Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 234281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1171(@200wpm)___ 937(@250wpm)___ 781(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 234281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1171(@200wpm)___ 937(@250wpm)___ 781(@300wpm)
“If you don’t leave this very moment, I’m going to call security!”
“I’m afraid that won’t do any good,” she said apologetically even as she winced at the evil look that Damen’s mother threw her way. “Damen himself gave me a key.”
Something had changed about the woman, Esther realized, incensed at the way the younger girl was having such an easy time handling herself in her presence. The little upstart had grown a spine, but if she thought that was enough to put her on the same level as Esther, the slut was in for a nasty surprise.
“I’m giving you one last warning, you slut. I know who you are – I’ve done my research. If I catch one more whiff of you sniffing around my son, I’ll have you expelled from that school.” She snapped her fingers. “Just like that.”
Chapter 10
To trust a Greek billionaire, one must remember they communicate best through sex.
She said: You seriously want to say that?
He said: You seriously must ask?
“MAIRI?” DAMEN ROARED the moment he got to his apartment. He had not caught sight of his mother’s car anywhere, but even so he was still worried. What he and Mairi had was still fragile and so easily broken. If Esther messed things up between them, there would be hell to pay.
When there wasn’t any sign of Mairi in the living room, he bounded up the stairs, taking it four steps at a time with his long-legged stride. “Mairi?”
He shouted her name over and over as he checked each room. His chest tightened with anxiety more and more with every empty room. By the time he had reached his bedroom, he had lost all hope.
It was dark. There was no sign of life.
Shit.
She was gone.
He leaned heavily against the doorway, hope completely gone. What was he going to do now? What the fuck was he going to do now?
The question had him gasping for breath. It reminded him of the time he had been forced to see the truth by Bella, the time when he had literally come across his father cheating on his mother, in their own bedroom.
What are you doing, Papa?
GO AWAY, DAMN YOU! BELLA, I’LL KILL YOU FOR THIS!
And just when he had thought at that time that it couldn’t get any worse, his mother arrived. The first thing she had heard as she came into their home’s vast foyer were his father’s screams, Bella shouting back, and it was incredibly easy for Esther Leventis to put one and one together.
“SURPRISE!” Mairi jumped out from her hiding place, crouched down on the floor behind the bed.
Damen jerked.
Mairi’s smile vanished as she took in Damen’s appearance. He was completely white, looking like someone had just died on him. “Damen?” she whispered.
In two angry strides, he had gotten across the room and started shaking her. “What the hell did you think you were doing?” he roared at her face.
She felt herself shrinking at the sight of his rage. “Surprising...you?”
Damen shook her harder. “I thought you were gone!” He glared and scowled at her even as his heart kept beating faster, his mind still unable to comprehend that it had been a false alarm.
Looking down at her confused face, Damen bit out, “I thought you had left me!”
Understanding dawned. “You knew she was here?”
He nodded curtly. “Did she do anything to you? Did she say anything that hurt you or made you worry?” He couldn’t get the questions out fast enough. He needed to make sure Esther had left no damage. He couldn’t have Mairi gone again from his life. Not now and not ever.
Blinking back sudden tears at the worry darkening his face, Mairi shook her head and smoothed the hair away from his forehead. “It’s alright, Damen. It’s alright. She tried to make me go away, but she didn’t succeed.”
He stiffened. “What do you mean ‘tried’?”
Mairi haltingly explained Esther’s threat.
Damn his interfering mother! “I won’t let that happen,” he promised Mairi fiercely. “So don’t—-”
“Damen.” She said his name quietly, gently, needing him to look at her and really listen to her. She cupped his face, using her touch to help him relax.
“Damen, relax. There’s nothing to worry about.” She smiled up at him tremulously, her love for Damen burning brightly in her eyes.
The sight of it made Damen catch his breath. “Mairi—-”
“It’s okay. I’m okay. I dealt with your mother.”
He asked hoarsely, “How?”
Mairi evaded his gaze. “Well...”
“Mairi, say it.”
“I...umm...warned her that if she really does have me kicked out, I’m going to embrace my life as a mistress, live off you like a leech, and turn you into a sex slave because what she doesn’t know is that you’re secretly a masochistic sub who likes being chained and whipped by...umm...me?”
For a moment, all Damen could do was stare. His innocent quirky Mairi had said...that?
Esther Leventis was acknowledged as one of the most powerful women in Greece, and yet his beautiful girl had successfully intimidated her into retreating with a mind-boggling lie.