LITMIR.BIZ

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this is happening to you, Anna,’ she said softly. ‘This isn’t at all how I hoped your life would be like.’ When she’d been little, Milly had promised to take care of her. Vowed to always protect her. And now she was powerless.

      She sent money when she could, and she had a savings account in Anna’s name, but there was so little she could do.

       And yet with five million euros you could do so much more. You could bribe Carlos for custody, even...

      ‘It’s not your fault, Milly,’ Anna said. ‘And actually I was calling for another reason.’ She paused, and Milly steeled herself, hoping there wasn’t more to worry about. ‘A space has opened up at the academy,’ Anna continued hesitantly. ‘I just got the email this morning.’

      ‘The academy...’ Milly’s mind raced. She knew Anna had been dreaming of going to the prestigious music school in Rome for several years, but there had been no space, and, more importantly, no money. Carlos would never agree to pay for anything, and Milly couldn’t afford the fees, even with her generous salary.

      ‘That’s wonderful, Anna, but—’

      ‘I know it’s a lot,’ her stepsister continued in a quiet, intense voice. ‘And you can’t possibly pay it all, but I’ve arranged to give music lessons to some neighbours. It’s not much, but it would help—’

      ‘Oh, Anna.’ Milly bit her lip. She doubted her sister could make nearly enough teaching violin to make up the difference, but she couldn’t bear to disappoint her and put a stop to her dreams. ‘What does Carlos say?’

      ‘I haven’t told him, and I don’t plan to. He doesn’t care where I go to school, and he might refuse just because he could. Besides, he doesn’t have the money, and if he did, he certainly wouldn’t spend it on me.’

      ‘But...’

      ‘I can forge his signature. I’ve had to before, when he’s forgotten to sign forms and things. I’d leave and return home the same time every day, not that he notices. It could work, Milly. I’m sure of it. It’s just the money...’

      ‘I’ll see what I can do.’ Tears pricked Milly’s eyes as she thought of her sister desperately trying to make this dream work, and all on her own strength. She was so young, and yet far too old for her years. Milly couldn’t bear to think of the debauched scenes Anna must witness in her father’s home, when Carlos had his horrible friends over. And when she thought of one of those amoral men looking at Anna, coming into her bedroom...

      She had to do something.

      ‘Thank you, Milly,’ Anna said earnestly. ‘I really appreciate it.’

      ‘I can’t make any promises,’ Milly felt compelled to warn, even though she wanted to promise Anna everything. ‘Send me an email with the details of the fees, okay? And I’ll try to make the numbers work.’ Although she doubted they would...not unless she had five million euros.

      ‘All right.’ Anna hesitated. ‘The only thing is, the space won’t be open for ever. The principale said I needed to send my deposit by the end of the week.’

      ‘The end of the week—’ Milly couldn’t keep the words from coming out in a squeak of dismay.

      ‘I’m sorry. I never dreamt a space would come up in time for me to start...’

      ‘Send the email,’ Milly repeated firmly. ‘I’ll look into it this afternoon, and if I can swing the fees, I’ll wire the deposit as soon as possible.’ Although it made her stomach sink to think of it. How would she be able to afford such a thing? And yet she knew she wanted to. Desperately.

       How desperately?

      That little voice continued with its sly whispers after Milly had ended the call. Desperately enough to marry Alex Santos? That would solve all of Anna’s problems. Do you really want to keep her safe?

      Milly scrunched her eyes shut, trying to block out that whisper, but it did no good.

      Well, do you? the voice mocked. Do you?

      * * *

      ‘There is a woman here to see you, Kyrie Santos.’

      Alex frowned as he listened to the disembodied voice of the receptionist on the intercom. ‘A woman? I have no appointments. You know that.’ His voice was sharp with recrimination. All the staff at his headquarters in Athens knew he didn’t take unscheduled appointments. He didn’t want prying eyes, ever. No one saw him while he was here; he had had a private entrance installed with a lift that went directly to his penthouse office. His door was always closed.

      ‘Yes, I know, sir...’ The woman sounded apologetic as well as uncertain. ‘But this woman insists...’

      ‘Insists on seeing me?’ Alex repeated in disbelief. Who on earth could it be? It didn’t matter. ‘Then you can simply tell her I am not—’

      ‘Insists that she is your fiancée,’ the woman corrected in an embarrassed rush. ‘I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t know if...’ She trailed off uncertainly while Alex frowned at his intercom, trying to process what he’d just heard. His fiancée?

      Something far too like hope flared in his chest. Milly. It had to be her. She’d changed her mind...and she’d come all the way to Athens to tell him? He was surprised as well as both gratified and curious. ‘Send her in,’ he said gruffly, and then he rose from his chair and stalked to the window, trying to control his wayward emotions.

      Since leaving the villa—and Milly—they’d been in a frustrating ferment. He didn’t want to care about her refusal. He didn’t want to feel the rejection, and yet he did. He’d been stewing over it for the better part of two days, telling himself it didn’t matter even though he knew it did.

      She was just a housekeeper, after all, and yet he’d wanted her. He’d wanted her to marry him, because rather surprisingly, considering how quick his decision to ask her had been, he realised he wanted her and no other. He desired her with a strength that surprised him; he’d spent the last few nights lying awake imagining his hands on her skin, his mouth... But of course their wedding night, if it happened, would be an exercise in endurance rather than an experience of passion.

      With his gaze on the window and his back to his office, he heard the door open and then click softly shut, followed by a quick shudder of breath that made the hair on the nape of his neck stand up. She sounded as if she were steeling herself, and she probably was. He knew from experience it didn’t get any easier to look at him. Every time he glanced in the mirror it was a shock.

      ‘Kyrie Santos,’ she said quietly.

      ‘Alex,’ he reminded her. He didn’t turn from the window; no need to remind her of his scars. She was undoubtedly thinking of them already.

      A heavy silence ticked on for several taut moments. ‘I’ve...reconsidered your offer,’ Milly finally said, her voice matter-of-fact and determined. ‘If it’s still open.’

      Alex’s gaze rested on the skyscrapers of Syntagma Square, his heart thudding hard even as he kept his voice measured, almost toneless. ‘It is.’

      ‘Then I’m here to say I will marry you... Alex.’ Her voice held a tremor of emotion, perhaps fear. Was she scared of him? Or just repulsed by his scars? Maybe both, and for good reason. He hadn’t given her any real reason to respond otherwise.

      ‘Why have you changed your mind?’ he asked. ‘As a matter of interest?’

      She took a quick, telling breath. ‘I had more time to think about it.’

      ‘And what did you conclude?’ He couldn’t keep a sardonic note of cynicism from entering his voice.

      ‘That five million euros is a very good deal,’ Milly answered after a moment, her voice ragged with honesty. ‘And it will help my sister immeasurably.’

      She

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