When Christakos Meets His Match(69)

                Except now it was back, and Sidonie welcomed it.

                Her aunt had just left, to be taken home by Alexio’s driver, but before she’d gone she’d spilled her secret.

                Sidonie had marched straight into Alexio’s office without knocking and declared, ‘We need to talk.’

                He’d looked up from his papers and sat back, arching a brow. ‘Now you’re ready to talk?’

                Before she’d had time to regret her impetuous action Sidonie had turned on her heel and walked into the vast living room, not liking how intimate the office space had felt. She had also been very aware that his assistant, who was there every day, had left. Until now she’d been a master at staying out of Alexio’s way in the spacious apartment.

                Sidonie crossed her arms over her chest and almost winced at how sensitive her breasts were. They had grown bigger. That awareness made her voice curt.

                ‘Answer my question.’

                Alexio looked as immovable as a rock, tall and intimidating. At that very moment Sidonie had a vivid memory of lying naked beneath him, spreading her legs wide to accommodate his body, feeling the bold thrust of his arousal against her slick body. Her legs wobbled alarmingly but she held firm.

                Thankfully Alexio spoke before Sidonie’s wayward memory could take over completely.

                ‘I have paid off all of the debts and ensured that your aunt’s mortgage has been paid in full.’

                The sheer ease with which he’d been able to magic their debts away made her feel disorientated.

                ‘How dare you?’

                Sidonie was trembling. But she was afraid it was more to do with his proximity than her anger.

                Alexio’s eyes narrowed on her. ‘I dare because you are carrying my child and we are now family. Tante Josephine is as much my responsibility as you are—and the baby.’

                Sidonie’s arms grew so tight she could feel her nails digging into her skin. She spoke from a deep well of hurt and rejection at this attempt to muscle into their lives. ‘We are not your responsibility. I never came to you. I want nothing from you. As soon as I’m feeling better I will go and find work again and pay you back what we owe.’

                Alexio’s mouth went into a bitter line. ‘I think you’ve more than proved your point, Sid. You’d prefer to put our child’s health in jeopardy in order to save your pride.’

                A lurch of hurt emotion rose up, strangling Sidonie for a moment. Then his words our child and Sid impacted.

                When she’d gathered herself she said with quiet ferocity, ‘Do not call me that. My name is Sidonie. And the last thing I want to do is put my child in danger. I will keep working because, in case you’ve forgotten, you called me a hustler and I would prefer to work than to be accused of being that again.’

                To her horror, Sidonie’s voice had cracked on the last words and she turned now, facing blindly away from Alexio, breathing harshly, emotion getting the better of her.

                She heard him move behind her and said rawly, ‘Don’t come near me.’

                He stopped. Tears stung at Sidonie’s eyes; her throat ached. She hated him. And she repeated this to herself as she struggled to regain her equilibrium.

                His voice came from behind her, tight. ‘Sidonie, we need to talk about this... I recognise that I was too hasty that day. I didn’t give you a chance to explain.’