Page 83 of About Love and Revenge

"You don't mind being the enemy's girlfriend? Don't get me wrong, I'm not judging. I just find the situation odd."

“I don't see him as an enemy. Not mine, at least. I usually don't talk much, but I watch people. Even though he puts on that cold front for the world, Odin is honorable, which I know my father isn't. Besidesbeating me, my brother and sisters, and my mother, he always mistreated and punished our employees and the rest of the islanders. Everyone on our island lived in the grip of fear.”

“I love a mystery and would love to know why Odin is chasing him."

“I think it might have something to do with their past."

“You should ask Odin to tell you the reason for so much hate. Sometimes men need a little push to open up."

“I'll think about it. We're still at the very beginning of our relationship."

She stares at me like she wants to say something else, and I wait. "Can I ask you something without you getting upset?"

"Sure. I just don't know if I'll answer."

“You can trust me, Elina. Maybe you're not used to having real friendships, but I'm your friend."

“Okay, ask it. It's just that I find it strange to have someone to listen to me, especially someone I don't have to pretend with."

She's the one taking my hand across the table now. "I did a quick search on the internet about the main characteristics of a dyslexic, and you speak very well for those who have dyslexia. I could only catch a word or two today, and even that was because I’ve been paying attention since I found out about it at that dinner."

I shrug. "I tend to be careful every time I utter a word."

“Yes, I noticed that you speak very slowly."

"I've been practicing since I was a child. From the age of eight, I was humiliated by Leandros every time I got a word wrong. I became afraid of being scolded. I also choose the words I'll say carefully. The ones I’mmost troubled with I simply avoid."

"Oh, darling. You must have felt so alone."

I look away. She has no idea how I grew up with my self-esteem destroyed. “I had no one to talk to. I'm not close to my siblings,and the girls laughed at me if I said something wrong. So it wasn't a very easy task learning how to pronounce the words correctly, since they hardly spoke to me. That’s why I started to watch movies.”

"Movies?"

"Yeah. Romance and lots of cartoons too. I watched the same movie over and over, until I memorized the words. That helped me to increase my vocabulary."

"What about reading? Do you like books?"

Before I can respond, her phone rings with a call from Christos. I thank him silently, since the conversation was already starting to make me tense. While I'm happy with Zoe's friendship, it's hard to spill all my secrets at once.

“Sorry about that,” she says as soon as she hangs up. "My husband can be overprotective at times."

"No problem." I look at her, wondering if I should ask what I want to ask, and I come to the conclusion that I should. "Would you go with me to a hairdresser?"

"Of course, but why?"

“I've been wearing this same haircut for years and would like to change it up a bit."

"An afternoon of beauty just for girls? I'm in."

I get home just before nightfall and wonder if the bodyguards warned Odin about our trip to the mall.

No, maybe they warned Grigori. Odin probably doesn't stay on top of everything that goes on with me twenty-four hours a day.

Zoe made me buy somelingerie. All verysexy.

It's like living someone else's life. I never did things like going to the hairdresser or to the mall with anyone other than my mother, and most of the time I had no interest in the outing. Today I really enjoyed the day.

I take the three sets of panties and bras out of the bag and spreadthem out on the bed, wondering what Odin will think when I wear them.

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