Page 30 of Billion-Dollar Baby Shock

‘Okay?’

Tara’s thoughts scattered instantly. She carefully composed her expression before turning to him. He handed her a glass of champagne. She took it. ‘Efharisto.’

Dion raised a brow. ‘Learning Greek?’

Tara nodded. ‘I am, actually. I signed up for classes today, at a language school in the city. I start next Monday.’

‘I could have arranged a tutor for you.’

Tara shook her head. ‘No, this is going to be my home. I need to make friends and meet people. Not to mention start looking for work.’

Dion was silent for a long moment and when Tara glanced at him he was looking at her with a slightly taken-aback expression.

‘What is it?’

He shook his head. ‘Nothing. I can arrange for you to interview with the team working on the eco resort on Nisos. They’re working on other projects there too.’

‘I’d appreciate that, as long as they don’t feel like they have to hire me because I’m…’ She faltered, because what was she?

‘They won’t, don’t worry. It’ll be purely merit based.’

‘That’s good.’

The sun was almost disappearing behind the Acropolis and Dion said, ‘Ready to go?’

Tara looked around. The crowd had thinned out. She nodded and tried not to feel dispirited at the thought of going back to her palatial but very empty apartment.

In the car on the way back to the apartment Tara said, ‘Interior decorators are coming tomorrow to start work on turning the guest bedroom into a nursery for Niko.’

Dion seemed tense. ‘That sounds good.’

Something occurred to Tara and she said, ‘Imagine when he’s a lanky teenager and he’s going to have all his friends around watching movies or playing computer games.’ She nudged Dion. ‘Maybe my apartment will be the fun place to hang out.’

Dion looked at her as if she’d just spoken a foreign language.

‘They do grow up, you know,’ Tara pointed out gently. ‘But luckily I have a vast amount of experience in dealing with moody teenagers.’

She could swear he went pale in the dim light of the back of the car. Concerned, she asked, ‘What is it? What did I say?’

* * *

‘Nothing…nothing.’ Dion got out, sounding a little strangled.

But she’d just said everything. She’d given Dion a glimpse into the future—his son growing up, becoming a young man.

Having the kind of normal life that Dion had never experienced.

Which was exactly what Dion had wanted for his son.

But somehow he’d never factored Tara into this picture and he could see her now, in another fifteen years, even more beautiful. Vibrant. Sexy. Rounded. Mature.

He’d never factored her in because he’d been fully sure she would be gone. And yet she was starting Greek lessons. Looking for a job. Getting on with her life. Without him.

Which was exactly what he wanted. So why did he feel as if a massive weight were pressing on his chest?

At the thought of their son floating between the villa and the apartment.

Spending time with his mother. Who could well be in another relationship by then.

Perhaps not living in the apartment any more but another place. With more children.

Dion nearly stopped breathing. His mind blanked into a red haze. His car pulled up outside the apartment block now and Tara put a hand on his arm, saying lightly, ‘You don’t need to come up. I’m fine. I’m quite tired this evening.’

Dion was frozen into a kind of paralysis, watching as his driver jumped out to help Tara out of the car. Something he should be doing but couldn’t. He watched her go in, greeting the concierge, who smiled back.

She disappeared into the elevator, the doors closed. The driver got back in and Dion was suddenly moving, out of the car, and through the doors. Only for the fact that the concierge knew who he was, he didn’t stop him.

He was outside Tara’s door, pressing the bell. It opened and she was there, smaller, because she’d obviously kicked off the shoes.

‘Dion?’

He saw the way colour flared into her cheeks. The pulse at the base of her neck under her pale skin. The future was the future. Now was all he needed to worry about.

‘I want you.’

She bit her lip.

‘I said I was tired.’

‘You did, and I won’t come in unless you invite me.’

She didn’t look tired. She looked glorious. Like a fiery queen. He asked himself why he had put this door here. Why had it been such a good idea? Because now it felt like a very bad one. Lust was clouding his brain.

And then just when he thought she was going to close the door in his face, she stood back and relief mixed with triumph pounded through his veins.

* * *

When Tara woke the next morning her body was heavy from an overload of pleasure.

She didn’t have to open her eyes to know Dion wasn’t there.

She could see it now so clearly. How he’d neatly excised her from their lives.

She could visit Niko in the villa during the day, invariably when Dion was at work.

And then he would spend the evening here.

