Pandora's Box (26 page)

All falseness. All this is a trick, Ashford. Don’t fall for it.
“Where is she now?” His voice was harsh and demanding.
What does she want from me?

“In Paris.” Scott didn’t know how Ethan would receive the news. “And—”

“Dammit, Scott, spill it,” Ethan shouted, exasperated.

“Ghost didn’t discover if her son is—” The word
yours
stopped in Scott’s mouth. The handkerchief was getting wet.

“Mine,” Ethan finished smoothly, but it went down his throat rasping and set in his stomach like a stone.
Better to face this once and for all.

Scott nodded nervously. “I must tell you, sir, your parents are trying to contact her. They discovered she’ll arrive in London with her son in a few days.”

No
. He shook his head.
No. Not this time, Calista. You’re not going to outsmart me. I have no son. I have no kids. I will not pass this curse on. Not even if I have to take drastic measures.
He breathed deep. He was more intelligent than his parents, more cunning and wealthier.

“Scott. Listen well. I have a very special mission for you.”

In a split second, the nervousness passed and Scott’s eyes gleamed. “Of course, sir.”

France, Paris, Orly Airport.

Saturday, November 20
^th
, 2010.

7.35 a.m.

“I don’t understand you, mother,” Demetrius said to Eve in Greek.

She looked up at her handsome son and her heart swelled with love. “I thought you’d like to visit England and Scotland.”

“Yeah, but you took me around the world, and never there, even though I asked you to a few times.”

Eve struggled with her confused feelings as they walked the corridors. “Long ago… I made a mistake there, Demetrius. A big one. Because I was immature, I—” She almost told him the whole truth. But she would never destroy her son’s life as her mother had done with hers when she sold her for a few drachmas to a pimp. “I never thought of the consequences of it. That is why I moved to Paris. Your father’s gentleness and love made me find peace within myself. It’s time to revisit old ghosts that have been haunting me.”

In Ethan Ashford’s G650.

8.02 a.m.

It had been a long time since Ethan had felt so unnerved. They had been delayed at Gatwick airport due to the intense air traffic.

He closed his eyes and tried to relax, leaning his head back on the headboard of the bed, but it was no use. He had been nauseated since the day before and hadn’t eaten since. He was attentive to all sounds and he could hear Vanessa’s voice outside talking to the captain. He had everything prepared and he knew it was a one-time chance.

Calm down, Ashford. Everything is going to be as you wish.

8.13 a.m.

Ethan breathed deeply and opened the stateroom door a few moments after take-off.

His gaze swept over the cabin and he found comfort in the familiar settings until his gaze stopped on the couple sitting on the sofa.

Demetrius was wearing a navy suit with a blue shirt.

Eve was dressed more conservatively than when he had met her. The hem of her light pink Armani skirt was knee-length and she was not wearing flats anymore, but black and white pumps.

A strange dizziness hit him and he steadied himself on the door frame, not realizing he was hypoglycemic
.
 

“Eve.”
Chic and fresh as ever.

He saw her became deathly pale. He saw Demetrius turn to look at him with a ferocious look in his eyes, ready to defend his mother.

“Ethan,” she managed to whisper his name.

Demetrius whipped his head to stare back at his mother. “You know him?”

She bobbed her head. “From a long time ago.”

“Yes, it has been a long time. Maybe too long,” Ethan said as he walked toward Demetrius with his hand stretched out. The resemblance couldn’t be denied. The young man was his spitting image. “How do you do, Demetrius? I’m Ethan Ashford.”
Your father.

“Demetrius Maurois.” He was already standing in front of his mother, protecting her.

Ethan grinned, amused and it suddenly astonished him to discover himself proud. He could never have thought he would be proud of a son’s behavior. “You raised him well, Eve.”
Now it’s too late, Ashford. You’re bearing no sons. Or daughters, for that matter. Calista’s lineage ends on you.

“I did. How are you, Ethan?” Eve’s hand gently pushed her son to the side. She had managed to compose herself a little and rose to kiss Ethan’s cheek but she nervously babbled, “How handsome you’ve become.”

