But she leapt up from the sofa and paced away from him. ‘I’m not going through that humiliation again,’ she muttered. ‘I’m no longer that stupid, naive girl who believed in happy-ever-after.’
Her vehemence drew a smile from him. ‘You believed in happy-ever-after?’
She lifted her chin in the face of his amusement. ‘Why shouldn’t I have?’ But then she blushed again and turned away as some bitter memory made her face fall. ‘Forget it.’
He considered her words quickly—humiliation, naivety. ‘He broke up with you?’
She nodded.
He didn’t press for more details. Now wasn’t the time. ‘I’m not promising you moon dust,’ he said with simple clarity. ‘I’m not declaring undying devotion. We’ll have no lies. No false promises.’ He drew in a breath as the perfect plan crystallised in his mind. ‘Don’t think of this as a traditional marriage proposal. This isn’t romantic love, rainbows and unicorns, this is a real solution to a real issue,’ he said. ‘Obviously I’ll financially support both you and the baby one hundred per cent. That’s a given. But here’s my offer. If you marry me, I will pay for all of Ophelia’s schooling. Not just the rest of this year, but all her university studies as well. She wants to do medicine, correct? So a decade or thereabouts of training and specialisation? Paid for. She doesn’t have to stress about getting a scholarship, she just needs to be accepted onto the course. She can choose any university—hell, any country; if she wants to do some parts of it in the States, Europe...that’s fine. All fees, all accommodation costs, living costs, everything. I have it covered. She only has to get the grades.’
He paused, watching intently for her response.
She was motionless, her clear-eyed gaze fixed upon him. ‘You can’t possibly—’
‘Say the word and I’ll have my lawyer draw up the contract. I do not enter contracts lightly, Ettie. And I do not break them. This is a legitimate offer. All you have to do is accept it.’
‘By marrying you.’ Her focus wavered.
‘Yes.’
‘But we don’t love each other.’
‘That’s irrelevant.’ He dismissed the concern with ruthless efficiency. This wasn’t about anything emotional, this was about security, practicality, plain common sense.
She swallowed. ‘You would expect us to remain married...for good?’
Something stirred low in his gut at her question. He ignored it. ‘I don’t see why it shouldn’t work out long-term. However, if things became difficult between us personally, then we’d find an alternative solution. My financial commitment to your sister wouldn’t be broken, however. Nor to you. As the mother of my child, you will always have a home.’
Ettie reeled. He made it sound like she’d won the lottery. ‘Why can’t we find that alternative solution now?’
‘Because I will not allow my child to be born illegitimately,’ he reiterated sharply. ‘However, I don’t imagine that things would become difficult. We work together well, Ettie.’
Work together? He really saw this as an emotionless, uncomplicated resolution? Obviously for him it was exactly that. Because apparently it wouldn’t be the ‘done thing’ for him to have an illegitimate child with a service worker...
And he was playing on her loyalty and love for her sister to get what he wanted. It was ruthless of him. But she suddenly realised that that was what he did—targeted an acquisition and did what it took to make the deal happen. And he did it damn fast. No wonder he’d made all that money by such a young age.
‘You know I can support you, Ettie. I have the finances and the wherewithal to ensure both you and the baby have everything you need,’ he said firmly.
The shutters on Ettie’s bruised heart closed. ‘The baby will need more than financial security.’
She needed more too. Because she knew happiness came from something other than money. But she had the feeling she wasn’t about to get it.
‘Of course, but the basics in life also matter. Food, clothing, decent accommodation.’
His cold emphasis on the latter irked her enough to spell it out. ‘What about emotional security?’
‘You already love the baby.’
His simple, swift assertion silenced her and to her horror tears sprang to her eyes. Because in that instant she realised she did. As shockingly unexpected, as inconvenient, as new as it all was...it was wonderful. Raw emotion swept over her at the thought of that tiny little being growing inside her. Their baby. Her imagination sprang into overtime, sending her images of a beautiful child—a female Leon, or maybe a mini-me little boy... If this baby had half Leon’s looks, it was going to melt every heart.
