‘Poor Mum!’ she went on now, sadness in her voice. ‘She only knew my father for such a short while and then he was gone. She couldn’t trace him, so he never knew about me.’
She bit her lip again, her hands twisting over her brand-new elegant leather handbag.
‘Knowing now that he’s been successful in his life, it seems so dreadful that he didn’t know about us before now. My mother’s health was never good, and we had to survive on state benefits because she wasn’t well enough to work, and I had to look after her... It was always a struggle. Always—’
She broke off, glancing at him.
‘It meant I couldn’t get a job either, or even any college education.’ She gave a half-defiant shrug, ‘That’s why I have to do the work I’m doing. I’m living as cheaply as I can, saving as much money as I can. I’ve started evening classes...an online course—’
She broke off again, her expression changing.
‘But now everything’s changed! Now everything’s going to be wonderful!’
The sadness had vanished from her voice and her face had brightened. She rested her gaze on Xandros, looking at him expectantly. Ruthlessly, he kept his own gaze inexpressive by sheer effort of will, though her sorry tale of all she’d been through had stung him.
I should tell her what Stavros is like! I should tell her not to push her hopes too high! Not to pin them on him at all!
But he could not bring himself to see her crash down so brutally.
And she’s not my problem—not my concern!
That was what he had to remember. He slammed the stern instruction into himself. Just as he had to remember that, however amazing she looked—and he had not expected her to look anything like that—he should keep his instinctive male reaction to her firmly checked. It was at the very least...irrelevant.
I’m just taking her to Stavros—that’s all.
And as for that—well, however much of a crushing disappointment Stavros Coustakis would turn out to be, even having a father like Stavros was better than the life she’d been leading up till now, wasn’t it?
She’ll get something from him, surely? Even if it takes lawyers or the tabloids to screw it out of him!
She was speaking again now, and he realised she’d asked a question. A question he didn’t want to answer.
‘So, how did he find out about me?’
Xandros’s expression shuttered even more. ‘Like I said yesterday, that’s a discussion for you to have with him.’
To his relief, she only nodded, and moved on to another question.
‘What else can you tell me about him? You said he’s been successful in life, but in what way?’
‘Construction, mostly,’ Xandros answered, relieved the topic had moved on. ‘But he’s branched out since—insurance, financing...that kind of thing. He’s a very shrewd businessman.’
‘I’m glad for him,’ she said. Then she paused, her expression changing, her manicured hands playing with the strap of her soft leather bag. She frowned. ‘What about...well, his personal life? You see,’ she went on in a rush, ‘it’s dawned on me that...that I might not be his only offspring!’
She lifted her eyes to Xandros—Stavros’s distinctive grey-green eyes.
‘Is he married?’ she asked. There was a nervousness in her voice that he could actually hear.
He shook his head. ‘He’s widowed. His wife died some years ago. But...’ He paused. ‘But they had a daughter. A few years younger than you. Ariadne.’
He saw her eyes widen.
‘Oh, that’s wonderful! I have a sister! Oh, you don’t know how wonderful that sounds! Will I meet her?’
Xandros shook his head again. ‘She’s abroad at the moment.’ He tried not to sound evasive.
‘Oh, that’s a shame! I hope... I hope she won’t mind having a sister...’
Xandros’s expression tightened. Who knew what Ariadne would think about this unknown daughter of her father arriving out of nowhere?