****
“You have heard of the rumors, too, haven’t you?” It was Stavros who brought the sensitive subject up, and he only did so because his conscience bade him to. The Dutch billionaire had been in Athens for over two months, and Willem and Serenity had been dating in secret for almost the same length of time. But as far as Greek society was concerned, it was Acheron Simonides, Stavros’ other friend, who Serenity was seeing.
Willem took his time answering, taking a sip from his coffee while struggling not to give way to the rage festering inside him every time rumors of his angel dating the man she was working for were brought to his attention.
Placing his cup down, he asked finally, “Is this why you’ve invited me over for breakfast?” He had been surprised by the invitation, knowing how Stavros’ pregnant and moody wife still held a grudge against him for what he had done to Serenity.
Seeing no point in lying, Stavros said simply, “Yes.” It was also the reason why he had chosen to meet with his friend in the privacy of his home. At least here, there would be no way the media would get wind of their talk.
“You have nothing to say about it?” Stavros pressed.
Willem’s broad shoulders moved into a shrug. “I don’t see any reason for me to say anything. They are just rumors, and if there was something to it, Serenity would tell me about it.”
Stavros’ brows shot up incredulously. “You really believe that?”
Willem only looked at him.
Slowly, the Greek billionaire shook his head. “You are in love with her, aren’t you?”
His friend said quietly, “Yes.”
“And this – whatever it is you’re doing – it is your way of atoning for your mistakes?”
Willem’s lips twisted. “It is not ideal, I grant you that, but if it is what it takes to make her realize I am serious about her, then so be it.”
He told Willem abruptly, “I was the one to refer her to Acheron Simonides.”
“I see.” Willem’s voice was polite. “I suppose it was payback for the minor deception I played in the past between you and your wife?”
“More or less.” Stavros had the grace to flush. “I didn’t think she’d actually—” Fuck.
“I told you,” Willem said evenly. “They are only rumors.” But a muscle had started ticking in his jaw again. “She works for Simonides, and that is the only goddamn connection between them. It’s my bed she sleeps in, or it’s me who’s beside Serenity in hers.” He breathed hard, knowing he had just allowed his jealousy to get the better of him.
“Of course.” Stavros was swift to appear conciliatory. Cursing himself for his verbal lapse, he changed the subject and steered clear from talking about Serenity after that. After half an hour, Willem stood up to leave, and as Stavros walked his guest to the front door, he said quietly, “If it means anything, my wife and I are rooting for you.”
“Willow, too?” the Dutch billionaire asked skeptically.
Stavros smiled. “My wife won’t admit it anytime soon, but she’s already forgiven you.” The butler opened the doors for them, just in time for the two billionaires to see a sports car coming up the driveway.
“You should have told me you were expecting someone,” Willem told him.
Stavros was frowning. “Actually, I’m not.”
Both of them watched the sports car slow down, and one of the two security guards stationed outside Stavros’ home rushed to open the passenger door.
Slowly, a pale-faced Serenity stepped out of the car.
She was supposed to be in school, Willem thought with a frown.
The driver of the sports car also stepped out, and it was, of course, Acheron Simonides.
Ah.
He watched Acheron walk around his car, placing an arm around his Serenity’s waist. He waited for Serenity to shrug the other man’s hold off or at least show any sign of shock or reluctance. But she did none of those. Instead, she allowed her Greek boss to draw her forward with him.
Ever the perfect host, Stavros greeted the newcomers pleasantly even though he also gazed at Serenity in quiet disapproval. It made her flush, but still she remained in the circle of Acheron’s arms, unable to make herself pull away.
Just an act, she reminded herself doggedly. It was all just an act, no matter what Willem had said.
Acheron was turning towards Willem now, forcing her to look the Dutch billionaire’s way as well.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you officially,” she heard Acheron say as he offered his free hand to Willem, “even though I’ve already heard so much about you from my intern.”
“Then I’m afraid I am at a disadvantage,” Willem answered with a brief smile that didn’t reach his eyes, “since Ms. Raleigh, on the other hand, has told me nothing about you at all.” The entire time the Dutch billionaire spoke, he did not look at Serenity’s way at all.
“She’s probably too shy,” Acheron dismissed easily. “Ne, koukla mou?” And as her Greek boss smiled down at her, that was when she saw Willem slowly, finally, look at her.
It was only there for a second, gone in the blink of an eye, disappearing so fast that she wished she could convince herself she had only imagined it.
But she knew that wasn’t true.
Heartbreaking bleakness in Willem de Konigh’s blue gaze, making Serenity feel even worse than the cheap, stupid whore Shane thought she was.
Just a lie, she told herself. Just a lie, just a lie, she chanted in her mind as she reluctantly raised her gaze to meet his.
“Ms. Raleigh.”
“Mr. de Konigh.”
He nodded. “It was nice seeing you.”
She watched him leave, her heart in her throat, hating the way he had made her feel. He had done worse, she reminded herself. So much worse, dammit. So why did she feel so damn bad?
Acheron left soon after, politely refusing Stavros’ invitation to come inside. When she was alone with the Greek billionaire, she could feel his disapproving eyes still on her, and she said stiffly, “You don’t understand.”
“Don’t I?” Stavros asked levelly. “I have only to look at my friend’s face to know that you lied—”
“You don’t know anything,” she cried out, whirling around to face him. “You weren’t there when he made me—” She choked back a sob. “He hurt me first!”
“For which you wanted to exact revenge?” Stavros was quiet for a moment. “I think you’ve had it today, Serenity. I think after this, he might have gotten the message perfectly, and he won’t ever see you again.”
****
He was not surprised at all when reception called him about a female visitor, and he told them to allow his visitor up, knowing it was Serenity without even asking. Perhaps it was a combination of the years he had spent with her and this all-too-new, all-too-powerful love he felt for her, but more and more Willem was beginning to realize that he was able to predict the way her mind worked.
It had been obvious by the way she looked at him earlier that she had never thought she would bump into him, and especially not while she was still with Acheron Simonides. Also equally obvious to the Dutch billionaire was that she would come after him as soon as she was able to. Serenity had a very strong sense of justice after all, even when she was a child, and it would have only gotten stronger over the years.
But it didn’t mean she couldn’t surprise him, he thought grimly. Today was proof of that, with the sight of Serenity in Acheron Simonides’ arms like a punch to his guts. It was a Monday, a school day, and like a goddamn fool, he had never thought to question her when she told him she was too busy to meet with him.
She came knocking on his door a minute later, and when he opened the door, he found her frail and trembling, her blue eyes showing fear and guilt. She had changed, wisely so, and it showed that she, too, knew him well enough to guess he would not appreciate seeing her come to him in the same clothes she had worn while she was with her Greek boss.