CHAPTER FOUR
THEBEACHPARTYwas over.
Finally!
Roula’s heels were about to come off for the final time as she updated the overnight team. ‘The beach is almost cleared,’ Roula said. ‘The private party will go for ages, but I’m out of here.’
‘Not yet, you’re not.’ Stephanie halted her. ‘Costa’s just asked if you could bring some more cake. Mia is just slicing it.’
‘Can’t someone else do that?’ Roula groaned. She was honestly exhausted—but then she stirred herself. Mia had already been invited for a drink, Beatrice too. It was just Costa being polite with the senior staff. ‘Of course I’ll go.’
‘Here.’ Mia handed her the tray she had prepared but did not meet Roula’s eyes.
‘Thank you,’ Roula said. ‘I’ve heard from the guests that lunch was amazing...seriously so.’
Mia said nothing in return.
Roula carried the tray in—of course with a smile. It really was a small gathering. Yolanda had retired and it was just the happy couple, along with Galen, Leo and Deacon, and a few people who were, she guessed, Athens friends.
‘Roula!’ Costa looked up. ‘You’re off duty now.’
‘Soon.’ She kept herno problemsmile on.
‘I meant join us,’ Costa said. ‘Please. Relax.’
‘Thank you, though not for long—’
‘Roula,’ Costa interrupted. ‘You’re staying.’
‘Old friends,’ Leo chimed in. ‘Gosh, how long since we’ve all been together?’
‘Leo, I see you all the time.’ Roula smiled.
‘I meant us four.’
Roula didn’t answer.
They were soon back to whatever they’d been discussing before Roula had arrived.
‘She was awful to Mary,’ Costa said, and then politely brought Roula up to speed. ‘We’re discussing Galen’s PA. I had to bribe her with a babymoon just to get her to pick up Mary from the airport. You could not meet a colder woman.’
But Galen shrugged. ‘Kristina is not employed to pick up your girlfriends from the airport, Costa...’
‘Fair enough,’ Costa conceded. ‘Though she’s not exactly looking out for you either.’
‘Rubbish,’ Leo interjected. ‘She’s devoted.’
‘No, I work in the same building,’ Costa insisted, ‘Kristina wouldn’t notice if he was dead at his desk...’
It was light-hearted banter, really, and Roula actually slipped off her shoes as she sipped her champagne.
‘I’m serious,’ Costa continued. ‘Once Kristina left him in the office on a Friday, after he’d already been there all day. She came back on Monday and didn’t even look in on him...’
‘I’m not an infant,’ Galen said. ‘I had said I was not to be disturbed. I wanted to focus.’
‘He collapsed when he came out,’ Costa informed the people at the table, and they all laughed. ‘Dehydrated. All that brain and he forgot about H2O.’
‘I got a hell of a lot done though...’ Galen shrugged and took a drink of his iced tea.