Page 36

I look at the report in front of me, wondering what to do next.

No, actually, I know exactly what needs to be done. What I'm considering is how to get Leandros where I need him while at the same time making sure Elina's mother is safe.

If I’m being honest, I didn't stop to think about her well-being before, although I never wanted to involve her in my revenge, but I realized, after that conversation in Montana, how deeply Elina worries about her mother, which makes Cinthya my responsibility too.

Although I have no admiration for the woman, as far as I know, she's not guilty of anything but neglect. Her obsession with preserving her marriage nearly destroyed two of her children, but she shouldn’t have to answer for her husband's crimes.

Grigori’s report states that, unlike the other times, in this latest sighting there was no sign of Cinthya.

Where is she?

It's hard to imagine a woman like her staying away from her husband.

Even when Elina arrived in New York, with no experience outside the safety of the island, she showed a willingness to learn. I can't see that in her mother .

I have to find her and make sure she's taken care of.

The net is closing, and decisions need to be made as planned so that there is no margin for error. I already have too many sins to answer for, and I don't want to bear the blame if anything happens to the Argyros matriarch.

After I walked Elina to the car last week, I couldn't stop thinking about what she told me—about her having dyslexia.

I knew roughly what it meant, but since then, I've dedicated myself to learning all about it. From what I've seen so far, dyslexia is a neurological condition that causes a block in the proper recognition of words. It manifests in childhood and, with early intervention, can be almost completely overcome, but the support and commitment of parents along with professional help is essential.

On that same night, after Elina was asleep next to me in bed, I thought about all the times she lay on my lap so I could read to her. I remembered the dreamy expression on her face every time I stopped to comment on a passage from the book; she never dared to touch them herself.

The scene in her home’s library back on our island in Greece came to mind. How she cried as she threw the book away... Now I know it was frustration at not being able to understand the words.

When I asked whether her parents sought help, she said it was complicated, but I think I know what happened. Cinthya never cared enough about her children to really see them. If the woman allowed her husband to beat up the children and herself, would she worry about delving into her eldest daughter's learning difficulties?

I don’t think so.

As for Leandros, I'm not sure whether he just refused to get help for her so that it wouldn't become public knowledge or if he used her difficulty to manipulate her. I would bet on the latter, but it doesn't matter.

I'll do whatever it takes to make sure she never doubts herself again. Elina said she lived a life of embarrassment because of her learning difficulty, and I’ll go to hell if it’s necessary to help her regain her self-esteem.

Several pieces of the complex puzzle that is her begin to fall into place.

While doing that research, I saw that one of the main characteristics of a dyslexic person is trying to speak slowly, consciously policing themselves not to change letters out loud. Now, with more attention, I notice how she sometimes starts some words and then suddenly stops, changing them to another.

I noticed that once or twice this week she changed the letters of a word, which has never happened before, and I may be fantasizing, but it makes me believe that she may now feel more confident with me and doesn’t feel the need to pay attention to what she is saying at all times.

I never gave any sign of noticing the mixed-up letters, however. When that happens, I keep talking to her normally, and the moment we discuss something I’ve read to her, I encourage her to give her opinions even more freely than she used to.

I look at the calendar on my phone.

Today she has her appointment with the speech therapist, and I would very much like to go along, but I understand that she’ll feel more comfortable with Zoe, so even though it went against my nature, I said goodbye with a long kiss and asked her to call me when she was done.

THE CAPITAL GRILLE RESTAURANT - NEW YORK

“What's going on, Odin?”

“Why do you think there’s something going on?”

“Stop. I fought with myself not to interfere, but it's enough now.”

“What exactly are we talking about, Christos?”

He sighs, looking annoyed, then runs a hand through his hair. “More than anyone, I know that sometimes we go down strange paths until we get our bearings, but whatever you're planning right now, you need to stop immediately.”

I lean back in my chair at the restaurant where we came for lunch and wait for him to finish.

“I’ve waited for you to talk, but since you don't seem willing to share, here you go. You have to make a decision about Elina and her father.”

I feel my body stiffen.

Even though we met as adults, Christos has become a brother to me. We’re as close as even Aristeu and I ever were, yet I’ve never shared my revenge plans with him.

However, I now have proof that he’s found out several things on his own, including my problem with Leandros.

It doesn’t surprise me at all that he has investigated my past. Men like us don't allow just anyone near, even if it was him who found out we were cousins and then took the initiative to establish our friendship.

