The Innocent's Surrender (3 page)

Although being accepted would undoubtedly be a whole lot worse. Because who in their right mind would want to be married off, as part of a business deal, to a man who didn?t know the meaning of the word
fidelity
? And who changed his women as often as his elegant suits?

Most of her knowledge of him, admittedly, had been garnered from the gossip columns and glossy magazines in which he featured with such prominent regularity.

But she had seen him once in person at a reception in Athens which she?d attended with her friend Lindsay Wharton, whose father was attached to the embassy.

?Oh, wow,? Lin had whispered joyously. ?Don?t look now, but one of the wonders of the world has just walked in, accompanied, of course, by the usual size-zero model. Oh, why didn?t I go on with that diet??

?What are you talking about?? Natasha demanded, intrigued.

?Alex Mandrakis,? Lin sighed. ?Sex on a stick, and loaded with it.?

Mandrakis, Natasha thought with a start. Now, there was a name to conjure up trouble within the Papadimos household. Basilis would never have let her come tonight if he?d known his arch-enemy?s son was going to be present.

All the same, she?d risked a glance, knowing that their paths were unlikely to cross ever again, so this might be her sole opportunity to see what all the fuss was about.

Even without Lin?s description, he was unmissable, being taller than anyone else around him, and all lean elegance in his evening clothes.

And he had a face that you wouldn?t forget in a hurry, either, she thought, her breath catching, his olive-skinned features strongly marked from his frank beak of a nose to the deep cleft in his chin, via a mouth that could best be described as sinful.

She hadn?t meant to linger on her appraisal, even though everyone else in the room seemed to be gawping at him too, but suddenly, as if alerted by some invisible antenna, he?d turned his head and those midnight-dark eyes under the straight black brows had looked right back at her, that astonishing mouth curving in a smile as his gaze swept over her in an assessment as candid as it was total.

Undressing her, some instinct had told her, with his eyes.

Natasha had felt a wave of warm blood wash from her toes to her hairline, as she prayed for the floor to split apart and swallow her into some fathomless depths forever.

But it hadn?t happened, and she?d had to be content with merely turning her back instead. Pretending he didn?t exist.

Now, as the memory stung her again, she said harshly, ?If he has been suddenly transformed into Mr Shrewd, then he?ll know this is a set-up. After all, Irini has hardly been discreet over her views of the Mandrakis family as a whole, and Alex in particular.?

There was an odd silence. Once more the brothers exchanged glances, but this time they were both smiling broadly. Almost gleeful, in fact.

And if I were a child again, Natasha thought, I?d be searching my bed for lizards.

?Irini?? Stavros shook his head, enjoying the moment. ?Even if she allowed it, we would not be so foolish. No, my little one, the bride we have offered Alex Mandrakis is yourself, Natasha
mou
.?

His satisfied beam widened. ?So, what do you think of that? It is clever,
ne
??

CHAPTER TWO

?CLEVER?? Natasha?s voice rose. ?
Clever
? It?s the most ridiculous idea I?ve ever heard in my life. The pair of you must have taken leave of your senses.?

Her condemnation was received in frosty silence, and she saw Maria and Christina exchange affronted glances at this lack of respect to their husbands.

?But, Natasha, this is such a simple thing we ask you to do for us.? Andonis leaned forward. ?You have only to sign a letter which we shall send to Mandrakis, telling him you are willing to become his wife in accordance with our offer. Is that really such a difficulty?

?Because I promise you that he will never agree to this proposal. He has no wish to marry anyone.? He shrugged. ?Why should he tie himself to one, when so many beautiful girls are willing to share his bed without honour??

Ignoring the shocked squeals from Maria and Christina, he went on, ?His age is, what? Thirty? In ten?fifteen years, perhaps?he will take a wife, in order to breed himself a son, if he can find a woman to have him.

?Until then, Natasha
mou
, he will do just as he pleases.?

?But do not worry,? Irini broke in scathingly. ?You are not likely to please him, with your pale hair and your white skin. A creature who looks as if no blood runs in her veins.? She laughed scornfully. ?How could you be wanted by any man? With Mandrakis, you will be quite safe.?

Natasha was jarred once again by the memory of amused dark eyes coolly scanning her seventeen-year-old body, and of Lin?s excited murmur, ?They say he can make love in four languages. Isn?t he to die for?? And to her vexation, she now found herself flushing at the thought.

There were a number of pithy retorts she could have made to Irini, she thought, including the information that she was currently dating a man in London who clearly didn?t find her in the least undesirable, but she controlled herself with an effort.

She could also understand why Madame Papadimos was absent. Thia Theodosia will know nothing about this nightmare, she thought. Nothing?

She said tautly, ?Safe doesn?t actually enter the equation. I refuse to be even marginally involved with this crazy scheme. Please let that be clearly understood.?

There was a silence, then Stavros said heavily, ?I will be honest. I am saddened, sister, by this lack of gratitude?this failure in your duty to the family that raised you.

?This letter,? he added reproachfully, ?is a formality?no more. So, is it really so much to ask? Especially when he will be expecting to receive it from us. And when so much depends upon it.?

?I thought you wanted to drag things out,? Natasha returned curtly. ?To keep him waiting.?

?We have done so,? said Andonis. ?But now some gesture is needed. A little?propitiation to keep him interested.? He chuckled. ?And to keep him sweet.?

?I don?t think
sweet
and
Alex Mandrakis
are words that belong in the same sentence.? Restlessly, Natasha pushed her chair back and rose, walking over to the tall glass doors which opened into the garden. ?You shouldn?t have brought me into this business,? she said, staring into the warm darkness. ?Not without asking me first. You had no right?no right at all.?

