Page 26 of About Love and Revenge

I should leave.

Despite the fact that keeping her close might be an advantage against Leandros, it would be all too easy to keep an eye on her from a distance. The thing is, Elina won't be safe in Greece. Naim won't take what happened lightly.

So why not combine the fact that she will be useful to me with my desire to make sure the bastard doesn't hurt her anymore? Maybe doing something good for a change will help me reduce my debt to God.

“I have a job offer for you.”

First, her face shows surprise, but then she presses her lips into a thin line. “I'm not a whore.”Her cheeks are flushed, and the warrior look returns.

Damn, she's a delight. The fact that she doesn't let herself bend makes me want her even more.

“I don't pay for my women, Elina.”

The redness now spreads to her neck as well, but she still doesn't give up. “Yesterday you said you wanted me.”

Jesus, her courage turns me on too much.

“I still do, but what I'm about to propose has nothing to do with sex.” I smile slowly. “Unless you want it.”

“I don't,” she replies quickly. Despite that, there's curiosity in her eyes, and I wonder whether it's because of the job offer or because I said I want her.

“You're not safe here. Naim will try to take you against your will again. He won't take no for an answer, especially not after...” I feel alittle embarrassed, which is new, but there's no better way to put it. “After henegotiatedyour relationship with your father.”

“We don't have any relationship. Yesterday was only the second time I’ve ever been alone with him.”She looks ready to fight.

“I believe it.” I notice that my statement took her by surprise. “But he's not worried about what you want.”

She shivers a little, as if she's cold. “What kind of job offer? I don't know how to do anything. I’ve never had a job.”

“You'll need to support yourself somehow. I know you used to throw parties for your father.”

She nods.

“So, do this for me.”

“Do what? Organize parties? But you said you won't stay here?—”

“Not here. I want to hire you to organize my receptions in the United States. I'm inviting you to leave the island with me, Elina.”

Elina

CHAPTER TEN

I'm morethan used to maintaining a façade of indifference, no matter how difficult the situation is, but after what he's just said, I take unsteady steps backwards and sit on my bedroom armchair because I don't know how much longer my legs will last, one bump after another.

Did I hear him right?

I look at my hands in my lap, and they are shaking.

How could my life have turned so quickly into this storm?

It's true that I've never experienced great emotions. I haven’t experienced anything, but at least, so far, my existence has been secure. I could get up in the morning and look after my horses. I'm not used to talking to people, anyway. My parents were never ones to interact with us much, even when we were little. So I got used to not talking, whether to acquaintances or strangers.

Now I'm in my room, in the only house I've known since I was born, and this man, Odin Lykaios, the same man who messed up my world, offers me a job?

Thinking rationally, in my current situation, that would be the only way to keep me going. I need to eat and dress like everyone else, but can I do that? Go to work, have a normal life,be my own master?

I lift my head to face him, and he's looking at me intensely. There'san energy between us, and I can't seem to make it go away. Despite everything he did to my father, leaving him in misery, Odin so far seems to have been honest. Even when he saved me, he said he wasn't my friend or hero, which I already knew. He’s never tried to pass himself off as a good person, hasn’t even said sweet words to try and win my trust.

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