Page 27 of Her Greek Inheritance

Chapter 11

Gemma had managed to contain most of her anger by the time Alexi returned for her. Seeing Damien happy and smartly dressed also helped. Her son explored their rooms until Alexi came and announced they were going to spend the day sightseeing.

“Come,lígo gáta. Greece awaits you.”

Alexi had a very smart, brand-new looking SUV waiting in front of the estate. A man was there to assist her with getting Damien buckled into the new safety seat that had been installed in the backseat of the vehicle.

She couldn’t help asking,“You had a child seat just lying around?”

Alexi smiled at her. “Whatever you need will be provided. I have told you this before. Maybe now you will believe me?”

Gemma didn’t reply. She double checked the harness to assure herself that Damien was securely buckled in. “Where are we going?”

“I am going to show you my favorite spot here.” He kissed her lightly before helping her into the vehicle and shutting the door. He drove them out of the gates surrounding the house and grounds, heading for the ocean.

Gemma couldn’t help but be delighted with the passing scenery. As they drove, Alexi told her about his country. “Thessaloniki is the second largest city on the main island of Greece. The city is immersed in the varying cultural influences that resided here throughout its rich history, dating back to the Roman Empire.”

She watched as Alexi drove towards several monuments, her artist’s eye not missing a thing. “Hey, is that theHagia Sophia?”

He grinned. “Very good. It is one of the fifteen UNESCO World Heritage sites located right here.”

Gemma’s eyes couldn’t take in everything, but she tried. As Alexi drove them through the crowded streets, filled with sightseeing tourists and residents going about their daily lives, her anger started to slip away. They didn’t stop at any of the sites, but Alexi promised her she was welcome to return to any of them at a later date.

The city was enormous, with tall buildings, and a multitude of docks and ports. “What does your family’s company do, exactly?” she asked.

“We are in shipping.” Alexi pointed to several large freighters. The Greek characters on the helms were unidentifiable to her. “Those are some of our fleet.”

“Fleet?” Gemma gulped. “Just how big of a company…?”

“We are the largest shipping company in Greece and in this part of the world. We transport everything from oil, to cars, to building supplies. If it can be moved from place to place by traversing the ocean, Moustakas Shipping can handle it.”

“You sound like an advertisement.”

“No, it’s just a mantra that has been drilled into my head since I was a young boy. Speaking of boys, how is Damien doing?”

Gemma cast a look over her son’s sleeping face. “I think he’s still recovering from the time difference. He’s been asleep since we left your home.”

“Ah! Well, when he wakes he will be hungry and anxious to move around. Shall we have a picnic on the beach?”

Gemma shook her head. “I didn’t bring anything appropriate for the beach.”

“That has all been taken care of. My cousin, Kassi, was a great help. You haven’t met her yet, but you will.”

“Your cousin lives with you?”

“For the moment. Her mother was my father’s sister and passed away quite a few years ago. Kassi lived with her father until he passed away last year from a heart condition. She just turned twenty and is enrolled at the university to begin her classes this fall. In the meantime, she spends her days shopping with her friends. When I mentioned my plans for this excursion, she was happy to call her favorite store and have them deliver a selection of suits for you to choose from.”

Gemma’s mouth dropped open. “She called her favorite store…and they just brought over a bunch of clothing?”

Alexi smiled at her, nodding. “Yes. That is the way it works.” He turned the vehicle off the main road.

Gemma realized that while they’d been talking, he’d driven them up and out of the city, heading towards the ocean. He paused at a wrought iron gate and used a keycard to open it. “Where are we?”

“A private beach. We will be undisturbed here and away from the masses of people who crowd the public beaches this time of year.”

“A private beach? Is this like a club or something?”

“Or something.” When she raised a brow, silently asking for more information, he relented. “My family owns this strip of the beach.” He parked the car and she glanced out the window. The green-blue ocean stretched out before them, ending in pristine white sands and several bungalows scattered just above the waterline.