Page 12 of Greek's Temporary "I Do"

‘Could you at least try to smile?’ Helena whispered angrily.

‘It’s a little hard to find something to smile about at this present moment,’ he whispered back.

‘Just think of all those shares you’re getting at a bargain price,’ Helena hissed through gritted teeth and, much to his surprise, he did actually smile. Something that seemed only to anger Helena more. So much so he could have sworn he heard a growl coming from her, which in turn only made him smile more and her scowl.

Looking out across the room, he could have counted the number of people he recognised on one hand. He had become such a stranger in his twin brother’s life that the only people he knew were the bride and his own parents. Not that he cared. If these people valued his brother in spite of his selfishness and his ability to betray in a heartbeat, then more fool them.

Because wasn’t this the ultimate betrayal? Not even turning up to his own wedding.

A wedding Leander had agreed to only to help Helena access her inheritance.

He was stopped from following that chain of thought by the way that Helena was craning her head to search the room.

‘Is something wrong?’ he asked.

‘No, I just...’ Her voice trailed off when her eyes settled and a small hopeful smile crossed her features. Her hand rose in a half wave, as if unsure how it would be received, and when he turned to look he found Gwen, acknowledging her daughter with a barely cracked smile.

He watched, leashing an old familiar anger as Gwen leaned to say something to her companion—her second husband, he presumed, the one she’d married about a year after her debacle with Liassidis Shipping. The man—John, if he remembered rightly—was something in banking.

As she came to greet her daughter, Leo was struck by the impression of seeing Helena in thirty years’ time. Blonde hair adeptly highlighted with elegant silver streaks. High cheekbones and a strong jawline that had resisted age’s pull. Gwen Hadden was slightly smaller than Helena, who had inherited her height from her father, but the poise was inherent to both women.

‘Darling,’ Gwen said levelly. ‘The dress looks beautiful,’ she went on with no tone of warmth in her voice at all, ‘despite being from such a relatively new designer.’

Helena gazed carefully back at her mother, as if waiting.

‘But really, having Kate dressed in gold,’ Gwen added. Leo was surprised to feel the scold in her words. And Helena, who had been so fiery, who had been so full of life demanding he increase his offer for her shares, biting back a hurt Gwen must have been able to see.

‘I’m so pleased that you and John could make it,’ Helena said with a sincerity that seemed wasted on the woman.

Leo looked back to where John remained at the table, still eating his starter and engaged in conversation with another guest.

‘Well, it did interrupt his golfing holiday, but he’ll make up the time later. Will we be seeing you at drinks in October?’

Helena blinked. ‘I’m not quite sure yet—the end of the year is a busy time at work.’

‘Well, it would be good to see you there,’ Gwen said before turning her attention onto him.

‘Leander,’ Gwen finally acknowledged.

Helena placed her hand on his, and to the world it would look like the affectionate connection between a newly married couple. Obviously, they couldn’t see the crescent moons digging into his palms from her nails. He managed to keep the smile on his face despite the scratch of pain.

He nodded in return, suddenly unwilling to risk opening his mouth.

Gwen turned back to Helena one last time and Leo thought he saw the shadow of emotion flicker in her gaze.

‘Your father...’ She stopped, pressing her mouth into a firm line before pushing on. ‘He would have been happy today,’ she said, nodding to herself as if she had done some great maternal duty.

And, for just a moment, the years dropped away, the arguments, the feuds, the recriminations, and Helena was a little girl again, looking for her parents’ approval. He saw it in the sheen across her eyes.

It was enough, Helena told herself through the dull ache that edged her breathing. It was more than she’d expected, she reasoned, and then told herself off for being silly. She had to remind herself that this wasn’t a real wedding. It shouldn’t mean anything to her that her father had joked about joining the families together. And she shouldn’t be wishing for more than her mother was capable of giving.

Helena watched Gwen return to her table before daring to cast a look at Leo, whose expression was unfathomable. It was, she realised, the first time he’d seen her mother since the argument between them that had resulted in Gwen quitting and selling her Liassidis Shipping shares back to the company.

He reached for his wine glass and took a healthy mouthful as she remembered the awful heated words from that night. The ones that had excommunicated her and her mother from the lives of all but one of the Liassidis family.

‘What do you want me to do?’

‘I want you to go back in time and not have done it in the first place!’

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