The Kyriakos Virgin Bride (17 page)

Zac raised his eyebrows.

“Not you, of course—you're my brother. And I suppose once Stavros and I are divorced, the dislike of the species will fade.”

Pandora suppressed the urge to laugh. It was not the right time. But Katy was on fire.

Katy sniffed and blew her nose. “I can't believe you're both being so nice to me. Stavros sold that exposé to cover gambling debts. I keep thinking I could've stopped it. He begged me to pay them. I refused. Last year, when you helped me get rid of those money lenders, Zac, I told him that it was the last time, that he needed help. I never thought my husband would stoop to this.”

 

When Zac walked back into the sitting room after seeing Katy to the door, he found Pandora hunched over the tabloids, looking utterly wretched.

A twinge of pity, underscored by fury at his brother-in-law, shot through him. “Remember when you first came to Athens I said don't read the papers—they'll only upset you.”

“You extracted that promise because you didn't want me reading about the speculation that you'd found a virgin bride in the remoteness of the New Zealand wilderness.”

“Partly,” he admitted. “But I also didn't want you reading the hurtful lies the scandal sheets print.”

“Except this time it's true.”

Zac blew out. “Thanks to my traitorous dog of a brother-in-law.”

“And my lack of judgment three years ago. What did I ever see in Stavros?”

Zac's mouth kinked. “The impulsivity of youth.” But his heart lightened. The fear that Pandora still fancied Stavros started to fade, leaving him surprisingly carefree.

“Oh, jeez!” She dropped the paper she'd been scanning. “That's disgusting.”

“Don't read it.” But the horror in her eyes had him reaching for the paper she'd dropped.

“They're saying that it's keeping love in the family, I'm the family whore. I feel like crawling into a hole and never coming out again. They've quoted Stavros—but it's all wrong. They're saying I met him in a scuzzy nightclub. They've even got a photo of it—it's called Wild Thing and it's famous for the wild swingers who hang out there, according to this article. But, I swear, I've never been there in my life.”

Fury rose. “I'll sue. Put that rag out of business.” He reached for the phone. After a short conversation with Dimitri, he dropped down on the couch beside her and gave her shoulder an awkward pat. “You're doing fine.”

She buried her head in her hands. “I've besmirched your name. The sooner you get divorce proceedings under way, the better.”

“I never said I wanted a divorce.”

“You were thinking about it.”

“I wanted time to work out what to do, how to cope with my feelings, the fact that you lied to me about your relationship with Stavros. With the story out, the damage is done. There will be no divorce.”

Pandora grew still.

“It is Stavros who turned what was a private affair into a public scandal. Not you. My family has humiliated you. Believe me, I will not desert you.”

Pandora peered at Zac through her laced fingers. He looked fierce and uncompromising.

“It is my responsibility to protect you.” Zac sat straight and proud. If she hadn't loved him already, she would've fallen for him right that moment. This must be how his forefather's had looked when they'd ridden out and put the fear of death into the enemy while protecting those closest to them.

It shouldn't make her feel better that he was so protective of her. She was a modern woman. Feeling this way was positively archaic.

“After all that has happened, why do you feel the need to protect me?”

He looked trapped. “Because you are my wife.”

“But why risk what it will do to you, to your profile?”

“I will survive.” He smiled, then his eyes grew serious. “It will be better if we stay together. For appearances. My PR department will sell it to the media that we love each other, that our love is pure and that we respect the sanctity of our marriage. They will be convincing that your virginity is not an issue, the Kyriakos heir has found true love and will be married forever.”

“But that's a lie. You don't love me,” she objected, incredibly tempted to give in to the spin he was creating.

Zac shrugged. “My PR department will create the illusion of love.”

His words brought her back to reality. Of course this wasn't about them, about true love. Last night's lovemaking would've made no difference to Zac. He was too in control for emotion to rule him. Her shoulders sagged, and instantly she forced herself to straighten her spine. Zac had analysed the situation and come up with a solution.

As little as she wanted such a marriage, how could she refuse? She owed Zac her support. Her place was by his side. After all, he was stuck in this quandary because of her.

