Page 78 of In Love with a Cruel Billionaire

Chapter 14

To trust a Greek billionaire, you must let him realize some things on his own.

He said: Like how much I love you?

She said: No, dreamboat—-

He said (with a groan): Stop calling me that.

She said: But it’s cute!

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AFTER MAKING SURE MAIRIwas deeply asleep, Damen carefully extracted himself from her, not wanting her to wake up because she was obviously exhausted.

It was only when he was in the privacy of his study did he call Bart. “Tell me everything.”

“Our stocks are down by five percent and it's expected to drop another five by tomorrow. Your mother has issued a press statement about not being in favor of your decision to break the engagement, and Mr. Kokinos has asked for an emergency board meeting tomorrow.”

He listened calmly, nothing in Bart’s reports taking him by surprise. He had known it would happen this way the moment he chose to follow his heart.

His colleagues would never understand why he had to choose a woman who brought nothing to marriage over a woman who could make him the most powerful man on earth. If the merger between the Kokinos and Leventis had pushed through, it would have put him in control of nearly a third of the world’s shipping industry. But now that he might have made an enemy out of Kokinos, the other party could take offense and merge with another family with the sole purpose of demolishing Damen’s business empire in mind.

“Sir?” Bart asked nervously, waiting for orders to be rapped out.

“We’ll attend tomorrow’s board meeting as well but let no one know about it. As for the stocks, keep monitoring them and issue a press statement – the standard ‘no comment’, but add that it is not my wish or Ms. Tanner’s to court publicity for publicity’s sake.” It would be a clear dig at his mother, and he wanted it to be seen that way.

“Understood, sir.”

“Good. Keep me posted.” He ended the call but did not leave the office right away. It would be a rocky climb from here on, but he was not worried for himself.

When he returned to the bedroom, Mairi was already awake, iPad in her hand. She looked up when she heard him enter. “Hi.”

It sounded exactly like the way she said ‘hi’ to him before – breathless, dazed, whimsical, andin love.

He would cherish that sound forever.

In moments, he was on the bed, Mairi on his lap, and he was kissing her hungrily. When he released her, she looked even more dazed.

“Hi?”

He laughed.

Mairi caressed his face. “Is this really happening?” she whispered.

He kissed her again, more demandingly, more passionately. “There. Still have doubts?” Before she could answer, he said, “Please say yes.”

Mairi giggled.

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