The Billionaire’s Blackmailed Heiress(55)

“Thank you” she had finally managed.

“Well I had better get back to my class” moving to grab the door handle to get away from him. For the first time something had seemed to slip from Nikos, as he had stepped closer to her, his closeness sending panic signals throughout Mina.

“Can we talk Mina? I need to talk to you”.

Fervently shaking her head, still not willing to look at him she had bitten her lip “No……there is nothing to talk about. I have a class Nikos and I need to get back to them”.

“When do you finish?”

He had insisted, his tone holding a pleading note, as finally she had looked up at him. With a gasp she had seen how pale he too looked, his eyes dull and lifeless. Had he been sick she had wondered, her first instinct to reach out to him and ask if he was ok fighting hard to keep her hands by her side. Choking back the words she had lifted the cheque.

“I think Mr Dupris that this finalizes all business between us. I appreciate your taking the time to deliver it yourself….though you could have just posted it”.

Mina had tried so hard to sound professional but could hear how her voice had quivered, before she had whispered, the misery so clear.

“Please just leave me alone”, pulling the door open and slipped into her classroom before he could say another word.

The rest of the day had passed in a daze for Mina, her teacher persona thankfully taking charge and seeing her through as she had shut down her emotions, refusing to think of the man she had never thought ever to see again. At lunch, she had listlessly pushed around the food on her plate, her mind feverishly making plans for class, anything to stop his face popping into her head.

Before she had left for Greece, Mina had been pursued by many of the other faculty, her gentle nature, good humour and stunning looks making every red-blooded male in the building look closely at her. Since returning, her new sexy hair style and the air of vulnerability which had clung to her had only seen the attention increase, many moving to sit beside her and offer her comfort for her mother’s passing. Mina however, saw none of this, her mind solely focussed on trying to shut out the one image which when it did manage to barge its way into her thoughts, would fill her with intense hurt and loss once more.

Finally the day and week was over, and she had been relieved to once more seek sanctuary in the small house she and her mother had shared, pictures of the two of them laughing together making her smile sadly. Pulling the cheque from the pocket she had earlier stuffed it into, she had thought how it would at least clear the debt now on the building which she had needed to take out to rent the Villa Aqua for the first month, wincing as the memory of making love with Nikos in the cabana had flashed through her mind, her body buzzing with need at just the memory of their frantic love making that day. With a soft groan she had thrown the cheque onto the small table in the hall, not able to deal with it at that moment.

Listlessly staring into the fridge, she had given a sigh, the emptiness once more a reminder to shop. Closing it over she had given up on the thought of food, her appetite nonexistent as she had flipped on the kettle, a cup of tea the only thing she could stomach at that moment.

The ringing doorbell had made her frown, groaning at the thought of another friend coming to give her their consolations. Dragging her feet wearily along the wooden floors she had checked through the spy hole sighing heavily before opening the door. The jovial face of Bill Clarkson, one if her co-workers, had looked back at her, Mina fixing a smile on her lovely face.

“Bill…What can I do for you?” she had asked warily, seeing as he had held out a casserole dish to her.

“OK Mina. Since you got back, you have hardly eaten a thing at work and I am betting that you don’t have much in the house”.

Mina had ran a hand over her brow as she had tried to think what to say that would see her co-worker, one of the most persistent of her admirers leave, just as he had moved into the house. With a small frown she had watched his back disappearing down her corridor, sighing in exasperation as she had closed the door, following him.

“Kitchen this way?” he had cried, not waiting for an answer as he had moved into the small area.

“Please Bill” she had managed as he had stopped turning to face her, his face kindly.

“Mina” he had said gently “We are worried about you…and this is just dinner. You need to eat”.

Managing a small smile back she had nodded gently moving forward and taking the dish from his hands.

“Fine” she had sighed “Please make yourself comfortable Bill…I am afraid I can only offer you tea”.