As if he was having an affair but not betraying a partner, betraying their son.

She’d been congratulating herself last night for walking away, for showing him she didn’t need him, but as soon as he’d turned up at her door, looking wild and slightly crazed, she’d had no will to turn him away.

She had no idea how long he would want her.

She would never stop wanting him. She did need him.

This desire between them only seemed to be burning brighter.

She knew it frustrated Dion. She could feel it in the desperation of their lovemaking.

And she could sense the turmoil within him.

She knew that he’d never had any intention of having a family, but surely even he could see that it was worth trying? For Niko’s sake?

She couldn’t go on like this, living like a mistress, in this lonely apartment. And if he was doing this to try and drive her away, she would double down on her determination to make a life in Athens work.

At the very least she wanted to ensure, not only that the public knew her now as Niko’s mother, but that she’d be recognised legally and have equal rights to her son.

* * *

‘He’s gone to the office this morning, something about a meeting on Monday,’ Maria told Tara.

Tara had arrived at the villa in her car a short while before.

She’d spotted one of Dion’s drivers standing by, presumably in case Maria needed him.

The new nanny was due to start the following week so Maria was still living in, for now.

Niko was sitting up against a cushion and playing with a soft toy.

He’d smiled gummily at Tara, showing his emerging baby teeth, when she’d arrived.

That had only made her even more determined to assert herself now.

For all Niko knew, she was just another nanny. She said to Maria, ‘Why don’t you take the day off? I want to talk to Dion. I’ll take Niko with me for a little trip.’

Maria looked worried. ‘Are you sure?’

Tara nodded. ‘Totally. We’ll call you if anything comes up.’

When Maria had left, Tara dressed Niko, grabbed some supplies and asked Dion’s driver to take them to his office.

Tara hadn’t been there before. It was an imposing modern building in the centre of Athens, surrounded by much older buildings.

She liked it. It was like a statement of intent from Dion, demanding to be seen, after a life of being abandoned by those who should have loved him the most.

That made her feel emotional though and she had to push it down. She strapped Niko into his pram and went into the building. The receptionist brought her to a private elevator and said, ‘I’ll let Mr Dimitriou know you’re coming up.’

Tara’s belly erupted into butterflies as the elevator ascended. When the doors opened Dion was standing there, in trousers and a shirt, sleeves rolled up, frowning. ‘What are you doing here?’

He looked at the pram. ‘Is Niko okay?’

‘He’s fine. I wanted to talk to you.’

‘Where’s Maria?’

‘I told her to take the day off.’

‘She answers to me.’

Tara’s spine straightened. This is why she was here. ‘She should have to answer to me too. I’m Niko’s mother.’

Dion looked at Tara for a long moment before he seemed to realise that she wasn’t leaving. He took the pram and pushed it down the hall to an office at the end. She followed. There were lots of empty offices, all visible behind glass walls.

And an empty anteroom outside Dion’s office, presumably where his assistant worked.

Dion’s office was vast and impressive. Windows on all sides, giving amazing views of the city. ‘This is really cool,’ Tara breathed, standing at one of the windows.

‘Would you like something to drink? Coffee?’

Tara turned around to see Dion at a sideboard that contained very futuristic-looking tea and coffee facilities.

‘Yes, please, black is fine.’

Tara went and checked on Niko. He was sleeping. He’d been due a nap anyway. She pulled a muslin net over the pram to shield him from the sun coming in the windows.

Dion handed her a small cup. She took a fortifying sip. Dion had a cup in his hand. He leaned back against his desk. ‘You wanted to talk?’

Tara swallowed. She could see how daunting it might be to face up to Dion. He was formidable. She had to try and remember that only hours ago their naked limbs had been entwined, skin slick, hearts racing…

Not helpful, Tara.

She cursed her imagination and had every intention of launching into a demand to be recognised legally as Niko’s mother, but instead heard herself blurting out emotionally, ‘I want us to try and be a family. I’m lonely in the apartment.’

Dion was like stone. But she knew he was flesh and blood.

‘You know that’s not what I want.’ His voice was like steel. Unyielding.

‘This chemistry doesn’t seem to be fading. You said it would burn out.’ Tara couldn’t help but sound accusing.

‘It will.’

‘What if it doesn’t?’

Dion’s eyes flashed. ‘Not possible.’

‘I think you had Niko because deep down you want a family, not just an heir.’