When Christakos Meets His Match(55)

                Sidonie was aware of parts of herself breaking off inside, shattering. She knew she had to hold it together.

                Alexio spoke again, his voice as cutting as a knife. ‘But it wasn’t just that, was it? She put your aunt into severe debt, to fund her own expensive tastes.’

                Shame heaped on top of shame. Sidonie felt horribly exposed. From somewhere deep inside, and far too late, she reached for and pulled up an icy shield.

                ‘That is none of your concern.’ Because she’d never intended to tell him about it. It was part of the real world, which wasn’t part of this fantasy world.

                Alexio’s mouth twisted. ‘But it would have been, wouldn’t it? You were waiting for the right moment, when enough intimacy had been established, and then you were going to make your move. I just wonder if you were going to ask only for enough to cover the debts or more...based on how many nights we’d spent together? Based on how duped you thought I was by then?’

                ‘Theos.’ He was lashing out now, making Sidonie flinch. He narrowed wild-looking eyes on her.

                ‘You were good. I’ll give you that. But there were a few signs... The way you were so blasé with the clothes, as if you had expected nothing less. That little wistful moment outside the jewellery shop... Were you hoping to wake up and find a diamond bracelet winking at you on the pillow?’

                Sidonie desperately tried not to let the awful insidious insecurity take hold, telling her that despite everything she was her mother’s daughter. Had something about the sheer level of Alexio’s wealth called to her? More than the man himself? Suddenly she doubted herself. She had to take deep breaths to avoid throwing up right there on the terrace.

                The sheer depth and evidence of Alexio’s cynicism was astounding, shocking. The lengths he’d gone to because he hadn’t really trusted her... Because he’d suspected something.

                The things he’d found out... The fact that she had so fatally misread this man. How had she not seen an inkling of this? Only those most fleeting moments when a look would cross his face...hardly enough to make her wonder.

                Nevertheless, a small, tender part of Sidonie not lashed by this terrible revelation was making her say, ‘You have it all wrong. I was only telling my aunt something to reassure her. She was hysterical. I didn’t mean it. You were never meant to hear that and I had no intention of asking you for money.’

                To Sidonie’s own ears it sounded flat. Didn’t sound convincing. She couldn’t seem to drum up the necessary passion to convince him. She was too stunned, too shocked...too wounded.

                Predictably, Alexio didn’t believe her. His eyes were a dead, emotionless void.

                ‘I do not wish to discuss this any further. We’re done here. I am going back to Athens within the hour. If you come with me I will ensure you get a flight home.’

                Sidonie felt devoid of all feeling except one: she hated this man. And she couldn’t believe how gullible she’d been—how naïve not to have assumed that a man as powerful as him would, of course, be suspicious and cynical by nature.

                She said flatly, ‘I would prefer to swim home.’

                Alexio shrugged minutely, as if he couldn’t care less. ‘As you wish. There’s a boat leaving for Piraeus this evening. My housekeeper’s husband will take you to the port.’

                Sidonie welcomed that. Because right now she hated herself for automatically thinking about what it would be like to get on a plane again without this man distracting her from her fear with his charming sexy smile. With that wicked mouth.