Talia closed her eyes in weariness and dejection. ‘Only for three months, Mum. Just to give us time to find somewhere else to live...for you to get strong enough to face the truth of what Dad’s done.’
A moan came from her mother, and Talia’s dismay at her rash outburst deepened. But it was too late to stop now.
‘We have to be grateful we can stay on even for that long. It was the deal I agreed—I would do some initial design work in the Caribbean in exchange for three months here in the villa to get you well and strong. I struck a bargain with Luke Xenakis—the man who now owns everything that’s left of Grantham Land.’
Her mother’s expression changed and her hand flashed out to grasp Talia’s arm. ‘You’ve been working for that man? That dreadful man who stole your father’s company from him!’ she gasped, aghast.
Talia sighed heavily. ‘He didn’t steal it, Mum—he just took it over. That’s the way these business deals happen—’
‘He ruined your father!’ Maxine shot back.
‘No, Mum. Dad did that himself. He went under because he took out more and more unsupported loans. Luke Xenakis just bought up what was left—which is why he’s ended up owning everything that once belonged to Dad’s company.’
Her mother’s face contorted again. ‘I don’t care what you say happened—he ruined your father! How could you agree to work for him? How could you?’
‘I told you, Mum. It was the only way to get him to let us stay on here until you’re strong enough to move.’
‘I can’t bear it!’ Maxine wailed, wringing her hands. ‘To be beholden to that dreadful man! I hope you gave him a piece of your mind for what he’s done to us?’
Talia rubbed her forehead. No, she had not given Luke a piece of her mind. She had given him everything else, but not that.
I gave him everything willingly, gloriously—my body, my soul. I would have gone anywhere with him, done anything for him.
But, she thought bitterly, she had concocted a fantasy in which he loved her the way she loved him. In which he knew her, respected her, believed in her...
I gave him my stupid, worthless heart, and all he wanted was me between the sheets.
A sob broke from her. She couldn’t stop it. Couldn’t stop the one that came after, either, which tore like barbed wire through her throat, choked from her, desperate and despairing.
‘Darling!’ Her mother’s voice was different now. ‘Darling, what is it? Oh, my darling, what’s the matter? Was it that dreadful man? What did he do to you! Tell me, darling—tell me what he did to you.’
And, to Talia’s mortification and tearful dismay, she broke into uncontrollable sobs and told her mother just how Luke Xenakis had broken her heart.
* * *
Luke was on his balcony. In his bedroom, his suitcase was being packed. Rage scythed in him. More than rage. Worse than rage. Blackness filled him, obliterating everything around.
She had done it to him again. She had walked out on him. Just upped and gone without a word. Not even a note this time.
But he had
n’t needed a note to know the brutal truth. She did not want him. Still did not want him. She had rejected him—left him again.
His fists spasmed in the depths of his trouser pockets, his face contorting.
I did everything I could think of to make her happy. Everything!
This time he’d known who she was, what she was. That first time, after the party, he’d taken her at face value—had never dreamt in a million years that she would be Grantham’s daughter, that she would be a pampered princess, the spoiled and indulged daughter of his sworn enemy. This time he’d known just what he needed to do to give her what she wanted, what she expected so that she would stay.
But she’d still walked out on him. Still rejected him.
He felt pain like a whiplash across his shoulders. Pain that was a thousand times worse than it had ever been that first time.
How could she walk out on me? After all those nights when we burned in each other’s arms! After all those carefree days, the companionship, the togetherness?
But it had meant nothing to her—nothing at all!
Bitterness flowed in his veins like acid, etching into his flesh, consuming him from the inside out until he was nothing more than a hollow shell. Until there was nothing but raw pain to keep him upright.