―It‘s not that simple button, Luke and I were going to
spare you this, but Nikos seems to think you come with the deal.‖
― What? ‖ her mouth fell open.
―It seems you were really potent.‖ He added with a
sheepish smile.
―There‘s got to be a way around this without losing the
contract. Talk to his father.‖ She suggested
―Actually,‖ Max started to explain, ―He‘s doing business
for his brother in law, Demetrius Vassiliadas. Demetrius is
unavailable for now and sent Nikos in his place so it‘s Nikos that
we‘ll be dealing with in the future.‖
―Vassiliadas?‖ Lily had heard of him. The billionaire
shipping tycoon. She thought she‘d seen him in the tabloids, who
dubbed him the Patron Son of Greece. She was sure she had read
that he‘d taken a very young wife. She glanced at Max,
remembering when she read the article that their age difference
was not much difference from her and Max‘s, that‘s why it stuck
in her head. If Nikos was his brother in law, then it was Nikos‘
younger sister that Demetrius would have married. The same
one Hektor mentioned at dinner. Max wasn‘t lying when he said
family meant a lot to him if Demetrius sent his brother in law to
51
Lietha Wards
do business for him which was worth millions. Then it dawned
on her that this contract had to be worth more than she originally
thought. She was sure a tycoon like Demetrius didn‘t deal in
small change, ―How much is this whole thing really worth?‖
―About a hundred and fifty million.‖ Luke answered.
Lily reached out and grabbed the back of a chair, ―Oh my
God!‖
―Lily…‖ Luke started, but he was interrupted.
―I‘ll go.‖ She quickly answered before she changed her
mind.
―No, you won‘t.‖ said Max seriously, ―I‘ll cancel the
contract.‖ What she didn‘t realize is that it was a paltry sum in
view of what she was worth to him. He was worried that Nikos
would get his hands on her, literally, and there was nothing he or
Luke could do short of shooting him. However, he had another
idea which is what he and Luke were arguing about.
―You can‘t! ― She protested, ―That‘s a lot of money.‖
―Lily, I‘m certainly not starving.‖ Max finally smiled with
a hint of arrogance.
She knew he was far from it. Luke was filthy rich because
of Max and if he could afford to pay her brother such an
outrageous salary, he could probably do without the contract, but
she didn‘t want to be responsible for it.
―So what…I flash him a smile here or there.‖
―He‘s Greek,‖ Max said, ―The aggressive form of an Alpha
male. A smile won‘t do. He‘ll manage to get you in a situation
where you can‘t say no.‖
―You‘re joking….and that‘s not possible. I‘ll be with you.
You‘ll look out for me.‖ She saw something flash in his eyes, but
it vanished just as quickly.
―Max has a solution Lily.‖ Luke added solemnly.
―Although I‘m not sure if I like it, but the final word comes from
you.‖
52
The Billionaire‘s Secret Desire
Lily turned back to Max, ―All right. Let‘s hear it. I come
down with the flu and stay locked up in my room in Greece?‖ she
smiled trying to ease the tension between the two.
―No, not quite.‖ Max came around his desk and
approached her.
The strange determined look in his eyes caused her to let
go of the chair and step back, but he managed to grab both of her
hands in his. She flicked a glance at Luke who looked entirely
helpless. ―What are you doing?‖
―You‘re brother and I.‖ He gave Luke and odd look,
―Thought that maybe we could convince Nikos that we‘re
engaged.‖
Lily tilted her head at him completely puzzled.
―Engaged?‖
―It‘s just for cloaking purposes.‖ Said Luke quickly, ―To
discourage him.‖
She was speechless.
―If we‘re convincing, Nikos will leave you alone. That way
Luke and I can protect you from him.‖
She looked back and forth at the both of them, ―You‘re
serious.‖
―The idea has merit Lily.‖ Said Luke.
―You two are that worried about Nikos.‖ Like she said
before, she could always say no. He was a man, a really nice
looking man, but he still didn‘t hold a candle to Max and
although she was flattered by his attention, she certainly wasn‘t
going to hop into bed with him.
Luke nodded, ―Max can protect you. Nikos will not let up
his pursuit unless we give him reason.‖
―Like I told you before Max, I am a big girl. I can say
‗no‘.‖
Luke straightened himself to his full height and stared
down at her, ―Max will have his hands full trying to keep Nikos