“Apparently not Mr Black, and I’m guessing he is not setting another place at Christmas dinner either”.
He had laughed loudly at her response, his eyes growing softer, as in a more serious tone she had added
“It is difficult for him, Mr Black, it is not easy to find that you suddenly have a sister you knew nothing about”.
She had seen as he had nodded back his look full of respect.
“That is very forgiving of you, and I do wish you would call me Joe”.
Flashing him a dazzling smile she had insisted that he then call her Mina, the two falling into silence. After several seconds he had once more lent forward.
“May I ask you a question Mina?”
Looking back she had nodded “Of course…please”.
“How do you intend to vote?”
The question had caught her off guard, but looking back without even blinking she had answered “With Nikos”.
Seeing the surprise on Joe’s face she had finished “My understanding is that the company is doing well and that a sale will result in many of the workers losing their jobs”.
He had nodded softly, his brows knitting together thoughtfully “You are aware Mina that you will gain a great deal of money if you vote for the sale”.
Frowning slightly she had held his gaze.
“I have no real interest in money Joe. My life is just fine as it is”.
Giving a small smile “What you never had you never miss, but it seems wrong to throw so many others out of work for the sake of a quick profit for so few”.
Once more she could see the respect in the man’s eyes, as she had asked a question of her own.
“I thought that you were against the sale?”
Her question raising a look of surprise to Joes face “Why would you think that?” he had replied.
“Nikos gave me files to read on all the board members. Yours said you were more inclined not to sell”.
His laugh had made her look up in surprise, seeing how his large smile had made his pleasant features almost handsome.
“Smart, beautiful and honest - I have to tell you Mina you are not what I was expecting”.
With wide more serious eyes she had asked softly “And what were you expecting?”
His eyes had travelled to where Alexander was still sitting, downing yet another drink.
“I am ashamed to say that I had made assumptions based on other members of your family”.
With a smile that he had not hinted at her birth situation she had nodded sadly.
“Perhaps having money can lead to somebody being a little lost in their own lives” she had muttered softly, Joe nodding beside her, his eyes regarding Mina with a new strange light.
As the music had stopped, she had made to move as he had kept hold of her.
“Please, one more dance” he had grinned “I feel that I have interrogated you and would like a chance to redeem myself”, smiling Mina had nodded her head, her lips twitching as she had allowed him to keep dancing with her.
Nikos had frowned watching as she had failed to return from the dance floor, his eyes narrowing seeing the way that the other man had looked at her, a hot fire of jealousy filling the pit of his stomach, scowling at the realisation of his own feelings. Joe was not only one of the board members, but also his most trusted lawyer, he was also not a man who Nikos had ever really seen with many different women, frowning again as he had seen the unmistakable signs of attraction the other man showed. The hand on his shoulder had made him jump forcing a smile as he had seen Claire.
“You look lonely…come dance with me” she had crooned softly, her eyes shining seductively.
Rising he had followed her to the floor, taking her hand as he had led her close to where Mina swayed so sensually with the other man.
“I had hoped that you would have been the one to ask me to this dance” Claire’s soft voice had cut through his thoughts as he had looked down at her in surprise.
“Did we make plans?” he had frowned, as she had laughed softly shaking her head.
“I said hoped Nikos” she had repeated playfully, before looking over at Mina.
“You brought Mina?”
Looking down in surprise, he had nodded “Yes, she needs to meet with the board” shrugging “seemed like a safe environment for her”.
There had been silence for a few seconds before Claire had once more spoken, her smooth tone holding something strange, something Nikos had recognised instantly, holding back the sigh.
“She looks amazing…even more so than the night she barged in on us”.
“I suppose” he had replied, trying to sound as disinterested as possible, hoping that the woman in his arms would drop the subject. She however, had continued, the jealousy in her voice becoming more palpable.