“If anybody tries what he just did, then I will make them pay”.
Mina had flicked her look up to his eyes, seeing honesty within them, and knowing that he would be a formidable enemy, nodding her head softly.
Just at that moment Dina had skipped her way into the hallway, her eyes lighting up seeing Nikos stood there. He had released Mina and turned to the small girl.
“Princess…” he had cried, bending as she had run forward leaping into his arms, hugging the tall man.
“Look Nikos…look at the picture Mina drew of me”.
Her hands holding out the sketch she had drawn earlier. He had admired it, looking over at her.
“You are very talented” his only comment, before giving a small chuckle pointing out the crown to a delighted Dina. As she had wriggled to be let down she had then ran over to Mina, holding out the picture she had drawn, the rough image of a flower visible. Mina had held it up and admired it from all angles before squatting down and declaring it to be the best flower she had ever seen, Dina laughing happily, Nikos watching the scene, his lips curled in a grin.
As the small girl had ran off to find her grandmother to show her picture, he had looked at Mina.
“You are very good with children”.
Mina looking back at him “I love children, one of the reasons I went into teaching I guess”.
Seeing as Nikos had nodded, before asking if she would join him in the dining room.
There he had sat at the large opulent table, pulling papers from the briefcase he carried.
“Tomorrow you need to go to the following clinic, where you will give DNA samples to allow them to prove that Alexander was your father”
Giving her an apologetic mirthless smile
“Doing it at the clinic will also ensure that there are no calls of foul play on my part”.
Mina had nodded softly. She had always expected to be asked to do this, the process not one that took long or was invasive. She had taken the appointment details from him, opening her mouth softly to ask “How am I supposed to get there?” seeing as Nikos had given a small smile.
“Well I would have asked Yanis to take you”.
Quickly adding seeing the discomfort on her face “But I thought you might prefer to drive yourself…which is why I have organised for a rental car to be delivered later today for your use …for as long as you need it”.
Mina had looked at him with surprise, once more not sure how to take yet another act of kindness, the softness in Nikos’ eyes and smile becoming more businesslike as he had briefly looked down at the papers.
“In three days we are going to be attending functions, where you can be seen and have your connection with Alexander become public knowledge”.
She felt her insides cringe, feeling the heat on her cheek as she had blushed, this surprising Nikos who had watched her closely.
“Is…is that necessary?” she had muttered, her large eyes beseeching, as he had nodded, his features set.
“Yes…very”.
Dropping her eyes, she had once more reminded herself that she was doing all of this for her mother and that when it was over she was unlikely to meet anybody ever again. Nodding she had wordlessly agreed as the man before her had moved on.
“I have ensured that plenty of money is put into your account, so you can look the part”.
With a small frown she had taken the small slip of paper he had given her, gasping in shock on seeing the amount of money now sitting in her account, her eyes flying to his.
“If you need more just let me know”, he had said so matter of fact, as she had again stared at the balance in her hand, knowing that it was more money than she could make in a year, no two years she had corrected herself.
“It…it is far too much Mr Dupris” she had stuttered.
His small chuckle had sent her eyes flying to his, seeing the humour on his face.
“Wow that is the first time I have heard a woman complain about getting too much money for clothes”, Mina giving a nervous shaky smile in response as he had held out another sheet of paper.
Taking the sheet, her eyes had quickly scanned the list of different outfits he had written on it. Suits and cocktail dresses two of the items she did not possess in her own wardrobe at home never mind on holiday, Mina frowning softly so unsure where to get such items. She had been aware as he had moved closer to her, once more feeling the inexplicable tremor of awareness passing through her as she had looked up.
Nikos had watched the young woman before him. Taking in the myriad of emotions which had passed through her large innocent eyes, this thought making him frown slightly. Nothing connected with Alexander Mentis was innocent, certainly not his daughter. His eyes had once more scanned her features, feeling his body’s tightening awareness for Mina, the sudden urge to touch her so strong as he had moved forward, fighting the desire to run his hand down her wonderful body, his voice hoarse.