Everyone was astonished by this surprise visitor, but when the door of the luxurious car opened and let out an imposing, haughty man, the very allegory of arrogance,
Ambre felt her heart wither and fade into the dust of the world.
“The stranger...not him.”
But deep down Amber knew perfectly well that she didn’t regret it.
Everyone greeted the new arrival in an icy, dismayed silence.
And then the princess cried and stood up to hug the stranger.
«I knew you’d come. I knew my baby would come to save us. Oh, I’m so happy.
For the first time since the beginning of the day, Ephaestion
Theodakis’s sublime face reflected light.
Unlike his grandmother, he was unable to rise from his seat. His eyes filled with tears, he stretched out his hands towards the stranger and closed his eyes when the latter clasped him in his strong, reassuring arms.
He buried his face in the stranger’s firm chest.
«Thank you for coming. You’re going to get me out of here, aren’t you?
«Who do you think you’re asking? Of course I’m going to get you out of this horrible trap, but in a pretty bad way. And that’s before you can even come to your senses.
But as he spoke, trying to comfort the collapsed Efaestion who had regained hope, the stranger’s eyes never left Ambre, with all that she was.
She was usually so calm, serene and vivacious, but she no longer recognized herself. All her feelings must have flashed across her face again, feelings Nicholas was unaware of. So he turned pale when he saw his fiancée’s extreme response to the newcomer. So extreme that his whole body radiated overwhelming heat and violent passion.
Everyone must have noticed this more-than-obvious exchange, for a tense and very revealing silence settled over the large room, wonderfully lit by the blue lamps.
At last, the head of the family, Leon Theodakis, rose from his royal seat, and came to stand before the new arrival.
«It’s been a long time, hasn’t it Stephan?
«If I remember correctly, it’s been exactly twenty years, Leon.
«Why are you addressing me this way? I am what I am, whether you like it or not, and you can’t change that.
The stranger raised an eyebrow, his face so indecipherable it reflected at best mild amusement and another very disturbing sentiment.
«Then my apologies if my manners, which others have deemed so irreproachable, have offended you. I’m glad to see you again, Father.
“Father.” Amber almost collapsed in surprise, if Nicholas’s hand hadn’t held her back at the last second.
She couldn’t take her eyes off the statuesque face of the stranger now called Stephan, who remained frozen as he shook hands with the head of the Theodakis family.
Nicholas brought his face close to his fiancée’s and whispered the truth into her ears.
«You heard my love. This haughty, imperial stranger is my elder brother. Father’s son from his first marriage. Stephan Alexandrovicth Zotov.
«Russian?
«Russian. His mother is Russian, but the clan lives in America. And when the divorce came through, she took him with her, and changed his name to her beloved son.
«I’ve heard that name somewhere before.
«Of course you have. You’ve heard of Zotov Global Enterprises, haven’t you?
«And the CEO was a Nobel Prize winner in chemical physics.
«A true genius in his field.
«Well, now that the introductions are properly made, may I retire to my quarters for a moment to freshen up?
«Of course, my love,” intervened the Dowager Princess gently. I’ll personally show you to your suite and...
«Grandma,” Stephan intervened gently but firmly, ”it’s not that I’m disappointed that you’re the one showing me the way I’ve forgotten. But you’re tired and too emotional. So I recommend that the young lady here, Amber Connors, accompany me to my suite.
«But she doesn’t know the way, and besides, she’s not at your disposal, Stephan.
The latter smiled mockingly.
«And that’s how you receive your guests, little brother. And while I’d already convinced myself of the warmth of Greek hospitality, I had no idea how wrong I was.
«You’re Greek too, whether you like it or not, and yet...
«So I decided to let Amber have the last word.
Amber turned crimson, trying to appear natural and detached, but to no avail.
She shrugged slightly.
«I don’t know your apartments and I’ve only just arrived myself.
«So have I. So we’re both ignorant, but that’s what makes it all the more exciting, especially as we’ll be looking for what I need together.
His words were so deep and compelling that Amber could do nothing but follow him. She preceded him out of the living room in a tense atmosphere that only Stephan seemed unaffected by.
«What exactly was the meaning of that insistent little scene earlier? Was it a roundabout way of making them understand a grudge you’ve held against them for years?
«What you’re saying means nothing. You should know that I’m the kind of person who never uses indirect methods to strike my adversary.
Ambre had no doubt about that. Stephan Zotov was the kind of person who crushed his opponents with his overweening pride and ruthless arrogance. He would never allow a veil of doubt, however slight and transparent, to rob him of victory.
«But why pretend all these reasons.
He tilted his face and kissed her neck.
Desperate to be swept away inexorably, Amber stammered out what was on her mind.
«What you’re doing is worse. So much worse.
«I know it is. But you’ll answer to me with everything you’ve got. There are some things you just can’t help being, for my brother’s sake and for the sake of this family. But not for yours.
«Of course it is, and you know it.
Without knowing how, they arrived at a door, Stephan opened it and pushed Ambre inside.
Surprised and furious, she turned to him.
«I thought you didn’t know where your apartments were.
He shrugged, his face ironic.
«I have what is called a perfect memory. I’ve remembered everything that’s happened to me since I was six years old. Even the clothes I was wearing when I last set foot on the steps of this house exactly a quarter of a century ago.
Amber couldn’t stop her heart from bleeding. More than the words, the way he recounted this ancient but hurtful event broke something inside her.
«I’m so sorry. she could only whisper.
«Then prove it.
«Prove what?
ns216.73.217.94da2
and then Add to home screen.