The team had already completed all but one area of the project, that being Libya after communications and negotiations had once more broken down, Grace still working on re-establishing the agreement she had been given at the start. The decision had been taken that the team would have a month’s holiday after finishing on the island, Grace relieved to find with a few simple Google searches that the owner of the island was not in residence. For over a week they had taken measurements and tagged the animals, Grace never tiring of the water or the bulky creatures which would become so graceful in the water.
After one such dive she had pulled off her fins, moving back up the beach, surprised to see Carol, her research assistant talking to a tall man. With the sun behind him Grace had been unable to make out the figure as slowly she had moved towards the pair. Pulling her face mask and snorkel from herself she had smiled welcomingly as she had heard Carol’s voice.
“Oh Mr Manetas…here comes Dr Dionis now”, Grace coming to an abrupt stop as realisation had hit her as to who exactly the man was, panic and fear thudding through every part of her as the smile had dropped from her lips. She had heard the expletive from him as he too had turned and come face to face with the woman who had so callously and publically abandoned him so many years ago.
“Grace!” her name bitten out with contempt and anger. Groaning softly she had watched as with his stance becoming rigid, he had turned and began to walk quickly away from the beach. Dropping her snorkelling equipment she had thrown Carol a panicked look before running after him leaving the bemused woman wondering what had just happened.
Reaching him, she had tentatively grabbed his arm, Alexos coming to an immediate halt as he had spun around his face black with barely contained rage.
“You have one hell of a cheek Grace”
She had looked up helplessly at the man she had once been expected to marry, her fingers pulling nervously at each other.
“I know this might be a shock” she had stuttered softly seeing as his eyes had narrowed dangerously.
“A shock? No…the shock was receiving a phone call six years ago from the lying bitch that had used me to get one past her family”
She had flinched at this her eyes dropping from his with shame “I had no choice Alexos…please”
Gritting his teeth he had glared down at her, a small sneer on his voice. “We all have choices Grace”
Before looking over at the rest of the group who were all now gathering to watch the scene unfold before them
“I came here to invite your team to dinner…right now I am trying hard not to throw the whole damn lot of you off my island”
With eyes suddenly so full of fear she had once more grabbed his arm, his cold black eyes drilling into hers as he had snarled for her not to touch him, Grace stepping back instantly, her eyes pleading.
“Please Alexos…this is a vital project. I swear that we will only be here till the end of the week. My team have done you no wrong nor have these animals” She had watched the indecision in him before he had given a quick nod.
“Fine. The end of the week and then you are out of here” His eyes once more scathing as they had racked over her before he had turned on his heels moving back to the small road on which his car was parked.
Turning herself Grace had felt her whole body shaking, the queasy nausea in the pit of her stomach making her suddenly so pale as the others had moved forward, real concern written all over their faces.
“You know each other?” Carol had asked in surprise her eyes wide “He is gorgeous” the others glaring back at her inappropriate comment as she had clamped her mouth closed. Moving towards the computer she had held her lips tightly shut, starting to enter data, the others looking at each other, silent signals passing between them as they also had returned to the jobs they were doing.
Grace had tried to concentrate on the screen before her, the words swimming as tears had welled up in her eyes. He had every right to be mad at her, every right in the world, yet his contempt had stung more than she would have ever thought possible.
It also did not help that he had over the past six years matured into a stunning man, his look more sure than it had been six years previous. Where there had been fun on his features, now his look was cold and sombre he now carried himself with the air of someone used to being very much in control, Grace aware of the many stories of his ruthless business dealings.
Realising that she was no longer typing she had stamped her foot holding back the desire to scream that had filled her. She was so tired of feeling guilty. She was doing work that was valuable, work that would benefit an entire species. So what if she had not become yet another convenient wife producing heirs for their rich husbands, it was not as if he could not have found another woman to fill that role. Stopping with her internal angry tirade she had gasped. He never had. This simple truth stilled her instantly. He had never gotten married. Groaning with the realisation that what she had done must have soured him on marriage forever. No wonder he hated her, and he did hate her, the venom in both his words and eyes proving that.