feeling something stronger was called for.

She poured a glass of champagne and held it in both hands as she moved to the terrace. The pool was beautiful. The surface, undisturbed by their usual evening activity, had a stillness to it, and it reflected not only the evening sky and the glow of his house but Marnie’s figure, too.

She stared down at the watery image of herself, allowing her earlier frown to tug her lips downwards now that she was alone. Why did he disapprove? Though she hated this sort of mix-and-mingle affair, she’d been to enough of them to know the drill. Her dress was the latest word in couture, her shoes were perfect—everything about her was just what people would expect the wife of Nikos Kyriazis to be.

She crouched down, careful to keep the hem of her dress out of the water, and ran her manicured fingertips through its surface, slashing her image so that only swirls of colour remained. Satisfied, she stood and turned towards the house, startled when she saw Nikos just inside the door.

He’d showered and changed into a formal tuxedo, and his dark hair was slicked back from his brow, showing the hauteur of his handsome features, the strength of his bone structure and the determination of his jaw.

A kaleidoscope of butterflies was swirling through her insides, filling her veins with flutters of anticipation. As she stepped closer a hint of his fragrance—that unmistakably masculine scent of spice and citrus—carried to her on the balmy breeze.

The tuxedo was jet-black and might as well have been stitched to his body; it fitted like a second skin, emphasising the breadth of his shoulders and neatness of his waist.

She waited half a beat, giving him an opportunity to redeem the situation. It shouldn’t be hard. He simply needed to offer a smile, or compliment her appearance, or ask about her day. She wasn’t fussy. Any of the small ways a husband might greet his wife would have sufficed.

But instead Nikos looked at his wristwatch. ‘Ready?’

She compressed her lips, the spark of mutiny colouring her complexion for a minute. ‘Do I look ready?’ she asked tartly, swishing past him and clipping across the room.

In the kitchen, she took two big sips of her champagne and then placed the glass down on the marble counter a little more firmly than she’d intended, so that a loud noise cracked through the room.

‘Yes,’ he said finally, closing the distance between them.

He stared down at her, his eyes flicking across the inches of her face. She didn’t back away from him; she didn’t let him see that her heart was being shredded by his lack of kindness. With her shoulders squared she walked ahead of him, out of the house and into the warm night air.

He opened the passenger door of the Ferrari for her and Marnie took her seat, careful not to touch him as she slid into the luxurious interior. The moment he sat beside her she was aware of his every single breath and movement. Unconsciously, she felt herself swaying closer to the window on her side, her eyes trained steadfastly on the view beyond the vehicle as they cruised away from his home.

At the bottom of the drive he turned left. Though Marnie was still getting her bearings, she’d ventured to the markets with Eléni enough times to know that he’d turned the car away from the city.

He drove without speaking, and she was glad of that. She needed the time to regain her composure, though she didn’t have long. It was only a short distance to their destination: the ocean—and an enormous boat that was sparkling with the power of the thousands of tiny golden fairy lights that zigzagged across its deck. It was moored just off the coast.

‘The party’s on a boat?’ she murmured, shifting to face him.

His eyes stayed trained on the cruise ship. ‘As you see.’

She swallowed and bit back on a tart rejoinder. She’d vowed not to argue with him. Even that would show how she’d come to care too greatly. ‘Great,’ she snapped with acidity. ‘I love boats.’

He was out of the car and rounding the side. Marnie pushed the door open and stepped out before he could reach her. After all, she’d opened her own doors all her life; why did that have to change now?

The ramp that led from the shore to the boat looked to have been specially constructed for the event. Though sturdy, it was obviously temporary. They were the only ones on it—though that was hardly surprising given that they were arriving well after the party had started.

‘What is this for?’ she asked as they stepped onto the polished deck.

‘My bank throws it every year.’

‘Your bank?’ she clarified, pausing and turning to face him.

‘The bank I work with,’ he said distractedly. ‘I do not own it.’

‘I see.’

But from the second they arrived it became blatantly obvious that Nikos enjoyed an almost god-like status with the high and mighty of the institution.

Drinks were brought, food offered and advice sought. Much of the conversation was in Greek or Italian, which Marnie understood only passably. She stood beside him listening, catching what she could, but her frustration was growing.

What was going on with him? He was acting as though she’d just knifed the tyres of his car or sold the secrets of their marriage to a tabloid. He was furious with her—and for what possible reason? She had done everything right! The clothes she wore, the hair, the make-up—she had put so much effort into being exactly what he needed of her that night. She was the picture-perfect tycoon’s wife. And yet that seemed to have angered him.

When the group of men Nikos was deep in conversation with paused for a moment Marnie squeezed his arm. The smile on her face was broad; only Nikos would be able to detect the dark emotions that powered it.

‘Excuse me a moment,’ she murmured, pulling her hand away from him.

He bent down and whispered in her ear. ‘Do you need something?’

‘Yes.’ She flashed her eyes at him in frustration, then encompassed his companions in her smile, knowing he wouldn’t argue in front of them. ‘Excuse me.’

She felt his eyes on her as she walked away, and just knowing that he was watching made her walk as though she hadn’t a care in the world. Her feet seemed to glide over the deck, despite the crowds that were thick on the ground.

It was a perfect night. Sultry even though it was late in the summer season, and clear. The breeze was warm and soft, providing comfort rather than chill. She wove her way to the edge of the ship, seeking space and solitude. The polite smile on her face and a faraway look in her eyes discouraged conversation, and when she put her back to the crowds and stared out at the view she was all but absenting herself from the festivities.

She stood like that for a long time, enjoying the privacy of her thoughts, until a hand on her shoulder caught her attention.

Expecting to see Nikos, she masked her features with an expression of bland uninterest and turned slowly.

But the man opposite her caused such a flurry of feeling inside of her that tears welled instantly in her eyes.

‘Anderson!’ She hugged Libby’s fiancé, her mind grappling with the question of why he was there even as she acknowledged how thrilled she was to see him. ‘Oh! What a surprise.’

‘I was hoping you’d be here.’ He grinned. ‘Nik wasn’t sure you’d want to come.’

A frown briefly flashed in her face as she remembered that these two men were still close friends. Anderson was the one who had told Nikos about her father’s dire situation, after all.

‘Congratulations on the wedding.’ He kissed her cheek, then grabbed two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter. ‘To happily-ever-after, huh?’ He clinked his glass to hers, earning a smile from Marnie.

‘Indeed.’ She drank the champagne, watching the man who would have become her brother-in-law over the rim of her glass.

‘I wish I had been able to come to the wedding,’ he said, nudging his hip against the railing and effectively screening them from the other guests.

Marnie studied him thoughtfully. Did he know what a farce their marriage was? ‘I would have liked that,’ she said finally, earning a laugh from Anderson.

‘You sure? You sound ambivalent.’

She laughed, too. ‘Sorry. I’m just surprised to see you. I somehow forgot that you and Nikos were close.’

His smile was warm. ‘He’s my oldest friend.’

Her heart turned over in her chest. She changed the subject. ‘I haven’t seen you in a long time. You’ve been staying away from our house?’

He grimaced. ‘I’ve been meaning to visit. But...’

‘But?’ she prompted, a smile belying any accusation.

‘You know... I feel bad sometimes. Your parents look at me and see only Libby.’ His smile was thin. ‘I expect you know exactly what that’s like.’

She sipped her champagne again, and her voice was carefully wiped of feeling when she spoke. ‘It’s not the same. They look at me and see only my failings as compared to Libby.’