A bolthole.
Yes, he’d run away.
He’d had an envelope delivered to Alice at home the morning after the club, containing his credit card and a list of things he suggested she buy. Clothes, shoes, bags, jewels, all the things his wife would be required to have on hand, as well as some things she might not think of, which only she could deal with, such as updating her passport.
And then, he’d left the country without daring to see her again.
It was too risky.
He didn’t want to complicate this.
Their arrangement had been perfect, and it still would be. They both just needed to get used to what they’d agreed to, to remember the reasons it made sense to keep things on a certain level, and everything would be fine.
* * *
Alice stroked her mother’s hand, wondering when her skin had become so papery, and tears cloyed her throat.
‘I bought my wedding dress today, Mom.’ She lifted her gaze to her mother’s face, as always, looking for a hint of recognition, anything that might suggest Jane had heard a word of what was being said. ‘It’s beautiful. You’d love it. Or maybe you’d hate it,’ Alice said in a voice that was half apology, half amusement.
The dress had cost a fortune, but once she’d started looking on the Internet for inspiration, scouring the weddings of people ‘like’ Thanos—not that there were many—she’d realised she’d have to up her game and buy something a little more luxurious than the chain-store gown she’d been eyeing.
Besides, these wedding photos would be printed in huge publications. She needed to look as if she’d gone to an appropriate degree of effort.
‘It’s so nice.’ Nice? What a bland word for the stunning creation. A spectacular bodice fitted to her torso, sculpting her breasts in a way that even Alice had to admit was flattering, flaring into a big tulle skirt that was like something out of a fairy tale. The front was all Cinderella but the back was next-level sexy.
So much so, she’d almost resisted trying it on, but the stylist had been insistent and the second Alice had been buttoned into it, she’d gasped, because the stylist was right: it was perfect. Completely backless, it showed Alice’s elegant figure to advantage, her creamy skin just the right shade to complement the crisp white of the dress.
‘I wish you could be at the wedding,’ she said honestly, thinking of how strange it would be to get married without her mother there. How utterly surreal to stand up in front of hundreds of people and say her vows to a man she’d only met a week or so ago, a man who most women would give their eye-teeth to marry.
Jane Smart lay completely still, as she had done ever since her stroke, and Alice sat beside her, gently padding a thumb over her mother’s hand, knowing, without any reason to believe it, that being there meant something to Jane. That her mother knew Alice was with her and was glad.
* * *
‘It’s not too late to pull out of this,’ Leonidas, murmured out of the side of his mouth.
Thanos looked around the packed marquee at the four hundred guests who’d travelled deep into the Provençal countryside on incredibly short notice to attend the nuptials of Europe’s most famous and established bachelor.
‘You don’t think?’
Leonidas grinned, shrugging his shoulders. ‘You’re Thanos Stathakis. You can do whatever the hell you want.’
Thanos discounted the idea immediately. This made sense. Almost two weeks apart from Alice had reminded him of the professionalism required by this arrangement. She’d worked for him in one capacity for six months; this wasn’t really hugely different. It was a business arrangement, pure and simple.
‘What I want is to buy Petó,’ he reminded Leonidas softly, turning his gaze on his brother’s face. ‘And Alice is the key to that.’
‘Speaking of which, Kosta Carinedes is here. Did you see?’
Thanos lifted a brow, a smile quirking his lips. ‘This whole thing is for his benefit. Did you think I would not invite him?’
Leonidas shook his head ruefully. ‘You really are too good at this.’
Thanos shrugged, his expression like steel as the purpose for this marriage firmed in his mind. ‘I’ve spent way too much time on P & A to lose it now.’
‘After this, I imagine it is in the bag.’
‘Let’s hope so.’
‘What’s she like, anyway?’