He had grinned, moving to open the large bag he clung to.
“Well then, it is fortunate that I brought this” he had breezed pulling a bottle of wine from within. Frowning, Mina had shaken her head.
“Tea is fine for me…but please help yourself” she had said hoping that her message was very clear.
“Wine glass is in the living room”.
Bill had smiled warmly at her, nodding as he had moved out to the other room, Mina giving a small sigh of relief, as she had opened the microwave determined to get rid of him as soon as possible.
Hearing the door bell ring once more she had sworn softly under her breath. All she wanted was to be left alone and the whole world seemed determined to be with her.
“I’ll get it” she had heard, Bill leaping up to answer her door as Mina had pushed the casserole dish into the small appliance before moving to find out who else was visiting her that night. As she had entered she had felt her mouth open in stunned shock, a haunted look filling her eyes as she had groaned.
“Nikos!”
No longer dressed in the suit of that afternoon, he now wore more casual jeans and a jumper to keep off the cold biting wind.
“Hello Mina” his voice had been soft, his eyes harder as he had looked over at Bill, the question clear on his face.
“And you are?” he had bit out, Bill looking so uncomfortable, his face comical as he had seemed almost to forget his own name.
“I…I” he had stuttered, completely fazed by the tall man before him, a man who had at least four inches on him and who exuded power and wealth.
Moving further into the room Mina had interjected.
“Nikos, this is my co-worker Bill. Bill was kind enough to bring me some dinner” her face still showing her surprise at seeing him there.
At this the other man had moved forward, his arm outstretched, a nervous smile on his face, Nikos taking the hand in a quick firm shake.
“That is very thoughtful of you Bill” he had spoke, his voice still hard, reading the other man’s intentions only too well, his eyes flying to the bottle of wine sitting on the coffee table.
“I’m sure you were just leaving…..please do not let me keep you”.
Bill had stood open-mouthed, his eyes moving from Mina to Nikos and back again, not knowing what to say as the tall stranger had stood so calmly. Looking helplessly at Mina, she too had seemed unable to speak, until anger had come to her aid as she had stood taller.
“No…no Bill stay where you are” her eyes flying to the newcomer.
“Bill was kind enough to make sure I had some dinner…he does not have to leave…but maybe you should”.
Nikos had moved over to the coffee table picking up the wine.
“So is this some kind of date?” he had asked, his eyes accusing as they had looked at her.
He had heard the nervous laugh from the other man as Mina had given a loud irritated gasp.
“Is that what you think Nikos…God you never give up. First Yanis and now Bill, is there no limit to how badly you think of me? Bill and I are not on a date. He is just being a kind considerate friend”.
Nikos had felt his lips twitch, knowing that she truly believed this, once more amazed at her naivety as his eyes had flicked to the other man.
“In that case I apologise” he had directed his comments to Bill “How nice of you to bring wine … to help a colleague” the note of sarcasm not lost on Bill, who had shuffled nervously, his eyes shiftily looking around, clearing his throat, knowing that the other man had clearly understood his intentions.
“Yes well…you have the casserole Mina…so I guess I can leave you to it”.
Mina had glared at Nikos as she had repeated that he was most welcome to stay, secretly too nervous to be alone with the Greek. However, with a last shaky smile he had made to move, Nikos stopping him as he had handed back the wine.#p#分页标题#e#
“Best keep it for somebody else” his tone holding an implied threat, as Bill had taken the bottle nodding.
Lifting his jacket, he had then moved quickly up the hallway Mina not moving until she had heard the clicking of the door as he had left.
“Are you happy now?” she had thrown at him, as he had raised his eyebrow.
“He was not here out of kindness Mina…he was here to take advantage of you while you were down”.
She had given him a disbelieving look.
“Oh my God you are unbelievable”.
Her eyes regarding him contemptuously “I am a big girl Nikos. I can take care of myself”.
His mouth had set, his brow furrowed in annoyance “You can be so naive sometimes. Guys like Bill take advantage of that”.
She had stared back at him, her eyes wide.