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“Thank you.” She took a step.
“I’ll show you the way,” Leo said.
“No.” The word was curt and clipped. “I’ll find my own way, or Stavros may show me.” She used all her will power not to look at Leo.
Through his sunglasses, she saw Stavros’s eyes flick to Leo. He seemed to get an answer to his unspoken question. “I’ll take you.”
“Before you do,” she said to Stavros and then addressed Leo, “let me be clear. I am here for the children and nothing else. I have no desire to see or speak to you. Please respect my wishes.” Without waiting for a reply or indication of any kind that he understood, she strode toward the sprawling white mansion with blue windows and doors.
From behind, she heard Stavros say, “She’s not going to make this easy for you.”
“No, she’s not,” Leo said.
Then Stavros was at her side.
“And I don’t want you to speak to me on his behalf either.” Her voice issued the warning with a light growl.
Stavros nodded. “This is one mess Leo will have to clean up on his own.”
“Thank you.” The tightness in her shoulders eased a fraction. At least she wouldn’t have to worry that Stavros would try to plead Leo’s case to her. And since she’d issued the edict for Leo not to speak to her, she should be able to get through the next two days.
“I can’t promise that Leo’s parents won’t try to speak to you on his behalf.” The corners of Stavros’s mouth twitched.
Rose groaned inside. She hadn’t accounted for Leo’s parents. She could hardly tell them to zip their lips regarding their son. How was she going to get around that problem?
“I’ll show you your room first and then take you to the children.” Stavros led her through various rooms, pointing out items of historical significance to the family as they walked.
She tried to keep track of where they were going. “This place is like a maze.”
Stavros chuckled. “You should’ve seen it before the remodeling. The home has grown over the generations and with the increased wealth. The floor plan made no sense at all and was a nightmare to keep eyes on. This is much easier for protecting the family.”
“Are there cameras in every room?” She looked around for telltale signs but saw nothing.
“Pretty much, though they’re well hidden. The bedrooms and bathrooms are the exception, though there are cameras trained on all the doorways and windows.”
As she’d expected. At least she’d have privacy in her room.
“This is you.” Stavros opened a door. “The children are next door.” He pointed down the hall. “Our rooms are down there. The guest rooms are on the opposite side of the house.”
“You have a room in this wing?” The information surprised her.
“As head of security, I find being in close proximity to those I protect to be a necessary duty.” He flipped up his sunglasses. “But Leo is also my best friend, and this is my family.” He gestured to the home.
Touched by his loyalty to the Papadakis’s she cleared her throat and looked inside her room. “This will do. The new nanny will be here in two days, but I’m sure you know that.”
“Yes. Marie has been in touch.”
Rose frowned. “I’ll bet,” she muttered.
“You’ll find all your belongings inside.” He inclined his head toward her room. “We brought them with us.”
“Wonderful.” She had expected nothing less.
“I’ll have them shipped to your home when you return so you won’t have the burden of taking them on the plane.”
“I see. Turn out the nanny and relegate her to common status the minute she’s done with the job.” Bitterness tinged her words.
Stavros raised a brow. “You’d prefer the private plane?”