The Art of Loving a Greek Billionaire (13 page)

Please, Damen—

Damen groaned out loud. “I’m sorry.”

Please, Damen—

His hand shook as he reached for his phone and called the man he had assigned to tail Mairi incognito since the day he had declared his love for her at GAYL.

“Tell me everything, what she has been doing, who she was with – every fucking thing you know.” He still could not explain why Mairi had seemed to act like she had been happy with the role of an idle woman of luxury, but Damen knew now that whatever the reason was, it would be a good one.

His employer’s words were an answered prayer.
 

All the time he had been following Ms. Tanner, Christophe had wrestled with his guilt, wondering when it was the right time to intrude. Mr. Artini had been clear – he was not to let Mairi Tanner know he was around unless her life was under threat.
 

But what if she’s being disrespected?

Then we pray that she will be able to handle it.
 

Mr. Leventis’ orders had also been as ruthless and explicit.

You are not to let me know anything unless it is about her life in danger in any way.

Mairi Tanner’s life had never been in danger, but her heart had been dying since the very first day.

“No school, no business – no one in Greece was willing to hire her in fear of retaliation from the Kokinos clan or your mother. In the end, Ms. Tanner accepted a virtual job.”

The amount that Christophe named as Mairi’s wages made Damen flinch, and the hours that such work entailed made Damen hate himself even more.

“She used the money she earned to buy a fish spa setup. It should be in your bedroom.”

His gaze swiftly scanned the room.
 

There.

Damen slowly crossed the room. A fish spa. In an aquarium that seemed to have been designed by a man with a fetish for an alien’s breasts. On the armchair near it was a card, and he picked it up.

Happy First Month Anniversary, my love!

I wanted to give you a gift that no one else would have thought of giving you – did I succeed?

I want you to know that you’re my dream come true and you’ll always be so.

There is nothing I won’t do for you, so please, lean on me – I am here to share not only in your success but your troubles, too.

I’m stronger than you think, you know.

I love you.

Your precious,

Mairi

The letter fell from his fingers.

His eyes closed.

He saw himself, no better than the lowliest bastard as he exploited her weakness.
I can’t believe I chose you over a real lady like Alina.

He saw Mairi, her heart shredded by his words, her dream ripped apart by his cruel actions.
 

Go back to Manolis. He can have my leftovers. I had you in every way—

Damen spun around, his fist hitting the glass of the closest window, the sound of its explosion no different from how he imagined the sound of Mairi’s preciously innocent optimism being raped by his brutal attack.

STOP. Please, please, please stop.

Damen pounded the wall with his bleeding fist, again and again and again until a large crack formed on the blood-stained cement. He wanted to whip himself, sleep in a fucking bed of thorns – but he knew no self-punishment would be enough.
 

“I’m so fucking sorry, Mairi. I’m so fucking sorry.”

The Art of Forgiving a Greek Billionaire (Book 4)

February 2014

Once upon a time, there was an ordinary girl who grew up listening to bedtime stories where there were no knights in shining armor or Prince Charming. Instead, it had Greek billionaires and this little girl dreamt she’d one day have Her Own Greek Billionaire to live happily ever after with.
 

When this little girl grew up, she discovered a painful lesson. Not all wishes are meant to come true, not all broken hearts may be repaired, and not all Greek billionaires love forever.
 

Not even hers.

This is my story.
 

I mean your story.
 

I mean, Mairi Tanner's story.

EXCERPT

Damen Leventis was closing in on them.
It was only a matter of time before the Greek billionaire found out where she and Norah had sent their niece to recuperate. He was the most persistent man Vilma had ever met. He was everywhere they went, and his spies was everywhere, too.

During the day, he was engaged in a fierce corporate battle, Damen Leventis against the world with his own board turning against him and attempting to wrestle control from his hands in light of his “undesirable way of conducting his personal life”.

Everyone in the corporate world was of the opinion that Damen was fighting a losing battle, no different from the way a disgraced actor could never again make his audience believe him. But Damen seemed to be the only one who did not believe it, working every minute of the day without fail.

And at night —

Vilma scowled. Only the TRO she had been forced to file against him kept the Greek billionaire away. It had been her last resort, and a cowardly move at that, but he had left her no choice. When push came to shove, Vilma would do everything – even sell her soul – to make sure her little Mairi was safe.
 

Making a snap decision, she dialled a number she only called for the most critical emergencies. “Get me Morrison.” After, she gave explicit directions to her driver.
 

The chosen meeting place for Hollywood’s most famous divorce lawyer and the man who was, for a time, one of the government’s top snipers was a rather quaint-looking chapel in a small town in Florida.
 

Between them was a thick file of documents, containing all the necessary information about a young woman named Mairi Tanner – his next assignment.