‘Write the list, Ettie.’ He was watching her coolly as if analysing her every word, every expression. ‘All the reasons for, all the reasons against. Make your decision from there.’
There was no ‘decision’ and he knew it. The arrangement he’d offered was impossible for her to refuse. Because it wasn’t about her. It was about this tiny baby. And it was about Ophelia. Leon was offering complete security for them both. Ophelia could just relax and focus on her studies without the added pressure of trying to get a scholarship. He’d said she could apply to any university and Ettie knew he meant it. It was incredibly generous...
But Leon didn’t really want her. It had been a one-night-stand—that was all he’d wanted. And she’d lived with the consequences of a one-night stand. Her sister, Ophelia.
She and Ophelia had both been unwanted by their fathers. She’d watched her mother become embittered by the betrayal of the men she’d wanted to love...to the point where she no longer coped with the normal demands of life. And Ettie had been a fool for love too, hadn’t she? Flattered by the first man to pay her attention... She’d been such an idiot. And now?
Leon Kariakis didn’t actually want anything from her. He had more money than he knew what to do with and he had an endless stream of willing women. He was simply stuck with her and being honourable about it—saying all the right things, attempting to do the right things. But wasn’t that only going to lead to resentment in the end? He’d never want to be trapped together for good with her. And his ‘contract’ was too unbalanced. He was offering a ring and room in his penthouse...and what did she bring to the party? Her overly efficient womb.
‘You’re offering all this...paying for so much,’ she said awkwardly. ‘It doesn’t seem fair. What do you get out of it?’
His expression smouldered. ‘I get what I want.’
Something heavy shifted within her. That low drag deep in her belly that pulled her towards him. But he meant the baby, right?
‘Ettie.’ That low, irresistible growl sounded.
‘Yes.’ It whispered out before she’d even thought it.
He was the one who moved, walking towards her until there was too little space between them. ‘Let’s go and get your things from your flat.’ His voice was husky.
She couldn’t move.
‘Ettie...’ He put his hand on her waist. The amber lights glowed in his deep brown eyes. But he didn’t smile. He looked edgier than ever as he applied pressure and pulled her against him until she was in no doubt of his physical response to her.
‘Will this be...part of the contract?’ She flung her chin up, determined to hold her own with him. Because if she couldn’t do that now, she had no chance of keeping him in check.
Something flashed in his eyes. ‘I’ll be faithful to you and I expect the same in return. But I’m not going to demand sexual favours. There won’t be a clause detailing a minimum number of intimacies each week.’
She opened her mouth, shocked at the suggestion. At the appallingly hot response of her treacherous body to such a requirement.
‘If anything happens, it’s up to us in that moment. Just like normal,’ he said. ‘No expectations, no repercussions...regardless of what we do in private.’
>
No repercussions? It was so ironic, but she couldn’t laugh. Right now she couldn’t even breathe.
He ran his hand down her spine, coming to rest his palm on the curve of her hip. ‘Maybe we should stop negotiating...’
Her body melted. He was seducing her into saying yes. And she knew he could, so easily. Abruptly she pulled out from his hold. ‘Maybe you don’t try to distract me like that.’
‘Maybe that kind of distraction would be good for you,’ he countered with a small smile.
Sensation rippled down her spine. ‘Maybe we should just go and get my stuff.’
She heard his low laugh as she walked away. She realised too late that he’d manipulated her into doing what he wanted. He’d easily played her...because he knew she was weak with want for him still. She screwed her eyes shut; that was so mortifying. Echoes of her ex-fiancé’s callousness circled in her head—building her demons of insecurity. She hated her inexperience.
‘Come on, glykia mou. Let’s get moving.’
‘What does it mean?’ she asked. ‘That expression?’
Another flicker of a smile curved his lips. ‘My sweet.’
‘You think that’s going to get you extra points?’ she asked tartly. But she was breathless beneath the weak sarcasm. It was really unfair of him because he didn’t mean it.
‘I think it’s only a matter of time,’ he murmured wryly. ‘And I think you know it as well as I do.’