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Elina

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Two Weeks Later

I do my best to remain calm, but it's not easy.

Today, Odin's cousin Christos and his wife are coming for dinner at our...at his house . Iconstantly need to remind myself that I'm here on a temporary basis.

He's been a little pissed off with me since the business dinner he took me to. I think it was because I said I was his employee, but what did he want me to answer? That I'm his girlfriend? I don't know what to call the two of us, and I was nervous about the woman's questions. Since then, he wears a frown.

During sex, we're still as hot as ever, but out of bed he doesn't tease me anymore, and sometimes he looks like the same Odin from that day at the party when he humiliated my father.

Quiet, gloomy.

Maybe I should go. Theo said he would help me.

Despite this distance that has come between us, I still go to the library at night. Odin suffers from insomnia, and it’s become a habit for him to read to me and then discuss with me what he’s read afterwards.

For a few hours, we have a bond stronger than sex .

I love those moments, and I don't think they bother him, because he seems to like when I have questions about our readings. Odin has infinite patience to answer, which has gradually made me more confident to ask questions.

I've just added the finishing touches to my makeup and dried my damp hands on my dress.

It's time to face the guests.

"Would I be too indiscreet if I asked what kind of relationship you two are in?" Zoe asks as soon as we enter the apartment's kitchen. I dismissed the staff for the night and decided to make the dessert myself.

I'm not upset by her direct manner. Zoe is so sweet she couldn't be mean even if she tried.

"I don't know. He's my first . . . I don't know what to call him, to tell you the truth."

She looks a little startled, probably because she realizes I'm older than she is, but then she shrugs. “I can say much the same about Christos. I mean, I've been married before, but only for six months, and that relationship was totally toxic."

"So you guys got divorced and then you met Christos?"

"No. My first husband died."She stares at the floor.

"I'm very sorry. I didn't mean to be so intrusive."

"It's not that. It's just that, despite being in the past, that time of my life still bothers me."

She tells me everything, and strangely, I find myself gathering the confidence to vent and sum up my problems to her as well, from leaving Greece up to my involvement with Odin. I don't mention the sheik, though. It's hard to say out loud that my father traded me as if he was selling a piece of meat.

I don't know what it is about her that makes me want to confess it all. It's like we've known each other for a long time.

From the firstmoment she set foot in the apartment, Zoe made me feel completely at ease. I was a little intimidated because Odin had said that she was a top model , so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. But I quickly discovered that Zoe is one of the simplest people I've ever met.

It felt like she was the one welcoming me into her home.

I've never experienced a bond with a woman other than my mother, since my sisters never gave a shit about me, and I'm glad I may have found a friend.

From what she’s told me, I can tell she's been through a lot.

“You're Greek like them."

"Yes, I am."

“But you speak English very well."

“Actually, I'm half Greek, half English. We grew up hearing both languages, and now I'm grateful for that because it's given me the opportunity to work here in the United States."

“You said that Odin was your first relationship. Don't get me wrong, but when I met him at my wedding, I never imagined he'd stick with anyone. He always seemed to be the loner type."

I study the beautiful woman who sports a pregnant belly. Zoe is very observant. And she is right: anyone who looks at Odin would think the same.

“I think he is. What we have is nothing serious. Probably just sex."

“But you are living together."

“It's temporary, believe me. I only came here because I had some problems."

“I don't want to interfere, Elina, but if you ever need anything, just give me a call. I've lived in a relationship that didn't work out, and while I'm not saying that's the case for you, I want you to know that you're not alone. It must be very difficult to start your life as an adult in a foreign country. Don't you miss home?"

“If you're talking about family, no. After being away for almost a month, I realize that even though I lived with them, I had no real connection to them. I really miss my horses, though. I love to ride."

"Are you serious? We have several horses on our property in North Carolina. We could arrange for you to visit us."

"Do you really mean that, or are you just being nice?"

“I'm serious, Elina. You are welcome to stay in our house any time you want."

“I would love to, then."I feel my heart race at the prospect of riding again. I've never been away from horses for so long. “I had four there on our island, but my favorite was the Fulcano ."

She frowns and asks, "Do you mean Volcano?"

“That's what I said."

"No, you said Fulcano ."

I feel a tremor of panic run through my body.I was so relaxed that I got careless.

I clasp my hands and can't speak. I'm usually very careful with every word I say. I've trained myself for years not to make mistakes, especially around my father and his guests, but now I've just demonstrated my flaw to a stranger.

“I think we'd better go back to the living room,” I say, pronouncing the sentence slowly as I normally do.

"Do you have dyslexia?"

The question leaves me speechless.

Is there a name for the way I've always confused letters and numbers?

"I don't know what you're talking about."I take a step back, putting some distance between us.

