Page 61 of Greek's Temporary Cinderella

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.

Not understanding.

Not understanding at all.

‘It’s the deeds to your father’s house,’ Leandros said.

Her eyes flew to him, distended.

‘I bought it from Jonas Makris,’ he told her. ‘Oh, he didn’t know it was me—I used a proxy. A very eager proxy,’ he said with a wry expression on his face. ‘He offered him an absurdly high price—saying how he adored houses of that period and was determined to acquire it, whatever the cost. Jonas couldn’t resist—though I did tussle him down from the price he thought he could get,’ he said with a note of satisfaction audible in his voice. ‘I made speed of the essence, and the transaction went through yesterday. So...’ his voice changed ‘...there it is. Your father’s house, back in the family.’

He paused, clearly seeing the shock, the incomprehension, in her face.

‘It’s yours, Eliana,’ he said.

Her eyes distended again. Not with incomprehension now, but in disbelief—swiftly followed by the shaking of her head.

‘No, of course it isn’t! Of course it isn’t mine! It’s yours—yours, Leandros! You bought it, with your money—of course it’s yours!’

It was his turn to shake his head. ‘What would I want with a house like that? I’ve got a perfectly good one of my own in Psychiko. Left to me by my father.’ His voice changed again. ‘Just as your father, Eliana, should have left you his house.’ A hardness entered his voice. ‘And not expected you to marry a man like Damian Makris to stop him losing it!’

Eliana bit her lip. ‘He didn’t, Leandros. He didn’t expect me to do it. Never. I married Damian of my own free will—it was my choice. I told you that.’ Her voice dropped. ‘Just as it was my choice to break my engagement to you to do so. My choice—mine alone.’ There was a tightness in her voice as she looked at him. ‘I married money, Leandros—and it was my choice to do so.’

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