Fortunately, he didn’t look skeptical, but he did look concerned. “Then you should definitely return to the house to rest. However, I do have a task for you this evening if you are feeling up to it. One I believe you will enjoy.”
Task could cover a whole spectrum of possibilities.
“I’m positive I’ll be fine by then. I do have a question, though. Does this task require wearing all our clothes?”
He hesitated, leading Kira to believe he was warring with himself over a proper response. “Yes, it does. Dress in formal attire and meet me at the entry no later than nine p.m.”
Kira experienced a nip of panic over eating that late, and not having a thing to wear. “I brought only a few casual outfits and business suits.”
He came to his feet and held out his hand. “Then I shall have something appropriate sent to the villa. Do you have a color preference?”
She allowed him to help her up, but continued to grip the water glass with both hands to quell the urge to touch him. “I’m sure I’ll be happy with what you pick, and I’m almost certain it won’t be green.”
His smile arrived full-throttle, bright as the sun and sensual to a fault. “I will have Athena choose the dress.”
Lovely. That meant she could be wearing metallic rags. “All right. Can you give me a hint as to what we’ll be doing this evening?”
“I will say only that you will have a memorable experience.”
Knowing him, and herself in his presence, she had no doubt about that.
* * *
“Exactly how well do you know Kira Darzin?”
Seated in his private office at the resort, Tarek continued to scan the expense report, intent on ignoring Athena’s inquisition. “I see we’ve gone over budget on the kitchen redesign.”
“Your newest protégée is to blame for that. I ask again, how well do you know her?”
He set the binder aside on the desk and leaned back in his chair. “She is not my protégée. She is serving as my advisor.”
Athena began to pace the room like a captive animal. “I have known you to be a lot of things when it comes to women, but never naïve.”
“What is your point, Athena?”
She paused to face him, her hands tightly balled at her sides. “I believe she is bent on sabotaging you by insisting on unnecessary changes to the resort’s plans. Everything she has suggested will cost you more money.”
Athena was more ruthless than he when it came to expenditures, even though it did not affect her bank account. “Why do you believe she would do this?”
She began pacing again. “Revenge, perhaps. I suspect you have angered her and she is attempting to punish you by targeting what you cherish the most. Your fortune.”
He kept a choke hold on his anger. “These accusations you are making are absurd, Athena. The price of the alterations to the original kitchen configuration is minimal in light of the overall cost to build this resort. Your allegations stem from a personal vendetta.”
She appeared shocked by his assessment. “I have no idea why you would believe that.”
“Kira mentioned that you confirmed we were lovers. Perhaps this attack on her motivation is your retribution for the wrongs you believe I have committed against you.”
“And your indictment tells me that this woman matters more to you than you care to admit. And since you have such faith in Ms. Darzin’s abilities, perhaps it would be best if I resign my position, effective immediately.”
Tarek shoved his chair back and stood. “You would leave in the middle of a project you encouraged me to begin?”
“Actually, yes. I’m certain you and your new charge will work very well together, until you tire of her as you tired of me.”
He refused to wage a war of words with her. “I will see to it you receive suitable severance for your efforts.”
Athena’s smile was laced with sarcasm. “How generous of you. And as soon as you take off your blinders, you might want to pay more attention to your new lover’s behavior. She could very well be harboring a secret that would not please you.”
Before Tarek could offer a rejoinder, Athena rushed out of the room like a tempest and slammed the door behind her. He knew how Athena operated when she did not have her way. She would attempt to come back, apologize and return to business as usual. This time, he would not take her back, nor would he give any credence to her suspicions. He would sense if Kira was hiding something important from her. Unlike Athena, she did not have a deceptive cell in her being. She had demonstrated that to him through her insistence he be completely honest with her, and he had yet to answer that request.