Page 46 of The Actor and His Secret

‘It was ok.’

Is that all? Clearly he’s pissed off about something.

‘I heard what you said about honey.’ I shuffle on my feet. ‘It was… nice.’

He doesn’t answer me for a moment, and cold washes through me. Does he know? Did he come home to confront me about his watch? Did Geoff contact him too, God forbid?

I step back, out of his grip, wondering if he’s about to lay into me for stealing from him. ‘Nikos?’

He shakes his head, like he’s trying to snap himself out of something, and then he runs his hand through his hair. His shoulders relax, if marginally, and I relax too when he sighs. Maybe he’s just tired.

‘I’m glad you listened. Pack your bags,’ Nikos says after a heartbeat of silence. He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his tired eyes. ‘I have a surprise for you.’

‘I - What?’ I don’t know what’s going on, and for a horrible moment I once again think he caught me leaving his watch for Geoff. ‘What do you mean?’

Nikos runs a hand through his hair, and glances out the window for a moment, a shadow crossing his face. ‘I need to get away. Selina agrees. This was the last of my media engagements in London, and now I’ve got some time off. I want to spend it with you. I want to get away from the bustle of the city and spend some time just you and me. If you’re alright with that. Selina already checked with Megan and got you some time off as a personal favour.’

It isn’t as if I’ve used any of my vacation days. But as if summoned, my phone buzzes on the counter. It’s Megan.

Megan

I’m sooooo jealous!! Enjoy Greece! Don’t check your email or I’ll kill you! Love you xx

It’s followed by a load of emojis - palm tree, sunglasses, and then a series of extremely suggestively arranged vegetables.

I suppose there’s a very clear upside to the flirtation going between Megan and Selina. I’m not going to say no to free vacation days, not when the thought of Geoff trailing me makes me want to run away.

‘Ok.’ I step forward into Nikos’ arms, and the moment I bury my head in the crook of his neck, I relax. I feel him relax too, like he was nervous I would say no. ‘Let’s do it, then. What do I have to pack? When do we leave?’

Nikos holds me close. ‘There’s a jet waiting for us at Heathrow whenever we’re ready. And pack clothes for warm weather.’

‘Oh?’ I can’t get over the fact he’s just said he has a jet waiting for us. A fucking private jet. ‘Where are we going?’

He pulls back and kisses me on the forehead, and now there’s a genuine smile on his face. I give a little shudder at the feeling of our bodies pressing together,

‘What better getaway for an Adonis than going to Greece?’

Rollercoasters have never been my thing, and it’s even worse when my emotions are what’s going for a ride. I was barely thinking when I shoved clothes into my suitcase at random and found my passport in the safe. Now I’m cradled in the soft leather seat of a private jet, after having been taken directly onto the tarmac in a black SUV.

To the few people that saw us embarking, we’re childhood friends, or actor and publicist... the lies are getting hard to keep up with. But I can’t feel a way about it, after what I’ve done to Nikos.

Going from the anxiety of last night, to the tension of dropping off the watch, to the high of being whisked away on a private jet by an actual movie star...my heart can’t take it.

What is my life?

Nikos is sitting across from me, running his finger around the rim of the glass of whiskey that the flight attendant had given him before we took off. I’m nursing a diet Sprite, which I couldn’t believe they had on a plane. But I guess when you’re rich, you get anything and everything you want.

Nikos has shed some of the tension that he’d been carrying in London. I don’t know if it’s being officially away from prying eyes, or if it’s getting out of London and away from his obligations. But it hits me that I’ve not seen him this comfortable except when we were alone together in bed. There were worry lines around his eyes that aren’t there anymore.

‘You don’t like the spotlight, do you?’

The question slips out of my mouth without my permission, and I wince because it’s not like we know each other well enough for me to get that personal. But Nikos just makes a thoughtful sound and shakes his head.

‘I hate it, actually.’ He licks his lips. ‘I’d always rather be spending time by myself, or with my few close friends. To be honest, I’m pretty shy in crowds. They make me nervous.’

‘Wow.’ I can’t help but run my foot up and down the back of his calf. ‘You would never know.’

He gives me a crooked half-smile. ‘Actor, right?’

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