‘It could,’ he assured her in a tone so insincere her teeth ached. But the tenor of his next statement cast chills across her skin. ‘But I have absolutely no intention of doing so. If I’m going down...’
Célia had seen Loukis as many things, but crude and cruel were new to her.
‘That’s blackmail.’
‘Yes.’
His word was swift and assured, contrasting harshly with the threat he had conjured in her mind and the sea of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. For a moment, she was transported back to the last life-defining moment that had pushed her to a precipice she hadn’t seen coming. The sickening realisation that she had been used against her will by the very last man she had ever expected it from.
For five years, she had kept her head down, had changed her name to cut all connections with her father, had swapped her university degree, had done everything she possibly could to avoid any kind of spotlight or attention. Instead, she had funnelled her every waking moment into creating a business that would give back.
..that she hoped would somehow compensate for her naïve actions five years before. The energy and determination that had taken had nearly consumed her. But this time, she couldn’t run. This time, she couldn’t hide.
Because she believed in her business, had carefully cultivated a rise from the ashes of her previous life. And she would not do that again. So clearly could she see the morning newspaper headlines, she was half convinced they had already happened. Her reputation would be in ruins. Everything she’d worked so hard to achieve, destroyed. By this man. Determination fired in her breast as she fought for control in a situation Loukis currently dominated.
‘What do I get out of it?’
‘I can pay you,’ he said with a shoulder shrug that indicated it was nothing to him. The money, the coercion...
‘I don’t want your money,’ Célia exclaimed with nausea and distaste vying for pole position.
‘Then what do you want?’
She shook her head, utterly horrified by their conversation. Was she actually considering this? Could she even do this? Pretend to be his fiancée? She forced her chaotic thoughts into some semblance of order. Her business was her sole focus. It was the only way she could compensate for her past mistakes. The thought of being paid to be draped across his arm was utterly unpleasant. But if it could bring about more help for more charities...
‘I want six new clients,’ she decided out loud.
Loukis raised his eyebrows. ‘Six?’
‘If you want to make it ten, then—’
‘Six is fine,’ he interrupted hastily.
* * *
Loukis felt the pressure in his chest build. He was so close. Célia was, at least, considering his proposal. He had no idea where he might find six potential clients, but he would. He couldn’t risk letting Célia realise how much power she wielded in that moment. She could ask for the moon and he’d have to make it happen.
‘What does it actually entail? I mean, how do you see this playing out?’ she asked, her quick mind leapfrogging ahead of his own. He’d been so focused on actually getting her to agree that he didn’t have all his plans in place. But Loukis was used to thinking on his feet. He wasn’t in charge of one of the world’s top ten companies for nothing.
‘A very public engagement for at least the next four months. After that, I’m sure we can manage a press announcement that outlines how we have decided to amicably separate.’
‘Yes, but what does it actually mean? I have a business in Paris, a life there. I have upcoming events.’
Loukis bit back the scoff of derision. She had only one event, he very much knew that to be the case, but if it gave her the semblance of security to exaggerate her schedule, he would allow her that.
‘You would need to relocate to Greece for the duration. We would need to be seen in public as much as possible. There would be an engagement party at least, but I would also be willing to accompany you to the...events you have in your diary.’
‘How very generous of you,’ she said with as much disdain as womanly possible. ‘Just like that, you expect me to move to Greece?’
‘We will, of course, have been keeping our relationship a secret for the past few months. Not only to protect our privacy, but also your business interests. You were deeply concerned about the effect that this would have on the many fabulous charities you already work with.’
‘Was I, now?’
‘Are you not?’
‘Yes, of course—’
‘Then we are simply backdating a few things.’