Page 2 of The Billionaire's Demand

Cold dismay seared through her.

Oh, dear God in heaven, no, no, no!

She’d been deeply reluctant to show up here at all—to show up anywhere in Athens!—but Chloe had been adamant.

‘You can’t hide for ever, Elli—please, please come!’

With deep misgivings she had agreed only when Chloe had sworn that even though her future in-laws, long-standing friends of the Kastellanos family, had invited him, he would not—could not—be there tonight! He was in New York, safely across an ocean.

That, and only that, had persuaded Eliana to show up, out of loyalty to her old school friend. Not that she’d kept in touch much with Chloe since her own marriage—even less since the shocking ending of that marriage.

Arriving tonight, seeing all those faces—many still familiar—she’d felt her nerves get the better of her, and she’d bolted out to the sanctuary of the deserted terrace.

No sanctuary at all—the very opposite.

She felt her lungs turn to stone. He was here—less than ten metres away from her. Imposing upon her consciousness as if he’d been ringed in fire.

The last man in the entire world she could bear to see.

On whom she had not set eyes for six long years—

Yet his final words to her, his denunciation of her—scathing, bitter, contemptuous and cruel—were as clear as if they’d been spoken yesterday.

For a second her vision blurred, then cleared, bringing him back into focus. He had frozen, just as she had—but now he was walking towards her. Striding. Purposeful. Powerful.

Almost, she flinched away. But then, with a strength she had not had to summon for so, so long she steeled herself. Inwardly, she gave a kind of silent, manic laugh—after what life had done to her, why should she flinch from this blow now?

He came right up to her and she could see the lamplight slant across his features. Features once so familiar. Features now etched like acid on stone. Light glinted in his eyes, but it was a light that was darkness—darkness visible.

He stopped a mere metre from her. Eyes holding hers. Dark and condemning.

His expression changed minutely, and it was taking all her strength just to stand there, immobile, her shoulders steeled, her whole body steeled.

‘Well, well—Eliana.’

His voice was like a knife...a blade drawn down her cheek.

‘After so long. And as beautiful as ever.’

That dark, killing glint came again into his eyes.

‘Tell me, are you here to catch another husband? Another rich husband—the only kind you go for...?’

From somewhere—she didn’t know where—she found the willpower to hold her ground, outface the contempt unhidden in his taunt.

‘No,’ she answered. Her voice was cool...as cool as a mountain lake.

‘No?’ The taunt was still in his voice. ‘I’m sure there might be rich pickings to be had here tonight.’

She did not flush. She would not. ‘You must excuse me,’ she made herself say, her voice still cool. ‘I have yet to offer my congratulations to Andreas for being so fortunate as to gain Chloe as his bride-to-be.’

She made to move past him, but he was staying at her side as she headed across the terrace. He was speaking again.

‘And likewise I shall congratulate the happy bride-to-be on catching Andreas Manolis, with all his millions.’

Eliana threw a glance up at him. ‘Chloe has her own millions,’ she said.

‘Then it should prove a happy marriage indeed—with no impediment on either side.’

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