“It sounds like it could work. Although it would've been easier if we'd really loved each other,” she said a touch wistfully.

“Many marriages survive without love.” Zac's expression revealed no emotion. “You've told me often enough you hate me. Love or hate, I married you—you are my responsibility. Especially now that my brother-in-law has defiled you in public.”

Three things struck Pandora. First, Stavros had ensured that Zac would sacrifice himself, his name, because of his misguided all-important sense of honour. Secondly, Zac had already decided a marriage for the sake of appearances would take care of everything. And thirdly, Zac believed—wrongly—that she hated him.

Suddenly it was very important to rectify that misunderstanding. The trick was to do so without revealing what he meant to her. “I don't hate you,” she said softly.

But Zac was already talking. “There are other things that are important—children, business, having someone to confide in.”

“Children?” Pandora's heart started to ache.
Zac's children.
He would love his children, but not their mother. “So you intend us to have—” she swallowed “—children?”

“Of course.” The searing look he gave her made her toes curl.

“Even though your nose will forever be rubbed in the fact that Stavros had me first?”

His jaw grew rock-hard. “We will not talk about that.”

“But, Zac, the media will never let us forget it.”

“I will take care of the media. We will fight fire with fire,” he replied. “They are going to devour our story of true love.”

T
he weekend passed in a haze of English drizzle, but even that did not deter the media siege outside the town house. Zac's security firm had brought in extra guards with fierce Dobermans on short leashes to patrol the fence perimeter, lest any story-driven newsperson venture onto the grounds.

A dinner out on Saturday night in a wildly popular restaurant where Pandora and Zac were snapped staring into each other's eyes and a supposedly spontaneous scoop while she and Zac strolled through Hyde Park tucked under one umbrella, their hands linked, were part of the PR plan to sow the seeds that this was a love match.

By Monday morning the tenor of the stories had started to change. Pandora no longer read them and tried to get on with her own life, but even she could not help being aware of the difference as the Kyriakos publicity machine started to take effect. She couldn't help thinking that Zac must be ecstatic that the blip in the Kyriakos share price had passed.

By the time Zac disappeared to the London office of Kyriakos Shipping, Pandora felt nothing but relief.

Determined to shake off the blues and make the best of her marriage, she arranged to meet Katy for lunch. Zac's chauffeur employed a range of offensive driving tactics to shake off the more persistent reporters and finally delivered Pandora to an exclusive department store where she was to join up with Katy. Hidden behind a disguise of overlarge sunglasses, with her giveaway pale hair firmly secured under a head scarf, Pandora helped Katy shop for some maternity blouses and dresses even though it was still too early in Katy's pregnancy for her to need them.

As they looked at baby clothes, Pandora couldn't help thinking about her discussion with Zac about children being a natural consequence of marriage. An unexpected pang of emotion floored her as she held up a tiny boys' T-shirt.

Her and Zac's baby.

Would her love be enough to hold them together? She didn't know. And he didn't even know she loved him. Should she tell him? One thing that had kept them apart had been her lie about Stavros. And deceiving Zac about the way she felt about him didn't seem like the right thing to do any longer. Not since she'd discovered he thought she hated him.

Biting her lip, she folded the little T-shirt up and put it back on the shelf and went in search of Katy.

By the time she arrived home she'd decided that it was vital for her to tell Zac the truth about how she felt about him. Even though he would never love her back, he deserved the truth.

But that evening Zac worked so late that Pandora was asleep by the time he came home. Tuesday came and her nerve gave out. She was dreading telling him how she felt about him, certain that it was going to be an exercise in humiliation. Not that Zac would intend it to be so, but how could he ever love her back?

On Wednesday morning, Pandora vowed she would tell Zac this evening. But when he called in the late afternoon to let her know that his meeting was running later than expected, the coward in her was relieved.

She was watching a video when the doorbell rang late that night.

The sound of male voices in the entrance hall drew her out of the sitting room, and she paused abruptly at the sight of Stavros arguing with Aki in the doorway, hands flying everywhere.

“Pandora.” Stavros caught sight of her and shouldered Aki aside.

