Lily, she really did feel like hitting something or someone.
―I‘ll show you to your stateroom for the night.‖ Said
Nikos, ―And then I‘ll take you on a tour of the boat.‖
―This is like a floating hotel.‖ Said Lily in awe.
―My brother in law, does things in a big way, like you
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said.‖ Grinned Nikos. He actually had this made as a wedding
present for my sister Sophie.‖
Helene made a noise under her breath and when Lily
darted her eyes to her she was sure she saw her expression
darken to the point of making the beautiful woman ugly. It was
then she realized that Helene was incredibly jealous of her little
sister. It was a hard concept for Lily to understand. She would
have loved to have had a sister.
―It‘s too bad you weren‘t here tomorrow. My sister will
hopefully be here by then. I have a distinct feeling you two would
be good friends.‖
‗What?‖ shot Helene with an expression of shock,
―Tomorrow?‖
Nikos gave her a look of surprise, ―Yes, Demetrius is on
his way to get her now.‖ Helene actually paled causing Nikos to
narrow his gaze at her. Something else was going on in his
sister‘s mind. ―What is it?‖
―Nothing.‖ She abruptly shook her head. ―I just
remembered I need to be somewhere else this evening.‖ Before
anyone could say anything she was gone.
Nikos turned back to his other two guests with his
expression masking the rage he was feeling toward his sister‘s
rudeness, ―I apologize to both of you for Helene‘s behaviour, it is
shameful.‖ He focused on Lily, ―Especially to you Lily, you have
been very patient in this matter.‖ He held up his hand as she
opened her mouth to say something, ―No, please, I know what
Helene is like, we all do. Unfortunately she was very spoiled by
my parents and is used to getting what she wants. It is our hope
that she will grow up someday.‖
Lily thought about saying something in her defence, but
then she couldn‘t find anything to say at all so she kept her
mouth shut. It wasn‘t often that she came across someone she
didn‘t like, but Helene certainly sealed it when she kept making
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passes at Max even though the enormous ring on Lily‘s finger
was as obvious as a slap in the face. Not only did the woman
practically run away after hearing that her sister was returning,
she was missing her father‘s birthday celebration. She would
give anything to celebrate another birthday with her father. He
and her mother died in a car crash when she was fourteen.
―There‘s no need to explain Nikos.‖ Max said relieving the
other man of his discomfort, ―Lily was very understanding.‖ He
flinched as she pinched him causing Nikos to bellow with
laughter.
―Is that right? Come, I‘ll show you around the ‗floating
hotel‘.‖ He mused.
After an hour Lily took back her statement about this
being a floating hotel. No hotel she‘d ever been in was this
immaculate. It was decorated in the colors of royalty, red and
gold cloth, with brass accents, high polished wood and expensive
oriental rugs. Although the man who insisted on holding on to
her hand the whole time was more appealing to her. She felt
strangely adored. Not in an uneasy way, but a warm gushy
feeling way. You‘d never know that he was acting by the way he
paid attention to her. Regardless, she was going to soak it up.
Not too long after the guests started to arrive. By the
looks of them, they must‘ve been Greece‘s elite besides a few
recognizable famous faces. Lily‘s jaw dropped seeing a famous
director from the States. ―Max, isn‘t that—―
―yes.‖ He said, ―come on, we have to get dressed for
dinner.‖I hope you brought a gorgeous gown.‖
She stopped, ―Actually I don‘t think I did—not for this
crowd.‖ She didn‘t expect this affair to be so elaborate so she
brought simple dinner dresses but nothing as fancy as this
entailed.
―I have a solution.‖ Nikos said. He had overheard the
conversation and couldn‘t help but intervene, ―come with me,‖ he
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held out his hand but Max only shook his head and took her arm
causing Nikos to smile at his possessiveness.
He led them to the owner‘s suite which was about the size
of a small apartment and opened the door to a large walk in
closet revealing a multitude of designer gowns, ―These are my
sisters—―
―Nikos! I can‘t wear your sisters clothing—― she
protested.
He held up his hand cutting her off, ―If you knew Sophie,
you wouldn‘t hesitate, please,‖ he said sweeping his hand toward