Page 15 of The Billionaire's Seduction Revenge

“So it is.” He leaned back in his chair, regarding her with a level stare. “Tell me about yourself.”

Before she could do so, Gianni appeared, all grins and bushy grew brows, his apron, worn around his hips, a dark black, his shirt crisp white. “Vas,” he held out a hand which Vasilios took, standing to shake it.

“Gianni, this is Emma—,” He paused, realising he didn’t know her last name, glad for the occasion to ask it.

But in the gap left by his suspended sentence, rather than providing it, Emma offered a stunning smile instead. “I work for Vasilios’s grandfather,” she said, clearly charming Gianni, because he dropped Vasilios’s hand and took Emma’s instead, lifting it to his lips in a kiss that was pure affectation. Vasilios found his fingernails digging into the soft, padded flesh of his palm, irritation whipping through his gut.

“Ah! How is my old friend?”

“He’s well,” she answered without truth, and yet the lie was told excellently, which gave Vasilios pause for thought.

“Good, good. I haven’t seen him in a while. Tell him don’t be a stranger, okay?”

“Okay,” she nodded.

“Now, what would you like?” He brushed his hands on his apron front. “We have fish, fresh in just now, served with potatoes and fennel, there’s a linguine to die for—,”

“I’ll have whatever you recommend,” Emma said easily. “I eat everything.”

Gianni clasped his hands to his heart. “Music to my ears,bella.”He turned to Vasilios. “And you?”

“Go ahead, bring whatever,” he agreed, fascinated by the exchange. Emma was also capable of being incredibly charming. That she had chosen not to demonstrate that to Vasilios explained his confusion. Then again, she was very beautiful, and of course she must be aware of that. It followed quite naturally that she had become adept at capitalising on her appearance.

“Well, you have him wrapped around your little finger.”

The look she gave Vasilios was weary. “I suppose that’s another black mark against me?”

“Not necessarily. It’s just…interesting.”

“What did I say that was wrong?” She pushed, and a thrill of something like adrenaline exploded through Vasilios. It was so uncommon for him to be argued with, so unusual for anyone to push back against him. He found he actuallyenjoyedthe experience, at least, when his sparing partner was Emma.

“Nothing at all,” he said, belatedly remembering he was the one who was supposed to be charming.

“Costa has taught me well,” she said with a small shrug, and a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Here, it’s considered the very best manners to allow the restaurant to serve you.”

“Do you eat out with my grandfather often?”

She laughed then, a soft sound. “Oh, yes, all the time. Big, extravagant three course meals for which he picks up the tab and I later show my gratitude by going to bed with him.”

Vasilios stared at her, aware she was being sarcastic but regardless, for a moment, the image of Costa and Emma together assaulted his mind and he found he didn’t like the thoughtat all.Jealousy and a strange, heated possession overtook him.

“He talks,” she said, tugging her lips to one side. “While we play cards or do puzzles. He tells me about his life, about the area, about his friends. I think he’s even mentioned this place.”

Gianni’s granddaughter arrived, a girl of perhaps fifteen, but regardless, she brought a bottle of wine and two glasses. “Compliments of the house,” she batted her lashes at Vasilios then left, allowing him to pour.

Emma took a sip of her wine—an excellent white—then returned to their conversation.

“Why are you so convinced something is going on between us?”

Vasilios contemplated that. He’d come here to learn more about her, not to reveal his inner-most thoughts, but perhaps by informing her, just a little, of Costa’s track record, he could perceive her reaction.

“My grandfather has form for this.”

She sipped her wine again. “For what, exactly?”

Vasilios reached for his glass, wrapped his fingers around the stem and then unfurled them without making any attempt to lift it to his lips.

“He’s older now. Unwell.” Something tightened in Vasilios’s chest. His grandfather’s health was failing and when he passed away, Vasilios would be all alone. Orphaned, no other family. “But only a few years ago, he was a different creature altogether. The thought of whiling away his evenings playing cards or listening to podcasts would have filled him with disdain.”

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