“Wow. Wouldn’t want somebody to take advantage of me would we Nikos?”
Seeing as he had scowled “What the hell do you mean by that?” he had bit out, as she had waved her hand away not willing to add more as she had felt suddenly so tired and heart-sick.
“What are you doing here Nikos? Did you only come to attack me, because I really wish you would just leave” she had bitten out, confusion, hurt and anger all showing on her lovely face. His expression had instantly changed, become unsure, an almost pleading look entering his eyes.
“I told you earlier…we need to talk” He had said softly.
She had shaken her head with determination “And as I said earlier we have NOTHING to talk about”.
Her chin raised in defiance, a defiance belied by the look of hurt on her face and the way her eyes shone with tears which she had furiously blinked back.
“We have a lot to talk about Mina…just hear me out” Nikos moving even closer. Mina had given a soft sob, her emotions in tatters from seeing him for the second time that same day, her whole body starting to shake.
With a groan and tears spilling over the lids she had looked up at the man before her, her red lips starting to quiver “What do you want Nikos?…Please I asked you to just leave me alone, please respect that”.
She had seen the shadow cross his eyes as he had looked back at her, his voice softly repeating “I just want to talk to you Mina”.
Turning to pull herself together, she had finally fallen back on British politeness managing in a voice that still trembled “Fine. But I am afraid I can only offer you tea” seeing as he had moved to sit on the old settee, his long body making it seem even smaller. Shaking his head he had refused, his eyes watching her warily, as undecided she too had given up on the drink, sinking into the armchair furthest from him. Seeing as his lips had twitched softly, understanding why she sat where she had.
“So talk Nikos…what is it you need to speak to me about?”
His face had once more become serious, as he had looked uncomfortable.
“I heard what you said to Alexander at the vote Mina” pausing for a second to look deeply into her eyes “I am so sorry for what I thought and said”.
Looking down at her hands she had nodded “it’s fine…please just forget it”.
Raising her head quickly she had heard the frustrated sigh come from him, seeing as he had risen to his feet, moving backwards and forwards in front of the settee his body taut like a caged panther.
“No it’s not fine” he had bitten out, finally coming to a stop to look down at her from across the room.
“I have spent the last week trying to figure out what I should say to you Mina, how I could apologise for the way I treated you, and the truth is there is nothing I can say to you that will explain what a jerk I was”.
For the first time she had felt a small chuckle leave her, breaking the tension between them as her head had nodded softly.
“Yes you really were” she had managed, as he had given a soft groan, laughing back with her.
“Yeah I really was, and I am so sorry Mina”. His eyes now imploring as the two had looked at each other. Giving a small cough, she had waited as he had continued.
“I should have trusted you…I should have listened to you…”
Mina had looked up at him, her face full of hurt.
“Yes you should have. You should have also trusted that I would stand by our agreement” pain crossing her lovely face as she had allowed the hurt to be heard so clearly on her voice “You didn’t have to make me your mistress to control me Nikos…I would have stuck by our agreement no matter what”.
She had seen as his expression had changed to one of confusion.
“Make you my mistress? What does that mean Mina?” his look incredulous “You think that I slept with you to control you…to make sure that you voted for me?”
Mina had dropped her head, her fingers tugging at each other “Why else would a man like you take any notice of someone like me Nikos? You could have any woman you wanted. Why would you waste one second of your time on some school teacher from the UK, who doesn’t know a butter knife from a fish knife, who has the sophistication of a child. A woman who was the daughter of a man you detested”.
Her voice had tapered off, as she had heard his sharp intake of breath, felt as he had moved in closer to her, kneeling down before her, a small groan leaving him.
“Is that what you think Mina?…My God you could not be further from the truth. True I fought my feelings for you because of who you were, because you were Alexander’s daughter. But I couldn’t hold back from you. You are the gentlest, kindest, funniest, most intelligent woman I have ever met”.