Сара Морган – At His Revenge: Sold to the Enemy / Bartering Her Innocence / Innocent of His Claim (страница 8)

‘Except that you were the one who did the phoning.’

‘True.’ Maria smiled. ‘Power by proxy. Why don’t you start by choosing a dress?’

‘Is Stefan joining us?’

‘He sends his apologies. He has one more important meeting he has to take before you leave.’

‘I don’t mind. I’d be too self-conscious to strip in front of him anyway and it’s more fun with a woman. It was thoughtful of him to arrange for you to help me.’ She saw Maria’s expression change. ‘You don’t think he’s thoughtful?’

The other woman removed a beautiful pair of shoes from a bag. ‘That’s certainly an adjective I’ve not heard applied to him before.’

‘He’s running a business. Of course he has to be tough. But on the two occasions I’ve met him he’s been kind to me.’

Maria put the shoes down in front of her. ‘You have no idea how pleased I am to hear that. Why don’t you pick a dress and try it on? Because once he’s finished his meeting he won’t want to hang around. Is there anything in particular that grabs your attention?’

‘The red one.’ There was no other choice for her and the colour matched her mood. Bold. ‘I’ve never worn anything like that in my life.’ She reached for a shimmering sheath of scarlet with jewels on the strapless bodice. ‘This is gorgeous. Will it be over the top?’

‘No. It’s a very glamorous party. That dress is very sophisticated.’ Maria stared at it for a long moment. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to pick a different one? Maybe the blue?’

‘You don’t think Stefan will like the red one?’

‘I think he might like it a little too much.’

‘How can he possibly like it too much?’

‘Selene …’ The other woman hesitated. ‘Are you sure you want to go to this party?’

‘Want to go? I’m desperate to go. You have no idea how boring my life has been up to now. I’m going to dress up, drink champagne and have the most amazing night with Stefan.’

‘Just as long as you know that’s all it will be.’ Maria cleared her throat gently. ‘Stefan is the stuff of female dreams, but he quickly turns into a nightmare for most women. He isn’t the happy-ever-after type—you do know that, don’t you? Because you seem like a really nice girl and I’d hate to see you hurt.’

Selene paused with her hand on the dress.

She knew all about hurt and this wasn’t it. ‘I won’t be hurt. I’m excited. It will be fun to just enjoy myself for one night.’ Fun to be able to make a decision to go to a party. Fun to decide what to wear. For once, her life felt almost normal.

‘You don’t usually enjoy yourself?’

‘I have an overprotective father.’ Realising that she’d said more than she intended to, Selene draped the dress over her arm. ‘Is there somewhere I can try it on?’

‘You’ll need underwear.’ Maria handed her several boxes. ‘Go and change and if you need help, call me.’

An hour later Selene was the proud owner of the most beautiful dress she’d ever seen, along with a small emergency wardrobe suitable for an overnight stay at a luxury villa on a Greek island. Ahead of her lay the most exciting night of her life, and if lurking underneath her happiness was a fear that her father might return early she dismissed it.

That wasn’t going to happen.

She’d have plenty of time to get home, persuade her mother to leave and be long gone before he returned.

‘You can’t do this. You can’t take that girl to the party. It’s immoral.’

Stefan glanced up from the papers he was signing to find Maria standing in front of his desk like a general facing down an enemy army.

‘Now, that’s the look you’re supposed to give unwanted visitors.’ He flung down his pen. ‘Do I need to remind you that you were the one who showed her into the lion’s den?’

‘I’m serious, Stefan. Take someone else. Someone more your type.’

‘Just this morning you were lecturing me on picking the wrong type. Make up your mind.’

‘I wasn’t telling you to prey on innocent girls.’

‘She’s an adult. She knows what she’s doing.’ He picked up his pen and flicked through the papers on his desk.

‘She’s an idealist. She thinks you’re thoughtful and kind.’

