Apparently, she would rather be a queen.
Ilona had gone to Paxos determined to flip the script on her life. For most of her life, the dream of starting over there had been her mental refuge from heartache, the place she believed would be there for her when existence became too much to bear.
Leaving Leander had been excruciating, but staying hadn’t been an option. She had really thought she was saving herself by seeking that simple life she’d always dreamed of.
It hadn’t worked. Leander had been there, imbuing every inch of beach and rocky hill and placid cove with memories of their honeymoon. And when she had tried to find solace in that whimsical connection to her mother’s memory, she had only confronted more of Midas’s treachery.
Hatred had nearly consumed her, then. In those moments, she had understood why Leander was so bent on destroying Midas. It had felt as though Midas had ruined them and she had wanted to make him pay for all she had lost.
If Midas did tear them apart, however, it would be because she had let it happen. Whether Leander loved her back wasn’t important. Leander had helped her believe that she mattered. He had taught her to have courage and strength and had shown her how to stand up for herself. For that, he deserved her love. She would always love him.
And in loving him, she held a force more powerful than destructive hate. Love infused her with hope. Love healed. Love made her brave enough to pull the things she loved from the fire. And that’s where Leander was right now. He was burning up in the flames of hate.
She wanted to lift him out, but would he see it that way?
“They’re voting for you. Aren’t they?” He was putting it together very quickly. “That’s why you brought in a new CEO at Callas.”
She held her breath, waiting for the lash of betrayal to strike behind his eyes.
“I was hoping you would support me, too.” Her voice was a near whisper. “Justice will be served, Leander. I’ll go back as far as I need to ensure it.” She clenched her fist on his sleeve. “You don’t have to keep fighting to take what you think should be yours.” She couldn’t interpret what he was thinking as emotions shifted like storm clouds in his gray eyes. “You can put down your weapons and let me give it to you. If you’ll trust me to do it?”
Her own eyes were growing damp with distress. He seemed to be growing bigger before her, swelling with something...
Pride? Wonder?
A hot lump of emotion, of optimism, formed behind her breastbone.
“I would trust you with my life, Ilona. With my future. My children. My heart.” His warm hand cupped the side of her neck. His smile grew with the fullness that was expanding in her chest. “Of course, I trust you to make things right for me. You already do.”
She blinked fast, trying to see him through her gathering tears, smile wobbling all over the place.
Midas swore disparagingly, saying, “Get a room.”
Leander sighed with annoyance. “I move that Midas be removed from his position as president and Ilona appointed in his place effective immediately.”
“Second,” Hercules said promptly.
Every hand went up except Midas’s.
“Motion carried,” Hercules noted to the meeting secretary. “I also move that any profit going to Midas from Pagonis International be held in trust pending an investigation into the technology in question. Those funds will be paid to Leander as part of his settlement if wrongdoing is found. It will be,” Hercules said with distaste. “Mama left the safe open after collecting her jewelry. I turned over some very interesting documents to Leander’s lawyer that our father had kept from that time.”
“Second,” someone else murmured.
Midas grew more agitated as votes returned a unanimous affirmative.
“You can’t do this,” he insisted.
“Notify Security to escort him out,” Leander said to Androu.
“You’ll be sorry,” Midas said to Ilona as he thrust himself to his feet. “I’ll make you pay for this.”
“You’re making threats in front of witnesses,” Leander pointed out and tried to place himself protectively between Midas and her, but Ilona leaned forward against the table, staring down the man she had once feared. He seemed utterly pathetic now. Weak and small.
“Your threat will go in the minutes,” she told him. “And I’ll add it to the evidence of your assault. I advise you to retain good counsel for the plethora of legal problems you are about to encounter.”
As Androu let in a security guard, Ilona flicked her tail of hair behind her shoulder.
“Your presence is no longer required,” she told Midas. “Get lost.”