The Billionaire’s Blackmailed Heiress(13)

“Well that is very welcoming of you Dina, and I appreciated it very much” smiling warmly at the little girl who had grinned back, lifting her book as she moved back to the door.

“See Yanis, Mina didn’t mind”

The man sighing in exasperation, however Mina noticing the way his lips had twitched.

“Go see your grandma, I think she said she is going to make cakes”.

At the mention of baking the small girl had given another squeal and waved quickly to Mina before making her way down to the kitchen.

“I am sorry” he had said softly, his mouth now broken out into a large grin.

“Everybody spoils her…she is wilful because of it”.

Mina her eyes full of warmth had nodded.

“Well she is a lovely child, no need to apologise”.

Before looking at Yanis more carefully “Is she your daughter?”

Seeing as he had shaken his head, a small sad expression entering his features.

“No. She is my niece. My sister and her husband died in a car accident three years ago, and Dina was the only survivor. Nikos insisted that she move in here so that our family could stay together to raise her”.

Mina had given a small smile “That was nice of him” she had said gently, seeing as Yanis had nodded.

“Yes. He has always been good to our family…and I guess we look on him as one of ours”.

Giving another look of discomfort, again not liking to talk of his employer, he had given her a final nod before shutting the door and leaving her once more alone.

After unpacking her clothes, few as they were, Mina had moaned with pleasure on seeing the large high end en suite bathroom, looking forward to taking a long luxurious bath, one thing she had missed from home since coming to the Greek island, the hotel only having a small shower. Unpacked, she had moved back downstairs where the housekeeper had appeared smiling warmly at her. After a small talk, she had asked if it would be OK to explore the grounds, Theresa throwing her arms open.

“You may look anywhere. Nikos said to make you feel at home. So please do not ask again, just enjoy all that this estate has to offer”.

With a grin, she had moved out, her notepad under her arm. For an hour Mina had enjoyed wandering around the grounds, admiring the beautiful flowers and wild bushes that sprang up everywhere, many hiding small nooks in which to rest, shade provided by the foliage. With a smile she had known how difficult it was to create such a natural look.

Reaching the cliff she had stood against the safety rail, once more staring down at the azure sea below, the water so clear that the bottom was visible, Mina knowing that it was deeper than it appeared. Sighing with contentment she had found a small bench perfectly positioned for enjoying the view, pulling her pencils out to start to sketch the vista before her.

As was usual she completely lost herself while drawing, jumping seeing the small movement at the corner of her eye. Turning she had smiled seeing Dina clinging onto her Snow White doll watching her silently, a serious expression on her lovely face.

“Hello Princess” she had grinned at the small girl, who had moved closer to get a better look.

“What are you doing?” she had asked shyly as Mina had motioned for her to join her, letting the girl look at the sketch.

“That’s pretty Mina” had been her sweet response, as giving her a small hug she had asked Dina to sit holding her doll.

Quickly she had then sketched the small child, ensuring to include the doll, her lip curling as she had adding a small crown on her head. Finished she had torn off the sheet giving it to the little girl who had “oooo’d” and “aaa’d”, her reserve and shyness seemingly forgotten as she had demanded to be shown how to draw. Mina had found herself having fun, realising just how much she was missing her students and the teaching job she loved so much. Sitting Dina down to draw a flower she had given her pointers on how to break up the shape of the tiny plant holding back the small laugh seeing the way the little girl’s forehead had creased in concentration. Looking up in surprise she had heard the commotion coming from the house, and rising quickly had told the girl to carry on with her task. Dina had nodded her small tongue visible at the corner of her mouth as she had been completely focussed on her drawing.

Reaching the house she had moved past the sports car in the driveway idly thinking that it had not been there earlier, wondering who owned the powerful sleek vehicle. The loud voice, yelling in Greek was rising the closer she got to the house, the tone one of anger as pushing the door open she had blinked at the scene before her.

Yanis was trying to calm down another man who stood in the middle of the foyer. Tall and good looking, in a petulant way, he was pointing at Theresa demanding something, as the older woman had glared back, her polite demeanour slipping as she had spoken back, her chin raised, her eyes flashing.