How could you doubt it if my son looks exactly like me?
He shrugged and motioned to the stateroom. “I’d like a word with you. You owe me this much.”

She nodded, and with a reassuring smile to her son, she walked to the stateroom with Ethan right on her heels.

Eve’s gaze swept over Ethan, taking in all the changes. The shy, awkward teenager had become a confident man. “Why did you trick me?”

Because you did the same. Many times.
“It was necessary.” He leaned on the closed door and crossed his arms over his chest. “Sit, please. There is no need to be afraid. I just want to understand why.”

Sorrow filled Eve. “I’m so sorry, Ethan. For everything. I shouldn’t— I shouldn’t have done—”

“But you did.” His azure eyes blistered her and she lowered her eyelids, ashamed. The words escaped through his mouth as a torrent that couldn’t be contained anymore, “Now I have a son. A son that I didn’t see growing up; that calls himself by another’s name.” Eve’s eyelids shot up. “Now he is being used to blackmail—”

“What? Blackmail? Who said Demetrius is your son?”

He frowned confused. “Is he not? But the birth certificate— Nine months—”

“No. He is not,” she interrupted. Regret and sadness filled her just as it had all those years ago when she learned she was pregnant. “I’m sorry, so sorry. I didn’t—” There was no way to soften the truth. “Demetrius is your father’s son. He’s your half-brother.”

The blood rushed away from Ethan’s face and his arms lowered, circling the middle of his body as searing pain spread through it. He thought he would vomit.

Instead, Ethan fell, hitting the floor.

“Ethan, please. Wake up.” Eve patted his face gently. She was scared. She couldn’t have imagined Ethan’s reaction. The worst thing she thought he could do was slap her, as he had done when he discovered she had been paid to be with him those six months.

Demetrius had started pounding on the door as soon as he heard the noise, scared for his mother. She had rolled Ethan away from the door with great difficulty to let her son in.

Ethan heard his name being called by a sweet voice he had never forgotten, which he had loved, and which had betrayed him deeply. More than once.

He didn’t want to go back.

All he wanted was to stay in his dark room where there was no pain, where no one could hurt him. Where the monsters that threatened him stayed outside. Where he ruled his own life and no one could intervene.

But slowly the darkness receded and he blinked, his eyes adjusting to see Eve’s face watching him with a worried look.

“Why?” he asked hoarsely. “Why, Eve? I did nothing to deserve this—”

She cut in, with a desperate look in her chocolate eyes. “Do you want to sit? Something to drink? Demetrius, can you ask for a coffee, please?”

“Yes, mother.” He jumped to his feet and exited the stateroom.

Ethan laughed bitterly. “He doesn’t know, does he?”

“Please don’t tell him,” she begged.

“Don’t worry.” Ethan sat up and let out a deep breath.

“He thinks his father died when I was pregnant,” she whispered as she heard her son coming back with Vanessa.

Certainly George would be better dead.
Ethan moved to the sofa. He rubbed his face, dejected, while his life got more surreal than he ever thought possible. “Vanessa, please, bring me tea, some toast and honey. I need to eat something.”

After Eve had closed the door, he asked, “How come, Eve?”

“Demetrius was born at seven months.” She sat heavily by his side. “I didn’t know that man was your father. It was very good money.”

“An orgy?”

“More or less. Your parents kept me for them. And… I had to do it, Ethan. When you’re underage in the hands of a pimp that supposedly is your father, you have no choice.”

We always have choices.
“But surely you were on the pill?”

“When I left you, I got depressed and forgot to take it for many days.”

“I got depressed and forgot to take it,” he parroted, ironically. “That’s rich, Eve.”
Yes, blame me.

“You don’t understand.” Eve looked at her hands. “You were nice... So gentle, Ethan. When you discovered and hit me, reality settled in. For those six months
I
was happy. I didn’t have to worry about food, money or servicing more than one man per night.”

It’s always about money.
He scoffed. “Then it’s my fault you got pregnant. And by my father, no less.”

