Page 36 of The Price of Fame

Grabbing his manager by the collar, he pulled him close. “That girl, as you call her, will be my wife as soon as I can organize the wedding she deserves.”

“Markus, you’re not thinking straight. She’s not good for your image. You need a well-known person, or at least someone Greek. I thought when she missed your performance and saw how all the women treated you that one of you would give up. I was sure she would give you up. When I heard about the hospital visit and that she wasn’t wearing your ring anymore, I thought you’d both come to your senses.”

The longer the man talked, the tighter Markus closed his hands around Gaelan’s neck. He wondered if he got a judge who was a fan whether he could get a more lenient sentence for killing his manager.

Yanking the man by his shirt, Markus shook him, yelling in his face. “You piece of shit. If you haven’t figured it out, you’re fucking fired.”

Pulling his arm back, he punched Gaelan in the face, and was about to do it again when a hand touched his back. In a slow, calming voice, Kylie spoke in Greek.

“Don’t. He’s not worth it. Plus, I should thank him. If it wasn’t for him, I probably would never have realized certain things like I’m stronger than I thought and will stand my ground. One of the best things he did was show me, us, that we love each other and are willing to work on our differences. Nothing can break us apart if we don’t let it.”

He stared speechless at Kylie. His heart soared, and he felt so blessed. He dropped Gaelan as a knock sounded on the door.

“Five minutes.”

He didn’t care where he was and how much time he had before he had to be on stage. He turned to Kylie, lifting her and crashing his lips against hers, holding her tightly to him. His tongue found hers, and they tangled together, mimicking the actions he so badly wanted to do to her now.

Reluctantly, he pulled away when another knock came telling him it was four minutes until he went on. “When did you learn Greek? How long have you been able to understand?”

Her eyes shone, and her lips curled up into a huge smile. “I started a couple of weeks ago. When you were gone, all I listened to on my iPod was Greek. I’ve picked a lot more up since I’ve been here.”

Brushing his lips over hers, he squeezed her tight as the door opened and a guy with a clipboard hurried him out. Not willing to relinquish Kylie just yet, he moved her so she held his hand and they walked together, following the man in front. “I love you,” he whispered in Greek.

She smiled and repeated back, “S 'agapô.”

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