?But where is the harm?? Andonis demanded. ?There will be no marriage between you and Mandrakis. We swear it. You have only to say you accept the terms we are offering. Give him something to think about.?

He looked at her appealingly. ?The fact that a girl he has never seen is offering herself to him will appeal to his vanity and his arrogance. In the short term, it may cloud his judgement, and create a delay that is vital to us, and to the continued prosperity of the Papadimos family?in which you share, Natasha
mou
.?

He paused. ?Perhaps you should remember that. Also how my father rescued you and treated you as his own,? he added significantly. ?Maybe it is time you repaid the memory of his kindness, with a little generosity of your own.?

She said coldly and clearly, ?Your father wouldn?t have touched a deal like this, and you know it. He hated the Mandrakis family far too much to offer even a bogus olive branch.?

And Alex Mandrakis has seen me, even though he won?t remember it
?

?That is true,? Stavros agreed. ?But think what a fool this Alexandros will appear when we obtain our money, and his offer is brushed aside with our contempt. He will lose face with his shareholders, his board, and most of all, with his father. Old Petros will not easily forgive him for walking into our little trap.

?And he has made other enemies. Once we have demonstrated that he is not fireproof, they too may move against him.? He sighed gustily. ?Our ultimate victory may be greater than we could hope for. And that is something our father would relish indeed. As you well know, sister.?

Yes, Natasha thought bitterly. Only too well. Where the Mandrakis family was concerned, Basilis too had seemed to abandon all logic and reason. He would never have forgone an opportunity to do them a serious mischief, if it had lain in his power.

But did it never occur to either Stavros or Andonis that what they had in mind might prove to be a double-edged sword, and that Alex Mandrakis might well have some similar plan?

Or did they believe they were the ones who were fireproof?

If so, she thought fatalistically, God help us all.

She said abruptly, ?Very well. If there?s really no other way, give me the letter, and, for your father?s sake, I?ll sign.?

She paused. ?But I still think it?s a truly terrible idea, and I hope it with all my heart that it won?t all end in tears.?

It wasn?t just that one letter, of course, she reflected later, as she lay in bed, listening to the soft swoosh of the ceiling fan above her. When it came down to it, there?d been a whole sheaf of documents relating to the refinancing that also required her signature, and she?d obeyed wearily, sitting at Basilis?s old desk in his former study, with Stavros and Andonis like twin sentinels fussily directing her pen.

Afterwards they?d been barely able to conceal their triumph at her capitulation, and she?d had no difficulty in refusing their offer to join them in the
saloni
for a celebratory drink, on the grounds that she had an early flight the next day and needed to get her rest.

Except that she couldn?t sleep, she thought, turning over and giving her inoffensive pillow a thump, as if that might improve the situation.

But her failure to relax had nothing to do with her physical surroundings. It was the nagging conviction that she?d just made a hideous mistake that was keeping her awake.

She wished with all her heart that she could go down to the study, retrieve the letter to Alex Mandrakis and destroy it. But it was locked away in the safe, along with the other documents, and she didn?t have the combination.

And telling the Papadimos brothers over breakfast that she?d changed her mind would make not an atom of difference, she thought bitterly. It was too late, and there was no way back.

What a pity, she thought wryly, that I can?t share Maria and Christina?s unswerving faith in their husbands? perspicacity. In their belief that this ludicrous swindle has some outside chance of success.

She?d been almost tempted to confide in Thia Theodosia when she?d visited her on her way to bed. But she?d found the older woman lying on a couch, a book neglected in her lap, and gazing into space with eyes that seemed to see nothing but sadness, and she?d known at once that she could not add to her troubles.

So she?d sat with her for a while, bringing a smile to her lips with stories of some of Helping Out?s more eccentric clients, and then, as she?d always done, asking for her foster mother?s parting blessing.

But this time, she?d had an odd feeling that her request was prompted by more than mere convention. That, after the evening?s events, she needed all the protection she could get.

She felt almost as if she?d stepped through some barrier into an alternative universe, she told herself wryly, consoling herself that things would seem altogether better once she was back in England, and out of harm?s way, her debt to the Papadimos family finally paid.

London was her real world, she thought gratefully. The flat she shared with Molly while the latter?s fianc? was overseas, the company they were steadily building together, and now, of course, Neil.

Closing her eyes, she let herself reflect pleasurably and deliberately on Neil.

They?d met six weeks ago at a book-launch party for an author whose domestic life had been thrown into chaos when his pregnant wife had been taken into hospital with persistent high blood pressure, leaving him with two demanding older children, a total lack of catering skills and a fast-approaching deadline.

Natasha had moved in, restored order with a firm hand, and given the author the space he needed to finish his book, along with three meals a day. She?d also stayed on to help when the mother-to-be was eventually allowed home with strict orders to rest, and joined in the general rejoicings when seven-and-a-half-pound Nathan??The nearest we could get to Natasha for a boy??had been safely born.

Neil was an executive with the PR company used by the publishers.

He was tall, distinctly attractive, effortlessly charming, and he?d made an unashamed beeline for her when she?d made a hesitant appearance in the doorway of the crowded room, looking round for James and Fiona.

He hadn?t haunted her side all evening, because he had work to do, but he?d sought her out again as she was leaving, asked for her card, and suggested they should have dinner some time.

Some time had proved to be the following night, she recalled, smiling into the darkness, and they?d been seeing each other regularly ever since.

?So, is he the one?? Molly had enquired teasingly only a few nights ago when Neil had brought Natasha home from the theatre, drunk the offered coffee as always, then taken his leave with the usual ruefulness. ?Are you finally going to take that leap into the great unknown of sex??

Natasha had flushed. ?You think I?m mad to have kept him waiting this long, don?t you??