‘And a home in New York. And my mother’s care.’
‘And health insurance,’ he seemed to add as an afterthought. ‘Starting immediately.’
Alice gaped. It was too much.
‘But I could just pay for that myself with the money...’
He laughed again. ‘Your negotiation skills are really quite poor.’
‘I don’t want to feel like I’m scamming you.’
Surprise crossed his face, but he covered it quickly. ‘You’re not.’
‘It feels a lot like I am.’
‘It’s a job.’
‘A ridiculously over-paid job.’
‘I’m already paying above the odds for the company.’ He shrugged. ‘This is just another expense to factor into its reacquisition.’
‘It means that much to you?’
His eyes glittered like black gemstones and in response he simply dipped his head forward.
‘Petó means everything to me.’
‘Because it used to be yours?’
‘Because it was my grandfather’s.’ And despite the fact the words were delivered quietly, she felt passion in every single syllable. ‘Because it was sold under duress, and because I swore I would get it back.’ He closed his eyes for a moment. ‘And because Kosta Carinedes will sell eventually, and I do not wish him to sell it to anyone else.’
‘You think he would?’
Thanos pierced her with his gaze. ‘Yes.’
‘So how would this work?’ she prompted, breaking off when the waiter reappeared with a bottle of wine. Alice watched as he unscrewed the cork and poured two glasses, then disappeared once more.
‘We’d get married quickly. Two weeks should be enough time to organise the details. I have a hotel in the South of France that would be perfect—just the kind of place I would choose for my wedding. It’s private and difficult to get to, so while we’ll leak it to the press, there won’t be an abundance of paparazzi hanging off the gates.’
A shiver ran down her spine at the image he created, and she fought an urge to ask him about his life—how it felt to be hounded everywhere he went. She was curious, but there were far more pressing concerns. ‘Two weeks?’ The words came out strangled.
‘It has to be soon. The way his figures are tanking, he’s going to become desperate to sell, and I would not risk him testing the market by listing his business interests.’
Alice swallowed. That made perfect sense. And yet...it was so soon.
‘And your mother could be moved into a suitable facility as early as tomorrow,’ he promised, making Alice’s stomach twist, because she would do anything for her mother—anything—and here Thanos was promising a solution that would finally take away their concerns.
‘That’s...the wedding,’ she heard herself respond stiffly, just a whisper, and her eyes dropped to the table nervously. She reached for her wine glass, lifting it and taking a gulp that did little to settle her frazzled nerves.
He sat opposite, waiting for her to finish, and eventually, Alice lifted her face, staring at him nervously for several anguished beats. ‘I’m
talking about the marriage.’
The words emerged as barely a croak, so Thanos had to lean forward to hear them better.
‘Go on?’ he prompted.
Alice’s cheeks felt sun-warmed from embarrassment. ‘I get that there’ll be a big wedding, but what about the marriage?’