Like me, Christos is a CEO, although our area of expertise is completely different. He owns a conglomerate of companies linked to fashion, in addition to other businesses.

Of course, I also did my own investigations to find out who he really was and whether he was hiding any skeletons in his closet. After the initial distrust on both sides was past, our relationship went from social events with the remainder of my paternal family in America to a real friendship. And now, here we are, with him confronting me with something I may not be ready to face.

“My relationship with Elina has nothing to do with her father.”

“Do you really believe what you're saying? Unless she's nothing more than a distraction, in which case Zoe will kill you?—”

“She's not. I asked her to marry me.”

I can see that I’ve completely surprised him, but after the shock passes, he again insists, “Don't you think the time has come for us to have a frank conversation? You are like a little brother to me. You can share whatever you want with me.”

I’ve never allowed myself that level of emotional closeness with anyone who was left of my family. His father, who happens to be my uncle, for example, I’ve only met a few times. As much as I tried to push Christos away, though, since we met, he has always been present in my life in one way or another.

“Who is Leandros Argyros to you?”

“How do you know he's anyone to me?”

“Because you have no plans to move back to Greece, as far as I know, and yet you bought his island.”

I'm not surprised that he dug so deep in his research. I would have done the same. I don't really want to involve him in my problems, but the truth is, I'm tired of so many secrets.

“He's responsible for the fire that killed my parents and sister.”

“Fuck!”

I tell my story, remembering to mention my mother's betrayal and the person who saved me that day.

“Who is this man?”

“A good Samaritan.”

“No. There's more to it. Saving you is one thing, but no one leaves a fortune to a stranger out of sheer kindness. Haven’t you investigated it?”

“No, because I gave him my word that I wouldn't. I'll have all the answers when I accomplish our plans. He left me a letter and said that everything I need to know about his motives can be found there.”

“And you haven't read it yet?”

“I gave my word,” I repeat, adamantly.

He looks at me in disbelief. What Christos has no idea of is that all I have left after all these years is my honor. I can't go back on the deal with my rescuer.

“Can you give me a name?”

“What?”

“His name. You said you pledged your word that you would not look into him, but for my peace of mind, I must. I won't interfere, but I want to know the reasons that led him to help you.”

“I'm not na?ve, Christos. I know he must have had something personal against Leandros too. Many times his hatred for the bastard seemed even greater than mine.”

“A name, Odin. I promise I won't try to stop you from taking revenge, even though I think you're one step away from destroying your relationship with Elina. I want to believe you know what you're doing, and I hope that in the end, you get everything you want. Your reckoning and your girl."

The thought of losing her is unbearable, but I can't back down .

“Now, I need you to give me the name of this man who rescued you.”

“Ingvar Aric.”

“He's Nordic.”

"Yes, he was, and he never hid it from me. I think he might be related to my mother, although our last names are different.”

“You've been warned: I won't stop until I find out who he is.”

“Do whatever you want. Anyway, I'm very close to the finish line. It's only a matter of time before I find the old fox.”

“And then what?”

“Don't ask. You don’t need to know.”

“You're going to lose her.”

“No. I asked her to marry me.”I refuse to even consider Elina leaving me.

“And do you really think she’ll marry the man who wants to destroy her father?”

“No, she’ll marry the man who is crazy about her.”

“What has Elina answered?”

“She hasn't given an answer yet.”

I tell him everything from my first proposal in Montana up to my formal proposal to marry her on the day that she visited my office.

“You wouldn't win an award for romance.”

“I want her with me forever. This is more important than cliché displays of affection.”

He doesn't say anything, which bothers me. If anyone has managed to win over the woman he wanted to marry, it's Christos.

“Spit it out.”

“Your pragmatic mind won't help you to make her say the definitive yes.”

“What does that mean?”

“What you call a cliché is what most women dream of their whole lives. A ring, a romantic evening, but above all, you showing your devotion to her.”

“I’ve already ordered the ring. As for my devotion, I'm sure Elina already knows she has it. I’ve never allowed her to doubt that.”

“If you say so.”

I'm so frustrated. I never stopped to think—perhaps because we skipped several steps that a normal relationship would go through—that I should plan the best way to propose.

When I realized that I wanted her by my side permanently, I was sure that I just needed to convince her.

"So, what's the plan?"Christos asks.

“I'll start from scratch. With the ring and everything. I'm going to propose to her again tomorrow night, after the benefit ball.”