‘I know.’ Smiling, Stefan signed the back page. ‘For once, I’m the good guy. An unfamiliar role, I admit, but I’m surprised by how much I’m enjoying the novelty.’

‘You’re treating her like a shiny new toy that you can play with.’ Maria’s mouth set in a firm line. ‘Send her home to her father.’

Stefan was careful not to let the sudden flare of emotion show on his face. Slowly, he put his pen down. ‘Do you know who her father is?’

‘No. Although she mentioned something about him being overprotective.’

‘Is that a useful synonym for “tyrant”, I wonder? Her father, Maria, is Stavros Antaxos.’ He watched as Maria’s face lost some of its colour. ‘Yes. Exactly.’ He heard his voice harden and it irritated him that just saying the name was enough to do that to him. He’d had over two decades to learn how to control his response.

‘How on earth can a man like that produce someone as charming as Selene?’

He’d been asking himself the same question.

‘I assume she takes after her mother.’

Maria looked troubled. ‘But why would someone as wealthy as her, from such a close family, come to you?’

He’d been asking himself the same question. Repeatedly. ‘I’m a hero, didn’t you know? I’m the first man women think of when they’re in trouble.’

‘You’re the man who causes the trouble.’

‘Ouch, that’s harsh.’ Stefan leaned back and stretched out his legs. ‘Here I am, sword at the ready, eager to chop the head off a dragon to save the maiden, and all you can do is knock my confidence.’

She didn’t smile. ‘Is that really what’s going on here? Because it occurred to me that maybe you’re using the maiden to taunt the dragon.’

Stefan’s smile didn’t slip. ‘When we were dishing out roles in this company I picked cynic, not you.’

‘We’re all cynical here. It’s contagious. Does she know how much her father hates you? Does she know the story?’

No one knew the story. Not even Maria, whom he allowed more liberties than most. Oh, she thought she knew—thought it was all about business rivalry and two alpha males acting out their deeply competitive natures. She had no idea how far back it went, or how deep the scars. And why would she? They weren’t visible. He didn’t allow them to be visible.

‘It’s because of my relationship with her father that she chose me.’

Maria’s mouth flattened with disapproval.

‘Are you sure this isn’t a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire?’

‘You’re suggesting I’m worse than Antaxos? That is hardly a complimentary view of one’s boss.’

‘We’re not talking about work right now. My admiration for your intellect and business skills is boundless but when it comes to women you’re bad news. What are your plans for her, Stefan?’

‘When it comes to women I never make plans. You should know that by now. “Plan” implies a future and we both know I don’t think like that. I’ve agreed to help her with her business—which, by the way, looks remarkably interesting on paper, particularly when you consider the product. And I’m taking her to a party. I intend to provide more fun than she’s had in the rest of her life. She can make her own decisions about how she spends her time. She’s twenty-two and on a quest for independence.’ Stefan battled a disturbingly vivid image of her breasts revealed through a cloud of lace. ‘All grown up.’

‘She’s very inexperienced.’

‘Yes. I’m finding that unusually appealing.’

‘And does that appeal have anything to do with the fact you are the last man her father would want her to be with? Thinking of her with you will drive him demented.’

Stefan smiled. ‘I consider that an added bonus.’

‘I’m worried about her, Stefan.’

‘She came to me. She asked for my help. I’m giving it.’ It was obvious that there was something going on beneath the surface and it intrigued him. She was playing a game, but he wasn’t sure which game. ‘I don’t recall you ever being this protective of the women I date before.’

‘That’s because you normally date women who don’t need protecting from anything.’

‘So maybe it’s time for a change.’ Cutting off the conversation, he rose to his feet. ‘How long until she’s ready? No doubt she’s still pulling clothes on and off, trying to decide what to wear.’

‘She decided what to wear in less than five seconds and it took her barely more than that to try it on.’

Used to women who could waste the best part of a day selecting one outfit, he was impressed. ‘I like her more and more.’

‘She has a very high opinion of you.’