Vilma Tanner’s voice was a mix of sugar and steel as she asked, “Will you do it?”

The man in front of her was strikingly attractive, and his twinkling eyes gave him a boy-next-door charm that was effective in getting everyone to trust him with their secrets. His voice was mild when he asked, “Are you not taking this a little too far, Attorney Tanner? She’s heartbroken, I get that. But that you want her to practically disappear—”

“You don’t get it, do you?” she asked impatiently. “My niece fell in love with a
billionaire.
Worse, he’s a
Greek billionaire,
and though I love reading about such men in books they are not what I’d call my ideal husband in reality. They are often chauvinistic pigs and they can be very stubborn. My niece needs time away from him to heal, and I am willing to bet my entire wealth that he will not be willing to give her that.”

“So instead you want me to kidnap her and keep her hostage while she gets over being dumped?”

“It won’t be kidnapping. When you tell Mairi that it is my wish for her to stay under the radar, she will not cause any problems.” Vilma paused. “Well, except for one thing, which I cannot guarantee.”

The odd tone in the older woman’s voice made Drake raise a brow. “What is this problem?”

She said gravely, “Please do not fall in love with her.”

The words caught him unaware and he jerked in his seat. He said tightly, “If you’re in any way implying about the last assignment I had—” Even now, that part of his life…
hurt.
He had always known Yanna Everleigh was not for him, but being a fucking idiot, he had fallen for her anyway.

“I just want you to be prepared. My niece is the kind of girl that any man can and will fall in love with, given enough time in her company. But…she’s not for you.”

Stung at the thought that Vilma perhaps thought him unworthy of her niece, he murmured, “With all due respect, Attorney Tanner, but that’s not for you to decide.” His eyes flashed, the usual friendliness in them turning into the cold glittery gaze of a natural-born killer. “If I care to seduce her, I will. Perhaps you should think twice about considering me for this job.”

Vilma sighed. “Now I have offended you when I did not mean to. I only meant she is
not
the woman who will be able to love you the way you deserve. Do not ask me why or how I know it. I only do.”

He snapped, “You make her sound so irresistible.”

“To men like you, yes. Someone like my niece
is
irresistible.” She opened the folder and unclipped the large print of Mairi’s photo.
 
“This is my niece.”

Drake took the photo.

And stared.

And knew.

A heart-shaped face of almost old-fashioned beauty, the loveliest smile in the world, and oh, a voluptuous figure that begged for a dominating man’s caress. But what really had him drawing his breath was the innocent hope in her eyes—

This girl...

No matter what life would throw at her, she was the kind who believed in the pot of gold at the end of every rainbow.

She reminded him so strongly of Yanna it made Drake swallow.

“Do you understand now?” Vilma asked. “The risk isn’t to your life. It’s to your heart.”

Dear Reader,
 

Thank you for reading the third book in my Greek Billionaire Romance serials. Words are not enough to express how happy I am that so many of you have enjoyed reading Damen and Mairi’s story.
 

I’ve said this again and again – I
know
that Damen and Mairi are not your typical hero or heroine. I know Damen is far from perfect and I know Mairi is too trusting. But in my world, I’d like to think that love is powerful enough not really to change them but to make it work and give them the happily-ever-after they deserve.

We’re already halfway through – just two more books to go. I hope you continue on with me in this journey. I won’t lie – more heartbreak awaits, but I’m sure you know that it will only make their reunion all the sweeter.

Thank you again for reading and if you’d like to be the first to know about the next book, The Art of Forgiving a Greek Billionaire, please do consider
subscribing to my newsletter
and liking my
Facebook page
.
 

Marian Tee

About the Author

Marian Tee is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of steamy romantic comedies. She is Filipino-Chinese, has lived all her life in the Philippines, and is a frustrated mangaka. She is addicted to horror flicks, misses hip hop dancing, and loves all things Japanese.

Website:
mariantee.com

Twitter:
marian_writes

Other Books in the Greek Billionaire Romance Serials

The Art of Catching a Greek Billionaire
(Book 1)

The Art of Trusting a Greek Billionaire
(Book 2)

The Art of Loving a Greek Billionaire (Book 3)

The Art of Forgiving a Greek Billionaire (Book 4)

Enjoy spectacular discounts when you buy these multi-author bundles that Marian Tee is a part of!

LIMITED TIME SALE ONLY!

Rock Gods of Romance Boxed Set
(6-Book Rockstar Bundle)

Billionaire Bad Boys of Romance
(10-Book Bundle)

Seduction in the Sun
(12-Book Exotic Getaway Romance Bundle)
 

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(12-Book Bundle)

Table of Contents

The Art of Loving a Greek Billionaire