THE TYCOON'S REBEL BRIDE(21)
company are in his office.”
Frowning, Isabella straightened and glanced toward Theron’s closed door.
Without another word, she headed for his office, ignoring Madeline’s calls.
Part of her wanted to run as fast and as far away as she could, but another part of
her wanted to see for herself the woman that Theron wanted to marry.
She threw open the door and walked in. Theron who was standing in front of his
desk looked up and frowned when he saw her. Not good. An older woman also turned,
and her frown was much larger. The last, who had to be Alannis, picked up her head and
stared curiously at Isabella.
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SILHOUETTE DESIRE 1944
THE ANETAKIS TYCOONS
Of course she wouldn’t be homely, because that would be asking far too much.
Alannis and her mother both were extremely beautiful in a classy, elegant way. While her
mother wore her hair upswept in a neat chignon, Alannis’s hair fell to her shoulders in a
dark wave. Her brown eyes were warm and friendly, and she smiled tentatively in
Isabella’s direction.
“Bella,” Theron said gruffly. “Did Madeline not tell you I was occupied?”
The reproach was clear in his voice, but Isabella ignored it. She was too busy
trying to find fault with Alannis. Unfortunately for her, unless Alannis’s voice was
grating, the woman was darn near perfect. She and Theron even looked fabulous together.
“She might have mentioned that you were busy,” Isabella murmured.
“Who is this?” Alannis’s mother asked imperiously.
Theron turned and smiled reassuringly. “This is the girl I told you about, Sophia.”
Then he looked back at Isabella. “Isabella, I’d like you to meet Alannis Gianopolous and
her mother, Sophia. Ladies, this is Isabella Caplan, my ward.”
Sophia immediately lost her guarded look and smiled warmly at Isabella. To
Isabella’s further surprise, the older woman approached her, holding her hands out.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Isabella. Theron has told us so much about you. I
think it’s wonderful that he’s taking the time to introduce you to potential husbands.”
Sophia kissed her on either cheek while Isabella murmured her stunned thanks.
“I’m very happy to meet you, Isabella,” Alannis offered with a shy smile.
“Likewise,” Isabella said weakly. Her gaze found Theron’s again. She looked for
any sign that he was miserable, but his expression was unreadable.
“Was there something you needed?” Theron prompted.
She made a show of checking her watch. “You told me to be here this morning.
Well, here I am.”
He frowned for a moment and then remembrance sparked in his eyes. “Ah, yes, of
course. You’ll have to forgive me.” He flashed a smile in Alannis’s direction. “In the
excitement of Alannis’s arrival, I completely forgot about your security team. They’re
waiting out front. I’ve briefed them on my expectations. Madeline can go over the rest
with you.”
He walked over to his intercom and proceeded to tell Madeline that he was
sending Isabella out to meet her security force.
And just like that, she was dismissed.
Sophia hugged her warmly while Alannis gave her a friendly smile. A moment
later, Isabella found herself all but shoved from the office.
Numbly she made her way back to Madeline’s desk. Madeline gave her a quick
look of sympathy before getting up and circling her desk.
“Come with me,” she directed as she all but dragged Isabella after her.
Isabella allowed herself to be led into the same conference room as the day
before. Madeline shut the doors behind them and then turned on Isabella.
“I’ve changed my mind. I’ve decided to help you.”
Isabella looked at her in surprise. “What do you mean?”
Madeline sighed. “Alannis is a lovely girl.”
“Now you’re making her sound like a poodle,” Isabella pointed out, remembering
that Sadie had told her the same.
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MAYA BANKS
SILHOUETTE DESIRE 1944
THE ANETAKIS TYCOONS
“She’s truly lovely, but she’s all wrong for Theron. I knew it the moment I met
her and her forceful mama. Alannis is a mouse while Theron is more of a lion.”
“Maybe he wants a mouse,” Isabella murmured.
“Have you given up then?” Madeline asked as she tapped her foot impatiently.
Isabella gave her an unhappy frown.