Page 29 of Greek's Temporary "I Do"

‘You had fun?’ he pressed. He held his breath.

‘No one made me laugh like Leander did,’ she admitted, and he waited, knowing there was more, and knowing that he wouldn’t like it.

‘And no one made me cry like you did.’

With that final, devastating blow to his heart, she left the room.

CHAPTER SEVEN

FOCUS, HELENA ORDERED herself as she dabbed BB cream under her eyes, trying to cover the dark circles that had formed from too little sleep. A little blusher and a swipe of lip balm had put a little colour back into features paled from tossing and turning all night.

‘I was twenty-one...’

‘I’m sorry...’

‘It can’t happen again...’

Leo’s words were background music to images of a kiss that was so carnal, so intense she’d woken up damp, exhausted and miserably unsatisfied. And she would stay that way, she reminded herself, because acting on whatever this was between them would ruin them both.

But at least she wouldn’t have to worry about it for much longer. The message she’d received from Kate at some ungodly hour of the morning had put an end to that.

Leander has promised to return to Greece on Sunday.

It had taken Helena a moment to realise that what she was feeling wasn’t relief but a sense of loss that shocked her to the core. But Leander was who she needed, so she sent Kate back a series of praying hands emojis.

The alarm on her smart watch beeped with a ten-minute warning and she used that time wisely. She’d set up her laptop under the shade of the thatched pool house awning, aware that Leo would be done with his morning swim. She chose to forgo the peaty Greek coffee she loved to have semi-sweet and opted for an espresso, taking it out to the table, where she made sure that the sun wasn’t shining on the screen or the camera.

She flicked through the dossier she’d brought with her on Jong Da-Eun, the German-born Korean actress who had recently gained an international following with a part in a major Hollywood blockbuster. But beyond her celebrity, Jong Da-Eun had a history of charitable partnerships proving her more than capable of being a brand ambassador for Incendia.

She had met Jong Da-Eun about a year ago and, discovering that they had both lost family members in a way that had changed their lives irrevocably, they had formed a fast and firm friendship. Now she wanted to make that relationship professional too.

Helena closed her eyes and inhaled the sea-salt air, taking the time to appreciate the moment. She loved this part of her job—finding the right people for the right role, knowing that it would positively impact not only the charity but the people that it could reach, knowing what good it could do. And she had to believe that Incendia would continue. She had to believe that she would fix it. That all this was not only worth it, but would work.

The sound of the video call interrupted her thoughts and she settled into the chair and hit the accept button.

‘Helena! It is so lovely to see you.’

‘Likewise, Jong Da-Eun,’ Helena replied sincerely.

‘Please, Da-Eun is fine,’ the actress assured her.

‘Kamsahamnida.’

Da-Eun laughed easily. ‘Your accent is getting better.’

‘I’ve been practising,’ Helena confided.

‘It’s paying off. But Helena, we shouldn’t be speaking on your honeymoon,’ Da-Eun chided. ‘Though,’ she added, peering at the background behind Helena, ‘it looks incredible.’

‘It is incredible,’ Helena replied, allowing the natural excitement of the location to fill her voice, happy to avoid discussion of the actual honeymoon.

They caught up a little on the details of each other’s lives. Helena asking about her latest drama series and the male lead she was paired with, and Da-Eun asking about Incendia and the wedding. Helena hated being evasive, hated having to pick and choose her truths, but if she didn’t then neither Incendia nor a possible partnership with Jong Da-Eun would even be possible next year.

Helena’s chest ached. She desperately wanted Incendia to be a success. She had worked twice as hard as many of her fellow students, volunteering in the charity sector throughout her studies and beyond, for no extra credit. She had developed her skills until they were honed to a fine point, studying business leaders in the sector and beyond, understanding how their minds worked. She wanted to be seen as an excellent businesswoman, just like her father. He had been a titan in his industry and paired with Giorgos Liassidis they had been unstoppable. It was a legacy that she’d wanted not just to be a part of, but to be worthy of.

And she was good at what she did. But ever since Gregory’s theft she had begun to wonder if she did actually manage to make it through the financial review would that finally be enough to appease the yearning in her heart? For more. For belonging. For love.

Yanking her thoughts back to the present, Helena wasted no more time. ‘You know how much I’ve wanted you to work with Incendia, but I really believe that this campaign is the right one for you,’ she said truthfully.

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