“Zac isn't here.”

“Then I need to talk to you. Tell your guard dog it's okay.”

Aki wore a disapproving expression. “
Kyria,
he should not be here. He's been drinking.”

Raising a hand to silence Aki and frowning slightly, Pandora said, “Why don't you ring Zac in the morning? Set up a time to see him then?”

“It's about Katy.”

The baby.
Concern shot through Pandora. But Katey should be with Stacy. “Is Katy all right?”

“Can I at least come in?”

Ignoring Aki's disapproval, she nodded and motioned him through to the sitting room. Picking up the remote, she flicked off the television and positioned herself on the footrest in front of it.

Stavros collapsed onto one of the plump brown chesterfield sofas.

“What's the matter with Katy?” Pandora asked.

“She's booted me out. She wants a divorce.”

Pandora gaped at him. “That's why you turn up here—” she glanced at her watch “—at ten o'clock on a Wednesday night? To tell me your wife's left you? It's hardly news that comes as any surprise.”

“I can't reach my wife.” He lurched to his feet. “Zac won't take my calls at his office. I want you to help me get Katy back.”

“If Katy's left you, that's her decision. Nothing I can say will change it.”

“Talk to your husband. He can influence Katy.”

“Oh, no. I'm not getting in the middle of a marital quarrel. You got yourself into this by selling that damn story, you get yourself out.” All her anger poured out in a torrent.

“You self-righteous little bitch. If you don't help me, I'm going to call up my reporter friend, tell him I've got another story for him.”

“You wouldn't!” But fear burst inside her. She was never going to be free of Stavros's tentacles. He had a hold over her and he was never going to let go. Zac would be humiliated all over again. Would it never end?

Stavros came closer, triumph contorting his features. “He's eager for details. I'll tell him what you're wearing, how you lay down for me on—” he glanced around “—Zac's fancy rug beneath that painting he likes so much.”

“I'm not listening to this.” She jumped up. Aki was right—Stavros had been drinking. A lot. She could smell the alcohol fumes.

But before she got past, Stavros grabbed her. “I'll tell him how you squealed with passion as I—”

“Get away from me!”

“Didn't I warn you not to come near my wife?” The soft, dangerous lash of Zac's voice made Pandora jump. He stood on the threshold clad in a dark suit, holding a black briefcase, and his stillness was oddly threatening.

Instantly Stavros let her go and started backing away. “She asked me to touch her. She's hot for me.”

Damn Stavros. Pandora knew she must look dishevelled. She pushed her fringe out of her eyes with shaking hands. “Zac—”

Zac's eyes had turned a flat, unforgiving green drained of all emotion. Ice. Cold and hard and freezingly remote. “You are no longer welcome in my home, Politsis. Get out. You'll find a cab waiting at the door. Be thankful that you are my sister's husband or I would call the police and lay charges of assault.”

“I never touched you,” Stavros spat out.

“But you touched my wife. And that is something I cannot forgive.”

A flash of naked terror contorted Stavros's face. “I'm going.” But as he reached the door, he turned. “But you're going to regret this.”

Zac laughed, a chilling sound without amusement. “Do your worst, Politsis. You'll regret anything you do to harm any Kyriakos—and that includes my sister. Stay away from us. Get your own life. Or be ready to face the consequences.”

 

Stavros departed in a screech of tires, ignoring the cab parked at the front door.

“I was so scared.” Pandora decided to go for broke.

Zac came toward her, his arms outstretched. “I should have turned him to pulp for frightening you.”

“I wasn't afraid of Stavros. Or, rather, I was terrified of what Stavros was threatening because I thought it meant the end of everything between us. But I was more afraid that you might believe Stavros when he said—” She broke off.

“When he said that you were hot for him?”

She nodded despairingly. “I was afraid you might think I'd betrayed you and considered sleeping with him.”

Colour rushed into Zac's face. “Never. You're my wife.”

Relief made Pandora go limp. “He came looking for you—apparently you wouldn't take his calls. He tried to force me to help him get Katy back. I'm worried for her.”

