Page 61 of The Billionaire's Demand

His smile encompassed Miki and his grandmother as well.

‘I was about to cook dinner,’ Eliana said.

Miki’s grandmother shook her head. ‘I’ll have soup later on. You go. Go on—it will do you good.’

She sounded more encouraging now, though Leandros could see she was uneasy, and wondered why.

‘It will indeed,’ Leandros agreed smilingly.

He looked questioningly at Eliana.

She seemed to hesitate, as if she were trying to come up with another reason not to go with him. Then she simply turned round.

‘I’ll need a jacket,’ she said.

She disappeared—presumably into her bedroom—and emerged a moment later with a short jacket. A cheap one, from a chain store, like the trousers and jumper she was wearing. Her hair was tied in a knot on the back of her head, and she wore no make-up.

Yet she is as beautiful as the moon and the stars...

His expression softened. ‘Right, then, off we go.’

He bade Miki’s grandmother a courteous goodbye, saying he would not keep Eliana out late, and let Eliana lead the way out of the apartment. She said not a word, and nor did he, as they went downstairs.

Out on the pavement the air was cool—autumn was reaching here too. The taxi he’d come in was waiting at the kerb, and he gave the driver their destination as he ushered Eliana into her seat, coming in after her. She sat looking out of the window, not speaking. He let her be.

The taxi gained the seafront and cruised down it till they reached the restaurant, then pulled up. Leandros hadn’t made a reservation, but like last time they were early, and there were plenty of tables to choose from.

But that was the only resemblance to the last time they’d been there—that and Eliana’s cheap clothes.

Because everything has changed since then—changed totally and for ever.

And now there was just one more change he must to achieve...

Eliana felt dazed and weak. What was Leandros doing here? And what was she doing here with him? Here in the very same place where he had asked her to come to Paris with him, after walking back into her life after six long years.

As she had that time, she went numbly along with the business of ordering. The fare was just as last time, and she ordered, without even thinking about it, what she’d had before. Leandros ordered a beer for himself, and table wine for them both, and mineral water. Bread was deposited in a wicker basket, and the waiter whisked off again.

Eliana started to pick at her bread.

What was happening? Why?

She lifted her head to Leandros, who was thanking the waiter as he returned with his beer and set down a carafe of red wine at the same time with her mineral water.

‘Why are you here, Leandros? What is this about?’

Her tone was calm, which was odd, because inside she wasn’t calm at all. Inside, emotions were ricocheting around inside her like random gunfire from every direction.

Leandros set down his beer, looked across at her. ‘I’ve been busy,’ he said.

She frowned. What did that mean?

‘There was a lot to get done, but I think I’ve covered everything.’ He paused, then spoke again. ‘Starting, I think, with this.’

He reached inside his jacket pocket, drew out a long envelope and set it down in front of her.

‘Open it,’ he instructed.

The frown still on her face, she did so. Her hands seemed clumsy, her fingers making a hash of opening it neatly. She yanked out the thick paper inside, unfolded it. Stared.

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