“One of my cousins is dyslexic. She changes the letters of some words. I noticed that you speak very slowly. Is that the reason why?"

“I don't know if there's a name for what I have. I've been like that since I was little. Stupid. I confuse things."It's the first time I've talked to anyone other than my father about my problem. My mother knew, of course, but she always let my father deal with my flaw in his own way.

I look closely at Zoe, and she doesn't seem to be laughing at me or anything. It's a strange feeling, to realize that I can be one hundred percent myself.

"I'm not a doctor, but I think it's dyslexia, yes. Did your parents ever seek help?"

God, she has no idea. “I'm sorry, but I don't want to talk about it, Zoe. "

“Forgive me for being pushy, Elina, but you have nothing to be ashamed of. Dyslexia is a learning disorder. You're not stupid. There are even dyslexic writers—did you know that? Never say that about yourself again."

"Was that the only word I got wrong?"

"That I noticed, yes."

“Please don't tell Odin or Christos about this."I'm shaking, and if I was with anyone else, I would run away from the conversation.

She comes closer to me and, without warning, hugs me.

Besides Odin, I haven't gotten a hug in many years, maybe since I was little, and at first, my body stiffens. She doesn't seem to notice, or if she does, she totally ignores it. She runs her hands through my hair, and against my will, the dread of having one of my secrets discovered slowly diminishes.

“Don't think less of yourself for that. You are a beautiful and talented woman. The ideas you showed me for the masquerade ball are incredible. New York will come to a standstill to watch your success." She gives me a kiss on the cheek. “If you want help getting started, I'll be here for you."

"So the real name of this thing I’ve got is dyslexia?"

“I'm pretty sure it is, but we can go to a speech therapist and confirm it. All you need to do is call me."

"Thanks. I'll think about it, but please, Odin can't find out."

“Elina, I want us to be friends, and friends don't reveal each other's secrets. You can relax. Nobody will know."

After that conversation full of confessions, we return to the living room. She holds my hand, and I’m grateful for that.

Zoe is not the kind of person I'm used to. She is naturally generous.

I repeat in my head the name of what she said I have.

Dyslexia .

She has offered to help me. Should I accept it?

I'll think about it calmly. I've made a lot of decisions lately, and I need to carefully evaluate the whole picture before taking such a big step.

We are taking the dessert to the table when a question paralyzes us.

"So are you in a serious relationship? Will we have a wedding soon?"

Instantly, both Zoe and I freeze.

Christos's question is absurd, because nothing even close to marriage is going through my head or Odin's, but still, I want to hear the answer.

“She's my employee."

Even though what he said is the same answer I gave the woman that night at dinner, my face feels hot.

"Idiot," Zoe says next to me.

Aggression is something so difficult to associate with her that I look at her in amazement. “He said nothing but the truth."

“He's crazy about you, that's all. I can recognize the look of a man in love, Elina. I can assure you that Odin is totally head over heels for you."

Not wanting to hear anymore about that, I start walking again, and she has no choice but to follow me.

When we enter the room, both men are staring at us and our joined hands. I don't focus on either one of them particularly, maintaining the expression I've practiced for years.

Disguising emotions is still my specialty.

"Ready for dessert?"

With each bite of the iced sweet, I feel Odin's eyes on me, and I purposely ignore him. I talk to Zoe most of the time, and I'm very careful with each word, even more careful than I usually am.

“Elina, I've been thinking. Your work for Odin”—Zoe says the word work very slowly, as if she wants him to swallow it—“can be planned well in advance, can't it? I mean, do you know when each party will be long beforehand?"

“Yes, usually a month before."I know both men are paying attention to our conversation, but I'm focused only on Zoe, even though I have no idea where she's going with this.

"Would you be willing to star in an advertising campaign? My ex-agent is looking for a model to be the face of a perfume launch for an Italian brand. What do you think?"

If she had told me she had a third breast, I would have been less shocked.

I don't believe she's being serious. It's probably just to provoke Odin.

"I'm not a model."

“Not yet, but you're one of the most beautiful women I've ever met. I'm sure if I introduce you to Miguel, he'll go crazy."

She pauses dramatically, and now I know that even if she's being honest, she's also taking the opportunity to get revenge on Odin.

“Besides, a simple advertising campaign, if done with the right agent and a generous contract, can guarantee your financial independence for a long time."

Zoe is trying to lift my spirits and teach him a lesson. She's a sweetheart, but what she doesn't know is that I'm not angry.

In a way, it was good that he said that because it brought me back to reality.

“If you want to audition, just call me. I need an answer no later than next week. I promised to keep an eye out for new faces for him."

I focus on my plate. "I'll think about it. Thanks."