“No. It’s just a very bizarre, cruel coincidence. As I said, I didn’t know.”

I very much doubt it.
He closed his eyes, thinking about what he was going to do now. As much as the whole situation disgusted him, he knew it wasn’t her fault.
Wait. Something’s wrong.
“But how did
you
know who Calista and George Smith were?”

“When my pimp discovered I was pregnant, he arranged an abortion and told me who the baby’s father was to force me to get rid of it because he knew I liked you.” She breathed deep. “When I realized the horror of the whole situation, I almost did it, but I was too afraid. I asked for your grandfather’s help. He paid my debts with the pimp, bought me my freedom and sent me to Paris.”

“So, you blackmailed Niarchos.”

“Well…” She bowed her head for an instant and then raised it, to look at him with pragmatism in her chocolate eyes. “Yes. He used me; I used him. He made me promise to never contact you or your parents anymore.”

“But how did
your pimp
know, Eve?”

“That was not difficult. Your parents live in a house called Ashford Mansion. Your parents and grandparents were always in the newspapers and magazines. These men know their scenarios. I named the little baby Oedipus so I would never forget what
I
had done.”

Maybe she is not that wrong.
Suddenly, a thought entered Ethan’s mind and he held it tight.
It’s going to be my salvation and their ruination.
“So it was just… luck?”

She lifted her shoulders. “Seems so. The worst kind.”

Yeah, as always, when Calista and George are involved.
“Did you love your husband?”

“There comes a time, Ethan, when we have to choose. After Demetrius was born… I had money, but not enough. In Paris, I decided to do by myself what I did before. It was… not exactly whoring. As a businessman would do, I started looking for an old, wealthy man to invest in. Fortunately, Maurois was my first
investment.
He fell in love with me and with Demetrius and proposed. No, I didn’t love him, but he was nice and he didn’t know about my past. He was a shy and lonely man. It was
my
choice to stay with him. Because of Demetrius. Because he reminded me of someone. A gentle teenager I hurt once, who taught me a lesson I never forgot.”

There were too many people who had hurt Ethan. She was just one more. But, for once, he knew it was not on purpose, not her fault. “What did this teenager teach you?”

“That we have a choice. I shouldn’t have toyed with your feelings. I shouldn’t have let you fall in love with me. I should have taught you sex and that’s all.”

Really? You discovered it too late for my heart’s sake.
He almost snorted. “Do you need money, Eve? Is there anything I can do? Any way I can help?”
Any way I can buy you? Any way I can make you stay away from my parents so they don’t use my half-brother too?

“Thank you, Ethan, but no. Maurois left us well provided for. I know you mean well, but no man pays for me anymore. You don’t know how sorry I am.”

A soul-deep sigh came from within Eve’s body.

It washed over Ethan, a soothing wave beginning to cleanse his soul.

London, The Dorchester.

10.36 a.m.

How many times? How many times am I going to let them interfere in my life and hurt me?
He wished he could sweat away his churning thoughts, but the side of his forehead and face was swollen and throbbing too painfully for him to go running.

He told Eve what kind of parents he’d had and given strict orders to her never to contact them. In return, he had promised her he would ensure his parents would never get in touch with Demetrius.

He had dropped Eve and Demetrius off at The Mandarin Oriental and called Mr. Arkade at the Sloane Street jewelry store, asking for a Van Cleef ballerina clip. He wrote her a letter of farewell and had Wilkins deliver the gift in her hands.

He hoped he had definitively closed that door to his past.

Now, he had to plan a strategy to deal with his parents.

The Harlequin Suite.

10.38 a.m.

“Hello—” Barbara was sitting on the sofa reading a magazine when Ethan entered the suite. Her light blue eyes widened at his marred face. “Oh, my God, Ethan! What happened?”

He gazed at her, but all he could see was Calista, George and Eve in the middle of an orgy. The pain was such that he unleashed it on her, without thinking. “None of your concern. I’m going to shower. Alone.”

Barbara’s eyes filled with tears. Hate appeared on her face. She was sure Sophia was behind his foul mood.