Zac made for the phone, and Pandora heard him giving someone the address where Katy was staying, telling them to keep a look out for Stavros.

“So that's how you knew he was here. The security company called.”

“Yes. They've been keeping close surveillance. But not because I didn't trust you with Stavros,” he added hastily when he realised how she might construe his words. “I was worried some overzealous reporter might try get into the house.”

Pandora knew that she and Zac needed to talk. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. Finally she plucked up the courage to say, “Zac, there's something I need to tell you.”

He turned to look at her. “What?”

“I've been thinking about why I married you.” He looked startled and about to speak, but she held up a hand. “Wait, hear me out. A gorgeous, incredibly handsome guy who could have any woman in the world, and I was so dumb I never asked why you'd chosen
me.
”

Zac opened his mouth.

“I'm not finished. I stayed married even when I discovered I wasn't the bride you needed because—” she hesitated “—because the biggest mistake I made was falling in love with you.”

“You love me?”

“Of course I love you, Zac. And that's part of the problem. Because you're Zac Kyriakos. Too perfect to be true.” More quietly she added, “The only mistake you've ever made in your perfect life was to marry me.”

“I thought you hated me.” He looked dazed.

“Zac? Are you listening?”

He simply stared at her, looking poleaxed. Pandora suppressed the urge to laugh at the ridiculous notion that any woman would hate him.

The phone shrilled into the charged silence. Zac didn't move. So Pandora started to rise to get it.

“It's almost midnight. Ignore it,” Zac said urgently. “We need to finish this.”

The ringing stopped. An awkward pause stretched between them. Before they could resume the conversation, a knock sounded on the door.

“Yes?” Zac demanded impatiently as Aki entered the room. “What is it?”

“It's your sister.”

“Tell her I'm busy,” Zac bit out. Then, softening his tone, he added, “I'll call her back. Later—much later.”

Aki looked worried. “She says it's an emergency. Mr. Politsis has had an accident. He's in hospital, in a critical condition.”

 

By the time Zac and Pandora arrived at the hospital, the news hounds, scenting a story, were already clustered outside the main entrance. His arm around her shoulder, Zac shouldered his way through the small crowd, while hospital security and Zac's bodyguards pushed the more aggressive reporters back.

Upstairs, Katy was pacing the plush carpet of the private waiting room, holding her stomach. Stavros was still in surgery, she told them in a thin voice.

“He arrived and started banging on Stacy's front door, yelling threats. We wouldn't let him in. Then two of your security guys arrived, told him to calm down. He stormed off.” Katy swallowed visibly. “Next thing, the police called. Stavros had been speeding, driving recklessly. They gave chase. He ploughed his car into a wall. They said he was in hospital, that it was critical.” Katy started to cry. “And now the doctors aren't telling me anything.”

“I'll get some details.” Zac patted her shoulder and disappeared out the door like a man on a mission.

“It's the waiting, it's killing me—” Katy stopped and looked horrified. “Oh, God, I don't mean that.”

Pandora hastened to her side. Katy flung her arms around Pandora. “What's going to happen?”

“Hush.” Pandora hugged Katy. “We'll stay with you for as long as you need us.”

“I was so pleased about the baby. I wanted a baby so badly. I thought it would make everything right, force Stavros to settle down even though he was never that keen on having kids. But then Stavros did that awful thing…” Katy covered her face with her hands and her shoulders started to shake. “I'm going to find a restroom. I need to wash my face.”

Zac returned just after Katy had left, his face somber. “Where's Katy?”

“She's gone to freshen up.” Pandora examined his face. “Is the news bad?”

He sank down on the chair beside her and took her hands. “Stavros has lost a lot of blood and the doctors are worried about the head injuries he sustained.”

“Does that mean he's suffered brain damage?”

“They're not saying too much yet. Someone will be along as soon as they get out of surgery with an update.” Zac sighed heavily. “All day I have wanted to be alone with you, and now that I am, I can only think that a couple of hours ago I wished that Stavros would disappear out of our lives. I didn't want to think about him…with you. Now he may die.” His grip tightened on her hands. “And I can't stop thinking that I wished it on him.”