Page 19 of A Diamond for My Forbidden Bride

There was no mention of Olivia anywhere.

I was amused, mainly because I’d predicted that this would be Constantine’s reaction. He wouldn’t want anyone to know his twin was back from the dead, not until he’d figured out how to keep control of Silver Inc and block me from claiming it.

He was nothing if not relentless at holding on to what he wanted. He would hate that I had taken Olivia too, and no doubt he was already planning how to get her back.

I had a couple of security launches patrolling the seas around my island, though, plus a few insiders with the authorities on Male, the Maldives’ biggest island. If Constantine tried to come for me here, I’d know about it within minutes.

However, it had already been twenty-four hours and he hadn’t made a move; I couldn’t deny I was curious as to why. Olivia wasn’t the only person I’d watched. I’d watched Constantine too, and I knew that he felt nothing for her personally. He didn’t feel anything for anyone. But she was important to him nonetheless, and I suspected that was simply because he’d been intending to make her his.

However, now I’d stolen her back, I was sure he wouldn’t let that stand.

I sure as hell wouldn’t have.

I left warnings with my security team to stay sharp and then, as the day slid into evening and the last of my staff set out dinner on the end of the jetty, I went down to supervise.

All Olivia’s favourite foods were present and accounted for, as was her favourite drink as an adult—expensive French champagne. I wanted to show her that I still remembered what food she liked, and that I hadn’t forgotten what we’d once been to each other.

Once all was ready, and my staff safely dispatched to their homes, I pulled out a chair and sat.

And waited for Olivia.

I hadn’t specified a particular time for dinner, but she’d be able to see me, since the end of the jetty was visible from most rooms of the villa.

I wondered if she’d keep me waiting and was curious to see if she would. I would, if I were her, particularly if I was feeling petty.

Yet I hadn’t been sitting there long before I watched her tall, slender figure coming down the jetty towards me.

A typical tropical sunset was staining the blue of the sky with reds and golds and pinks. The heat of the day had faded, leaving the air warm and pleasant and still.

A perfect evening.

Yet the woman coming towards me was more perfect still.

Her hair was loose and floating free down her back in a silver-gold fall, the sunset tingeing it pink and red, as it did her pale skin. She must have investigated the wardrobe in the bedroom, the one I’d stocked with pretty things for her to wear, because she had on one of my favourites—a dress of pale blue silk that clung to and flowed with the shape of her figure as she walked. The silk was so fine it was transparent and, rather disappointingly, she must also have found one of the bikinis and decided to wear that in lieu of underwear.

Well, eventually she wouldn’t bother with a bikini. I’d make sure of that.

I stood as she came closer, because a gentleman should always stand when a lady approaches. Not that I was in any way a gentleman, but it was important to observe the niceties. Especially at so delicate a stage in the proceedings.

I didn’t wait for her to say anything; I went over to her chair, placed opposite me at the table, and pulled it out for her. ‘Good evening, little star. Won’t you sit down?’

Her expression was cool and detached, yet I could see the glitter in her eyes.

She might act like one of the diamonds her company sold all she liked, but we both knew she wasn’t one, not with that white fire burning away inside her.

I left her with no choice but to sit, which I knew must have annoyed her, but she only gave me a cool glance and said nothing as she came over to the chair and sat down.

I pushed her chair in, indulging myself by pausing a moment to look down at her and breathe in her sweet scent. I very much wanted to sweep aside her hair, expose the nape of her neck and bend to kiss it, but I restrained myself.

Now was not the right time.

Once she was settled, I went to the ice bucket, grabbed the champagne and popped the cork before pouring us each a glass.

Or at least, I tried to.

Olivia put her hand over the top of her glass and stared up at me, her gaze challenging. ‘No wine. I want answers, Valentin. And you said you’d give them to me.’

Oh, so she was going to play it like that, was she? Interesting.

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