Page 122 of Modern Romance December 2025 1-4

Fuck.

I’ve given myself away. I shouldn’t know who she is, let alone that she’s Greek, but she had me so transfixed I spoke without thinking. That won’t happen again.

I’m good at hiding what I feel, I always have been. Emotions are a weakness I can’t afford, not in the cut-throat world that I was forced into years ago, as aCosa Nostraenforcer, and not in business either. So I don’t let a hint of her effect on me show as I gather my resources to respond. Conversation is not a forte of mine, nor do I enjoy it. I prefer action to pretty words. But women sometimes require pretty words so I merely smile back at her. ‘Because you’re Olympia Zakynthos,’ I say easily. ‘Head of Vulcan Energy, no?’

Pink flushes the delicate olive skin of her cheeks. ‘Yes, but I’m not the head of Vulcan Energy. That’s my brother, Ulysses. I’m only representing him at the gala tonight.’

‘Surely not “only”,’ I murmur.

The pretty smile plays around her luscious mouth. ‘Oh, believe me, it definitely is “only”. He’s back in Athens.’ She waves a hand. ‘Doing something with something.’ Immediately the words come out of her mouth, she flushes again and a soft, self-conscious laugh breaks from her. ‘Sorry, that sounds stupid. The truth is, this is my first social occasion on my own for…ages. I’m not used to so many people I don’t know and, also, I’m terrible at small talk.’

I don’t want to be charmed by her honesty and yet, against my will, I am. ‘I don’t blame you,’ I say. ‘I don’t find social occasions easy, either. To that end, allow me to introduce myself. I am Rafael Santangelo.’ I extend the champagne to her again. ‘There. Now you know one person at least.’

The gold of her eyes glows as she takes the champagne flute from me, and I can’t resist making sure the tips of my fingers brush hers as she does so. Her gaze flares as we touch and I hear the slight catch of her breath, feel the prickle of undeniable electricity that chases over my skin.

Dio,I wasn’t expecting attraction to spark between us so quickly, but I’m not unhappy with the situation. It will make my job so much easier.

‘Pleased to meet you, Rafael Santangelo,’ she says, giving me an adorable mock bow. Then she looks pointedly at the glass of champagne I’m presenting her with. ‘I should warn you that my brother has told me not to accept drinks from strange men.’

I lean against the rail, still holding the wretched glasses. She’s not very tall. The top of her head only reaches my shoulder. ‘But I’m not a strange man,’ I say. ‘You know my name.’

Her smile is a delight. A gift that she’s giving and only to me. ‘That’s true. And you know mine, so I suppose we’re hardly strangers.’

She takes the glass from me without a second’s thought and an unfamiliar part of me wants to snatch it back from her, tell her that her brother is right, she shouldn’t be accepting drinks from strange men. Especially men like me. I once helped the localconsiglierirun protection rackets, a gun in my hand to enforce compliance, my fists and a knife to mete out punishments. People were afraid of me, as they should be. And so should she.

‘If you like,’ I say before she can take a sip, prompted by this odd protective urge, ‘I could go and get you another glass and you could watch me to make sure there’s nothing in the drink.’

‘You could,’ she agrees, then tilts her head, surveying me, assessing me as if I’m a threat. And I am. A little lamb like her should be running for the hills, yet instead, she smiles. ‘It’s okay. I trust you.’ She nods her head to a man standing alone in the crowd not too far away. ‘I have a bodyguard. He’s there to rescue me from the consequences of my own idiocy.’

I know she has a bodyguard. I’ve already noted him and dismissed him as no danger to me or my plan. But her openness and willingness to trust is unexpected and presents an…unexpected obstacle. I want to tell her that trusting me is the last thing she should do, but I bite down on the urge. I have a revenge plan to follow and she is the key. A key I can’t afford to throw away.

‘You seem very convinced of your idiocy,’ I say. ‘That’s the second time you’ve mentioned it.’

She laughs and takes a sip of champagne, her nose wrinkling at the bubbles. Then she closes her eyes. ‘Oh my God, you’re right. I told you I wasn’t used to people.’ Her eyes open again and she gives me a look from beneath her lashes. ‘Sorry, I know I should be talking about how wonderful Vulcan Energy is and all of that, blah blah. But truth is, I know nothing about it. I’m only here for the holiday.’

Something rises in me, something fierce and protective. She shouldn’t be so honest with a stranger. It’s a mistake. It leaves a chink in your amour, makes you vulnerable. And she, so beautiful and so honest, should not be so vulnerable.

Especially when I am around.

‘And why are you not used to people?’ I ask, ruthlessly exploiting her weakness, because that’s the kind of man I am. Ruthless.

She sighs, and leans on the rail beside me, mimicking my stance. ‘Oh, truth is, I don’t go out a lot. This is my first visit to Singapore. In fact, it’s my first visit anywhere.’

Interesting. Another little fact to file away.

‘What do you think of it so far?’ I ask.

‘It’s so beautiful.’ She glances out over the view once again. ‘The gardens and the fountains, the harbour…’ Her gaze comes back to mine, a spark of mischief in it that renders me momentarily speechless. ‘What I really wanted to do was have a Singapore Sling in the Raffles Hotel. But Georgios over there has strict instructions from my brother that I’m not allowed to go out on my own.’

I knew she would not be unprotected. What I didn’t know was that she would find that constraining herself.

‘Surely Georgios can take you to Raffles,’ I say casually, privately wondering how anyone could refuse this woman anything.

‘Oh, he could,’ Olympia replies. ‘But I want to go by myself, without him. He’s like a…a dark cloud hovering everywhere. Kind of spoils the vibe.’

‘Can you not send him away?’

She sighs. ‘He takes orders from my brother, not me, so no. Ulysses is so overprotective it’s ridiculous.’